This comprehensive round-trip itinerary from Anchorage takes in the very best of Alaska and Canada’s wild Yukon Territory, including Denali, Kenai Fjords and Kluane National Parks.
Two weeks’ exploration of the Yukon and Alaska offers a vast range of incredible landscapes, from the highest mountain peaks to pristine glaciers, mighty rivers and thundering waterfalls. During your self-drive holiday you’ll have the opportunity to spot a variety of wildlife, experience Gold Rush and First Nations history, and visit Alaska’s biggest cities of Anchorage and Fairbanks.
This leisurely paced self-drive itinerary includes the chance to drive the evocatively named ‘Top of the World’ Highway, explore Denali National Park, cruise the Kenai Fjords (cruise not included) and enjoy Dawson City’s quirky architecture and colourful nightlife. This really will be a journey of epic vistas and lasting memories!
Itinerary
On arrival in Anchorage make your way to your hotel. The remainder of the day is at leisure to explore Alaska’s largest city.
Collect your rental car this morning and start your journey north via Talkeetna towards the vast wilderness of Denali National Park.
Enjoy a guided bus tour into the heart of Denali National Park today (approx. 4-6 hours in duration). This vast wilderness is home to bears, moose, wolves and caribou, as well as sparkling lakes, rivers and towering mountain peaks. The more-often seen small mammals include arctic ground squirrels, red squirrels, foxes and marmots can also be spotted. The bird life of Denali is also varied and impressive. Golden eagles are often seen as well as ravens, mew gulls, gray jays and occasionally bald eagles.
Continue north to Fairbanks, Alaska’s second largest city, situated at the confluence of the Chena and Tanana Rivers. Relaxed, quiet and perfect for strolling, Fairbanks offers a nice contrast to the vast wilderness of the previous days’ drives.
Optional Experiences
Sternwheeler Riverboat Tour, Fairbanks
Discover Utqiagvik in a Day, Fairbanks
Allow plenty of time for today’s drive along the Alaska Highway to Tok. As you follow the course of the Tanacross River, keep your eyes peeled for wildlife such as moose and bears.
Set out on one of the truly great wilderness drives of North America. The stunning Top of the World highway traverses mountain tops and ridges as you cross the international border into Canada.
Enjoy a day immersing yourself in the fascinating history of Dawson City. Colourful Dawson was the centre of the greatest gold rush that the world had ever seen at the turn of the 20th century, and the town still features many of its original wooden buildings. Drive out to the nearby goldfields, visit Bonanza Creek and try your hand at panning for gold. An evening’s entertainment back in town at historic Diamond Tooth Gerties, a casino and dancehall, is highly recommended to complete the Dawson experience!
We advise an early start for today’s long drive south. Follow the Yukon and Stewart River valleys, passing the Five Finger Rapids and other scenic viewpoints as you approach the ‘wilderness city’ of Whitehorse, capital of the Yukon Territory.
Continuing south you will cross back into the USA as you arrive at the port town of Skagway. The town’s clapboard buildings take you back to the early gold rush days; it was from here that the fortune seekers started their arduous journey over White Pass to reach the Yukon River en route to the Klondike gold fields.
Drive via Klondike and Alaska Highway to Haines Junction. Haines Junction is the gateway to Kluane National Park – an optional sightseeing flight over the park offers spectacular views and provides a true sense of the immense scale of this glacier-filled mountain wilderness.
Another early start is recommended, as you re-enter the USA today and head back to Tok.
Follow the spectacular Glenn Highway today, skirting the edge of the vast Wrangell St Elias National Park.
Pass through Anchorage as you make your way to Seward. The dramatic journey along the Seward Highway climbs through the mountains that form the spine of the Kenai Peninsula, providing breathtaking views and unbeatable lakeside picnic spots. Beyond Seward’s harbour the waters are rich in marine life, whilst a backdrop of glaciers, steep fjords and mountain peaks provide countless photo opportunities.
Seward is the gateway to Kenai Fjords National Park and a cruise to see glaciers and marine wildlife is highly recommended today. Later, make your way back along the Seward Highway to Anchorage for your final night in Alaska.
Optional Experiences
Kenai Fjords National Park Cruise, Seward
Your tour ends as you drop off your rental car at the airport.
Prices & departures
What's Included
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Accommodation in rooms with private bathroom
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Car hire including unlimited mileage and loss damage waiver
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Guided bus tour into Denali National Park (approx. 4-6 hours)
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24 hour emergency assistance from our team during your holiday
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No surcharge guarantee
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Full financial protection
From £3712 Excluding Flights
14 Nights
May-Aug
Prices are per person based upon 2 sharing, subject to availability. Your Travel Specialist will confirm the exact price based upon your tailored requirements, inclusions, and travel dates.
Make this trip yours
Every trip you see here can be adapted to suit you using inside-out knowledge to create one-off experiences created just for you.
Doug
30
Grizzlies seen in the wild
11
Species of whale seen
We create holidays that are as individual as you are. And we’ve been doing it for 40 years, crafting each and every holiday using our in-depth knowledge and enthusiasm for our destinations. Whatever your brief, we’ll create an amazing trip for you to get excited about. That might mean adapting one of our existing itineraries or we’ll build you one from scratch.
Experts with real experience
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Darren
Travel Specialist
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Jenna
Travel Specialist
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Kieran
Travel Specialist
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Doug
Travel Specialist
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Phoebe
Travel Specialist
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Dawn
Head of Customer Experience
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Gary
Travel Specialist
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Ben
Travel Specialist
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Jo
Travel Specialist
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Freya
Travel Specialist
