Day 1 Anchorage Arrival           

Arrive Anchorage and transfer to your hotel by shuttle. Overnight in Anchorage at Inlet Tower Hotel

 

Day 2 Anchorage to Glennallen area- Pick up rental car in morning and drive around 4 hours (approx. 189 miles) to Glennallen area.

As the gateway into Wrangell-St. Elias, Glennallen is the base for a variety of guides, outfitters and tour companies, offering adventures that range from world-class fishing, rafting and wildlife viewing to flightseeing through the peaks, off-road vehicle trips on old mining trails and snowmobile tours in the winter. Glennallen is also near the famed Copper River, where anglers happily pluck what some believe to be the tastiest of all Alaska salmon – the famous Copper River red salmon.

 

Day 3 Glennallen/Copper Center to McCarthy- 30 minute flight from Chitina to McCarthy plus 1.5 hours driving time (approx. 65 miles).

In McCarthy there are plenty of activities for visitors, from glacier trekking and whitewater rafting to flightseeing trips into the alpine heart of the national park. A shuttle van transports visitors the five miles up the road to the historic mining ruins at Kennicott. In recent years, the National Park Service has restored most of the mine buildings, and tours of the huge mill building, bunkhouses, a train depot, worker's cottages and the power plant are available. The white-trimmed red buildings stand out against the dramatic mountain-and-glacier backdrop at the mine site and the entire area is a photographer’s dream.

Stay two nights at the Kennicott Glacier Lodge with shared bathroom.

 

Day 4 McCarthy/Kennicott

Day at leisure.

Take a step back in time today on a 2.5-hour historical tour of Kennecott. Your guide will take you inside the 14 story Mill Building of the Kennecott Copper Corporation, which was built in the early 1900s. Catch a glimpse of what it was like to live and work in this remote wilderness, while hearing tales of lucky fortunes, tenacious frontiersmen, and tragic endings. This afternoon, you have plenty of time for an optional guided glacier hike or rafting tour (not included).

 

Day 5 McCarthy to Fairbanks- 30 minute flight from McCarthy to Chitina, plus 6 hours driving time (approx. 310 miles). 

Your drive takes you north on Alaska's oldest highway, the Richardson Highway, which began in 1898 as a gold rush trail to Eagle. This route follows the Trans-Alaska oil pipeline, one of the world's greatest engineering feats. Along the way, there are several rest stops, including historic roadhouses and scenic viewpoints. Spend the remainder of the day exploring the historic gold mining town of Fairbanks, also known as Alaska's "Gateway to the Arctic." We suggest a visit to the University Of Alaska Museum of the North and the Musk Ox farm. You have several options for gold panning and gold mine tours, such as the El Dorado Gold Mine or the Discover the Gold City Tour (not included).

 

Day 6 Fairbanks

Day at leisure.

 

Day 7 Fairbanks to Denali- Drive to Denali (approx. 125 miles)

While Denali, the tallest peak in North America, resides in Denali National Park, this state park features the best views of Denali. Denali State Park has superb vantage points to view both Denali's north and south summits, where the latter rises up a dramatic 20,310 feet. Beyond gazing at Denali, hiking, fishing, and rafting are favourite summer activities at Denali State Park, in addition to camping to wilderness exploration.

Stay two nights at Denali Grizzly Bear Resort.

 

Day 8 Denali National Park

Full day Denali Road Tour into Denali National Park.                                

Denali State Park is home to both brown and black bears, moose and marmots. In the lower areas, visitors will encounter muskrats, beavers, possibly red foxes and porcupines, among other resident wildlife.

 

Day 9 Denali to Wasilla- Drive to Wasilla (approx. 170 miles)

Just outside of Wasilla is the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race Headquarters, a log cabin museum featuring historical displays, video exhibits, photos of past champions and race paraphernalia. More information on dog mushing and racing can be enjoyed at the Knik Museum & Sled Dog Musher's Hall of Fame, while a number of Iditarod racers live north of Wasilla and during the summer offer tours of their kennels, mushing demonstrations and even rides in a sled.

Stay one night at Alaska Garden Gate.

 

Day 10 Wasilla to Seward- Drive to Seward (approx. 170 miles)

This city serves as the gateway to Kenai Fjords National Park. Created in 1980, Kenai Fjords spreads over 587,000 acres and is crowned by the massive Harding Ice Field from which countless tidewater glaciers pour down into coastal fjords. The impressive landscape and an abundance of marine wildlife make the park a major tourist attraction. Many visitors take a day cruise along the coast south of Seward to watch glaciers calve into the sea and spot seals, sea lions and whales. Another popular attraction in Kenai Fjords National Park is Exit Glacier, which lies just north of town.

 

Day 11 Seward

Day at leisure.

 

Day 12 Seward to Homer- Drive to Homer (approx. 180 miles)

Scattered throughout the commercial district are a wide range of restaurants and numerous art galleries. Few small towns have the culinary variety of Homer, where there are coffee bars on nearly every corner next to gourmet sandwich shops and fine restaurants. The art galleries along with museums, a live theatre and music venues lend credence to Homer’s reputation as the cultural capital of Southcentral Alaska.

On the other side of the bay from Homer is Kachemak Bay State Wilderness Park, a 350,000-acre paradise of glaciers, mountains, protected coves for paddling and an extensive trail system to explore on foot.

Stay two nights at BW Birdarka.

 

Day 13 Homer

Day at leisure.

 

Day 14 Homer to Anchorage- Drive to Anchorage (approx. 233 miles)

Anchorage features dozens of parks and 122 miles of paved bike paths. Warmed by a maritime climate, you can spend the day fishing Ship Creek downtown, hiking the nearby mountains, photographing glaciers and dining at a four-star restaurant.

 

Day 15 Anchorage Departure