A Review of the Kantishna Experience Tour in Denali National Park

[wolfie11]

The KET does not start until June 8 this year.

[mapleleaves]

We are on a Princess Connoisseur tour in Denali. Staying at the Denali Princess Lodge and our TWT tour(included) will be on June 2,2015.

I have not heard of this additional option to go further into the park on a Princess escorted tour or how to possibly get credit by not doing the Princess tour and booking this tour on our own?

Is the additional tour length to mile 92 even possible on June 2 due to weather issues at that time of the year? If so, how would I be able to upgrade us to this extra tour length since we are already booked on the TWT through Princess?

Thanks for the great information about the Katishna option but not sure we can actually do it due to time of year and our prior Princess commitment.

 

On June 1 the park road opens to Eielson Visitor Center which is mile 66. The Visitor Center is only accessible via the park shuttle bus, not the Tour bus.

The TWT only goes to mile 53, or to Mile 62 if the mountain is visible.

Both trips are 8 hrs RT but the shuttle goes further and the Visitor Center is a nice destination point ... rangers, trail, awesome views, exhibits, ranger led walks. Both trips make the same restroom stops (every 90 minutes) and stop for wildlife. The Tour driver has a prepared narrative to share with the drivers. Shuttle drivers don't have to provide info but it's to their advantage to provide the service (tips!).

Read about the Tour and Shuttle trips on the park web site:http://www.reservedenali.com/play/shuttle-buses/eielson-visitor-center.aspx

 

With the tour, you will be picked up at the hotel. With the shuttle, you'll need to make your own way to the Wilderness Access Center where the park buses depart. If you're staying at Princess, they have an hourly shuttle to the park.

You'll also need to provide your own meal and drink.

 

BTW, the tour buses in Denali are NOT Princess. Anyone can purchase a ticket via the Denali web site. As for getting a refund ... ask your TA or Princess. Make your own reservation and don't wait until you arrive or you may not get a seat.

Edited April 19, 2015 by mapleleaves

[Alaskanb]

Just checked info at the Denali Princess Lodge

We provide shuttle service hourly from 7 am to 7 pm between the lodge and the Denali National Park Visitors Center, the Wilderness Access Center and Horseshoe Lake for $5 roundtrip per person. After a day of adventure, you'll be eager to retreat to your cozy wilderness lodge for some peaceful Alaska sleep.

This will limit what time one can take a shuttle in the park

If we choose a park shuttle to Eielson I have questions about timing:

1. Would the 7:00 am shuttle from the lodge give us enough time to be at the WAC for an 8:00 am shuttle.

2. What time does the Subway open to pick up sandwiches and drinks? Is there any place to store them in the hotel if purchased the evening before?

Thanks

Edited April 19, 2015 by Alaskanb

[mapleleaves]

If we choose a park shuttle to Eielson I have questions about timing:

1. Would the 7:00 am shuttle from the lodge give us enough time to be at the WAC for an 8:00 am shuttle.

2. What time does the Subway open to pick up sandwiches and drinks? Is there any place to store them in the hotel if purchased the evening before?

Thanks

 

You'll have plenty of time if you take the 7am shuttle. The WAC is just under 2 miles away. Heck you could walk it in 30-40 minutes!

(If you decide to hike around Eielson and catch a later bus back to the entrance, you can walk back to the Princess if i's after 7pm, or, look at the Denali Salmon Bake shuttle schedule.

 

The hotel will have boxed lunches to buy .... check to see what time they open in the morning.

Edited April 19, 2015 by mapleleaves

[donaldsc]

I have stayed at the Roadhouse. VERY touristy even without cell phone reception.

 

I have also stayed here: http://www.katair.com/skyline.html

 

NOT touristy-this is a working airport/flightseeing facility. You eat dinner with the crew, breakfast is continental. No private bathrooms in guest housing-you have to go in the main lodge. But it is so UNTOURISTY and so beautiful back there that it is really worth a look.

 

And for a really spectacular trip, take the bus in and FLY out. Direct into the North Face of Denali. I have flown all over Alaska in small planes. My flights out of Kantishna on Kantishna Air are some of the flights I really, really remember. Those are once in a lifetime experiences.

 

Totally agree w you. We stayed at Skyline 2 nights and it was wonderful. We planned to fly out but the weather turned so we had to bus out. Maybe next time.

 

DON

[Budget Queen]

Just checked info at the Denali Princess Lodge

We provide shuttle service hourly from 7 am to 7 pm between the lodge and the Denali National Park Visitors Center, the Wilderness Access Center and Horseshoe Lake for $5 roundtrip per person. After a day of adventure, you'll be eager to retreat to your cozy wilderness lodge for some peaceful Alaska sleep.

This will limit what time one can take a shuttle in the park

If we choose a park shuttle to Eielson I have questions about timing:

1. Would the 7:00 am shuttle from the lodge give us enough time to be at the WAC for an 8:00 am shuttle.

2. What time does the Subway open to pick up sandwiches and drinks? Is there any place to store them in the hotel if purchased the evening before?

Thanks

 

Subway is open 24 hours. There is also a limited selection of food items at the Wilderness Access Center. Yes, the 7am lodge shuttle works for the 8am Eielson shuttle. Especially with Princess refunding their booked Denali Park tours- I always suggest people take advantage of that. :)

[Budget Queen]

On June 1 the park road opens to Eielson Visitor Center which is mile 66. The Visitor Center is only accessible via the park shuttle bus, not the Tour bus.

The TWT only goes to mile 53, or to Mile 62 if the mountain is visible.

Both trips are 8 hrs RT but the shuttle goes further and the Visitor Center is a nice destination point ... rangers, trail, awesome views, exhibits, ranger led walks. Both trips make the same restroom stops (every 90 minutes) and stop for wildlife. The Tour driver has a prepared narrative to share with the drivers. Shuttle drivers don't have to provide info but it's to their advantage to provide the service (tips!).

.

 

Actually the restroom stops aren't the "same". You get an extra one at Eielson. :) I will also mention= ALL the "stops" with the TWT will be for outhouses/portapotty types. :) A benefit of Eielson is running water and flush toilets. :) Plus a few tables and shelter.

Edited April 19, 2015 by Budget Queen

[Alaskanb]

Subway is open 24 hours. There is also a limited selection of food items at the Wilderness Access Center. Yes, the 7am lodge shuttle works for the 8am Eielson shuttle. Especially with Princess refunding their booked Denali Park tours- I always suggest people take advantage of that. :)

Thanks -- think that is what we will do.

[Budget Queen]

Thanks -- think that is what we will do.

 

When you pick up your shuttle tickets, take with you, your cruise tour information and reservation at Denali- you should be able to get a refund of the park fee, since you would have already paid it through Princess.

Edited April 20, 2015 by Budget Queen

[wolfie11]

When you pick up your shuttle tickets, take with you, your cruise tour information and reservation at Denali- you should be able to get a refund of the park fee, since you would have already paid it through Princess.

 

If you have the Golden Eagle pass for over 62 year olds you can also get it refunded.....

[Alaskanb]

If you have the Golden Eagle pass for over 62 year olds you can also get it refunded.....

We do -- think it will just me a matter of who refunds $$ to us. I will cancel the Princess Denali tour to make things easier.

[Budget Queen]

We do -- think it will just me a matter of who refunds $$ to us. I will cancel the Princess Denali tour to make things easier.

 

Check with Princess, I am almost certain this has nothing to do with any tour bus refund, and you will still be charged this fee, since you are at "Denali Park", which requires the fee outside of the Golden Age Pass/Disability Pass.

 

The point I am making, this fee is charged with any bus passes YOU purchase.

[Northern Aurora]

.... There is also a limited selection of food items at the Wilderness Access Center. ....

 

 

Budget Queen in referring to the Morino Grill. If the location isn't real obvious just ask at the WAC. Selections can change from year to year but in the past they have had a cooler of "grab-n-go" packaged foods (i.e. pre-done sandwiches) in addition to the actual grill (think hamburgers and so forth).

[katerkat]

On June 1 the park road opens to Eielson Visitor Center which is mile 66. The Visitor Center is only accessible via the park shuttle bus, not the Tour bus.

The TWT only goes to mile 53, or to Mile 62 if the mountain is visible.

Both trips are 8 hrs RT but the shuttle goes further and the Visitor Center is a nice destination point ... rangers, trail, awesome views, exhibits, ranger led walks. Both trips make the same restroom stops (every 90 minutes) and stop for wildlife. The Tour driver has a prepared narrative to share with the drivers. Shuttle drivers don't have to provide info but it's to their advantage to provide the service (tips!).

Read about the Tour and Shuttle trips on the park web site:http://www.reservedenali.com/play/shuttle-buses/eielson-visitor-center.aspx

 

With the tour, you will be picked up at the hotel. With the shuttle, you'll need to make your own way to the Wilderness Access Center where the park buses depart. If you're staying at Princess, they have an hourly shuttle to the park.

You'll also need to provide your own meal and drink.

 

BTW, the tour buses in Denali are NOT Princess. Anyone can purchase a ticket via the Denali web site. As for getting a refund ... ask your TA or Princess. Make your own reservation and don't wait until you arrive or you may not get a seat.

 

Thank you for these points - and to the OP for the original review! I'm taking a ten and three year old into the park and trying to decide what to do, tour or shuttle. We will have a car seat for the younger, so it's not as easy to just hop off and wait for the next bus...but I know the VC is important to the older Junior Ranger child. We can't hike as much, although I can carry the younger one on my back for shorter hikes. We're staying in an RV at Riley and planning on doing the entrance area stuff on our first day, but have two additional full days to tour.