Overview
Starting from Anchorage, this loop itinerary will take you into a world unlike any other: the vast expanses of Alaska, a true earthly paradise as big as three times France and less populated than Brussels! On the edge of the Arctic, you will enter a realm of glaciers, mountains and rainforests . Grizzly bears, caribou, wolves, eagles and even whales may be part of the adventure. Featuring the national parks of Denali, Wrangell–St. Elias & Kenai Fjords.
Itinerary
Day 1 • Arrival in Anchorage (AK)
Arrival at Anchorage airport. Pick up your rental car and drive to your hotel.
Even if it isn't exceptional, Anchorage has some great addresses.
It's pleasant to stroll along the waterfront at the mouth of Knik Arm.
Overnight in Anchorage.
Day 2 • Anchorage - Seward (205 km)
Drive to Seward, on the Kenai Peninsula.
Along the way you'll enjoy the scenic Turnagain Arm drive, one of the most beautiful in the country. The Portage and Exit glaciers are nearby.
As you reach Turnagain Pass, you enter the Chugach National Forest.
Arrival in Seward, once Alaska's largest port city. With 3,000 inhabitants it remains centered around its harbor. You can rent kayaks, join a whale-watching excursion, or take a seaplane flight.
The excellent Alaska SeaLife Center is a research facility dedicated to protecting threatened species and rehabilitating injured or stranded birds and marine mammals.
Overnight in Seward.
Day 3 • Seward
Enjoy kayaking in Resurrection Bay.
Optional: cruise in Kenai Fjords National Park (several durations: contact us).
The park is home to abundant wildlife and majestic glaciers. The views are breathtaking! Crossing Resurrection Bay, you'll likely see sea lions, seals, an eagle or whales. En route to Holgate or Exit glaciers, you enter the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge, a paradise for many birds. Lunch on board.
You can also drive to Homer, on the other side of the peninsula, on Kachemak Bay.
Whale-watching excursions are also available.
Overnight in Seward.
Day 4 • Seward - Girdwood (155 km)
Head north on the Seward Highway through the beautiful Kenai Peninsula. On the way, detour to Hope, a tiny village of about a hundred residents along Turnagain Arm. A paradise for pink salmon, caribou, moose and brown bears (and for those who hunt them…), Hope also offers a great hike on the Resurrection Pass Trail, one of the peninsula's finest trails.
Back on the Seward Hwy, you cross Turnagain Pass (988m) again before reaching Portage Glacier, which you can visit if you didn't have time on the way down.
Shortly after Portage, Girdwood is a picturesque ski resort village with beautiful resorts. If it's not too late, book a tram ride from your resort to the summit of Mt Alyeska. Or choose a guided rainforest walk, a glacier trek… or a spa!
Overnight in Girdwood.
Day 5 • Girdwood - Talkeetna (250 km)
After Anchorage, you cross the Matanuska-Susitna Valley—nicknamed “Mat-Su”—spanning nearly 60,000 km²!
Beyond its abundant wildlife (moose, black and brown bears, falcons, caribou…), this agricultural valley is also Alaska's breadbasket. Stop by the Visitor Information Headquarters in Palmer for useful info.
Further on, Wasilla and Lucille lakes make for a pleasant break.
You arrive in Talkeetna, base camp for brave climbers attempting Mount McKinley (or Denali in Athabaskan), North America's highest peak, rising to 6,194m above sea level.
The town has many shops, lodgings and restaurants, most set up in former miners' cabins.
Optional: flightseeing over Mt Denali (contact us).
Overnight in Talkeetna.
Day 6 • Talkeetna - Denali National Park (245 km)
Head to the giant Denali. The road is magnificent, skirting the boundaries of Denali State Park, less visited than its big brother and offering great views as well…
The highest Alaska Range peaks accompany you along the way.
Denali National Park is one of the largest untouched wilderness areas in the world! No private vehicle traffic inside this immense protected territory.
For a first taste, head to the Visitor Center at the park entrance. You'll find all the useful info and ranger advice.
Near the railroad station, there's also a restaurant and a General Store, reachable by free shuttle.
Overnight near the park.
Day 7 • Denali National Park
Enjoy a scenic bus trip in Denali National Park, lasting 6 to 8 hours.
You can hop on and off at your own pace; buses run about every 30 minutes… Snack included. Several routes are offered by the rangers.
Leave early—there are crowds. The driver will stop to let you photograph a moose (an adult male can weigh nearly 700 kg). Beware: it's impressive, and it's best to avoid a charge!
Denali is also the kingdom of the grizzly. Nearly 300 live in the park (notably around Sable Pass).
Near Polychrome Pass you might spot wolves. Near Highway Pass, you may see caribou. Don't hesitate to move away from the road a bit, but read the safety rules first…
Overnight near the park entrance.
Day 8 • Denali - Fairbanks (200 km)
Head north to Fairbanks. Mountain and forest landscapes accompany your drive.
You'll pass through Healy, Nenana and Ester, a former mining town turned Fairbanks suburb.
Fairbanks (35,000 inhabitants) is known for its activities and for the northern lights, visible in winter.
Closely tied to the gold rush—whose scars you can see by visiting impressive dredges (like Gold Dredge No. 8)—its downtown is pleasant and lively.
Stroll in Pioneer Park, board a paddlewheeler for a narrated cruise on the Chena and Tanana. Creamer's Field Migratory Waterfowl Refuge hosts many bird species.
Overnight in Fairbanks.
Day 9 • Fairbanks - Tok (325 km)
Drive a few miles north of the city to Gold Dredge No. 8 to admire the impressive dredges. Don't dream—you won't be coming home with suitcases full of gold…
On the way, stop at Chena Hot Springs, home to the country's finest ice museum, the Aurora Ice Museum. Everything is ice—even the big bar!
Head to the small town of North Pole, a few miles from Fairbanks. It's Christmas before time, with tons of themed items… and Santa's arrival at 10am. Kitschy or not—we'll let you decide.
The route follows the meanders of the Tanana River.
Suggested lunch stop in Delta Junction. After that, there's nothing until Tok!
Overnight in Tok.
Day 10 • Tok - Chitina - Wrangell–St. Elias NP (325 km)
Leave early for Chitina, the gateway to Wrangell–St. Elias National Park.
If you have time (watch the flight schedule between Chitina and McCarthy!), take the beautiful Nabesna Road, which ventures into the northern part of the immense Wrangell–St. Elias park. Another option: drive to Lake Louise via Glenallen and Tolsona. You can grab a bite and a drink at the lodge.
If your flight isn't the last one, head for Chitina on the Copper River. From its small airstrip, your little “puddle-jumper” (bush plane) connects to McCarthy and Kennecott Glacier Lodge.
Your car won't go any further—unless you miss the flight or decide to tackle McCarthy Road, a drivable gravel road but one that requires at least 3 hours (and that you're not supposed to take, even if the scent of Adventure tempts more than one…).
Overnight in McCarthy / Kennecott.
Day 11 • Wrangell–St. Elias National Park (Kennecott)
Guided tour through the ruins of the Kennecott mine (included).
Large copper deposits in the Wrangell Mountains were detected in the early 20th century, thanks to a huge green surface stain caused by oxidation. A railroad was built, followed by a real town around the initial camp: houses, offices, stores, school, hospital, post office… even a dairy farm.
The village of McCarthy, a few km further down, was founded in 1908. Today the local economy revolves around tourism—for only about twenty year-round residents.
Other possible activities include hiking to the Kennecott Glacier or the Root Glacier.
The park is six times the size of Yellowstone. Needless to say, hiking options are endless…
Overnight in Kennecott.
Day 12 • Wrangell–St. Elias NP - Chitina - Wasilla (345 km)
Leave Wrangell–St. Elias National Park by bush plane back to Chitina.
Pick up your car and drive toward Anchorage via the Glenn Highway, one of Alaska's most scenic roads!
At mile 101, take the interpretive nature trail at Matanuska Glacier, 43 km long and 9 km wide (Alaska's largest glacier accessible by car).
Further on, near Palmer, visit the Palmer Musk Ox Farm, home to the only domesticated musk oxen on the planet! Native people use their wool to make traditional clothing (which you can of course purchase).
Arrival near Wasilla, lake country. Birthplace of the Iditarod sled dog race, it's now a satellite city of Anchorage.
Overnight in Wasilla (or Palmer).
Day 13 • Wasilla / Palmer area
A full day without packing or unpacking!
There are many activities in this beautiful region.
Option: jetboat (or airboat) excursion to Knik Glacier, one of Alaska's largest and also one of the least visited, as it is difficult to access.
It's one of the most photogenic glaciers; the site has hosted film shoots, such as Star Trek IV. The tour lasts approx. 4 hours (contact us).
Hiking lovers will head to Hatcher Pass, in the heart of the Talkeetna Mountains. Known for cross-country skiing, Hatcher Pass is home to the Independence gold mine, active in the early 20th century.
Overnight in Wasilla (or Palmer).
Day 14 • Wasilla / Palmer - Anchorage (80 km)
Head to Anchorage. You cross the communities of Eklutna (don't miss the cemetery, with its brightly colored graves…) and Eagle River, before reaching Anchorage.
The city boasts an extensive network of walking trails (320 km!) and bike paths weaving through parks and greenbelts. In winter, many of these routes are used for skiing.
20 minutes from downtown, Wolverine Peak offers stunning views of three mountain ranges, sapphire-reflecting lakes and lush valleys. Nearby, Potter Marsh is a bird sanctuary with wooden boardwalks that are lovely to stroll on.
In autumn, Flattop is covered in wild blueberries and offers Anchorage's best panoramas, to the north.
If you have time, you can take a seaplane flight from Lake Hood. A great experience (contact us).
Overnight in Anchorage.
Day 15 • Departure from Anchorage (or grizzly-watching extension)
Drive to the airport and return your rental car.
Flight back to Europe.
Grizzly-watching extension
Alaska is the ideal destination to watch grizzlies, very active during the salmon run in June, July and August (timing varies by viewing spot).
We offer several options, mainly departing from Anchorage: day trips to Redoubt Bay (Lake Clark), or 2- to 5-day stays mainly in the coastal region of Katmai National Park, Kodiak Island, or around Brooks River.
These stays are in very high demand and quite expensive, so you must book well in advance.
Contact us
Good to know
The displayed price
The prices shown in the table are indicative. They may vary depending on your travel dates, the choice and/or availability of accommodations, the booking date... The refined price is stated in the offer we send you, based on the parameters we have.
When to go?
This itinerary should be done between June and September. Even though climate change strongly affects Alaska, winter episodes can occur very early, towards the end of September in some cases. Likewise, thawing and snowmelt can make certain roads and tracks difficult to drive at the beginning of the season. Please contact us.
Types of accommodation in Alaska
In Alaska, the hotel inventory is far more limited than elsewhere in the USA. The choice of lodging is therefore not as wide. Some small towns only have 1 or 2 hotels and a few B&Bs or Inns of simple standard. If you only feel comfortable in 4-star hotels, it’s better to choose another destination...
Rooms in the USA
With the notable exception of big cities, the price of a hotel room varies little depending on the number of occupants. Bed sizes are given for information only. The vast majority of hotels accept a maximum of 4 people per room (2 beds).
Driving in the USA
There is no particular risk and it is even easy. The priority rule at intersections without traffic lights is “first come, first served”. In other words, there is no priority from the right: you proceed according to the order of arrival. By default, when you reach a traffic light, you may turn right even on red—but you do not have priority! You will also need to get used to the imperial system: distances in miles (1 mile = 1.6 km) and speed in miles per hour (“mph”). Beware of speeding: fines are steep...
