Fly Drive USA & Canada

Depart the UK on your chosen scheduled flight to Anchorage. Upon arrival, collect your rental car and proceed to your hotel.

Drive the Glenn Highway north to Wasilla and on to Talkeetna. Stops can include a visit to the Alaska Native Heritage Centre. Talkeetna serves as a base camp for Denali  climbers; the community of 857 residents is located at the confluence of the Talkeetna and Susitna Rivers.

This morning, embark on a Wilderness Adventure Jet Boat tour. Stand in the splendor of Denali and the great Alaska Range from a spectacular vantage point on the Susitna River! The folklore, artifacts and a panoramic view of Denali in the Alaska Range combine to make this an unforgettable and unique Alaskan river adventure. After your jet boat tour, drive the Parks Highway north to Denali National Park, passing by incredible forest and mountain landscapes.

Today you can personalize your day by choosing one of these excursions:
Option 1. Denali Highway Jeep Excursion (Self-Drive Guided 4×4 Excursion) – Ranked #2 in ‘Drives of a Lifetime’ by National Geographic Traveller magazine, experience the natural wonders of Alaska’s Denali Highway — this time by Jeep! This 4-hour guided excursion travels along a 135 mi (217 km) gravel road & takes you off the beaten path in a 4 x 4 to enjoy scenic views of Denali, the Alaska Range, glaciers and wildlife.
Option 2. Tundra Wilderness Tour (Coach Tour) – This half day tour offers incredible scenery, a narrated history of the park road and opportunities to view the park’s wildlife inhabitants. Picturesque highlights include the craggy cliffside of Cathedral Mountain, wildlife rich Sable Pass and braided wash of the East Fork River in Denali National Park.
Option 3. Upgrade Option: Denali Summit Flightseeing (Small Aircraft) – Get a closer look at Alaska’s majestic Denali from the comfortable window seat of a small aircraft. Slip on your provided headset to hear commentary from your guide as you fly over the snow-covered peaks, jagged ridgelines, and glacier carved valleys of Denali National Park, and get within half a mile of the mountain peak.
Option 4. Upgrade option: Denali Glacier Landing (Helicopter) – Be immersed in the vastness of the Denali National Preserve. On your way to the massive Yanert Glacier, your pilot will serve as your guide through this unique glacially-carved environment. Soar over the rolling tundra, keeping an eye out for local residents – caribou, moose, bear, and Dall sheep. Snow capped peaks and glaciers abound on this journey before you set down on a river of ice.

Continue on the George Parks Highway north to Fairbanks. Accompanied by incredible forest and mountain landscapes, you drive through the communities of Healy, Nenana and Ester – an old mining camp. In the afternoon, climb aboard the Riverboat  Discovery III for an unforgettable three hour cruise into the Alaskan Interior, travelling the Chena and Tanana Rivers on the only authentic sternwheeler riverboat operating in Alaska. This narrated tour provides background on the area’s natural history and the Athabascan Indian culture.

Heading south, the Richardson Highway passes through stands of White birch and Black spruce, often photogenically close to the Tanana River. Soak up the raw beauty of the drive into the central Alaska Range, often paralleled by the Alaska pipeline.

Please note that due to the nature of the location, the accommodation this evening is basic tourist class.

The Top of the World Highway (please note this is a partly gravel road) brings you through spectacular backcountry and gold mining areas. When the highway reaches its highest elevation incredible views into far-reaching countryside open up. Before you reach Dawson City, you’ll cross the Yukon River by the government-run ferry.

A full day to visit the various historical sights of Dawson City: SS Keno – the last steamer to run the Yukon River from Whitehorse, the Jack London Interpretive Center with the poets original cabin, the city museum with audiovisual presentations, Dredge #4 – build in 1912 on famous Bonanza Creek, the Grand Palace Theatre – home of the Gaslight Follies Show and Diamond Tooth Gertie’s Casino with legal gambling tables and Can-Can floor shows. Do not miss the short drive on the Ridge Road to the top of the Midnight Dome with excellent views over Dawson, the Ogilvie Mountains, and the Yukon and Klondike Rivers.

Going south, enjoy the raw beauty of the surrounding landscape. Stopover at the Five Finger Rapids and hike down to the shore of the Yukon River. In late afternoon you will reach Yukon’s capital city, Whitehorse.

Time to explore the region and take advantage of all that Whitehorse has to offer. Visit the Yukon Wildlife Preserve (included), a unique wildlife viewing property featuring 10 species of northern Canadian mammals in their natural environment. Encompassing over 700 acres with various natural habitats, the Yukon Wildlife Preserve offers unparalleled wildlife viewing and photo opportunities.

Depart Whitehorse today for an an easy two hour drive along the historic Alaska Highway to Haines Junction. This town is the only thing not huge in Kluane country with a population of 800 residents, which is fewer than the number of grizzly bears in Kluane National Park. The park is home to Canada’s highest peak and the world’s largest non-polar Icefields that lie behind the façade of mountains that provide the town’s spectacular backdrop. For a truly unforgettable experience, take an air tour over the park. From above some of the planet’s largest glaciers, you’ll get a true sense of the scale and magnificence created by nature.

This morning go on a short hiking trip before driving north along the shores of beautiful Kluane Lake. Stopover at Sheep Mountain and look out for Dall sheep gracing alongside the mountain slopes. Your journey continues on the famous Alaska Highway through endless wilderness areas. Arrive in Tok, often referred to as the “Dog Mushing Capital of Alaska”. Welcome back to Alaska.

Please note that due to the nature of the location, the accommodation this evening is basic tourist class.

Your journey continues on the Glenn Highway, offering an impressive view of the Wrangell Mountains. Stopover at the historic roadhouse in Copper Center and watch native fish wheels at the nearby Copper River, providing an excellent salmon run. Shortly afterwards the Worthington Glacier peeks into view where a boardwalk leads to the toe of the glacier before arriving in Valdez.

Discover the magic of Alaska on this seven hour Columbia Glacier cruise from Valdez. A local captain and crew will guide you through the Trans Alaska Pipeline Terminal and Columbia Bay before arriving at Columbia Glacier, the largest tidewater glacier in South-central Alaska. Look out for wildlife along the way; if you’re lucky you could spot porpoises, puffins, sea lions and sea otters among other creatures.

Today you will drive back north on the Richardson Highway with great views of the Wrangell Mountains as you return to Glennallen (weather permitting). Here you follow the Glenn Highway towards Palmer/Anchorage until you reach Sheep Mountain Lodge. The rest of the day is at leisure to enjoy the scenic mountain views or recreational activities in the area. There are over 20 km/12 mi of trails near the lodge perfect for exploring. Birds and wildflowers abound. Maps are provided in each cabin for selfguided hiking.

Drive the Glenn Highway south to Anchorage. Highlights on this part of today’s trip include the Independence Mine in beautiful Hatcher Pass and the many communities in the Mat-Su Valley. This valley contains many farms and offers beautiful views of the Chugach Range. Upon arrival in Anchorage your incredible Alaska self drive adventure comes to an end. Relax and enjoy your last night.

You may choose to extend your holiday with extra time in Anchorage. If not, return your rental car and check in for your flight back to the UK.