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 Homer (222 miles)
Drive from Anchorage to Homer on the Seward and Sterling Highway. You will pass stunning mountain scenery and great wildlife viewing opportunities along your way. Homer is a quaint town nestled on the shore of Kachemak Bay offering breathtaking views of glaciers, mountains and wildlife.
Day 3 Homer
Explore the beautiful area at your own leisure. There are plenty of things to keep you occupied in Homer: Bear viewing flight see, Fishing charters, a visit to Halibut Cove, a stroll on the Spit, kayaking adventures. Stop by the Visitor Center for detailed information.
Day 4 Homer to Seward (173 miles)
Drive from Homer to Seward on the Sterling and Seward Highway. The Seward Highway offers outstanding sightseeing opportunities, including spawning salmon and a number of good hiking trails. Seward is a small fishing village with an excellent aquarium (Alaska SeaLife Center).
Day 5 Kenai Fjords National Park
On your 8.5 Hour Northwestern Fjord Cruise you will travel farther into Kenai Fjords National Park than any other cruise. Ideal for photographers, birders, and whale-watching enthusiasts, this small-vessel adventure cruise explores the remote, untouched area of Northwestern Fjord in Kenai Fjords National Park. This cruise provides the best opportunity for up-close views of wildlife including humpback whales, orca whales, Steller sea lions, harbor seals, seabirds, otters, and more. A complimentary light breakfast and hearty deli lunch is included. After the tour you have the remainder of the day at your own leisure.
Day 6 Seward to Palmer (168 miles)
Drive northward on the Seward Highway to Anchorage, and on the Glenn Highway, closely paralleling the Matanuska River, towards Palmer. Palmer lies within the MatSu area, Alaska’s most important agricultural area. Palmer is a community that is both a bit of pioneer Alaska as well as a modern-day commercial center for the Matanuska and Susitna valleys.
Day 7 Palmer to Paxson/Denali Hwy (210-250 miles)
Continue on the scenic Glenn Highway and enjoy mountain views and the Matanuska Glacier halfway between Palmer and Glennallen. The Glenn Highway was declared as National Scenic Byway in 2002 and offers spectacular views. The Richardson Highway takes you to the Paxson Area or further on 40 miles into the scenic Denali Highway.
Day 8 Paxson/Denali Hwy to Denali (120-161 miles)
Drive westward on the Denali Highway to Denali. This gravel road takes you along the southern slope of the Alaska Range mountains, in view of the glaciers and rocky peaks of this spectacular mountain range. Overnight near the Denali National Park entrance or in Healy.
Day 9 Denali National Park
Today you explore Denali National Park, you take a 4.5 hours bus tour into Denali National Park. This is one of your best opportunities to spot wildlife, including bears, moose, caribou, foxes and other wildlife up close. While the ride on the park shuttle bus is not narrated it gives you the freedom to get off the bus and do some hiking and afterwards take a different bus back to the park entrance.
Day 10 Denali to Fairbanks (121 miles)
The scenic drive on the Parks Highway to Fairbanks allows you plenty of time to explore a little on foot, either in town or in the forest. Fairbanks is no pulsing metropolis, but it does offer some interesting diversions and a scenic location on the shores of Chena River.
Day 11 Fairbanks
Day at leisure. You may want to continue on to Chena Hot Springs Road to Chena Hot Springs. Next to the road often moose can be spotted in the many rivers and ponds. Take advantage of a variety of activities at Chena Hot Springs, including hikes, hot spring baths, horseback riding, ATV rides, ice museum etc..
Day 12 Fairbanks to Tok (206 miles)
Drive to Tok on Richardson Highway and Alaska Highway. The Richardson Highway was Alaska’s first road, known to gold seekers in 1898 as the Valdez to Eagle trail. On the way to Tok you pass North Pole, where you can take a picture with Santa Claus.
Day 13 Tok to Dawson City (197 miles)
Travel on the impressive Taylor and Top of the World Highways to Dawson City. The Taylor Highway is a typical Alaskan gravel road, which can be in very good or very poor shape, depending on the season and weather. In the afternoon, you cross the Canadian border, the road conditions improve, and you reach Dawson City, heart of the Klondike Gold Rush.
Day 14 Dawson City
You have a free day in the Las Vegas of the North. Dawson City is an old-west gold rush town with an attitude. Enjoy the turn-of-the-century atmosphere and be sure to try the world-famous sourtoe cocktail…
Day 15 Dawson City to Whitehorse (330 miles)
Continue driving on the Klondike Loop to Whitehorse, capital city of the Yukon Territory. When you arrive in Whitehorse, take some time to explore this charming town, stroll along the riverside, and enjoy the cosmopolitan atmosphere of this little northern city.
Day 16 Whitehorse
Your trip ends today. Return your rental car and depart Whitehorse.
