8 Days / 7 Night

Day 1:  Alyeska Resort / 39 miles

Plan 45 minutes driving time from Anchorage, not including stops.

Upon your arrival in Anchorage, pick up your rental car and drive to the luxurious Alyeska Resort in the resort village of Girdwood. The hotel is nestled in a picturesque valley surrounded by the Chugach Mountains and its pristine wilderness environs. Relax and enjoy the remainder of your day pampering yourself in the spa, swimming pool or perhaps taking a leisurely stroll on one of the nature trails extending from the hotel. The hotel offers both casual and fine dining choices. Overnight at the Hotel Alyeska.

Day 2:  Prince William Sound Glacier Cruise / 26 miles

Plan 30 minutes driving time, not including stops and tunnel wait time.

This morning, drive to the small port town of Whittier where you embark on the magnificent 26 Glacier Cruise, which takes you over 135 miles into Prince William Sound. Here you will see 26 "named glaciers" and many more unnamed. The specially designed catamaran gets you within 400 to 500 feet of the face of the tidewater glaciers. Your captain will turn off the ship's engines so you can "hear" the glaciers move as well as see the brilliant blues in the ice. Glacier calving, where large pieces of ancient ice break off and fall into the sea, is normally seen during each cruise. You will see three types of glaciers on each trip including Alpine or Hanging, Piedmont, and Tidewater glaciers. Return to Girdwood for another luxurious night at the Alyeska Resort.

Day 3:  Girdwood to Talkeetna / 150 miles

Plan 3 hours driving time, not including stops.

Drive 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 mountain from this perspective are 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 Scenic Riverboat Tours, Rafting or Spectacular Flightseeing to Mt. McKinley (not included). Overnight at the Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge.

Day 4:  Talkeetna to Denali National Park / 153 miles 

Plan 3 hours drive time, not including stops.

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. It is at the park entrance that most of the park services (and visitors) are located. However your journey takes you to a lodge located deep inside the park. At about 1:30pm the lodge shuttle will transfer you from the park entrance into the park to an area called Kantishna. During your lodge shuttle transfer your driver/guide will offer expert insights into the park's natural history and wildlife.

The famous park road offers your best chance for seeing the wildlife that makes the Denali area so unforgettable. As you travel the road, it is not uncommon to witness astounding natural displays. During your journey, your experienced bus drivers share their knowledge of the park and offers wildlife searching tips to help you locate the park's animals and birds. Whether through binoculars or with the naked eye, you may be fortunate enough to see a grizzly sow nursing her first-year cubs, a band of bull caribou with huge racks browsing along the tundra, or Dall sheep on the high mountain ridges, playing and frolicking as if they knew they were being observed. Arrive in time for dinner and orientation for tomorrow's guided activities from the lodge. Enjoy comfortable accommodations with a private bathroom, and other unexpected modern live comforts for such a remote location. Dining and lounge areas are found in the spacious main lodge. Overnight at Denali Backcountry Lodge or similar inside Denali National Park.

Day 5:  Denali National Park

The area of Kantishna (inside the Denali National Park) is great for outdoor enthusiasts. Each day the lodge offers Naturalist-led programs including guided hikes and walks, gold panning, mountain biking, and photography, as well as horseback riding (not included) or optional flight seeing excursions (not included) to view Mt. McKinley up close. At the end of the day, everyone is invited to join the naturalist guides for gourmet appetizers and a recap of the day.  Evening dinners are served in the lodge. Also the lodge hosts special natural history presentations by the lodge staff and many featured guest speakers.

Any insurances for rental car, additional driver fees, gas.
Meals, optional excursions, park/admission fees other than mentioned, gratuity. 
For additional car rental days please click here!

Denali Accommodation: The accommodation inside Denali National Park is very comfortable and nice for the remoteness and inaccessibility, though it is not a first class hotel. The main activities inside Denali National Park are outdoor activities for nature lovers such as hiking.

Other Accommodations: During your stay in Girdwood, Talkeetna and Anchorage we have selected very nice first class hotels. However, the room category included is standard. There may be higher room categories available depending on your travel dates. Please feel free to inquire about the possibility to upgrade your room categories.

*Scenic flight information: The scenic fly-out from Kantishna to the Denali Park entrance is approximately 55 minutes in duration. The flight takes you past Mt. McKinley, providing amazing views, and is via small bush plane (maximum 5 passengers). The price is $318 per person (based on 2 people) and is refundable if cancelled due to weather. Please contact us for rates based on more than 2 travelers.