Alaska by Road

Tour Itinerary

Anchorage

2 nights’ accommodation at Quality Suites or Clarion Suites
Pick up your rental car and head to downtown Anchorage, your home for the first two nights of your tour. The largest city in Alaska, it stretches from Portage Glacier all the way to Cook Inlet, a distance of 50 miles and is surrounded by 6 magnificent mountain ranges. Enjoy a good night’s rest then you’ve plenty of time to explore! Strike out into the wilderness perhaps, hiking and biking along scenic trails or kayaking on the Prince William Sound. For something a little more genteel, the Alaska Botanical Garden offers leisurely strolls through 110 acres of spruce and birch woodland. Anchorage Museum brings to life 10,000 years of Alaskan history as does the Alaska Native Heritage Centre. For the young and young at heart, the Alaska Zoo and Imaginarium - Science Discovery Centre will delight. Fish is the name of the game in this part of the world with restaurants serving up a plethora of ocean delights from some of the cleanest waters in the world.

Anchorage – Talkeetna

2 nights’ accommodation at Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge or similar
Time to say a temporary goodbye to Anchorage today as you drive to Talkeetna, stopping en-route at Iditarod Headquarters to learn all about the Last Great Race – a sled race over 1150 miles of the toughest, most beautiful terrain in the world. You might also want to pop into the Happy Trail Kennels during your journey to meet the friendly, contented dogs who compete in the sled race! Upon arrival in Talkeetna admire breathtaking views of Mount McKinley, the highest mountain peak in North America and the United States. More energetic pursuits include ‘flight seeing’ over Denali National Park with a glacier landing thrown in for good measure! There are also river cruises on the Talkeetna, Chulitna and Susitna Rivers and dog sled tours. The ambience in the town is decidedly laid back with restaurants galore.

Talkeetna – Fairbanks

2 nights’ accommodation at Wedgewood Resort or similar
Drive north this morning from Talkeetna along the Parks Highway to Fairbanks. Well worth visiting en-route is the city of Nenana to see the famous Nenana Ice Classic Tripod, the tripod measures when the ice will finally recede. In Fairbanks, there’s plenty to keep you busy. Another flight tour perhaps? This time over the Arctic Circle. A Riverboat Discovery cruise may also appeal or visit the University of Alaska Fairbanks Museum and the Antique Auto Museum for a peek into days gone by. The El Dorado Gold Mine Tour is also fun, riding the Tanana Valley Railroad into the gold fields of the interior. Highly recommended for dinner is the Alaska Salmon Bake located at Pioneer Park.

Fairbanks – Denali

2 nights’ accommodation at Denali Bluffs or similar
Drive a few hours south this morning to Denali National Park, a six million acre wilderness, home to grizzly bear, moose, caribou and wolves. A bus tour into the parks interior is a great way to get to grips with your surrounds, keeping your eyes peeled all the while for the local residents! There’s also water rafting to tempt you, hiking, horseback riding and biking. Don’t forget to pop into the Visitors Centre either, it’s very informative and will help you get the most from the Park.

Denali – Anchorage

1 night accommodation at Quality Suites or Clarion Suites
After a thrilling foray into the heart of Alaska, head back to Anchorage today, stopping as you do so in the small communities of Wasilla or Eklutna to meet friendly locals and get a feel for traditional Alaskan life. Once in Anchorage, check out some of the attractions you missed before or simply relax at your hotel, lingering over a delicious dinner perhaps and recounting all you’ve seen and done. The next morning, return your rental car and fly home.