Travel Alaska's Scenic Byways
Tour 1517CTA:  All Alaska Classic featuring three of Alaska's National Parks

This classic Alaska self-drive tour provides you with the best of Alaska's scenic highways and byways  features three of Alaska's spectacular National Parks. This tour includes a stay in the massive Wrangell-St. Elias National Park - the largest in North America - plus a cruise into Kenai Fjords National Park and a wilderness tour deep in the heart of Denali National Park. Additional stopovers in scenic Talkeetna, Valdez, Seward, Homer, Anchorage and Fairbanks make this the ultimate Alaskan driving tour.

Click here to view a map of the driving route.

All Alaska Classic tour of Alaska Scenic Byways
15 Days / 14 Nights

Day 1:  Anchorage Arrival
Pick up your rental car at the airport upon arrival and drive to your hotel. Overnight in Anchorage.

Day 2:  Anchorage to Talkeetna / 115 miles
Plan 2.5 hours driving time, not including stops.
Drive the Glenn Highway northbound, connecting to the Parks Highway in Wasilla. A few interesting stops along way are the Alaska Native Heritage Center and the Eklutna Indian Village. Talkeetna is a small but unique gold mining community, famous for its special charm and as the expeditions base for mountaineers seeking to summit Denali. You'll have time for some great optional excursions, including McKinley flight seeing and riverboat excursions (not included). Overnight in Talkeetna.

Day 3:  Talkeetna to Denali National Park / 153 miles
Plan 3 hours driving time, not including stops.
Continuing on the Parks Highway towards Denali National Park you drive through the Matanuska-Susitna Valley and Denali State Park. Afternoon optional excursions from the Denali park entrance include rafting or a Denali Jeep Safari (not included). Overnight near the Denali park entrance.

Day 4:  Denali National Park

Early this morning embark on a 6 to 8 hour bus tour into Denali National Park (approx. 55miles/88km into the park).  The park is inhabited by many different animal species and with some luck you may see bears, caribou, moose, sheep, wolves and a variety of birds.  Mt. McKinley may also be seen, weather permitting. A snack and park fees are included.  Overnight near the Denali park entrance.

Day 5: Denali National Park to Fairbanks / 125 miles
Plan 2.5 hours driving time, not including stops.

In the afternoon continue on the Parks Highway north to Fairbanks. Accompanied by incredible forest and mountain landscape you drive through the communities of Healy, Nenana and Ester, an old mining camp. There are several optional Fairbanks activities available for today, including the Arctic Circle Adventure, the Riverboat Discovery Cruise, or a visit to Eldorado Gold Mine (not included). Overnight in Fairbanks.

Day 6:  Fairbanks
Free day to explore on your own or to participate in other Fairbanks Excursions, including a visit to Barrow or other Arctic community (not included). Overnight in Fairbanks.

Day 7:  Fairbanks to McCarthy / Kennicott / 314 miles
Plan 6 hours driving time, not including stops, plus 30 minute flight from Chitina to McCarthy.
Travel south from Fairbanks along the Richardson & Alaska Highways to Chitina, where you will leave your rental car and board a bush plane for the scenic flight into Wrangell-St. Elias National Park. Your final destination is the spectacular Kennicott mines and Kennicott Glacier Lodge. Overnight at the Kennicott Glacier Lodge.

Day 8:  McCarthy / Kennicott
Free day to explore historical Kennicott and the picturesque Wrangell - St. Elias National Park. Overnight at the Kennicott Glacier Lodge.

Day 9:  McCarthy / Chitina to Valdez / 120 miles
Plan 2.5 hours driving time, not including stops plus 20 minute flight from McCarthy to Chitina.
Fly back to Chitina to retrieve your rental vehicle, then continue south to the end of the spectacular Richardson Highway. Part of the route parallels the Trans-Alaska Pipeline and weather permitting you'll have incredible views of the St Elias Mountains. Drive by Worthington Glacier and through Keystone Canyon home to many cascading waterfalls including the spectacular Bridal Veil Falls. This evening you have an opportunity to participate in an optional natural history kayaking tour through Valdez harbor (not included), which was devastated by the 1964 earthquake. Overnight in Valdez.

Day 10:  Valdez to Seward / Ferry from Valdez to Whittier (3 or 6 hrs). Drive Whittier to Seward (85 miles; plan 2 hours drive time, not including tunnel waiting period or stops.)

Today you depart Valdez on the Alaska Marine Highway Ferry and travel through beautiful Prince William Sound. Upon arrival in Whittier drive through the Whittier-Portage Tunnel (one-lane tunnel, open to traffic during certain hours only). We suggest a possible stop at the Portage Glacier and Visitor Center. Continue along the Seward Highway through scenic landscapes to Seward. Possible side trips to Hope and Exit Glacier are also worthwhile detours. Upon arrival, embark on an optional visit to the Alaska SeaLife Center or a visit to an Iditarod musher's homestead for a dog sled ride (not included). Overnight in Seward.

Day 11:  Seward
In the morning, depart on a full-day cruise into Kenai Fjords National Park, one of Alaska's treasures. As you cruise through the park and the Chiswell Islands National Wildlife Refuge, watch for Stellar sea lions, harbor seals, puffins, eagles and even whales. During the cruise, you will see examples of Alpine, Cirque, Piedmont and Tidewater glaciers. A stop will be made at either Holgate or Aialik Glacier to witness glacier calving up-close. Enjoy an all-you-can-eat salmon and prime rib buffet on-board. In the evening return to the Seward harbor. Relax in the evening and enjoy the fresh Alaskan air. Overnight in Seward.

Day 12:  Seward to Homer / 180 miles
Plan 4 hours drive time, not including stops.
Spend the day touring Alaska's Kenai Peninsula. You will travel along the turquoise blue Kenai River, a world-class salmon fishing area. Continue to Homer with opportunities to stop in historic villages, or take advantage of great photographic opportunities along the Cook Inlet coastline. Overnight in Homer.

Day 13:  Homer

Free day to explore the quaint fishing town of Homer and Kachemak Bay or to participate in optional excursions including guided halibut fishing, a guided bear safari by bush plane to the Katmai coast, or a wildlife cruise to Gull Island (not included). Overnight in Homer.

Day 14: Homer to Anchorage / 233 miles
Plan 5 hours drive time, not including stops.
This morning drive north on the scenic Sterling and Seward Highways back to Anchorage with possible stopovers at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center or the quiet ski village of Girdwood, home of the Alyeska Resort.  Overnight in Anchorage.

Day 15:  Anchorage departure
Return car to Anchorage car rental station. Depart or start an additional program.
 

14 nights accommodation, 14 day midsize rental vehicle with unlimited mileage, 6-8 hour bus tour into Denali National Park with snack, roundtrip bush plane flights between Chitina and McCarthy, Alaska Marine Highway ferry passage from Valdez to Whittier for all passengers and vehicles, 6 - 7.5 hour Kenai Fjords National Park Cruise with lunch, and all taxes.

Any insurances for rental car, additional driver fees, gas.

Meals, optional excursions, park/admission fees other than mentioned, gratuities.

For additional car rental days please click here!

Accommodation in Kennicott ***: The Kennicott Glacier Lodge was opened in 1987 and is a replica of one of the historic mining buildings from the copper mining boom town days. This "main lodge" building has comfortable rooms with a sink with cold running water. There are plenty of spotlessly clean bathrooms and shower rooms located throughout the lodge for your use.  Baths are "private use", but SHARED by other guests. In 2004 a new (separate) building was added, offering 10 rooms with private bath.

If you book the STANDARD program, you will be accommodated in the main lodge building in a room with SHARED bath.

If you book the UPGRADED program, you will be accommodated in the separate building in a room with private bath. Depending on availability we might only be able to accommodate you in the main lodge in a room with shared bath (you would be notified).