Day 1 Anchorage to Seward | 204 km/127 mi
This morning travel along the Seward Highway towards scenic Turnagain Arm, a body of water featuring the world’s second highest tides at over 30 feet. Keep an eye out for Beluga whales chasing salmon in the bay or Dall sheep along the highway. A great stop for lunch is Alyeska Ski Resort in Girdwood where you can take the tram up Mt. Alyeska (optional). Other stops we recommend include Portage Glacier and its visitor centre, and in Seward, Exit Glacier and the SeaLife Centre.
Day 2 Seward | Full Day Northwestern Fjord Cruise or
Today we have arranged for you to take an all-day Kenai Fjords Cruise. Travel farther into Kenai Fjords National Park than with any other cruise and visit the magnificent Northwestern Fjord, home to three amazing tidewater glaciers, numerous alpine glaciers and marine wildlife like Stellar sea lions, seals, humpbacks, orcas and otters. (A continental breakfast & deli-style lunch is included onboard)
Add-on Option: Kenai Wilderness Lodge | 3 Days / 2 Nights
Day 2 Seward to Kenai Wilderness Lodge Fox Island | Cruise Kenai Fjord
This morning cruise to exclusive Fox Island for lunch and an afternoon of optional activities. After dinner prepared by a gourmet chef, enjoy an evening at leisure or a beach campfire. Overnight on Fox Island at Kenai Fjords Wilderness Lodge. (Lunch & dinner included today)
Day 3 Fox Island | Guided Sea Kayaking
Today, enjoy a guided sea kayak trip through the protected waters of Resurrection Bay. Look for puffins, sea lions and seals as you explore the rocky coves of Fox Island. You can even spot whales close to the shore. Overnight on Fox Island at Kenai Fjord Wilderness Lodge. (Breakfast, lunch & dinner included today)
Day 4 Fox Island to Seward | Northwestern Fjord Glacier Cruise
After a hot and hearty breakfast, you’ll depart this morning on the Northwestern Fjord Cruise. Travel farther into Kenai Fjords National Park than with any other cruise and visit the magnificent Northwestern Fjord, home to three amazing tidewater glaciers and numerous alpine glaciers. Kenai Fjords National Park boasts abundant wildlife, alpine and tidewater glaciers and breathtaking scenery. This cruise is the best way to see this pristine National Park and its inhabitants. Also, visit the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge, an island home to teeming seabird rookeries. Don’t miss this opportunity to see the untouched beauty of Alaska’s coastal waters. Return to Seward this evening for an overnight stay at Seward Windsong Lodge. (Breakfast at lodge & deli style lunch is included onboard cruise today)
Day 3 Seward to Talkeetna | 386 km/240 mi
Head back towards Anchorage today taking in the sights of the Seward Highway as you go. Pass through Anchorage and drive the Glenn Highway north to Wasilla and onto Talkeetna. Stops can include a visit to the Alaska Native Heritage Centre in Anchorage and the Museum of Alaska Transportation and Industry in Wasilla. Talkeetna serves as a base camp for Denali climbers; the community of under 1000 residents is located at the confluence of the Talkeetna and Susitna Rivers. A turn-of-the-20th-century gold-mining centre, the town has retained much of its early Alaskan flavour. Log cabins, a roadhouse, and clapboard storefronts line the dirt streets, and colourful locals and bush pilots stroll the wooden sidewalks, while Denali looms overhead. Main Street, the only paved road in town, begins with a “Welcome to Beautiful Downtown Talkeetna” sign at the town park and ends at the banks of the Susitna River, a nice place to view the big mountain when it’s out.
Day 4 Talkeetna to Denali National Park | 257 km/153 mi
Today, explore Denali’s south side or depart early for the drive to Denali National Park. You’ll have as much time as you like to experience the majesty of Denali National Park, take in the sights of the George Parks Highway or arrive at your hotel near the park entrance to take advantage of an optional excursion or a visit to the Denali Visitor Centre.
Day 5 Denali | Freedom of Choice - Choose 1 of 3 Excursions
Option 1. Denali Backcountry Adventure Tour | Full Day Coach Tour
Ranked #2 in Drives of a Lifetime by National Geographic Traveler magazine, experience over 65 miles of wilderness and wildlife along the rugged Denali Highway. Flanked by snow-capped mountains, icy glaciers and panoramic vistas, local guides will ensure you have opportunities to view the region’s best landmarks while introducing you to a host of authentic Alaska activities. See Denali and the other giants of the Alaska Range (weather permitting) and enjoy a delicious lunch at Alpine Creek Lodge. (Lunch and snacks included)
Option 2. Denali Highway Jeep Excursion | Self-Drive Guided 4x4 Excursion
Ranked #2 in Drives of a Lifetime by National Geographic Traveler 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 and takes you off the beaten path with your guide in a 4 x 4 to enjoy scenic views of Denali, the Alaska Range, glaciers and wildlife. (Snacks included)
Option 3. Tundra Wilderness Tour | Coach Tour
This shorter 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. Your turnaround point is the Murie Cabin, a rustic shelter with a history befitting the wild and remarkable Denali National Park. (It is recommended to take snacks on this excursion)
Day 6 Denali National Park to Fairbanks | 198 km/123 mi
Continue on the George Parks Highway north to Fairbanks. Accompanied by incredible forest and mountain landscapes, you’ll drive through the communities of Healy, Nenana and Ester - an old mining camp. Upon arrival into Fairbanks your incredible Alaska self-drive adventure comes to an end.
