Spectacular Mt. KcKinnley

" The distant mountains of the Brooks Range in Alaska make one want to go on and on over the next ridge and over the one beyond. The call is that of a wilderness known only to a few...This last American wilderness must remain sacrosanct."
- William O. Douglas, U.S. Supreme Court Justice, 1960.

A colleague in the cruise industry once said to me, “First you do all the other cruises, then do you Alaska.” She was right. With its pristine fjords, sweeping glaciers and endless snowcapped mountains, Alaska’s Inside Passage is a tough act to follow. So what to do after having done the cruise—two, three or even four times, particularly when the cruise experience has wet your appetite for more Alaskan wonders?

An exploration of the state’s interior seemed in order. With more than 3,000 rivers and 5,000 glaciers, the state is one-fifth the size of the continental United States. Texas and California could fit inside its borders, and there would still be room for New Mexico. Vast expanses of wilderness encompass Alaska, with millions of acres of national parkland and wildlife refuges, accessible only by boat, train or plane. Where, then, does one begin to explore such vastness?

Fortunately, many cruise companies now offer extended land packages that are fully escorted, giving visitors a comprehensive overview of some of Alaska’s amazing sights. Royal Caribbean International, for example, offers inland options on its Alaskan cruises from Vancouver, B.C., to Seward. I opted for its four-day trek from Fairbanks to Anchorage. Covering more than 400 miles, through stunning mountains and untouched wilderness, I found it the ideal way to explore what the Aleuts call Alyeska—The Great Land.