Westmark Klondike Inn, 2288 Second Avenue, Whitehorse, Yukon Y1A 1C8 tel: +1-867-668-4747

Finnegan's Point - Today’s short transfer by road to Skagway will be memorable. The Klondike Highway is known as one of the most beautiful 2 hour trips in North America! Stunning mountain views are found around every corner. We’ll meet you at your hotel and depart to the historic gold rush village of Carcross (shortened from Caribou Crossing) and the travel over the White Pass to Skagway. At Fraser, you have the opportunity to take the historic White Pass & Yukon Route Railroad (optional, recommended) from Fraser to Skagway. Now a UNESCO International Civil Engineering Landmark, the White Pass Railroad was built in 1899 to assist in the transport of goods and people to the gold fields at Dawson City. The narrow gauge railroad takes a circuitous route from 1200m to sea level in just 30km!

During the Klondike Goldrush of 1898, some 30,000 gold seekers arrived in Skagway by steamship, ready to travel the 1000km to the gold fields at Dawson City. Today, the town is bustling with visitors and still retains its gold rush flavour. The quaint streets of Skagway are perfect for strolling. After visiting the historic town, we’ll travel 16km to Dyea, where we’ll start our hike on the Chilkoot Trail. Today we’ll hike to Finnegan’s Point (approx. 3 hours hiking time). The first part of the trail climbs steadily along the Taiya River. Spruce trees tower above the trail and house eagle nests and the occasional black bear. Spawning salmon can be seen in the river in late summer. Yet, signs of the Klondike Gold Rush are also evident; from remnants of the old telephone line, built in 1898 to connect Skagway with Bennett andb Log Cabin and the 1950’s era logging road that forms the trail near our campsite. Finnegan’s Point is named for a fellow who built a bridge and for a short time collected a toll from passersby. The thousands of miners soon over-ran the bridge and his efforts to hold them back were futile. You’ll end your day in view of the beautiful Irene Glacier across the river.

Happy Camp - Today is our longest, but most memorable part of the hike. We’ll have an early breakfast and hit the trail in order to cover the 13km to Happy Camp. Shortly after departing, we’ll pass through the Enchanted Forest; a region of gnarled trees, twisted and pitted due to the excessive snowfalls that bury them under several meters each winter. You’ll see many gold rush era artifacts littering the trail as it begins to climb towards the Scales. After weeks of hauling a ton of goods up from Skagway, 50 kilos at a time, the miners of the Klondike Gold Rush began to toss aside the non-essentials. Surprisingly the Treeline Sign is surrounded by trees, demonstrating the weather was colder in 1898 than today. But not much further along, the last tree appears, and then disappears, and soon there is nothing but rock in all directions. This is where the avalanche that claimed the lives of many gold miners in the spring of 1898 occurred, and the victims are buried nearby. A little further and we arrive at the Scales, where the Canadian Mounties weighed the goods of each person entering the Yukon to ensure they had their mandatory 1 ton of provisions before being allowed to continue. The trail goes almost vertical as you travel up the Golden Stairs. This is where the famous photos of the long lines of men and women bent over from their toil, were taken in 1898. It’s a tough climb, scrambling over and around large boulders, but we’ll soon reach the top and cross the border between Alaska and Canada, at over 1100 meters (3700 feet) above sea level! From here we’ll descend over snowfields, passing small lakes, creeks and rock outcrops to reach “Happy Camp” in the late afternoon.

Bennett Lake - We will awaken with mixed emotions today. With just 1 more hike left, there is the feeling of accomplishment after having completed an arduous hike. Yet, there is always a little sadness when the end of the trail is near. But there is still some beautiful scenery to be seen as we continue our trek, first to Bare Loon Lake and onwards to Lake Bennett. Some of the most stunning vistas in British Columbia are found here, overlooking Lake Bennett. As we approach Bennett Lake, we catch glimpses of the old gold rush era church and rail station, all that remains of the community that once was home to over 15,000 people. After a short look around, our float plane will arrive to pick us up for the spectacular 45 minute flight to Whitehorse. The mood on board the aircraft is bound to be pensive as you reflect on your journey while the plane soars over azure waters and green-sided, snow-capped mountains. Upon arrival in Whitehorse, we’ll pick you up from the airport and bring you to your hotel where you definitely will enjoy a hot shower and a last dinner (cooked by someone else for a change!) with your new friends!

Westmark Klondike Inn, 2288 Second Avenue, Whitehorse, Yukon Y1A 1C8 tel: +1-867-668-4747

This tour is operated in conjunction with our local partners in Canada. You will be joined by other Kumuka passengers as well as travellers who have booked through other agencies.

Your passport is a valuable document and you should exercise care in keeping it safe. It should be valid for at least six months after the end of your tour and it must have at least one blank page for each visa required. We advise that you take photocopies of your passport in case of loss or damage. Alternatively, you can scan copies of these pages and email them to yourself so that you can access them if you happen to lose your passport whilst abroad and have to apply for a new one at your nearest Embassy.

If you wish to spend a few additional days in your starting or finishing city, then we can arrange accommodation for you. All our accommodation is carefully chosen, conveniently located, clean and comfortable. (All rates per person per night and subject to availability).

In North America tipping is a way of life and very much expected, as well as appreciated. For many, receiving tips is a means of supplementing their salary which is usually based on minimum wage. The standard amount in restaurants and bars is 15% of the total bill (please note that sales and service taxes are automatically imposed in some restaurants and bars).  Chambermaids usually receive $1 or $2 per night in a hotel, simply left on the bedside table.

It is also customary in North America to show appreciation of your Tour Leader by tipping him/her at the end of the tour.

Whilst on tour you will probably want to stay in touch with family and friends. There are several ways of doing this:

Mobile Phone – Before departing your home country check with your phone supplier to see if it compatible with the mobile phone networks in the countries that you are traveling to, and how much will it cost to use abroad.

Email – Internet Cafes are very cheap and popular, and you are sure to come across several during your tour. If you haven’t done so already, set up a free Google Mail, Hotmail, or Yahoo email account which you can then access from any computer. Internet Cafes will charge a nominal fee for using their computers. Within Europe some hotels charge a wifi connection fee and we cannot guarantee a wifi connection at all hotels we use.

Twitter – A method of communication that is rapidly gaining in popularity on the Internet especially amongst travelers. Twitter allows you to send short messages and update your friends and family with where you are on tour and what you are doing. Create your free account at http://twitter.com. Visit Kumuka’s page on Twitter at http://twitter.com/kumuka

Facebook – Very popular website that allows you to upload stories, get in touch with fellow travellers before and after your Kumuka tour, upload photos and videos to share with other travellers, your family and friends. To create a free account, go to www.facebook.com and then become a fan of Kumuka’s Facebook Page at www.facebook.com/pages/Kumuka-Worldwide/26617121087?ref=ts

Postcards – The good ol’ fashioned postcard. But you will probably get home before the postcard does!

Under no circumstances are any illegal drugs allowed on any part of the trip. Anyone discovered in possession of any such drugs, will be asked to leave the tour immediately without question or refund.