Great Alaskan Road Trip

Arrive in Anchorage and transfer to your hotel on your own. Anchorage is Alaska’s largest city, nestled between the Chugach Mountains and Cook Inlet. Offering an abundance of shopping, cultural attractions, and gourmet restaurants, Anchorage provides an excellent start to your Alaska vacation. Overnight in Anchorage.

After picking up your rental car, this morning is free to explore Anchorage's many attractions. City highlights include the Alaska Native Heritage Center, the Anchorage Museum, the Log Cabin Visitor Center, the Alaska Zoo, local breweries, and the Coastal Trail. Later, depart Anchorage and follow the Glenn Highway northbound. A few interesting stops along this highway are the Alaska Native Heritage Center and the Eklutna Indian Village. Continue on the Parks Highway towards Denali National Park and drive through the Matanuska-Susitna Valley. Then drive through Denali State Park. With a size of over 6 million acres, Denali National Park is one of the world’s greatest wild animal preserves. Here, protected from hunting, Alaska's many animals roam freely in a region dominated by the continent’s tallest mountain. Most visitor facilities operate near the park entrance. Your evening is free for optional activities, or you can just relax and enjoy some leisure time. Overnight near the Denali park entrance.

Today, depart on a narrated bus tour into Denali National Park. As you travel through the pristine wilderness, look for wildlife, such as bears, caribou, and moose, as well as views of the Mountain. Your experienced driver/guide will provide commentary. The tour is approx. 3-6 hours long and takes you approx. 30 - 43 miles into the park, depending on weather and road conditions. The rest of the day is at your leisure. Check out the Visitor Center at the park entrance or add a rafting trip or sled dog kennel tour. Overnight near the Denali park entrance.

This scenic drive takes you back south on the Parks Highway towards Anchorage. We recommend a side trip to the quaint town of Talkeetna, known for its special backcountry-town charm. Weather permitting, Talkeetna can have one of the best views of Denali and the Alaska Range. Continue to Wasilla and make a stop at the Iditarod Sled Dog Race Museum before you head out to Knik River Lodge. If time allows, you can also visit the Musk Ox Farm, and the Reindeer Farm in Palmer. You overnight at Knik River Lodge, a breathtaking property at the end of the road, overlooking Knik River and the surrounding mountains.

Today you have a great opportunity to add a helicopter trip to a glacier to walk and ride on a dog sled in the snow. As soon as you lift off you will see Knik Glacier, and after flightseeing over the glacier and scenic Lake George, you'll land at the glacier base camp. Here you will have an hour to experience a dog sledding adventure that you will never forget. Please note that this helicopter dog sledding tour is not included in the price of your tour. Other helicopter tours are available as well. Overnight in the Palmer area at Knik River Lodge.

Drive south onto the Kenai Peninsula today. You will pass through the communities of Eklutna and Eagle River as you near Anchorage. Continue south from Anchorage along Turnagain Arm to Seward. This route has beautiful views of the Chugach Mountains. Recommended stops along the route include the Begich-Boggs Visitor Center at Portage Glacier and the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center. Just before you reach Seward, you have a chance to visit Exit Glacier. This is one of the few glaciers that visitors can walk to. The interpretive trail leading to the glacier provides an illustrated history of the glacier’s path as it has receded over the last 100 years. Overnight in Seward.

At 11:30 am, you’ll depart on an 6-hour wildlife and glacier cruise into Kenai Fjords National Park, one of Alaska's treasures. As you cruise through the park and the Chiswell Islands National Wildlife Refuge, watch for Stellar sea lions, harbor seals, puffins, eagles, and whales. During the cruise, you will see examples of Alpine, Cirque, Piedmont and Tidewater glaciers. A stop will be made at either Holgate or Aialik Glacier to witness glacier calving - when large ice chunks fall off the glacier. Lunch is included onboard. The rest of the day is at your leisure. Overnight in Seward.

Today, drive to Anchorage at your leisure (driving time is approximately 3 hours). Return your car to the Anchorage airport rental car station. Depart for home or begin an additional Alaska adventure.