Last modified: January 2008

Yukon – Alaska Round Trips

Information for EU, Australian and New Zealand and US Citizens travelling to Canada (Yukon) and the United States of America (Alaska)

"United States - Passport Regulations"

"Flexibility Offered to US Citizens with Pending Passport Applications"

1. Entrance and Customs
EU, Australian, New Zealand and US citizens do not need a traveller's visa to enter Canada. However, a traveller's passport is required. US Citizen have to show a proper ID. The passport must be valid for at least six months after the date of entry into Canada. When entering the USA (Alaska), for EC, Australian and New Zealand citizens a visitor visa is being issued, valid for three months. A fee of US$ 6.00 is charged for the visitor visa. Customs declaration forms will be handed out by the flight attendant during the flight to Canada. This form must be filled out and given to a Canada Customs Official at the port of entrance.
The import of groceries or plants into Canada and the United States is strictly prohibited. Special regulations apply to the import of fire arms and ammunition into Canada and the United States. Contact the Canadian and American embassies in your country for information concerning these regulations.
Important: When entering the USA machine-readable passports are required and fingerprints and digital photos are being taken.

2. Immunization
No immunization shots are required for EU, Australian and New Zealand citizens travelling to Canada or the United States of America.

3. Means of Payments
It is recommended that you bring approximately $ 150.00 in Canadian currency and $ 150.00 in American currency, as well as traveller's cheques. Credit cards are extremely convenient and are used extensively as a means of payment in both Canada and the United States. In Canada and the United States, VISA and EUROCARD/MASTER CARD can even be used for a small purchase such as a meal in a restaurant or a taxi fare.

NOTE: American Express credit cards are often not accepted in the Yukon and Alaska.
Medical attention in Canada and the United States is more costly than in Western Europe or Australia. If a visitor to Canada or the United States requires medical treatment, a credit card payment is usually mandatory.

4. Driving and Licensing
When renting a vehicle, a credit card number or a large security cash deposit is required. The cash deposit can range in cost from $ 1,000.00 to $ 3,000.00, depending on the rental agency.
EC/Australian/New Zealand driver's licenses are acknowledged in both Canada and the United States. If you booked a tour to Canada, and the United States of America, it is necessary that you bring your drivers license. If extenuating circumstances arise, where you have to part company with the tour group, you may find it necessary to drive a vehicle. Traffic signs and regulations are similar to those in Western Europe//Australia/New Zealand. In the Yukon and Alaska, you are allowed to make a right turn at a red light provided you have come to a complete stop and the turn is safe to complete.

5 a Luggage and travel bags
Please limit your luggage to one piece (maximum weight of 20 kg) and one carry on bag.
The storage capacity of our vans is limited. Excessive luggage will be inconvenient for you and other members of the tour when travelling in the van. When going on canoe trips you should try to pack wisely for the trip and avoid taking excess items. Excess items can be stored at a hotel, in a private storage facility in Carmacks, or if necessary in the van.

5 b Luggage on Hotel Round Trips
There is no luggage limit for Hotel Round Trips.

6. Canoe tours
Big Salmon River Canoe Tour
On day one the guide will introduce members of the tour to easy and enjoyable lessons covering the basics of canoeing. These instructions take place on Quiet Lake. Paddling time on the Big Salmon River varies. Day one has a maximum of six hours paddling time, day two has five hours, and all remaining days are approximately plus or minus four hours paddling time. Extended paddle times are necessary on day one and two because of impenetrable brush and swamp areas encountered along the river. The Big Salmon River has a moderate current with some rapids followed by long stretches of calm current.

Yukon River Canoe Tour
On day one the guide will introduce members of the tour to easy and enjoyable lessons covering the basics of canoeing. The daily paddling time on the Yukon River ranges from four to five hours per day. The Yukon River has a fast, continuous current with rapids encountered only at Five Finger Rapids. These rapids can be easily navigated by a novice canoeist in a matter of less than five minutes.

Upper Liard River Canoe Tour
On day one the guide will introduce members of the tour to easy and enjoyable lessons covering the basics of canoeing. These instructions take place on Caribou Lakes. Paddling time for the Upper Liard River averages about four to five hours daily. The Upper Liard River has a fast current and is scattered with numerous rocks and boulders. The river has gentle bends, and only a few sweeper areas will be encountered. Wide channel ways will provide the canoeist ample time for setup when encountering sweeper areas.

Special Note:  Extreme run-off conditions as well as extreme wind and rain may require special caution or even a cancellation of a canoe trip. This concerns all rivers of the Yukon.

7 a Hiking and Trekking
All hiking takes place during daytime hours and hiking time can vary between five and seven hours. The hiking guide can change the difficulty level of the trail depending upon the group's average level of fitness. The group must stay together for safety reasons, pacing itself to that of the slowest group member. Under no circumstances are the hikers allowed to split into separate groups. During the hike, the guide will provide you with information on the trail's history, geology, plant life, and animal life. Feel free to ask the guide any questions you may have. Special requirements apply to the Chilkoot Trail (s. tour description Chilkoot Trail).

7 b Hiking Tours Hotel Round Trip
The duration of hiking tours during Hotel Round Trip may vary between one and three hours. The hikes are being conducted on typical forest and mountain trails. Gains in elevation are not worth to be mentioned. However, all trails require solid and broken in hiking boots.

8 a Food and Accommodation during Tent Round Trips
To guarantee an organized camp life, the guide will cook the meals for the group but the group is expected to chip in and assume responsibility for camp chores. The chores will include collecting firewood, washing dishes, grocery shopping, assisting in meal preparation, and other common camp chores. To ensure that chores are equally shared, the group will be divided into two member teams and a rotating chore schedule will be put in place. If not included in the tour price all group members will contribute money into a food kitty to cover the cost for camp groceries. Cost will be approximately CA$ 75.00 per person and week. When staying overnight at a hotel, meals can be purchased in a restaurant. A breakfast can cost between $ 8.00 and $ 10.00 per person, and a main meal is usually between $ 15.00 and $ 25.00 per person. Group members will be accommodated in middle class hotels or campgrounds.
Sometimes it is necessary to set up a camp in the wilderness. This situation is unavoidable during canoe trips. Only a few campgrounds have excellent sanitary facilities complete with showers, toilets and wash basins. The itinerary of the tour group will provide the individual with ample time to shower and clean up. Government operated campgrounds are usually very scenic and tend to be our preferred choice. Tour members are expected to set up their own  tents but the guide will assist if difficulties occur.

8 b Meals during Hotel Round Trips
For meals you have to calculate the following prices:  

Alaska	Breakfast	approx.	US$	8.00	- 10.00		Yukon	approx.	CA$	8.00	- 10.00
	Lunch	approx.	US$	10.00	- 15.00			approx.	CA$	10.00	- 15.00
	Dinner	approx.	US$	15.00	- 25.00			approx.	CA$	15.00	- 25.00

9. Termination of Travel Contract and Travel Conclusion
CANADIAN WILDERNESS TRAVEL LTD. reserves the option to restrict any tour participant without notice and prior warning at any time during the tour of further participation with the tour if:

1. the participant strongly bothers or molests other tour participants
2. the participant is disregarding travel terms and conditions
3. the participant is disregarding guide instructions
4. the participant behaves unlawfully, in particular by excessive alcohol consumption or drug
    misuse.

Any and all costs and expenses caused by such a tour exclusion including such cost that are caused by additional travel expenses are to be paid solely by the excluded participant. Any tour participant understand and agrees that he/she waives any right in claims of reimbursement of the tour price or a portion thereof or any other possible claims related to or resulting from said termination of the travel contract or travel exclusion.

10. Insurance and Liability
Expenses arising from medical treatment in North America are usually not reimbursed by EC mandatory insurance or Health Care Insurances of other countries. It is urgently advised that you get standard travel and health insurance including coverage for search and rescue before travelling to North America. We also recommend you obtain travel cancellation insurance. Search and rescue expenses arise in cases where an injured or sick person has to be medically evacuated from a remote area by helicopter or air plane.
Cost for such a rescue can easy exceed $ 5.000.00.

Cost examples for medical treatment:
Non serious injuries requiring a short stay at a hospital (US$ / CA$ 800.00 to 1,200.00).
More serious injuries requiring hospitalization (+/-US$ /CA$ 2,000.00 per day, not including cost for a physician).

PLEASE NOTE:
Any additional activities you participate in, that are not part of your booked tour, will be conducted at your own risk. The tour operator is not liable for any activity or excursion which is not part of the booked tour.

11. General Information
Climate: The climate in the Yukon and central Alaska is a typical continental climate with very little precipitation. Summer temperatures range between - 5 C/+ 23 F (at night) and 35 C/95 F. Long dry periods occur between begin of June to end of July (semi-arid).
Alaska's Pacific coast (Skagway and Anchorage) has a typical coastal climate with moist air. Summer temperatures range between 20 C/68 F and 28 /82 F. The weather on Alaska's Pacific coast can change rapidly giving way to prolonged periods of wind and rain.

Due to the proximity to the Polar Circle, the Yukon and Alaska experience 24 hours of daylight from mid May to end June. At other time in the summer the sun will set just below the horizon for as short period giving 22 to 23 hours of daylight.

Tipping and Gratuities: In North America it is common practice to tip a waitress/waiter, bartender, taxi and bus/van driver. Tips are not calculated in the price of a meal or a taxi fare, as they are in Europe. Since the base salaries of these public servers are low, they depend on tips as port of their income.

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