riverboat discovery tour

Alaska is ready

Make 2024 your year

Your three-hour tour will take you into the heart of Alaska and introduce you to a family who has made the rivers of Alaska their way of life for five generations.

Chena Village Living Museum

Be immersed in frontier living first hand with a guided walking tour of an Athabascan village. You’ll see an Athabascan  village with cabins made of spruce logs, a cache used for storing supplies, a primitive spruce bark hut and fur pelts. Our guides will explain how the wolf, fox, martin and beaver were used to provide food and protection in the harsh Arctic climate. They will also share how the Athabascans skillfully survived for over 10,000 years and how they adapted to village life and Western culture in the past century.

At the end of your guided tour, you will have time to explore the village on your own, interact with our guides and visit dogs from Susan Butcher’s Trail Breaker Kennel.

Bush Pilot Demonstration

See an Alaskan bush pilot takeoff and land right next to the boat! ( 1 ) ‍ Our pilot will share his stories of village life and explain the vital role planes play in remote Alaska.

Trail Breaker Kennel

Visit the home and kennel of the late four-time Iditarod champion Susan Butcher as we pass Trail Breaker Kennel along the Chena River. Learn first hand about kennel life and the challenges that go into making a champion dogsled team. Dave and Tekla Monson, Susan’s husband and daughter, share stories of life on the trails as puppies play in anticipation of joining the team. Keep your cameras ready; you will not want to miss the dog mushing demonstration!

Steamboat Landing

Trading posts in the early days of Western contact were popular with people in Alaskan Villages, and that tradition continues with the Discovery Trading Post (on-board Discovery III) and Steamboat Landing (onshore). Both stores offer gifts and products that are unique to Alaska and the Native culture. To this day, we strive to follow Captain Jim’s commitment to give visitors “the best value at the best price” by offering Fairbanks’ largest selection of Alaskan souvenirs and gifts.

Discovery Dining Hall

If you are hungry, be sure to check out our Discovery Dining Hall.  With seatings at 11:45 AM and 1 PM you can enjoy a full family-style meal and eat to your fill.  The Discovery Dining Hall offers our hearty miner's beef stew, rustic roasted vegetables, a kale apple pecan salad, sourdough rolls and, for dessert, a German chocolate brownie.  For beverages we offer iced tea, water, coffee and hot tea. Beer and wine are available for purchase as well.

Captain's Corner Grab & Go Lunch

For something quick, stop by the Captain's Corner located inside Steamboat Landing. We have fresh made sandwiches, wraps and salads ready each day. Enjoy your lunch on our beautiful outdoor deck as you soak in the sun and enjoy views of the Chena River.

Beer, wine and snacks are also available for sale aboard Discovery III.

A family business

The Binkley family’s steamboating tradition goes back over 100 years and five generations. In 1898, when Charles M. Binkley hiked over the Chilkoot Pass with other stampeders, he was not so much in search of gold as he was the chance to build and operate boats on the Yukon and its tributaries. He became a respected pilot and boat builder in the North. His son, Captain Jim Binkley, Sr., followed in his father’s footsteps and piloted freight vessels on the Yukon and Tanana Rivers in the 1940's.

As transportation systems changed in the north, railroads and airplanes began to carry much of the freight. In 1950, noting the coming changes in the freighting business, Captain Jim and his wife, Mary, began a river excursion business focusing on sharing their love of Alaska and its culture with visitors. Over the coming years, Captain Jim and Mary B’s business grew from the Godspeed, a 25 passenger vessel, to the Discovery III, a 900 passenger vessel. Today, Captain Jim’s grandchildren run the company and Mary B is still active in the business.

In addition to growing their sternwheel business, the Binkley’s have added a gold mining attraction: Gold Dredge 8. The family has developed a tour in the heart of the gold fields where the first gold strikes attracted miners from the Klondike. They have incorporated large scale industrial mining and the smaller 'Mom and Pop' side of mining into an all-encompassing tour that also features the Trans Alaska Pipeline and a replica of the Tanana Valley Railroad.

Can I do both the Riverboat Discovery and Gold Dredge 8 tours in one day?

Yes, our tours are designed so you can do both tours in one day. However, please note that these tours are not at the same location.

Are reservations required?

Although reservations are not required, they are highly recommended. We recommend making reservations as soon as you know the date you would like to go on our tours.

What time should I arrive for my tour?

We recommend arriving at the Riverboat Discovery at least 30 minutes prior to departure time. When you arrive at the Riverboat Discovery you will need to check in at our ticket counter to pick up your boarding passes.

We recommend arriving at Gold Dredge 8 at least 15 minutes prior to departure time. When you arrive at Gold Dredge 8 you will need to check in at our train station in the parking lot to pick up your boarding passes.

How do I get to your location?

The Riverboat Discovery is located a few miles from Fairbanks International Airport. Take Airport Way West towards the airport; take a right onto Dale Road; continue about 1/2 mile and take a right onto Discovery Drive; we are located at the end of Discovery Drive.

Gold Dredge 8 is located about 25 minutes outside of Fairbanks on the Old Steese Highway. Take the Steese Highway (Route 2) North; take a left onto Goldstream Road; take a left onto Old Steese Highway (the first cross-road); our entrance is the first driveway on the right.

How long should I allow to get to each location?

The Riverboat Discovery is roughly 7 miles from downtown Fairbanks. We recommend allowing 20 minutes to get from downtown Fairbanks to the Riverboat Discovery.

Gold Dredge 8 is roughly 10 miles from downtown Fairbanks. We recommend allowing 25 minutes to get from downtown Fairbanks to Gold Dredge 8.

What address do I enter in my GPS to get to your location?

Riverboat Discovery: 1975 Discovery Drive, Fairbanks, AK 99709

Gold Dredge 8: 1803 Old Steese Highway North, Fairbanks, AK 99712

I don’t have a car. What is the best way to get to the Riverboat Discovery and/or Gold Dredge 8?

We recommend renting a car while in Fairbanks so you can explore the beauty of our widespread community. Many local hotels offer shuttles to the Riverboat Discovery. We recommend checking with the front desk at your hotel for the best transportation option to the Riverboat Discovery. Many of our Riverboat Discovery guests arrive via taxi or shuttle. We do not recommend taking a taxi to our Gold Dredge 8 location. It is outside of town and a taxi would be quite expensive. We recommend either renting a car or checking into a shuttle service such as Go North (907-452-9999) or Airlink (907-452-3337).

What should I bring on my tour?

We recommend bringing a camera and a light jacket.

What should I wear on my tour?

We always suggest wearing layers. A portion of our tours at both locations are outdoors where you are exposed to the elements. Our boats at the Riverboat Discovery have heated/air-conditioned decks for your comfort. The train at Gold Dredge 8 is open air and has a roof.

Is the tour ever cancelled due to the weather?

In our 70+ year history, we have never cancelled a tour due to the weather. If it is sprinkling rain, we provide ponchos, seat cushions and umbrellas for our guests at both locations. If it is pouring rain at the Riverboat Discovery, we will bring the village tour onto the boat.

Will I see wildlife?

You will see reindeer as part of the tour at the Riverboat Discovery.

Will there be a Bush Pilot Demonstration Today?

We strive to have every part of the tour available each day, however several weather factors can ground the planes doing the demonstration. We may cancel the Bush Pilot Demonstration due to severe winds, fog, ice flows, or any other weather conditions that make it unsafe to fly on that day.

Is there anything available to eat on the tour?

We have complimentary coffee and fresh donuts at the Riverboat Discovery. If you are looking for something more than donuts, we have three options available at the Riverboat Discovery: Discovery Dining Hall, where we serve a hearty miner’s stew (vegetarian and gluten-free options available upon request); galleys on board the boats that have snack food (reindeer dogs, chili, chips, etc.); Captain’s Corner, where we offer lunch boxes (sandwiches, salad, chips and a soda). We also serve locally made ice cream on the boats and at Captain’s Corner in the gift shop. At Gold Dredge 8, we serve complimentary freshly baked cookies, coffee and hot chocolate.

Is there assigned seating on the boat or train?

No, seating is on a first come first served basis. Every seat on board is a great seat. We have TV monitors on every deck and train car that feature a live broadcast and provide supplementary informational footage.

Is there alcohol available for purchase?

Yes, at the Riverboat Discovery, we serve beer and wine on board our boats and in the Discovery Dining Hall.

Are there restrooms on the boat and train?

At the Riverboat Discovery, there are restrooms available on the boats, at our village and in our gift shop. At the Gold Dredge 8, there are restrooms available at our train station and in the gift shop.

How long is the tour and how often do tours run?

The tour at the Riverboat Discovery is three hours long. The Gold Dredge 8 tour is two hours long. Both of our tours run twice a day from mid-May to mid-September.

I purchased my ticket through an on-line agency. Do I need to check-in on-site?

Yes, you will need to check in at our ticket counter/train station to exchange your voucher for a boarding pass.

What is your refund policy?

We offer a full refund if you cancel your reservation up to 48 hours prior to your scheduled tour time. After 48 hours, we do not offer a refund but you can reschedule your tour for another time.

Are your tours wheelchair accessible?

Yes, our tours are wheelchair accessible . At the Riverboat Discovery, wheelchairs must board at the stern (back of the boat near the paddle wheel). When you arrive please notify an associate at the ticket counter or collection booth as we require wheelchairs to pre-board and be escorted by a trained Deckhand. Our Athabascan Village has gravel paths that allow easy access. If you need assistance at the Athabascan Village please notify a Deckhand. At Gold Dredge 8, we have certain train cars that are wheelchair accessible. When you arrive notify the associate that is assisting with boarding and they will direct you to the appropriate train car.

Are animals allowed on the boat or train?

Due to customer allergies, we only allow designated trained service animals.

Is the paddle wheel decorative?

No, the paddle wheel is used to power the boat.

Are the tours appropriate for young children?

Yes, we find that all ages enjoy our tours.

1975 Discovery Drive Fairbanks, AK 99709

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Riverboat Discovery Sternwheeler Cruise in Fairbanks

Get a taste of the colorful history and cultural traditions in the great interior region of alaska..

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Home » City-Based Day Tours » Fairbanks » Riverboat Discovery Sternwheeler Cruise in Fairbanks

Day Tour Details

What's included:.

• Narrated tour onboard the Riverboat Discovery III
• All taxes and fees

What's Not Included:

Meals and transfers to and from your hotel.

Riverboat Discovery Cruise Experience: Take a Video Tour:

Dates & Rates

Contact us to book this tour..

Thank you for your interest in this tour! At this time, it is not currently available to book online. Please feel free to continue to peruse our website for more Alaska travel ideas. If you would like options and information from our team of Alaska experts, please call 1-866-317-3325 or fill out the form below.

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Fairbanks Sightseeing Tours

Riverboat Discovery Cruise

Approximately 5¼ hours

May 15 -September 15

1:00pm (from hotel)

Per Person - $99.95

• Snack Included
• Easy Activity Level
• Family Friendly

Enjoy a cruise on the Chena and Tanana rivers aboard an authentic sternwheeler and watch a bush pilot take off and land from a riverbank landing strip. From late June through early August, these waters teem with salmon. As the paddle wheel continues to churn the waters, witness the “wedding of the rivers.” When the clear waters of the Chena meet the glacier-fed Tanana, the result is clouds of silt that rise and fall over the river. Make a stop at the home of a late four-time Iditarod champion, meet some winning sled dogs and witness a sled-dog demonstration. Next, you’ll disembark the sternwheeler for a guided tour through a replica of an Athabascan Indian Village where you will learn about local life in depth.

Special Note

Grab and go lunch items are available at an additional charge.

This tour can only be booked in conjunction with a Gray Line Alaska package. To add this tour to your package, please call 1-888-425-1737.

Excursions Riverboat Discovery Cruise

Riverboat discovery cruise.

Departs from Fairbanks

Description

Welcome aboard! Take a ride on the authentic sternwheeler Riverboat Discovery III for a fully-narrated 3-1/2 hour cruise along the Chena and Tanana Rivers. See a bush plane demonstration. Visit the home and kennels of the late four-time Iditarod winner Susan Butcher. Gain insight into the ancient Athabascan Indian culture with a one-hour visit to an authentic Athabascan Indian Village.

Alaskan Native guides will take you ashore for a personalized tour of the village where you’ll discover traditional Native lifestyles. Learn how the wolf, fox, martin, and beaver were used to provide food and protection in the harsh Arctic climate. Enjoy the work of an Athabascan beadwork artist.

Back on the boat, watch a fish wheel in operation and see the ‘Wedding of the Rivers’ where the Chena and Tanana Rivers converge. End the tour at Steamboat Landing and Discovery Trading Post which features Captain Jim’s Gourmet Smoked Salmon.

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HEART OF LOUISIANA: Mississippi River Delta

BATON ROUGE, La. (WAFB) - For some tourists, this delta boat tour provides a chance to see where the Mississippi River ends as it drains one of the world’s larger watersheds.

“It’s part of 32 states, two Canadian provinces,” said Richie Blink.

Blink operates Delta Discovery Tours. He mixes science and history into a lesson on the Mississippi River Delta, its past and its future.

“So down here, closer to the coast,” said Blink.

First there’s a slideshow that explains the forces at work, both natural and manmade.

“The delta’s very much like a living being that’s sort of been a bit of a straight jacket, or almost like a jail cell today from all the human activity,” Blink continued.

The tour begins on the west side of the river, an area where fishing communities and industries are protected by levees, but where historic bayou and wetlands have dissolved into open bays. Rocks line a shoreline in an effort to slow erosion, and black mangrove trees also help.

“I would describe it as a three dimensional biological barrier that’s gonna knock down storm surge. We can’t do everything with levees and concrete here” said Blink.

There have always been changes to the River Delta as it slowly shifts back and forth across Louisiana’s coastline.

“Say it would take 2000 years for one of these old deltas to go away. The humans have sped that up into just a little bit more than a century, you know, between the canal digging levee building, the oil and gas activity that we’ve had here. Louisiana’s economy hasn’t been very kind to the coast,” Blink said.

But this is a tale of two deltas, the vanishing wetlands on the west side of the river, and a growing delta across the Mississippi to the east. Here a century old river levee has crumbled and washed away. Sediment rich water from the Mississippi surges to the east through Neptune Pass.

“This area started converting over a freshwater marsh. There’s much more biodiversity here now,” said Blink.

The shallow freshwater marsh attracts a variety of birds and other wildlife, including alligators. Thousands of willow trees have been planted to help hold the newly formed land together. Nicole Pezold Hancock, who’s originally from New Orleans, but lives in New Jersey, made her first trip into the River Delta.

“The thing that really surprised me was how quickly the open water can grow land. How the wetlands can heal themselves,” said Hancock.

But a widening breach creates other problems, less water in the river for large ships, and the risk of the river changing course. Rocks have been placed below the surface to slow the flow. With all that, you know, all that you’ve seen and observed about the Mississippi River Delta, what do you see as its future?

“The river’s always gonna end somewhere, and it’s up to the humans to decide how far inland we’re gonna let it roll,” Blink said.

This tour shows the forces at work, the levees and land loss, and the potential for creating new land along a river that has shaped this delta for thousands of years.

More information on the Delta Discovery Tour and other outdoor adventures can be found on Heart of Louisiana’s website .

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New chartered Kentucky River riverboat tour available in Clark County

Published 11:30 am Monday, June 24, 2024

By Matt Cizek

In places like Frankfort, chartered riverboat tours along the Kentucky River have long been promoted as tourist or recreational opportunities. 

A new one is now being offered for Clark Countians. 

The first and—to date—only chartered river tour of the Kentucky River Tour off Lock 10, also known as Ford Pool, is now available at Three Trees Canoe & Kayak rental service at 300 Athens Boonesboro Road. 

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The tour is available courtesy of Nathan and Jessa Turner, owners of HomeGrown HideAways in Berea. They have a 30-foot pontoon boat with a capacity for ten passengers, five if fishing. 

“Boonesboro was the closest [ramp] that we could get the boat in and out of the water, and then going down, we saw this place, and we said. ‘Oh, maybe we [should] rent dock space; that way, we don’t have to haul the boat back and forth from Berea,’” said Jessa Turner. “We can go between Boonesboro [State Park] and Valley View [Ferry], and if you want to do the whole round trip, it’s [going to] take at least five to six hours.” 

The available excursions can be chosen for anywhere from four to eight hours, while the opportunities for what to do are flexible. 

“We don’t have a set route or destination…if you want to stop and fish or swim or pull over and fish, or if you just want to cruise…you make the call,” she said. “We’ll just chauffeur you.” 

More information, including how to sign up, can be found at https://www.homegrownhideaways.org/pontoon-boat-rides.html. 

Navigator Nathan Turner has taken boater education and safety courses for traveling up and down the Kentucky River, which he estimates could reach about 16 feet deep at its center. 

As one travels, there’s much to experience. 

The land offers a rich history, and various animal life—including coyotes, deer, turtles, herons, vultures, and more—can be observed. 

Numerous creek entrances, utilized for paddling, canoeing, and other outdoor activities, are frequently found. 

“You can get out and walk up the creek and fish…that’s where the trout are,” said Nathan Turner. “Boone Creek Outfitters [has] ziplines that run through here, and they also do trout fishing so that you can hire a trout guide.” 

Science enthusiasts can enjoy the sights and smells emanating from air shafts in locations historically used for limestone mining, along with other geological data. 

While the boat travels well below different roadways, individuals can still pass by locations such as Proud Mary’s BBQ in Lexington as they enter Fayette County river property. 

Bathrooms are on the boat, though individuals are encouraged to utilize them beforehand. 

Other amenities are also available, such as life jackets, fishing poles, bug spray, and sunscreen. 

The variety of opportunities offers plenty of satisfaction, which the Turners look to pass on. 

“I just like being on the boat,” Jessa Turner said. “It’s [a] place where I don’t work.”

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My Review on trip to Zhangjiajie, Hunan, Chengdu, Sichuan, Chongqing, Yangtze River, Yichang, Hubei, Huangshan, Anhui with China Discovery

I traveled to Zhangjiajie, Hunan, Chengdu, Sichuan, Chongqing, Yangtze River, Yichang, Hubei, Huangshan, Anhui with China Discovery' s private tour package in May, 2024. Below are my review and tips I want to share with China Discovery's customers. Feel free to contact China Discovery for more details.

We just came back from amazing 3 weeks in China. Usually I plan all our trip myself, occasionally purchasing tours in some locations, but it was our first trip to China, we do not speak the language, so I decided to explore options to hire tour guides. We started with booking our Yangtze river cruise when I was contacted by Phoebe from China Discovery. She was very professional, details oriented, patient as we changed our dates and requests several times. She provided all details and answered all our questions immediately. We decided to book other tours with her as Phoebe seems like know what we are looking for and need. She customized the tours offered on their official website, adding some sights and activities we wanted.

Before the trip she kept reminding about some to do stuff for the trip.

Eventually, I planned our entire China itinerary, we were had tours with different guides in Beijing and Xian (I booked them before starting to work with Phoebe), we used China Discovery in Zhangjiajie N.P., Chengdu, Chongqing, 4d/3n Yangtze river cruise, Yichang and Huangshan, and we were independent in Shanghai. China Discovery also booked all our internal flights and train tickets, hotels, and upgraded us to business class for one flight with no additional cost. Navigating some parts of the country, for example Zhangjiajie N.P., is difficult without knowledge of Mandarin. Even in Beijing and Shanghai, very few people speaks English, therefore having a knowledgeable local guid is a must specially if you visit a country for the first time,

All our guides (Tim, Jason, David, Nancy and Jessica (June)) spoke good to great English. They made sure we are comfortable, had plenty of water, their recommendations for food was very good. They adjusted our schedule as needed.

The choice of hotels was very good. And, of course, the program was very good tailored. I suggest to install WeChat, it is the best communication tool with your guides to setup meeting points, and report the problem to main office if any and make last minute adjustments if necessary.

I highly recommend China Discovery as your tour agency in China. We certainly planning to come and discover different part of this great country and will hire China Discovery again as our travel operator.

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Most Valuable Reviews Our Customers listed on TripAdvisor

• Best Tour Ever Organized by Wendy Dan.
• 69-day Private Tour to Discover a lot of China
• 2 Week Family Vacation in China
• Xian, Terracotta Warriors, Using High Speed Train
• Fantastic 2 Weeks around China
• Mt. Huangshan and Anhui Villages 3 Day Tour
• Private Family Tour of Beijing, Sichuan and Xian
• Solo Tour (Beijing/Xian/Yunnan/Yangtze/Beijing)

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Amazing Travel Stories

Besides the origin feedback telling their satisfaction about their travel, some customers also nicely shared their travel stories in details. You can read their stories and seek for more inspiration.

Elie & Marie has successfully enjoyed their wonderful and romantic 10 week couple's private vacation and experienced a lot of interesting things in 32 destinations around vast China!

•  Elie (Belgium)
•  (69 Days) 2019.09.04~2019.11.11
•  Beijing - Hohhot - Datong - Pingyao - Luoyang - Xian - Jiayuguan ... Chengdu - Yangtze - Zhangjiajie - Yunnan - Guilin... Hangzhou - Shanghai

We customized three big group China trips for tens of VIPKid English teachers and their family members to visit Xian, Shanghai, etc. from Beijing and meet their students off Internet in China in 2019!

•  VIPKid Teachers (USA/Canada)
•  (9-21 Days) 2019
•  Beijing - Xian - Shanghai - Suzhou –Shanghai - Hangzhou - Huangshan... Yangtze Cruise...Chengdu - Beijing

Winston and his wife have traveled to many world places during the past 21 years and experienced the best vacation this time to explore China's west and east, north and south parts!

•  Winston (USA)
•  (22 Days) 2019.05.17~2019.6.07
•  Beijing - Xian - Lhasa - Chengdu - Guilin - Longsheng - Yangshuo - Chongqing - Yangtze River Cruise - Yichang - Shanghai - Suzhou - Beijing

Jack and their partners would get back to Tibet from the distant USA every year, and until now, they’ve visited Tibet for 6 times. Every time, they had wonderful time enjoying the highlights of Tibet, and helped the blind, brought them hope of life and encouraged them.

•  Jack (USA)
•  (6 Times) 2013~2019
•  Tibet

The distinctive black and white animal is a national treasure in China and one of the rarest, most endangered bears in the world. A one-on-one encounter with a giant panda is a bucket list highlight and a must-do when you are in China. The time I spent witnessing such human dedication is truly eye-opening...

•  Panda Volunteer Star: Ms. Rachel Grant (British)
•  Chengdu - Dujiangyan

Lawson's Family had an amazing family China tour with their two adopted daughters from China and touchingly helped their adopted ethnic little girl regain confidence.

•  Lawson (UK)
•  (19 Days) 2018.10.17~2018.11.04
•  Shenzhen - Xiamen - Yongding - Guangzhou - ... - Yangshuo - Guilin - Chengdu - Hangzhou - Shanghai - Suzhou - Shanghai

Recommended Tours

Beijing / Xian / Shanghai

Shanghai / Suzhou / Hangzhou / Huangshan

Shanghai / Guilin / Yangshuo / Guilin / Chengdu / Lhasa / Xian / Beijing

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Welcome to Moscow, one of the most amazing cities in the world! You will be met at the airport and transferred on board the five-star ship Mustai Karim. After the check-in, you will meet the ship’s crew and enjoy the welcome cocktail.

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