|
Drive Yourself Roundtrip - Yukon and Alaska
From the Pacific to the Klondike
- 15 days / 14 nights -
The most powerful words cannot
describe the unrivalled wild beauty, and immense, almost uninhabited
expanse, of the Yukon and Alaska. This round trip will reveal to you one
of the last grand, completely wild spots of the world. You will get to
know it from several perspectives:
-
In Alaska the Denali shuttle bus
will bring you deep into the breathtaking mountain world of the
Denali National Park.
-
You have the opportunity to fly by
airplane over Kluane National Park. This park contains the highest
mountain range in Canada, and the largest non-polar ice fields on
earth.
-
With your car you will travel
the highways and gravel roads of the high north.
The Alaska Highway,
Klondike Highway, Top of the World Highway and other roads are
stretching deep through the vast wilderness. Majestic mountain
ranges, virgin forest, mountain tundra, serene lakes, and untamed
rivers comprise the most visible element of hundreds, often
thousands, of kilometres of wilderness that will surround you in its
awesome and magnificent grip.
Itinerary:
Day 1
Arrival at the Whitehorse airport.
Transfer to the hotel by taxi. In the afternoon you may stroll the streets of
Whitehorse and visit sites such as: the McBride Museum, a Yukon Stern
Wheeler, and the Old Log Church and a wooden "Skyscraper".
Hotel: Westmark Klondike Inn
Day 2
In the morning you will pick up your rental car.
Traveling the
Klondike Highway you will reach Dawson City (550 km/345 miles) approx. mid afternoon .
This legendary capital of the 1898 Gold Rush, is a
living relic. Even 100 years after the great gold Rush miners here are
still digging for gold. In the evening Diamond Tooth Gertie's Gambling
Hall is a must on the program. Long-legged can-can girls, honk-y-tonk
piano player, poker, blackjack and roulette provide an "almost" genuine
gold digger atmosphere. Hotel: Westmark Inn
TOP
Day 3
In the morning you have time to stroll the wooden
sidewalks of Dawson City that looks like a western movie setting. Most of the buildings left in Dawson City were set up at the turn of the
century. Visiting the Gold Miner Museum, the Jack London Cabin and the
huge Gold Dredge #4 will provide a comprehensive impression of the 1898
Gold Rush. Also you probably do not want to miss to see the original
Discovery Claim at the Bonanza Creek, where George Carmacks
and his native companions once discovered the first "Klondike Gold",
causing the
biggest Gold Rush the
World has ever seen.
Hotel: Westmark Inn Day 4
From the panoramic Midnight Dome high above Dawson City
you may say goodbye to Dawson City. The overwhelming view from the top
of the Dome reveals all the scars that a hundred years of searching for
gold had left. The gravel road of the Top of the World Highway leads you
through the sub-alpine tundra of the Alaskan mountain ranges to Beaver
Creek the next destination of your journey. You will cross the border to
Alaska at "Poker Creek" the most northern border crossing of the United
States. The American custom officer will stamp your passport with the
"Caribou Stamp". Just a few kilometres/miles down the road you will find
a bizarre gift shop worth to take a picture.
Hotel: Westmark Inn or Young's Motel
Day 5
The Alaska Highway from
Tok to Fairbanks
(approx. 350 km/220 mi). The U.S. Army constructed the 2,400 km/1,500
miles long Alaska Highway through the almost impenetrable wilderness of
Alaska and Yukon in 1942. This feat was achieved in an unbelievable
eight months. You may stop in North Pole, 50 km/30 miles east of
Fairbanks, to visit Santa Claus' domicile. Christmas remains here year
round. In the afternoon you may like to go for a cruise aboard the
sternwheeler "Discovery III". At the Old Chena Indian Village you step
ashore for a guided tour, furthermore you will experience a traditional
Athabascan fish camp. This tour is rated bay the travel medias as the
#
1 boat tour in North America.
Hotel: Bridgewater Hotel
TOP
Day 6
Fairbanks - Denali National Park (approx. 200 km/125
miles). Mt. McKinley, the highest mountain of North America is
encircled by pure wilderness, solitude and many impressive vistas.
Shuttle buses carry visitors deep into the park in ten minute intervals.
For the tour to the Eielson Visitor Centre you have to calculate 8
hours. Bear, moose, dall sheep, caribou and other wild animals are
accustomed to the many visitors and can frequently be viewed from the
road.
Hotel: Totem Inn or
Westmark Denali Sourdough
Cabins
Day 7
Denali -
Anchorage (approx. 380 km/240
miles). Today's destination is Anchorage, the largest city in Alaska
with approx. 300.000 inhabitants. Enjoy a shopping tour in Anchorage,
visit the biggest float plane base of the world (approx. 1.000 starts
and landings per day) and the Alaska Earthquake Exhibition or/and the 3D
OMNI cinema featuring a fascinating show of Alaska's unique beauty.
Hotel: Ramada Inn
Day 8
On your way to
Glennallen (approx. 305 km/189 miles)
you will travel through the fertile Matanuska Valley. To the south you
will spot the Matanuska Glacier. A trail is inviting you for a hike to
the glacier root. Numerous mountains in the north and the south are
accompanying you all the way to Glennallen.
Hotel: New Caribou Hotel or Sheep Mountain Lodge
Please note!
For this day you also have the
option to travel further
on the Richardson Highway from Glennallen to Valdez (approx. 185 km/115
miles). The Richardson Highway, build in 1898, was originally
known as
Eagle Trail, the first road in Alaska. On you way to Valdez you are
surrounded by the coastal mountains of the Chugach National Forests and
Wrangell-St. Elias National Park. The mountainous area surrounding
Valdez is dubbed as the "Little Switzerland of Alaska".
Hotel: Totem Inn or Keystone Hotel
Day 9
Valdez - Beaver Creek approx. 590 km / 370 miles or
Glennallen - Beaver Creek approx. 400
km / 250 miles
Hotel: Westmark Inn
Day 10
Alaska Highway Beaver Creek - Haines Junction (approx.
300 km/186 miles).
Hotel: Alcan Inn or Cozy Corner
TOP
On 2 days (day 9 and day 10) you travel along
the northern border or the largest continuously protected area in the
world: the Wrangell and Kluane National Parks. On day 9 you will cross
the huge Copper River Basin. Many Alaskan travelers claim this to be the
most impressive portion of their Alaskan journey. Marvellous is the
scenery of the highest active volcano in Alaska. On clear days a light
vapor cloud surrounds the summit of the 4,700 m/15,400 ' Mount Wrangell.
the majestic scenery of the Wrangell and Saint Elias Mountains are
accompanying you all the way to Haines Junction. A small native museum
in Burwash Landing offers an impressive exhibition of the
Yukon's
wildlife. In Haines Junction you may go for an optional flight to the 65
km long, double-tongued, Kaskawulsh Glacier. This flight provides a
breathtaking birds-eye view of the majestic mountain world of the Kluane
National Park.
Hotel: Alcan Inn or Cozy Corner
Day 11
The Visitor Information Centre in Haines Junction offers
comprehensive information about Canada's largest National Park.
Furthermore you may have a relaxing walking tour into the Kluane
National Park. The visitor Info Centre will provide all information of
available trails.
Hotel: Alcan Inn or Cozy Corner
Day 12
Haines Junction - Haines Alaska (approx. 250 km/160
miles). Every mile of today's route along the eastern St. Elias
Mountains offers the grandeur of the constantly changing scenery, and
panoramic views of breathtaking beauty. After crossing the Chilkat Pass
you will be in Alaska again; traveling through the wild and romantic
valley of the Chilkat River (Bald Eagle Valley). At Old Fort Seward you
will be greeted by totem poles recounting long family tales. Here you
will have a chance to enjoy the sophisticated art work of Tlingit totem carvers
(coastal First Nation tribe). Three times a week there
is a dancing session interpreting old
tribal legends. Take your time for a hiking tour into the Chilkat State
Park. This trail leads through typical northern rain forest along the
Chilkat Inlet. Admire the emerald green glaciers on the opposite side of
the inlet.
Hotel: Captain's Choice Motel
TOP
Day 13
On the Alaska State Ferry you will sail across the Lynn
Channel, the longest and deepest fjord of the world. After one hour you
disembark the ferry in Skagway.
During the Gold Rush of 1898 the port of Skagway was the
starting point for
tens of thousands of Gold Rush stampeders to the Klondike Gold Fields.
Most buildings of Skagway's historic site were constructed during the
Gold Rush era.
Hotel: Westmark Inn
Day 14
Stroll down Skagway's wooden boardwalks. Numerous shops are offering
countless souvenirs to choose from. You may enter the Soapy Smith Show
to learn how Soapy Smith and his gang once fleeced unsuspicious
stampeders. In the afternoon you have to travel
back to Whitehorse (approx. 180 km/115 miles). Your today's route leads
you up to the coastal mountains and the White Pass, the border
crossing-point of the Yukon. The road follows the "Dead Horse Trail",
which gained sad popularity because more than four-thousand horses
perished on this trail during the Gold Rush. Late afternoon you will
pass Carcross on your way to Whitehorse. Shortly past the community of
Carcross you may stop at the "Carcross Desert" said to be the
smallest
desert of the world.
Hotel: Westmark Klondike Inn
Day 15
Transfer to the Whitehorse airport and departure, or an
ad-on program.
TOP
Book a tour
|
Price per person from/to Whitehorse |
|
based on double room occupancy |
Compact Car |
CA$ |
1,930.00 |
|
based on double room occupancy |
Mid Size Car |
CA$ |
1,960.00 |
|
based on double room occupancy |
Full Size Car |
CA$ |
1,990.00 |
|
based on double room occupancy |
Van |
CA$ |
2,095.00 |
|
based on double room occupancy |
SUV (4 x 4) |
CA$ |
2,095.00 |
|
single room supplement |
CA$ |
1,150.00 |
All prices are subject to 5 % GST (Goods & Service
Tax)
Book a tour
Price includes:
14 nights accommodation
in medium class hotels, lodges or B & B (double room,
shower &
toilet)
14 days car rental, 250 km / 155
miles free/day, $2 Mio liability insurance
8 hours shuttle bus ride into Denali National Park
Admission fee Denali National Park
Ferry Lynn Channel (Haines - Skagway) 2 persons
Ferry Lynn Channel (vehicle)
Airport transfers
Price does not include:
Insurance (CDW) CA$ 20.00 /per day
Tire and wind shield insurance CA$
8.00 / per day
Costs for gas
Admission fees for Casino, Museums etc.
Book a tour
Add on options:
Chilkoot Trail (1 week), Big Salmon River
Canoe Tour (12 days), Liard River
(13 days), Wind River Canoe Tour (15
days)
Important Note:
We reserve the right to stay in hotels other as
described in the itinerary. We also reserve the right to conduct the
itinerary in opposite direction or change parts of the tour description
if necessary due to circumstances that are beyond the control of
Canadian Wilderness Travel Ltd. All changes will be replaced by same or
better options.
We strongly recommend you to purchase proper insurance coverage at
the time of booking. Your policy should cover at least trip cancellation,
injury, illness, travel accident, emergency medical and search & rescue.
TOP
CANADIAN WILDERNESS TRAVEL Ltd.
P.O.
Box 114, Carmacks, Y0B 1C0, Yukon Territory, CANADA
Phone:
867 863 5404, FAX: 867 863 5405
e-mail:
Home /
Summer Tours /
Winter Tours /
Day Tours and
Multi Day Tours /
The Best of Two Worlds: Vancouver - Dawson City /
Eco-Tours / Log Cabin:
Summer -
Winter /
Fly &
Drive
/
Rent a Canoe /
Transfers /
Book a Tour / General Travel Information
- New Passport Regulations /
Waiver /
Personal Equipment /
Payment and Cancellation Policy /
General Information: Our Philosophy -
Photo Gallery -
Maps /
Links |
