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Explore the Wild!

Your Alaska & Yukon Travel Expert

Alaska in a Nutshell

8 days / 7 nights, from/to Anchorage or from/to Fairbanks

This itinerary is the perfect road trip package if you only have a very limited amount of time available but still want to see as much of Alaska as possible. You will see highlights like Denali and Kenai Fjords National Park, explore cities like Anchorage and Fairbanks and drive a fair bit of the scenic roads. It doesn’t allow much time for explorations but gives you a general impression of the state (and you may wish to come back!).

This road trip package suits ideally as a pre- or post program to a cruise or as basic frame for curated itineraries. If you have a bit more time, extra nights in Denali and Seward are highly recommended.

Itinerary
Accommodations
Rates And Services
Optional Excursions
Request

Highlights

See Alaska’s major attractions

Bus ride into Denali National Park

Glacier and wildlife cruise into the Kenai Fjords National Park

GoNorth SUV 4×4 with gravel road permission

Day 1 Anchorage

Arrival in Anchorage. Spend the day exploring Alaska’s biggest city. There is lots to do: Visit the museums, enjoy a walk along the waterfront or explore the downtown area.

Day 2 Anchorage to Denali (231 miles)

Drive on the Glenn and Parks Highways to Denali National Park. The road is paved the whole way. Weather permitting you can catch a great view of Mt. Denali. Overnight in Healy or close to the Denali National Park entrance.

Day 3 Denali to Fairbanks (125 miles)

In the morning enjoy the Park Transit Bus to Mile 43. This 4.5-hour bus ride leaves time for own explorations on foot.
The tour offers a wonderful and diverse experience with incredible scenery and some of the best opportunities to view the parks wildlife. Afterwards enjoy the short drive to Fairbanks, the “Golden Heart City”.

Day 4 Fairbanks to Paxson/Denali Hwy
(135/217 miles)

Drive the Richardson Highway south through the mountains of the Alaska Range. Overnight will be south of Delta Junction or further south and 40 miles into the Denali  Highway. Explore this true Alaskan gravel road, which only a few tourists get to see, on your own pace. Only the first 20 miles are paved and the Highway offers incredible views and some nice hiking opportunities.

Day 5 Paxson/Denali Hwy to Matanuska Area
(187/145 miles)

This beautiful drive from Paxson to the Matanuska Area leads you along the Glenn Highway, declared as National Scenice Byway in 2002. Scenic views of mountains as well as the Matanuska Glacier will showcase nature’s beauty today.

Day 6 Matanuska to Seward
(242 miles)

The Glenn Highway closely parallels the Matanuska River towards Anchorage. After a possible lunch stop in Alaska’s biggest city, you continue southward on the Seward Highway to Seward. The highway offers outstanding sightseeing and wildlife viewing opportunities, including spawning salmon and a number of good hiking trails. Seward is a small fishing village with an excellent aquarium, the Alaska SeaLife Center.

Day 7 Seward to Anchorage
(132 miles)

In the morning you will join the Kenai Fjords National Park Cruise Tour. This 6 hour whale-watching/glacier cruise takes you to Holgate Glacier. On the way discover the diverse marine wildlife and enjoy an included lunch snack. After your cruise, depart Seward for the drive back to Anchorage.

Day 8 Anchorage

Your tour ends today. Return your rental car and depart Anchorage

Accommodations

This “Classic” Alaska Budget road trip package is the right choice for you, if you like to stay at good, clean accommodations with a good price/service-ratio. It’s a mix of basic hotels/motels and typical cabins, lodges or inns. Most of the accommodations have an adjoining or nearby restaurant.

We also offer this road trip package with comfort level accommodations. Please inquire for rates and information for the upgraded version by adding your request in the message box of below inquiry form.

Tours you may like to add

This road trip package has a fast pace and additional tours may require additional nights. However an early morning Arctic Circle flight see from Fairbanks or a tour with a helicopter to glaciers near Palmer could be added in.

RATES 2025 WITH GONORTH SUV

Available from May 28th to September 5. / Rates from/to Fairbanks upon request.

From/to Anchorage (Budget version)

Room Per Person Booking Code
Double $2185 GON201
Single $4060 GON200
Triple $1605 GON202
Quad (one room with two beds) $1430 GON203

INCLUDING

  • All overnight accommodations (budget category) including tax, some with breakfast
  • GoNorth 5-passenger SUV 4×4 with unlimited miles, standard Collision Damage Waiver (CDW reduces responsibility for damage to the rental unit up to USD 2000.00 per incident. A security deposit of USD 2000.00 will be charged upon pick up).
  • Gravel road permission included.
  • Denali National Park Transit Bus (National Park fee to be paid on the spot)
  • 6hr Kenai Fjord National Park cruise
  • Detailed itinerary

CANCELLATION POLICY

Up to 31 days before departure date 30%
30 – 21 days before departure date 50%
20 – 14 days before departure date 75%
13 – 0 days before departure date 100 %

Request

Use this form to request a non-binding quote for our Alaska in a Nutshell package. One of our destination specialists will contact you shortly with specific pricing and itinerary information.

You can use the box below to let us know about any additions or changes you would like (upgrade version) to make to the package.

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