SDR 05 Denali Backcountry Self Drive Tour

8-Days North Face Lodge Denali Tour
Experience Denali Park up close! Stay at North Face Lodge or Campe Denali located at the end of the park road - deep in Denali National Park. Hike with your naturalist guide, observe wildlife, learn about the tundra and colourful wildflowers or take pictures of the majestic Alaska Range.

Day 1: Anchorage

Arrive in Anchorage during the day. Pick up your rental car and drive to your hotel in downtown. Spend the remaining afternoon to visit the sights of the Alaskan City, enjoy a stroll along the coastal trail with views of Mt. Denali and the "Sleeping Lady". A guided city sightseeing tour can be arranged on request.

Day 2: Anchorage - Denali National Park

Leave Anchorage and drive north on the Park Highway towards the Matanuska Valley. Stopover at Byers Lake, rent a kayak and glide through the tranquil waters. The Parks Highway crosses Broad Pass, one of the lowest summits along the North American mountain system, but it feels very top-of-the-world, with its alpine valleys and mountain peaks on either side. Continue to Denali Village.

Day 3: Denali Village - Camp Denali / North Face Lodge

Meet your driver/guide and board the bus for the departure to Camp Denali or North Face Lodge at 1:30 pm. Enjoy the wonderful sceneries of the Denali National Park during the 7 hour journey. Your driver informs you about the history of Denali National Park, its diverse wildlife and flora. Once a bear, caribou or another animal has been spotted the bus will stop that everyone can watch and take pictures. Arrive at the lodge at about 8:00 pm.

Day 4 + 5: Camp Denali / North Face Lodge

Hike with our naturalist guides to remote alpine valleys and tundra-covered ridges where you can observe, and not just spot, wildlife. Your guide is highly trained and practiced in interpreting biology, botany, sub-arctic ecology, geology, bird life and Alaska history. If you wish to explore the park on your own, we supply you with trail and topographic maps, interpretive booklets, canoes and bikes. You can lend walking sticks, daypacks, raingear and fishing gear. In the evening relax in the living room, containing an extensive library of Alaska. We also arrange flightseeing tours to Mt. Denali from the lodge. Evening programs are presented by staff naturalists to further your appreciation of the Far North.

Day 6: North Face Lodge / Camp Denali - Talkeetna

Get up early in the morning for the departure at 6:45 am. Enjoy for a last time the wonderful scenery of Denali National Park as you return by bus to the park entrance. You have time to watch a sled dog demonstration presented by the park rangers or visit the shops of Denali Village for a last souvenir. Travel by car to Talkeetna whose wilderness location at the base of Mt. Denali and at the confluence of three wild rivers makes a center for outdoor enthusiasts, climbers, and tourists.

Day 7: Talkeetna - Anchorage

In the morning you have time for a flightseeing trip to Mt. Denali. The mountains, rivers, glaciers, and meadows in the area provide superb sight seeing, especially by air. Return to Anchorage during the day and check in your hotel.

Day 8: Anchorage

In the morning check out of your hotel and return your rental car. Tour extension on request.

Services Included

SDR 06 Spectacular Alaska Self Drive Tour

14-Days Alaska Self Driving Tour
Discover the scenic places of the Kenai Peninsula - Homer, Soldovia, Kenai and Seward. It is your choice to try your luck fishing, go kayaking, join a wildlife cruise or visit a remote community. Continue north to Denali National Park, Fairbanks and the Matanuska Valley.

Day 1: Anchorage

Arrive in Anchorage during the day. Pick up your rental car and check in your hotel in downtown Anchorage. Spend the remaining afternoon to visit the sights of the Alaskan City, explore the busy downtown area or stroll along the coastal trail with splendid views of Mt. Denali and the "Sleeping Lady". We can arrange a guided city sightseeing tour upon request.

Day 2: Anchorage - Denali National Park

Leave Anchorage and drive north on the Parks Highway towards Matanuska Valley. Stopover at Talkeetna whose wilderness location at the base of Mt. Denali and at the confluence of three wild rivers makes an ideal center for outdoor enthusiasts, climbers, and tourists. The mountains, rivers, glaciers, and meadows in the area provide superb sightseeing, especially by air. Ask us for the different flightseeing trips offered to Mt. Denali including an optional glacier landing. The highway travels across Broad Pass, one of the lowest summits along the North American mountain system, but feeling very top-of-the-world, with its alpine valleys and mountain peaks on either side. Continue to Denali Village at the border of Denali National Park.

Day 3: Denali National Park Wildlife Tour

Today experience the wildlife and wonderful sceneries of Alaska's Denali National Park. In the morning drive to Denali Visitor Center where your wildlife tour begins. Pick up your pre-reserved tickets and explore the center if time allows. Board the bus, sit back, enjoy the scenery and look out for wildlife. Your driver informs you about the history of Denali National Park, its diverse wildlife and flora. Once a bear, caribou or another animal has been spotted the bus will stop that everyone can watch and take pictures. Your wildlife tour runs all the way to Eielson Visitor Center, a four hour drive or to Wonder Lake - on request. You can get off the bus anytime you wish and take a stroll, go hiking and enjoy Denali's unique landscape. By hand signal the next available bus will stop for you to get on. Return to Denali Village in the evening.

Day 4: Denali National Park - Fairbanks

Today leave Denali National Park and drive further north to Fairbanks. Stopover at Nenana, once a traditional gathering place for Athabascan Indian. Continue to Fairbanks the "Golden Heart City" where you can visit a former gold mine, cruise aboard a sternwheeler on the Chena River and view the Alaska Pipeline. Overnight in Fairbanks.

Day 5: Fairbanks

In Fairbanks you have the unique chance to go on a bush mail plane flight to Alaska's vast, roadless interior. Enjoy the scenic flight above the Arctic Circle and experience how the Gwich'in Athabascan Natives live in "Bush" Alaska. Put your hand in the Yukon River, travel through the Wetlands and crest the rounded peaks of the Northern Edge of the Alaska Range looking out for moose and dall sheep. Another option is to travel by van along the Dalton Highway to the Arctic Circle. Your experienced guide tells you about Fairbanks gold rush days, the Trans-Alaska oil pipeline and points out any wild animals along the way. Return to Fairbanks in the evening.

Day 6: Fairbanks - Copper River / Wrangell-St. Elias Nat. Park

Heading south, the Richardson highway runs through stands of white birch and black spruce, often photogenically close to the Tanana River. Soake up the raw beauty of the drive into the central Alaska Range, often paralleled by the Alaska pipeline. Overnight near Copper Center with great views of the Wrangell Mountains.

Day 7: Copper River - Valdez

Visit the historic roadhouse in Copper Center before the Washington Glacier peeps into view. Arrive in Valdez, gateway to Alaska's Prince William Sound and southern terminus of the Trans-Alaska oil pipeline. A favourite sightseeing tour is the boat cruise to the amazing icebergs of the Columbia Glacier. On board you have a chance to view Prince Williams Sound's abundant wildlife including a Sea Lion Haul-out and a bird sanctuary. Watch sea otters play in the water and learn about Valdez's mining history, oil business and the great earthquake. Overnight in Valdez.

Day 8: Valdez - Ferry Prince William Sound - Whittier - Seward

This morning board the Alaska ferry for a scenic cruise across the Prince William Sound to Whittier. Along the way you will pass chunks of ice floating from the Columbia Glacier. Listen to the interpretation and programs of the National Forest Ranger. Upon arrival in Whittier drive through Whittier Tunnel and stop at Portage Glacier. Continue to Seward, gateway to Kenai Fjords National Park. Seward's in-town highlight is the Alaska SeaLife Center, a research aquarium. Furthermore the attractive town of Seward offers excellent ocean fishing, scenic wildlife & Kenai Fjords glacier cruises as well as wonderful hiking trails to nearby glaciers.

Day 9: Seward / Kenai Fjords National Park

Board the ship at 11:30 am for a thrilling full-day cruise through Kenai Fjords National Park and Chiswell Islands National Wildlife Refuge. Covering 110-miles, the trip is narrated by a National Park Ranger, who is highly adept at spotting wildlife, pointing out the many spectacular sights, and fielding any questions you may have. Wildlife is abundant throughout Kenai Fjords National Park, and the tidewater glaciers are massive. You'll visit the mighty Aialik Glacier where guests often witness calving - a process by which glaciers shed giant blocks and slabs of ancient ice - from a close distance. The cruise also offers the good chance to spot whales in Alaska.

Optional: If you would like to see more of Kenai Fjords National Park then join the 9 hours Northwestern Fjords Cruise, covering 150-miles. Experience the glacially carved region known for its five tidewater glaciers, steep cliffs, and rich waters abundant with wildlife. A continental breakfast and lunch is included.

Day 10: Seward - Homer

Your driving vacation continues on the Kenai Peninsula towards Homer. The paved highway comes to an abrupt conclusion at the tip of the Homer Spit, almost 5 miles out of Kachemak Bay. In the late afternoon you may take a cruise to Halibut Cove, a charming village on Ismailof Island across Kachemak Bay. The highlight of the cruise to Halibut Cove is a visit to Gull Island, home to a bird sanctuary. Kachemak Bay is teeming with sea life - sea otters, seals, whales, porpoises. Spend three hours to explore Halibut Cove, stroll along the boardwalk, visit the art galleries or enjoy a delicious dinner at the renown "The Saltry" restaurant, specializing in seafood.

Day 11: Homer

Spend the day in Homer, also called the "Halibut Fishing Capital of Alaska". Go for a full day fishing for Halibut or Salmon, rent a sea kayak and explore Kachemak Bay, one of the richest marine estuaries in the world. Go on a hiking trip to glaciers, mountain lakes and explore miles of uninhabited beaches.

Day 12: Homer - Kenai

Today we recommend to visit one of Alaska's best bear viewing destinations - Katmai & Lake Clark National Park. They feature the world's highest concentration of brown bears. Fly by bushplane from Soldotna or Homer to Lake Clark National Park on the west side of Cook Inlet. Spend time in Alaska's wilderness viewing and photographing magnificent brown bears along the coast. Here it's not unheard of to spot 30 bears fishing for salmon or digging for clams. You will be able to move freely about while observing safe bear viewing practices in the company of one of the well-trained guides. You are ensured not to fight any crowds of people.

Day 13: Kenai - Anchorage

This morning you have the chance to go fishing for the famous Kenai King Salmon - the world's largest salmon. Your expert Alaska fishing guide will show you how to hook and land a fighting King salmon on the famous Kenai River or Kasilof River. Beginners to advanced will enjoy this unique experience. If you are not into fishing, then try a exhilarating and fun rafting or float trip down the Kenai River. Leave Kenai Peninsula and drive north towards Girdwood / Alyeska Ski Resort. If time allows take the tram on top Alyeska mountain offering a splendid view of Turnagain Arm and the Chuchach Mountain Range. Continue along Seward highway traveling past saltwater bays, ice blue glaciers and alpine valleys. You have a great chance to spot a bear, moose and dall sheep along the way. Arrive in Anchorage and check in your hotel. Spend the last evening visiting one of Anchorage excellent seafood restaurants.

Day 14: Anchorage

It is your last opportunity to shop for some souvenirs before catching your flight back home.

Services Included