Alaska & Yukon Explorer, Canada

Duration: 15 Days | 14 Nights
Dates: All year possible but recommended for March - November
Countries to be visited: Canada
Departure & Return Locations: Anchorage/Whitehorse

Alaska is a land of trails. Trapper trails, prospector’s trails, musher’s trails, the trails of famous explorers, and the trails of indigenous traders - all of these trails stitch together an immense landscape of ice-covered mountains, rolling tundra, and thick coastal forest. If you’re a hiker, you’ll agree the best way to experience a place is to follow its trails. If you also appreciate a
good meal, a shower, and sampling of local culture in the evening, then this is the tour for you. Our Alaska and Yukon Explorer tour gives you a sampling of all the best hikes throughout Alaska and Canada’s Yukon in an incredible two-week road trip. Our itinerary puts you on foot in the middle of it all, featuring visits to Denali National Park, the Coast Mountains, the far northern tundra, and the best of the coastal fjords in the company of an experienced guide and a small group.

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

Day 2: Anchorage – Seward
Sit back and enjoy the sweeping views of Chugach Mountains and the Kenai Range as we drive to the seaside town of Seward. The immense tidal flats of the Turnagain Arm, which we’ll reach by the afternoon, makes this one of the most scenic drives in North America. At Moose Pass, we’ll go by the beginning of one of the most famous modern trails in the North: the Iditarod, a historic 1000-mile sled-dog race through the rugged alaskan interior. We’ll finish the day in the beautiful coastal town of Seward. (Overnight hotel accommodation in Seward)

Day 3: Seward
This morning we’ll take a hike in the Seward area. Options here include the Iditarod Trail, the spectacular Coastal Trail (tide dependent), historic Fort McGilvary, and the salmon stream at Tonsina Beach - to name just a few. Your guide will have a plan based on seasonal events and weather conditions. You may choose another hike for the afternoon, or take advantage of what is perhaps the main attraction in 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, ancient ice sends up massive waves as it crashes into the ocean. (Overnight hotel accommodation in Seward)

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, which hunt salmon in the turbulent waters. We’ll continue past cascading waterfalls and snow-capped mountains, continuing to the George Parks Highway and Denali National Park. Weather permitting, we may have the option of a onehour scenic flight over Denali, which at 6193 meters is North America’s tallest peak. This is an incredible
experience and highly recommended. (Overnight hotel accommodation in the vicinity of the park)

Day 5: Denali National Park
Today we’ll take a National Park shuttle bus deep into one of the most scenic landscapes in North America. In clear weather the road offers up-close views of Denali, and the chance to see wolves, Dall sheep, moose, caribou, and grizzly bears, not to mention an abundance of fox, coyotes and eagles. This classic Alaska: the great land at its very finest. (Overnight hotel accommodation in the vicinity of the park)

Day 6: Denali National Park – Glennallen
Although we say goodbye to Denali National Park today, the mountain will continue to dominates 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 hotel accommodation in Glennallen)

Day 7: Glennallen – Dawson City
Today we will cross the high tundra back into Canada, following the Top of the World highway, crossing the highest checkpoint between Canada and the US at Little Gold Creek. In Canada, we’ll cross over the Yukon River to Dawson City, which offers wide variety of historic sites easily accessible on foot. (Overnight hotel accommodation in Dawson City)

Day 8: Dawson City
Dawson City is the gold rush capital of the North, and absolutely filled with history. 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 take a drive up the Midnight Dome, the mountain overlooking Dawson and the surrounding wilderness. Dawson was once the largest city west of Winnipeg and north of Seattle, and many of the original false-fronted buildings remain. There will be time today to stroll through the preserved and restored townsite. A wide variety of historic sites and exhibits are easily accessible on foot, and the summer is packed with festivals and events. We’ll end the day with a visit to Diamond Tooth Gertie’s Gambling Hall, where can-can dancers kick up their skirts like its 1898. (Overnight hotel accommodation in Dawson City)

Day 9: Dempster Highway
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 hotel accommodation in Dawson City)

Day 10: Dawson City – Whitehorse
On our journey to the territorial capital of Whitehorse follows the Yukon River for much of way. We’ll take a break at the Five Finger Rapids for a walk down to the riverside and a lunch by the churning water. On our way into Whitehorse we will stop at the Beringia Centre to explore the prehistoric ice landscape that created the features we’ve just witnessed. You will have the evening free to enjoy Whitehorse’s distinct character. The “Wilderness City” offers everything from Vaudeville shows, theatre, and live music to quiet walks on forest trails. (Overnight hotel accommodation in Whitehorse)

Day 11: Whitehorse – Haines Junction
After a short drive this morning we’ll arrive at Haines Junction, in the shadow of the Kluane Ranges. We’ll pay a visit to the Da Ku Cultural Centre to orient ourselves to the landscape and the history and continuing culture of the area’s indigenous peoples. Once we’ve settled into our hotel and had a quick lunch, we’ll head out to trek the Auriol Trail in Kluane National Park. This four-hour hike is an excellent introduction to the park, climbing through mixed boreal forest surrounded by mountain vistas. (Overnight hotel accommodation in Haines Junction)

Day 12: Haines Junction / Kluane National Park
We’ll spend this entire day hiking through Kluane National Park. 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 peaks that lie hidden beyond the front ranges. In the evening, we have the option of hiring a charter for a flight over the largest non-polar ice fields in the world, which sprawl across the interior of this enormous national park. (Overnight hotel accommodation in Haines Junction)

Day 13: Haines Junction – Skagway
Today we will take the scenic highway southward over the Chilkat Pass to Haines, Alaska. In Haines, we’ll catch the ferry through the towering glaciers along the Lynn Fjord to Skagway, gateway to the famous gold rush. You’ll have the evening and afternoon free to explore this historic town. Hike to Yakutania Point, do some shopping, or just grab a coffee and watch the otters play in the river. (Overnight hotel accommodation in Skagway)

Day 14: Skagway – Whitehorse
After breakfast we’ll head back to Yukon via the South Klondike Highway and we will hike the first stretch of the historical Chilkoot Trail. After passing through White Pass and crossing the border at Fraser, we will stop
to explore Montana Mountain just outside of Carcross, which offers views of sprawling, mountainous Lake Nares and Lake Bennett. In the village of Carcross, we can visit the Tlingit Facades and visit the Carcross Desert, where a geographic anomaly makes this the unlikely home of the smallest desert in the world. (Overnight hotel accommodation in Whitehorse)

Day 15: Departure Whitehorse
You have the day free to rest, do any last-minute shopping, or explore a bit more of Whitehorse. Ruby Range will provide a transfer to the airport or to a connecting program. (End of tour services)

Tour Price
• Price shown is for a person based on twin share accommodation.
• All prices displayed are subject to availability and can be withdrawn or varied without notice.
• Prices are guaranteed once booking is confirmed by us and paid in full by the due date.
• Depending on your needs and group size (individual, couple, family, group, etc.) we will provide the final pricing for your tour.

Inclusions:
• 15 days trip from Anchorage to WhitehorsePersonal Guide with interpretation
• throughout the trip
• Local hiking and tour guide
• 14 nights’ accommodation in superior middle-class double rooms
• All overland transportation
• Air-conditioned Maxi Van (capacity 15 seats)
• Guided hiking trips
• Ferry trip on the Lynn fjord
• Day tour through the Denali National Park
• Admissions for the National Parks
• Admissions as of itinerary
• Airport transfers

Exclusions:
• Meals and beverages
• Optional tours
• Personal extras
• Gratuity

Child Policy: Min. age: 12 years, 12-17 years: 25% off regular adult rate
Notes: Due to the nature of this tour last-minute changes to the itinerary are a possibility and are left up to the discretion of the guide.

Please refer to our Standard Booking Conditions for booking terms and conditions.