Best of Yukon & Alaska – Hotel & Camping Van Tours

Accommodations: 
On the camping trip, you get 12 nights of tent camping in campsites along the route and 2 nights of hotel accommodations in Whitehorse.

Day 1: Arrival in Anchorage
Welcome to Anchorage, Alaska! Your tour guide will meet you at the airport and transfer you to your hotel. Here you’ll meet the rest of your group and go through a brief orientation. (Overnight hotel accommodation in Anchorage)

Day 2: Anchorage – Seward
We start our trip after breakfast today and we will have a little bit of time in Alaska’s biggest city. Check out Lakes Hood and Spenard, where up to 800 floatplanes take off and land daily. The aviation museum is nearby, a great place to gain an appreciation for an important part of Alaskan life. In downtown Anchorage, there’s the Museum of History and Art, and, of course, the essential American shopping malls. We will then head on the road towards the beautiful coastal town of Seward. (Overnight campground accommodation)

Day 3: Seward
This morning, we’ll take a hike in the Seward area. We have many great options as this coastal area does not lack in beauty! We may choose another hike further for the afternoon, or you may want to take advantage of one of the main attractions of the Seward area: the Kenai Fjords National Park. This optional six-hour marine life viewing cruise takes you through waters teeming with seals, sea lions, sea otters, as well as orca and humpback whales. Moose and black bears often wander along the shorelines, and at the Bear Glacier, calving ice sends up massive waves as it plunges into the ocean. (Overnight campground accommodation)

Day 4: Seward – Denali National Park
Today we’ll say goodbye to Seward head back up the Seward Highway through the scenic Turnagain Arm. Here, tides that are among the highest in the world attract beluga whales, in great numbers. We’ll continue past cascading waterfalls and snow-capped mountains through Portage, before continuing to the George Parks Highway and Denali National Park. Weather permitting, we may have the option of a one-hour scenic flight over Denali, which at 6193 meters is North America’s tallest peak. This is an incredible experience and is highly recommended. (Overnight campground accommodation)

Day 5: Denali National Park
Today, we have the option of taking a National Park shuttle bus into one of the most scenic landscapes in North America, or to explore the Park by foot. In good weather the road into the Park offers spectacular views of Denali, and the chance to see wolves, Dall sheep, moose, caribou, and grizzly bears, as well as the many fox, coyotes and eagles. This classic Alaska: the great land at its very finest. Denali is world famous for very good reasons and you will understand why today. (Overnight campground accommodation)

Day 6: Denali National Park - Glenallen Area
Although we say goodbye to Denali National Park today, the mountain will continue to dominate the landscape as we head up the Denali Highway. This extraordinary road is built on glacial eskers through the vast glacial floodplain along the border of Denali National Park and is one of the most remote regions in the state. We’ll have plenty of opportunities for hikes along the way. (Overnight campground accommodation)

Day 7: Glenallen Area - Dawson City
Today we will cross the high tundra into Canada, following the Top of the World highway, crossing the highest checkpoint between Canada and the US at Little Gold Creek. This is another spectacular drive so get your cameras ready! We’ll pass through the quirky and charming northern towns of Chicken and Action Wade Camp. In Canada, we’ll cross over the Yukon River to Dawson City, where you will be immersed in the history only by walking the street of this unique historical city.  (Overnight campground accommodation)

Day 8: Dawson City
Dawson City is a vibrant, fun-filled town that is loaded with history. We will spend an entire day here. A highlight is the drive into the Bonanza and Eldorado Creeks where you will have the option to visit an active gold mine. Later, we’ll head up the Midnight Dome, the mountain overlooking Dawson and the surrounding wilderness. There’s time today to stroll through this garish gold rush town, once the largest city west of Winnipeg and north of Seattle. Many of the original false fronted buildings still remain, and a wide variety of historic sites and exhibits are easily accessible on foot. (Overnight campground accommodation)

Day 9: Dawson City - Tombstone Park
An early start this morning puts us two hours up the Dempster Highway, in the middle of the rugged Tombstone Mountains. The highway itself is 730 kilometres long and is Canada’s only connection by road to the Arctic coast. Tombstone Territorial Park lies at the beginning of the vast arctic tundra and is overshadowed by the dramatic syenite peaks that give the park its name. This is ideal country for hiking, and we will spend the day exploring the ridges overlooking the expansive tundra where great herds of caribou migrate hundreds of miles each year. (Overnight campground accommodation)

Day 10: Tombstone Park – Whitehorse Area
We break camp today and spend a little time enjoying the views before heading towards Yukon’s capital on the Klondike Highway. Our drive will be punctuated with interesting stops such as the five finger rapids and old roadhouses along the way. We will establish camp again not far from Whitehorse and enjoy a quiet night around the campfire in another pristine location. (Overnight campground accommodation)

Day 11: Whitehorse Area – Haines Junction
After a good breakfast, we will make a short stop in Whitehorse and then head towards Haines Junction. We will then head for a hike on one of the many trails of Kluane National Park. You will be astonished by the beauty of this location; the trails are all spectacular. We will ten set up camp for 2 nights and have a good meal and a good night sleep before tomorrow’s hike. (Overnight campground accommodation)

Day 12: Haines Junction / Kluane Park
Haines Junction is the gateway to Kluane National Park which extends over 220,000 square kilometers of the northern Coast Mountains southwest of the Junction. A full day hike on one of the many trails leading to Sheep Mountain offers views of eighty-kilometre long Kluane Lake and a peek into the enormous landscape that lies hidden beyond the front ranges. If time and weather permit, we also have the possibility of an optional flight over the interior of the park to witness the incredible scale of Canada’s largest mountains, and the world’s biggest non-polar ice fields. (Overnight campground accommodation)

Day 13: Haines Junction – Skagway
We say goodbye to Kluane today and head south to the beautiful coastal town of Haines Alaska. This was one of the few overland routes to the Klondike and an ancient trade route for coastal Tlingit peoples. At Dalton Cache we will cross international border yet again. This entire drive is spectacular! After a short stop, we will board the ferry to Skagway. We’ll travel through the Lynn Fjord, where, with a bit of luck we’ll see seals, whales and bald eagles. Skagway became renowned as the gateway to the Klondike during the famous gold rush of 1898, and its boomtown character has been carefully restored and maintained. There will be some time to explore the town or do a short hike before setting up camp one last time. (Overnight campground accommodation)

Day 14: Skagway – Whitehorse
This little town still holds on to its frontier flavour and there will be some time to explore around on foot and walk a coastal trail before beginning our drive north to Yukon’s capital, Whitehorse. Our route takes us up into the Coast Mountains of the Pacific over the White Pass into magnificent landscapes. We will stop by Carcross for a break to sip local coffee and soak in the mountain views. We will also do a short hike in the smallest desert in the world and finally, we will witness the extraordinary colours of Emerald Lake. (Overnight hotel accommodation in Whitehorse)

Day 15: Departure Whitehorse
Our tour ends in Whitehorse. Ruby Range will provide a transfer to the airport or to a connecting program. (End of tour services) (Due to the nature of this tour, last-minute changes to the itinerary are a possibility and are left to the discretion of the guide.)

Accommodations: 
On the hotel trip, you get 14 nights of hotel accommodations in superior middle-class hotels in double rooms.

Day 1: Arrival Whitehorse
Arrival in Whitehorse, airport transfer, a meeting of group members, overnight in hotel.

Day 2: Whitehorse - Skagway, Alaska
After breakfast you have the opportunity to discover the famous capital of the Yukon, and your stops should include the MS Klondike, one of the last Yukon sternwheelers still around and a visit to the McBride Museum. Start of the grand voyages is early afternoon, and our van will set track towards Skagway. During this trip we will stop at the smallest desert in the world - the Carcross desert - and we will of course also admire Emerald Lake, called "Rainbow Lake" from the locals due to its sensational coloration. Skagway, a hundred years ago the base camp for all Chilkoot Pass travelers is still a historic gold rush town. Many well preserved relics bear witness to its colourful past, including the head of the notorious Chilkoot Trail. In the evening one can relax and get a taste of the gold rush atmosphere in one of the historic bars, for example the "Red Onion Saloon" once a brothel.

Day 3: Skagway - Haines
Via ferry we travel through the Lynn Fjord and with some luck we can see seals, whales, bald eagles and the giant Alaska brown bears, making this area their home. Haines is known as an important centre of the native Tlingit culture and one can watch Totem pole carvers at work as well as visit the local theatre where ceremonial Indian dances are shown.

Day 4: Haines - Haines Junction
We are following the Chilkat River where during fall salmon migration thousands of majestic bald eagles concentrate. After the Chilkat Pass we can view Million Dollar Falls in a pristine landscape along the Tatshenshini River. Before we arrive at Haines Junction we stop at Klukshu Village, where Indian people still catch salmon in a traditional manner during their upstream migration.

Day 5: Valdez - Whittier - Seward
Today we’ll cross the Prince William Sound via ferry. Without a doubt this is a highlight, even by Alaskan standards. The ferry gives us breathtaking vistas of the Fjords and glaciers along the Pacific Coast, and with a bit of luck we’ll have the chance to spot otters, puffins, sea lions, and even whales. Once ashore we continue overland through the scenic Chugach mountain range, the glacier lakes and rivers to the coastal town of Seward. In this lively town, take the chance to treat yourself with Alaskan king crab at one of the numerous restaurants and go for a private lovely walk on the coast. (Overnight hotel accommodation in Seward)

Day 6: Seward - Anchorage
Seward is world-famous for the nearby Kenai Fjords National Park, which offers some of the best marine life viewing in the world. We highly recommend taking the optional motorboat tour into the park this morning. The rest of our day begins with a drive through the Kenai mountains and later along the Turnagain Arm to Anchorage. Keep an eye out for the beluga whales that hunt in the tidal waters along the way. Back in Alaskas biggest city we can enjoy a nice dinner together in the evening. You also can check out Lakes Hood and Spenard, where up to 800 floatplanes take off and land daily. The aviation museum is nearby, a great place to gain an appreciation for this important part of Alaskan life. (Overnight hotel accommodation in Anchorage)

Day 7: Anchorage - Denali National Park
Today we leave the Pacific coast region and move inland again. The George Parks Highway takes us north to Denali National Park, past sweeping panoramic views of distant glaciers, with glimpses of the beaver dams along the nearby river. Late afternoon, we have the opportunity to take an optional one-hour glacier flight over Denali (Mount McKinley), which at 6193 meters is the highest peak in North America. This is a highly recommended adventure, particularly when the weather is clear. (Overnight hotel accommodation close to the park)

Day 8: Denali National Park
In the morning we’ll take a Park-owned shuttle bus deep into one of the most scenic landscapes in North America. Without a doubt, this is a highlight of most visitors’ experience. Weather permitting, we’ll get a view of soaring Denali, and with a little luck we will see wolves, Dall sheep, moose, caribou, and grizzly bears along the scenic loop. (Overnight accommodation close to the park)

Day 9: Denali National Park - Fairbanks
Back on the George Parks Highway, we’ll  will reach Fairbanks early in the afternoon, the city of the midnight sun. Fairbanks is a unique northern town about 320 kilometres south of the Arctic Circle, and the rest of the day is free to explore places of interest in and around it. Fairbanks offers everything you need for a true city experience. You can visit a diversity of museums to learn more about the geology and history of Alaska or use the afternoon to take a relaxed walk next to the Chena River and in downtown. In addition you could take a sternwheeler cruise on the Chena River (optional). (Overnight hotel accommodation in Fairbanks)

Day 10: Fairbanks - Dawson City
We’re on the road again. We’ll see the Trans-Alaska Pipeline crossing the Tanana River right next to the highway. In Delta Junction, we’ll re-join the Alaska Highway and stop at the local visitor centre. From here we strike out into the open tundra along the Top of the World Highway, passing through quirky northern towns like Chicken and Action Wade Camp, and crossing the international border again at Little Gold Creek, the highest border checkpoint anywhere on the continent. In the afternoon we’ll cross the Yukon River by ferry to reach Dawson City. (Overnight hotel accommodation in Dawson City)

Day 11: Dawson City
This legendary boomtown was epicentre of the famous Klondike gold rush of 1898, and gold still animates the place. Immerse yourself in Dawso’s history, and try your luck panning the creeks yourself. You’ll also want to take some time to simply stroll around the town, with its garish Gold Rush architecture and friendly locals. In the evening, the turn-of-the-century style casino and can-can girls kick up their skirts for an evening of entertainment at Diamond Tooth Gertie’s Gambling Hall. (Overnight hotel accommodation in Dawson City)

Day 12: Dempster Highway
An early start puts us on the Dempster Highway with plenty of time to explore. This gravel highway, built on solid permafrost, is Canada’s only link by road to the remote town of Inuvik, 738 kilometres away. We’ll take the Dempster up to into Tombstone Territorial Park, where jagged black mountains give the area its name and the vast arctic tundra begins. Back in Dawson City we will drive up the Midnight Dome and enjoy the beautiful vistas. (Overnight hotel accommodation in Dawson City)

Day 13: Dawson City - Whitehorse
Today we’ll head back to Whitehorse via the Klondike Highway. Along the way, we’ll catch many glimpses of the mighty Yukon River, one of the longest waterways in North America and the historic artery of Yukon and Alaska. We’ll stop at the infamous Five Finger Rapids, and we can stretch our legs at any of the old post offices, roadhouses and small villages that still give the area a unique northern character. In the late afternoon we will arrive in Whitehorse. There, we have the opportunity to visit Miles Canyon. The most dramatic natural feature, where the Yukon River has cut its way down through a flow of basaltic lava. (Overnight hotel accommodation in Whitehorse)

Day 14: Skagway
From Whitehorse, a day trip takes us down the Klondike Highway to the Alaskan Coast again. This drive will provide us with several wonderful photo opportunities, like the Carcross dessert or the colorful Emerald Lake. In just 175 kilometres, we will pass through a wonderful variety of ecoregions and alpine landscapes as we cross over the continental divide to the seaport of Skagway. Like Dawson, Skagway is a legendary gold rush town that has preserved its turn-of-the-century character. For an up-close experience of the infamous White Pass, try taking an optional train ride along the narrow-gauge railway back to Carcross. (Overnight hotel accommodation in Whitehorse)

Day 15: Departure from Whitehorse
Our tour is officially over, giving you the chance to relax or do a little shopping in Whitehorse before returning home. Ruby Range will provide a transfer to the airport or to a connecting program. (End of tour services)   (Due to the nature of this tour, last-minute changes to the itinerary are a possibility and are left to the discretion of the guides)