Tour 1517

This classic self-drive provides you with the best of Alaska's scenic highways and features three of Alaska's spectacular national parks. You travel along the Denali National Park access road, the greatest wildlife tour in America. In additional, fly into the massive Wrangell-St. Elias National Park - the largest in North America, plus cruise, You can choose the most practical type of vehicle for your group size. Click here to view a map of the driving route.  Tour starts every Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday & Sunday based on the Alaska ferry schedule.  

Fifteen days/fourteen nights

Day 1:  Anchorage arrival
Arrival and pick-up your rental car at the airport, transfer to hotel on your own.  Overnight Anchorage. Optional Anchorage Excursions

Day 2:  Anchorage to Talkeetna / 111 miles
Plan 2.5 hour driving time, not including stops
Drive the Glenn Highway northbound, connecting to the Parks' Highway in Wasilla.  A few interesting stops along way are the Alaska Native Heritage Center and the Eklutna Indian Village. This unique small gold mining community is famous for its special charm and as the expeditions base for mountaineers seeking to summit Denali.  Great optional Talkeetna excursions from riverboat adventures to flightseeing.  Overnight Talkeetna.

Day 3:  Denali National Park / 153 miles
Plan 3 hrs driving time, not including stops
Continuing on the Parks Highway towards Denali National Park you drive through the Matanuska-Susitna Valley and Denali State Park.  Denali National Park for optional Denali Excursions. Overnight Denali .

Day 4:  Denali National Park; this morning enjoy a 7-hour Tundra Wildlife Tour into Denali National Park (approx. 55miles/88km into the park).  The park is inhabited by lots of 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 that day.  Snack lunch is included.  Overnight Denali.

Day 5: Denali National Park to Fairbanks / 121 miles
Plan 2 hrs driving time, not including stops In the afternoon continue on the Parks Highway north to Fairbanks. Accompanied by incredible forest and mountain landscape you drive through the communities Healy, Nenana and by the community Ester, an old mining camp.  Review optional Fairbanks Excursions. Overnight Fairbanks. 

Day 6:  Fairbanks
Free day to explore and for optional tours, including optional tours into Alaska's Arctic.  Overnight Fairbanks.

Day 7:  Fairbanks to Chitina / McCarthy / 235 miles
Plan 6 hrs driving time, not including stops / 20 minute charter flight.
Follow the Richardson & Alaska Highways east towards Tok until Delta Junction.  Just outside of Fairbanks you drive by North Pole, the home of North America's Santa Claus.  In Delta Junction take the Richardson Highway and drive south towards Paxson/Valdez, turning on the Edgerton Highway to Chitina.  From Chitina, you will be a charter flight which will take you deep into the Wrangell St. Elias National Park.  Your final destination is the spectacular Kennicott mines and Kennicott Glacier Lodge.  Overnight Kennicott Glacier Lodge (shared bath).

Day 8:  Kennicott/ Wrangell St. Elias National Park
Free day to explore Kennicott and the Wrangell St. Elias National Park. Overnight Kennicott Glacier Lodge (shared bath).

Day 9:  Chitina to Valdez / 186 miles
Plan 5 hrs driving time, not including stops
Drive the spectacular Richardson Highway further south.  Part of the route parallels the Trans-Alaska Pipeline.  Weather permitting incredible views of the St Elias Mountains.  Drive by Worthington Glacier and through Keystone Canyon with its waterfalls.  Overnight Valdez.  Optional Valdez Excursions

Day 10: Valdez to Seward / 6.5 hours aboard the ferry from Valdez to Whittier Drive Whittier to Seward 85 miles
Plan 3 hours drive time, not including tunnel waiting period or stops.
Leave Valdez in the early morning on the Alaska Marine Highway Ferry and travel through beautiful Prince William Sound.  Upon arrival in Whittier drive through the new Whittier-Portage Tunnel (one-lane tunnel, open to traffic during certain hours only).  Possible stop at the Portage Glacier and Visitor Center.  Then drive the Seward Highway through scenic landscape to Seward.  Possible side trip to Hope and in Seward to Exit Glacier.  Overnight Seward.  Seward Excursions

Day 11:  Seward
Today, cruise into the Kenai Fjords National Park, one of the Alaska's treasures with abundant wildlife and spectacular glacier scenery. This lush coastal wilderness is home to abundant wildlife including humpback and orca whales, puffins, and Stellar sea lions. Return to the Seward harbor an spend the remainder of the day exploring on your own.  A visit to the Alaska Sealife Center is highly recommended, as well as a visit to Exit Glacier, just a short drive form town.  Overnight Seward.

Day 12:  Seward to Homer / 173 miles
Plan 4 hours drive time, not including stops.
Spend the day touring Alaska's Kenai Peninsula.  You travel along the turquoise blue Kenai River, a world class salmon fishing area.  Continue to Homer with opportunities to stop in historic villages, or great photographic opportunities along the Cook Inlet coastline. Overnight Homer.  

Day 13:  Homer;  Free day to explore Homer and Kachemak Bay.  Overnight Homer.  Optional Homer Excursions.

Day 14: Homer to Anchorage / 238 miles
Plan 5 hrs drive time, not including stops.
This morning possibility for wildlife and glacier cruise into scenic Kenai Fjords National Park. Then drive the Seward Highway back to Anchorage.  Overnight Anchorage.  Optional Anchorage Excursions 

Day 15:  Anchorage departure
Return car to Anchorage airport car rental station.
 

15 days rental vehicle with unlimited mileage, detailed travel kit, 14 nights accommodation with prepaid vouchers, and tax. Denali Tundra Wildlife tour with snack. Round trip scenic flight Chitina to McCarthy. Alaska Marine Highway ferry passage from Valdez to Whittier for passengers & vehicle. Kenai Fjords marine wildlife cruise with lunch.

Tour starts every Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday & Sunday based on the Alaska ferry schedule.  

2005 Rates  May 15 - May 27	Single	2 share car 1 room	3 share car 1 room	4 share car 2 rooms	Child  under 12
Compact car	$3946	$2259	n/a	n/a	$425
Mid size car	$3983	$2278	$1766	$2058	$425
Full size car	$4059	$2316	$1791	$2077	$425
4x4	$4943	$2758	$2086	$2298	$425
May 28 - Sept 8
Compact car	$4352	$2474	n/a	n/a	$425
Mid size car	$4380	$2493	$1914	$2275	$425
Full size car	$4466	$2530	$1940	$2293	$425
4x4	$5350	$2972	$2234	$2513	$425