Day 1
Anchorage Arrival
Depart London Heathrow – 15:10
Arrive Seattle – 16:40
Journey Time – 9 hours 30 minutes
Depart Seattle – 19:00
Arrive Anchorage – 21:37
Journey Time – 3 hours 37 minutes
Arrival and transfer to hotel on your own. Anchorage, Alaska’s largest city, has numerous restaurants, museums, and gift shops. The rest of the day is at your leisure.
Overnight – Anchorage
Day 2
Anchorage to Seward
127 miles
Today you will pick up your car and drive to Seward, located on the Kenai Peninsula. On the way, enjoy the scenic drive along Turnagain Arm, one of the most beautiful segments of highway in the country. Take the opportunity to visit Portage and Exit Glaciers. In Seward, visit the Alaska SeaLife Center research aquarium or take an optional kayaking tour (not included).
Overnight – Seward
Day 3
Seward
Spend a day touring the Seward area on your own.
Visit local attractions, such as Exit Glacier and the Alaska SeaLife Center aquarium, or add an optional tour, like fishing, dog sledding, or a cruise into Kenai Fjords National Park (not included).
Overnight – Seward
If activity package booked: Today you’ll depart on a 6-hour cruise of Kenai Fjords National Park. The park boasts abundant wildlife, alpine and tidewater glaciers, and breathtaking scenery. As you cruise through Resurrection Bay, keep watch for Stellar Sea Lions, harbor seals, puffins, eagles and whales.
Cruise past the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge, home to a large variety of birds, on your way to either the Holgate or Aialik Glacier. Enjoy a deli-style lunch onboard.
Day 4
Seward to Girdwood
95 miles
Head north on the Seward Highway through the beautiful Kenai Peninsula. Possible stops on the way to Girdwood include the Gold Rush town of Hope,
Portage Glacier, and the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center. Girdwood is a quaint ski town, with one of Alaska’s nicest resorts. An optional tram ride to the top of Mt Alyeska, an optional guided rainforest hike or glacier trek, or spa treatment are all available at the resort (not included).
Overnight – Girdwood
If activity package booked: Today enjoy a 2-3 hour guided hiking tour in Girdwood. Hiking the Winner Creek Trail in the lush Rainforest of Girdwood is an exhilarating experience that is a memorable adventure for everyone. This moderate and exciting hike is approx. 5 miles long (roundtrip). Time and enthusiasm permitting, the hike also consists of a very unique hand tram crossing and walk over the Winner Creek Gorge. Your naturalist guide will point out and discuss the flora and fauna of North America’s northern-most temperate rainforest. You may even see a moose! When blueberry season is in full swing, the trail is blooming with scrumptious delights sure to please everyone. No experience necessary on this excursion.
Day 5
Girdwood to Talkeetna
155 miles
Drive north from Girdwood, traveling through Anchorage and the agricultural region of the Matanuska- Susitna Valley, to the small, picturesque town of Talkeetna. Historic Talkeetna is best known as the jumping-off point for Mount McKinley climbing expeditions. Given clear weather, views of the Mountainare breathtaking. Upon arrival, you will have the rest of the day to explore the town on your own or participate in optional activities such as an exciting jetboat tour, fishing, or a ski-plane flight to Mt. McKinley (not included).
Overnight – Talkeetna
Day 6
Talkeetna to Denali
153 miles
Continuing northward from Talkeetna, tour the scenic Parks Highway along the boundary of Denali State Park and Hurricane Gulch.
The massive peaks of the Alaska Range are in view nearly the entire route. At 6 million acres, Denali National Park is one of the world’s last great frontiers for wilderness adventure.Your hotel will be at the park entrance, where most of the park services and hotels are located. Optional tours include rafting trips, a dinner theater, and a Jeep safari (not included).
Overnight – Denali Park Entrance
If activity package booked: This morning, before you depart Talkeetna, enjoy a 1-hour flightseeing tour from Talkeena. Enjoy the magnificent scenery. (flightseeing tour is weather dependent)
Day 7
Denali National Park
This morning enjoy a 6-8-hour bus tour into Denali National Park (approx. 53 miles into the park, snack included).
The park is inhabited by many different animal species. With some luck you may see bears, caribou, moose, sheep, wolves and a variety of birds. Mt. McKinley can be seen if the weather is clear today. (In shoulder seasons the duration of the bus tour will be shorter due to weather/ road conditions!) Rest of the day is at your leisure.
Overnight – Denali Park Entrance
Day 8
Denali to Fairbanks
125 Miles
Drive north on the Parks Highway to Fairbanks.
Accompanied by incredible forest and mountain landscapes, you drive through the communities of Healy, Nenana and Ester, an old mining camp. There are several optional Fairbanks activities available for today, including an Arctic Circle adventure, a sternwheeler cruise, or a visit to a gold mine (not included).
Overnight – Fairbanks
Day 9
Fairbanks to Chitina to McCarthy / Kennicott
314 miles + 30 minute flight from Chitina to McCarthy
Travel south from Fairbanks along the Alaska and Richardson Highways to Chitina, where you will leave your rental car and board a bush plane for the scenic flight into Wrangell-St. Elias National Park. Your final destination is the spectacular Kennicott mines and Kennicott Glacier Lodge.
Overnight – McCarthy
Day 10
Kennicott / McCarthy / Wrangell St. Elias National Park
Enjoy a full day in this unique area, which currently has a population of about 30 people. There is bus service (fares are not included) between McCarthy and Kennicott. Kennicott is an abandoned copper mining town. The town was built by Kennecott Copper Corp. between 1910 and 1920. Kennecott was the richest copper mine in the world until its closure in 1938. Kennecott processed more than 536,600 tons of copper ore and employed some 800 workers. Today it is a National History Site and one of Alaska’s best kept secrets.
Overnight – McCarthy
Day 11
Kennicott / McCarthy to Palmer / Wasilla Area
30 minute flight from McCarthy to Chitina + 232 mile drive to Palmer
Today fly back over the mountains to Chitina to pick up your rental car.
Views of the mountains and glaciers are incredible when the weather is clear. Head southwest along the Glenn Highway, one of Alaska’s Scenic Byways, to Anchorage. Points of interest along the way include the Matanuska Glacier, Hatcher Pass Historical Park and the Musk-Ox Farm.
Overnight – Knik River Lodge
Day 12
Palmer / Wasilla Area
Today you can relax and explore the area at your leisure. Enjoy a hike or boat tour to nearby Knik Glacier (not included). This remote glacier is one of the least visited, yet most beautiful, glaciers in Alaska. Hiking enthusiasts will enjoy a visit to Hatcher Pass which offers a variety of hiking trails with outstanding views. Independence Mine State Historical Park, an abandoned mine from the 1930s, is also located here.
Overnight – Knik River Lodge
If activity package booked: Today enjoy an approx. 4-hour boat tour to Knik Glacier.
Day 13
Palmer / Wasilla Area to Anchorage
50 miles
Today you will head south on the Glenn Highway. Pass through the communities of Eklutna and Eagle River as you near Anchorage.
The rest of the day is at your leisure.
Overnight – Anchorage
Day 14
Anchorage
Today is yours to explore Alaska’s largest city. Go shopping, visit the Alaska Native Heritage Center or Anchorage Museum, or take a hike or bike ride in one of Anchorage’s many parks. Experience more by adding an optional bear viewing excursion to Brooks inside Katmai Nat Park or Redoubt Bay (not included).
Overnight – Anchorage
Day 15
Anchorage Departure
Return car to Anchorage car rental station. Depart or start additional program.
Depart London Heathrow – 11:30
Arrive Seattle – 15:50
Journey Time – 3 hours 20 minutes
Depart Seattle – 18:45
Arrive Anchorage – 11:50 (Next day)
Journey Time – 9 hours 5 minutes
