Day 1 Anchorage
After your arrival, explore Alaska’s biggest city: Take a walk on the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail or take the Town Trolley to get a first overview of the city. There is lots to do in Anchorage. The Visitor Center is a good starting point to collect information.
Day 2 Anchorage to Seward (by train)
Catch the early morning train to Seward and enjoy the stunning scenery on your way south to the coastal town of Seward. This is the most beautiful train ride in Alaska, taking you along Turnagain Arm and snow capped mountains. Upon arrival in Seward you will join a 6 hour cruise into the Kenai Fjords National Park, giving you the opportunity to spot marine wildlife and glaciers.
Day 3 Seward to Anchorage (by train)
You will have most of the day to explore Seward on your own: Visit the SeaLife Center, stroll through the town center or spend the day visiting the nearby Exit Glacier. In the late afternoon the train takes you back to Anchorage. Arrival time is approximately 10:15 PM.
Day 4 Anchorage to Talkeetna (by train)
Take the train to Talkeetna, a charming artist town with a fantastic location at the confluence of the Chulitna, Susitna and Talkeetna Rivers and with great views of the Alaska Range. The population is highly creative, thus you will find many imaginative shops and businesses as well as the mystique of its mountaineering community.
Day 5 Talkeetna to Denali (by train)
Today it’s on to famous Denali National Park. On clear days you can enjoy great views of the mountain ranges while you relax on the train. You will arrive in the afternoon and have the remainder of the day to get familiar with the region.
Day 6 Denali National Park
Get the experience of Denali National Park on your 4.5 hour guided bus tour. You will see the beauty of the National Park and its tundra landscape while following the Park Road to the East Fork historical cabin. On route watch for wildlife as moose, Dall sheep, caribous, foxes and with some luck bears are often spotted during the trip.
Day 7 Denali to Fairbanks (by train)
You have some more time in the Denali area before catching the train to Fairbanks. You may go back to the park entrance and visit the exhibitions at the Visitor Center, the Murie Science Center or the Sled Dog Demonstration. Arrival in Fairbanks is at approximately 8 PM.
Day 8 Fairbanks to Chena Hot Springs (56 miles)
Pick up your rental car and drive through the scenic Chena Hot Springs Recreation Area to the equally named resort. On almost every drive moose can be spotted along the road. There are many good options for hiking. At the resort you can relax in the hot springs, join various activities or visit the ice museum.
Day 9 Chena Hot Springs to Fairbanks (56 miles)
Return to Fairbanks. There is a lot to do in Alaska’s second largest city: Experience the old days at Pioneer Park, learn about history and cultures in the interesting museums or take a dinner cruise down the Chena River.
Day 10 Fairbanks to Tok (204 miles)
Leave Fairbanks on the Richardson Highway. On your way you can visit Santa Claus in North Pole and also get a very close look at the famous Alaska pipeline that spans all the way from Prudhoe Bay to Valdez.
Day 11 Tok to Dawson City (186 miles)
Driving the scenic Taylor and the Top of the World Highway will take you through the small community of Chicken and some buildings at the border. Otherwise it will be a day out in the middle of nature. The Taylor Highway is a typical Alaskan gravel road and road conditions are difficult at times. The Top of the World Highway rewards with panoramic views of the surrounding hills and mountains. Cross the border into Canada and spend the night in Dawson City, the heart of the Klondike Gold Rush.
Day 12 Dawson City
Enjoy a day at leisure in Dawson City and take in the gold rush atmosphere. Tour the Klondike Gold Fields and try your luck panning for gold. You should not miss driving or hiking up “The Dome”, the rounded peak above Dawson City, for a panoramic view over the town and the Yukon and Klondike river valleys.
Day 13 Dawson City to Whitehorse (331 miles)
Drive the Klondike Highway south to Whitehorse, the capital of the Yukon. Relics from the gold rush era are visible along the roadsides. When you arrive in Whitehorse, take some time to explore this charming town and stroll along the riverside.
Day 14 White Pass & Yukon Route Day Excursion
Today you will experience another train ride while travelling the famous White Pass and Yukon Route to Skagway and back. The tracks across the White Pass are considered a technical masterpiece and lead through amazing scenery. White Pass & Yukon Railroad is the “Scenic Railway of the World”. It climbs almost 3000 feet in just 20 miles and features steep grades of up to 3.9%, cliff-hanging turns of 16 degrees, two tunnels and numerous bridges and trestles.
The excursion starts with a bus trip from Whitehorse to Fraser where you will board the train to Skagway. After approximately 2 hours in Skagway you will return to Whitehorse by motor coach.
Day 15 Whitehorse to Haines Junction (100 miles)
It’s only a short drive to Haines Junction. The small community is the gateway to explore the Kluane National Park.
*** If you want to relax for a few days, we would recommend adding days and stay at the Southern Lake Resort ***
Day 16 Haines Junction / Kluane NP
The Kluane National Park is the Canadian side of the Wrangell St. Elias National Park with incredible glaciers. Take an optional scenic flight or explore the hiking trails in the area.
Day 17 Haines Junction to Tok (290 miles)
The scenic drive takes you along the shores of the beautiful Kluane Lake, the largest lake in the Yukon. With the right light you can see spectacular reflections of the surrounding mountains in the water. Later today you will cross the border and re-enter Alaska.
Day 18 Tok to McCarthy (261 miles)
Today you will drive to the amazing Wrangell St. Elias National Park, the largest National Park in the US. Nine of the 16 highest peaks in North America are located in this park. The road ends just before McCarthy, a very charming ghost town that was once an important town for the world’s formerly most productive copper mine in Kennicott.
Optional: Instead of driving the gravel road to McCarthy, it is also possible to include a round trip flight from Chitina to McCarthy.
Day 19 McCarthy / Kennicott
Free day to explore the area. Go on an optional glacier hike, visit the old copper mine in Kennicott on a guided tour, take a hike in the park or go on a scenic flight and enjoy the incredible scenery from above.
Day 20 McCarthy to Matanuska/Palmer (202 – 274 miles)
The scenic Glenn Hwy offers some good opportunities for hiking or fishing. See Sheep Mountain and the Matanuska Glacier before you enter the Mat-Su Valley either today or tomorrow. This valley gets the most hours of sunshine in Alaska and is therefore the prime agricultural area. Overnight in the Sheep Mountain Area or in Palmer.
Day 21 Matanuska/Palmer to Anchorage (41 – 72 miles)
A short drive takes you back to Anchorage. Visit some more attractions or do some shopping before choosing one of the various pubs and restaurants for your last dinner in Alaska.
Day 22 Anchorage
Your tour ends today. Return your rental car and depart Anchorage.
