Local Host service in Anchorage; Destination Guide including maps and detailed driving directions.
Itinerary:
Day #1 Anchorage. Arrive in Anchorage and pick up your rental car at the airport. You may choose to start exploring Alaska’s largest city or proceed to your hotel.
Day #2 Anchorage–Valdez. This morning, meet your Local Host and then travel to Valdez, surrounded by the majestic Chugach Mountains. As an alternative today, you may wish to drive to Whittier and take the Alaska Marine Highway Ferry to Valdez. On the ferry, enjoy pristine beauty as you cruise the incredible Prince William Sound. Approximately 300 miles/483 km.NOTE:The Alaska Marine Highway Ferry must be booked in advance and is not included in vacation price. Please call for details.
Day #3 Valdez–Fairbanks. Depart Valdez and make a picture stop at spectacular Bridal Veil Falls. You may also want to spend time at the Worthington Glacier Visitor Center or Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, the largest national park in the United States. This spectacular region includes the continent’s largest assemblage of glaciers and the greatest collection of peaks above 16,000 feet, including Mount St. Elias (18,008 ft.), the country’s second-highest peak. Before arriving in Fairbanks, stop at the historic Rika’s Roadhouse and learn about Alaska’s colorful past. Approximately 364 miles/586 km.
Day #4 Fairbanks. Enjoy a full day to explore more of Fairbanks. You may wish to travel along the Chena and Tanana Rivers aboard the sternwheeler Riverboat Discovery, try your luck as you pan for gold at the El Dorado Gold Mine, or spend time exploring the Fairbanks Museum. In the evening, enjoy a traditional Alaskan salmon bake at Pioneer Park or discover one of Fairbanks’ many restaurants.
Day #5 Fairbanks–Denali National Park. As you journey to Denali National Park, you may want to stop in the charming village of Nenana, once a gathering place for the Athabascan Indians and a rich part of Alaska’s history. Visit the Alaska Railroad Museum and see the monument commemorating when President Harding drove in the gold spike marking the completion of the famous Alaska Railroad. Continue your trip toward North America’s highest peak, 20,320-foot Mount McKinley, and Denali National Park. Approximately 122 miles/196 km.
Day #6 Denali National Park. Spend the day exploring the pristine beauty of Denali National Park. There are many activities available, such as a Tundra Wilderness Tour into the park, a hike along one of the park’s many trails, a scenic float trip down the Nenana River, or a thrilling helicopter ride over the glaciers. Tonight, why not experience the Cabin Nite Dinner Theater, where you’ll enjoy hearty Alaskan fare and be transported back to the Gold Rush era with songs, stories, and dance?
Day #7 Denali National Park–Anchorage. Today, drive south to Anchorage. Along the way, perhaps visit the Iditarod Headquarters, where you can learn all about this famous race, or maybe stop in Palmer to visit the Musk Ox Farm, the only place in the world where you can see a domestic herd of these prehistoric beasts. Arrive in Anchorage with time to explore. Approximately 240 miles/386 km.
Day #8 Anchorage. Return your rental car at the airport prior to departure.