Best of Yukon and Alaska tour | Escorted holiday in the land of the midnight sun

Day 1

Whitehorse

Welcome to Canada’s Yukon. At the airport, you will be welcomed by your tour guide. Transfer to the hotel and meet with your fellow travellers.

1 night in Whitehorse.

Day 2

Whitehorse to Haines Junction

After breakfast you will get a general view of the Yukon’s capital. A visit to the restored sternwheeler MS Klondike next to the Yukon River is well worth a trip. The big roundtrip will begin with a first short stage on the Alaska Highway westbound. There will be many scenic points of interest on the journey to Haines Junction, which is situated right next to Kluane National Park.  Kluane National Park is Canada’s biggest national park; here you will find a variety of wildlife and the largest glacier area in the world outside the North and South Poles. Even today, most of this huge national park is still unexplored and pristine. Depending on the weather and the group wishes there will be a short guided hike into the National Park. Another possible attraction is a bush plane flight to the impressive glaciers within the Park, or a helicopter flight over deserted areas (optional).

1 night in Haines Junction.

Day 3

Haines Junction to Tok

Today you will be driven along the scenic shore of the huge Lake Kluane. A first stop is planned at the Sheep Mountain Visitor Center. Chances are you will spot some of the scarce snow-white dall sheep on the surrounding mountains. In Tok you may visit a sled dog demonstration.

1 night in Tok.

Day 4

Tok to Valdez

The first part of today’s stretch will lead you via the Glenn Highway along countless rivers, lakes, glaciers and finally the majestic Wrangell-St. Elias National Park. Then you will travel the Richardson Highway southbound to the small seaport of Valdez on the Pacific coast. The crossing of the coastal range via the Thompson Pass is spectacular, with thundering falls right next to the road. Valdez, called little Switzerland by its inhabitants, is enframed by alpine surroundings. The town is also known for the world famous Trans Alaska Pipeline that ends here.

1 night in Valdez.

Day 5

Valdez to Seward

Today travel the Prince William Sound via ferry. Without a doubt this is a highlight among the scenic beauties of Alaska. The route is close to the pacific coast, passing calving glaciers, the Columbia Glacier probably being the most spectacular of them all. Odds are you will spot a variety of wildlife. With a little luck you will be able to take pictures not only of otters and puffins, but of sea lions and even whales, too. Ashore again, the next stop is the Portage Glacier, which is almost accessible by car.

1 night in Seward

Day 6

Seward to Anchorage

A very nice option to start the day is a tour into Kenai Fjords National Park (optional). You will be driven along the Turnagain Arm into Anchorage. Watch out for Beluga-Whales in this area! This day in Alaska’s biggest city is at your free disposal for sightseeing in and around Anchorage. There are many interesting things to discover: Lakes Hood and Spenard, the largest marine airport. In summer, up to 800 floatplanes, take off and land here daily. Nearby is the aviation museum where you can admire several legendary aircraft. In downtown Anchorage you will find the Art Museum, the Museum of History and Art and of course the typically American shopping malls. Maybe you would like to visit one of the bars or microbreweries, which offer various kinds of beer brewed in the house. For night people, Anchorage still has one or the other surprise to offer. For example a very special dinner at the restaurant “Gwennies”, they not only offer the biggest and best steaks – gold digger style – you may admire the history of the origins of Anchorage there, too.

1 night in Anchorage

Day 7

Anchorage to Denali National Park

Today leave the Pacific coast region. you travel northbound via the George Parks Highway towards Denali National Park. The breathtaking landscape offers constantly changing panoramic views with distant glaciers and beaver dams in the nearby river. Late afternoon, there is the opportunity for a one hour glacier flight to Mount McKinley (optional).

2 nights close to Denali National Park.

Day 8

Denali National Park

This is another highlight of the tour. In the morning you will go on a Denali wildlife tour. A park-owned shuttle bus takes you deep into one of the most scenic landscapes in North America. Weather permitting you will get to see majestic Mount McKinley, 6193m high, the highest mountain in the U.S.A. The variety of wildlife is very impressive too. With a little luck you will see wolves, dall sheep, moose, caribou and grizzly bears. Admire Wonder Lake, the largest lake in the surroundings, located approximately in the middle of the park.

Day 9

Denali National Park to Fairbanks

Back on the George Parks Highway, you will stop in Nenana to visit the Alaska Railroad Museum, arriving in Fairbanks early in the afternoon. The remainder of the day is reserved for the places of interest in and around this town located about 320km south of the Arctic Circle. Perhaps you would like to visit the Alaska Dog Mushing Museum, or treat yourself with the local delicacies, such as the king crabs, in one of the numerous restaurants. Particularly recommendable is a sternwheeler cruise on the Chena River, the Crown of Light show, a photo symphony covering the aurora borealis, or the Gold Rush show at the Malemute Saloon (optional).

1 night in Fairbanks.

Day 10

Fairbanks to Dawson City

After strolling through downtown Fairbanks in the morning head on your way southbound passing innumerable lakes and rivers in this beautiful landscape. Today you will see the Trans-Alaska Pipeline again, crossing the Tanana River right next to the highway. In Delta Junction meet the Alaska Highway and visit the local visitor center. The journey continues via the Top of the World Highway. Beyond the timberline you will pass through beautiful tundra scenery and cross the border at Little Gold Creek, which is the checkpoint with the highest elevation between Canada and the U.S.A. On this stretch villages with strange sounding names like Chicken, Action Wade Camp are to be seen until in the afternoon you will cross the Yukon River by ferry to reach Dawson City.

3 nights in Dawson City

Day 11

Dawson City

People still dig for gold in this historical town, located where the Klondike flows into the Yukon River. You may try your luck panning for gold yourself. A visit to Bonanza Creek, the Jack London cabin, and the Midnight Dome, Dawson City’s very own mountain, are on the agenda, as is the remarkable Gold Diggers Museum. Afterwards you may want to stroll around town with its intriguing buildings, some of them original, some affectionately restored. “Diamond Tooth Gerties” dance girls provide entertainment in the evening, or The Palace Grand Theatre, offering musical entertainment, turn-of-the-century style, is another option.

Day 12

Dempster Highway

An early start will take you on the Dempster Highway which is the only connection to the remote town of Inuvik at the Polar Sea. Discover the Tombstone Park; where jagged black mountains give the area its name and the vast arctic tundra begins

Day 13

Dawson City to Whitehorse

Today it is back to Whitehorse via the Klondike Highway. You will follow the mighty Yukon River, about 3200km long and thus one of the longest waterways in North America. Of course there is a stop to visit the infamous Five Finger Rapids – mighty rapids posing a threat to many sternwheelers navigating the Yukon in the past. Old post offices, roadhouses and small villages constantly bring back to mind the gold rush era 100 years ago.

2 nights in Whitehorse.

Day 14

Whitehorse

A day trip takes you down the Klondike Highway to the Alaskan Coast again. In just 175 kilometres, you will pass through a wonderful variety of ecoregions and alpine landscapes as you cross over the continental divide to the seaport of Skagway. Like Dawson, Skagway is a legendary gold rush town that has preserved its turn-of-the-century character. For an up-close experience of the infamous White Pass, try taking an optional train ride along the narrow-gauge railway back to Carcross

Day 15

Whitehorse

The tour ends today and you will have a transfer to the airport or a connecting programme.