Fly Drive USA

Depart the UK on your chosen scheduled flight to Anchorage. Upon arrival, collect your rental car and proceed to your hotel.

This morning travel along the Seward Highway towards scenic Turnagain Arm, a body of water featuring the world’s second highest tides at over 30 feet. Keep an eye out for Beluga whales chasing salmon in the bay or Dall sheep along the highway. From Porterage travel through mountain tunnels to the port town of Whittier. Board the 26 Glacier Cruise and venture deep into Prince William Sound, finding yourself so close to glaciers that you can “hear” them move and gaze at their brilliant blue hues. Discover several types of glaciers including Alpine hanging, Piedmont and Tidewater, plus watch for glacier calvings (broken pieces of ice that have fallen into the water and become icebergs). Lunch is included onboard. Following your cruise it is an approximate two hour drive to Seward.

Today you can personalise your day by choosing one of these excursions:
Option 1. Tonsina Point Resurrection Bay Kayaking Adventure – Resurrection Bay is surrounded by snow-capped mountains and home to several Alaska state parks that offer abundant opportunities to hike, sea kayak and explore!
Option 2. Bear Lake Kayak/Canoe Trip – Kayak or canoe on this scenic local lake with fun-loving guides. Bear Lake is located just outside Seward, and normally offers flat calm waters, and a home for Sockeye salmon. On the way there is a stop to visit the salmon weir and learn about their life cycle. Eagles, loons, and bears are often seen while on this adventure.
Option 3. Wilderness Dog Sled Ride Tour – Visit the Seavey Family Homestead in Seward, and tour the beautiful tether free summer camp for Iditarod athletes! Meet the dogs, feel their excitement as teams are hitched to comfortable summer sleds, then mush for two miles through the scenic rainforest.
Option 4. Exit Glacier Hike – This moderate hiking adventure is great for viewing the jewel of the Resurrection River Valley – Exit Glacier. This massive wall of blue ice descends the mountainside from the Harding Ice Field, down to the Resurrection River.
Option 5. Resurrection Bay Wildlife Cruise – Treat yourself to an abundance of wildlife viewing with this 3 1/2 hour Kenai Fjords cruise in Resurrection Bay. Travel 55 miles (round-trip) along a rugged coastline and snap plenty of memorable photos as you sail past Bear Glacier. Sail close to sea lion colonies and seabird rookeries, and keep your eyes peeled for whales, sea otters, Dall’s porpoises and eagles.

Continue your journey and follow the Sterling Highway, a designated scenic highway covering miles of spectacular landscape. Along the way view snowcapped mountains, active volcanoes including Mt. Iliamna, Mt. Redoubt and Mt. Augustine, deep ocean bluffs, excellent salmon fishing opportunities along the Kenai River, and a magnificent
coastline.

Homer “Halibut Capital of the World” provides you with truly incredible panoramic views of mountain ranges, white peaks, glaciers and the famous Homer Spit. Use the day to explore the area – kayak to a remote cove, take a scenic cruise and spot wildlife including whales, seals, sea otters and many shorebirds. If you prefer to observe Grizzly bears up close, take an optional scenic flightseeing tour to the Katmai Coast.

This morning, drive north on the scenic Sterling and Seward Highways back towards Girdwood. Along the way we have included admission to the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center which provides care and rehabilitation for injured and orphaned wildlife. Here you can safely get close, observe, and photograph some of Alaska’s largest land animals including moose, bison, elk, deer, caribou, bears, muskox. Continuing to Girdwood, take an aerial tram up Alyeska Mountain for views of Turnagain Arm, up to seven “hanging” glaciers and the endless peaks of the Chugach Mountain Range. At the base of the tram is your overnight accommodation at Alyeska Resort.

Drive north from Girdwood along scenic Turnagain Arm, travelling through Anchorage and the agricultural region of the Matanuska-Susitna Valley, to the small, picturesque town of Talkeetna. Talkeetna serves as a base camp for Mt. Denali climbers; the community of 857 residents is located at the confluence of the Talkeetna and Susitna Rivers. A turn-of-the-20th-century gold-mining centre, the town has retained much of its early Alaskan flavour.

This morning embark on a Denali flightseeing tour with glacier landing. Seeing the park from the air provides you with an idea of its sheer size. while standing on a glacier surrounded by towering granite peaks, you will gain an understanding of the immense scale of the Alaska Range. Back in Talkeetna, drive the Parks Highway north to Denali National Park, passing by incredible forest and mountain landscapes. You’ll have as much time as you like to experience the majesty of Denali National Park, take in the sights of the George Parks Highway or arrive at your hotel near the park entrance to take advantage of an optional excursion or a visit to the Denali Visitor Centre.

Today you can personalize your day by choosing one of these excursions:
Option 1. Denali Highway Jeep Excursion (Self-Drive Guided 4×4 Excursion) – Ranked #2 in ‘Drives of a Lifetime’ by National Geographic Traveller magazine, experience the natural wonders of Alaska’s Denali Highway — this time by Jeep! This 4-hour guided excursion travels along a 135 mi (217 km) gravel road & takes you off the beaten path in a 4 x 4 to enjoy scenic views of Denali, the Alaska Range, glaciers and wildlife.
Option 2. Tundra Wilderness Tour (Coach Tour) – This half day tour offers incredible scenery, a narrated history of the park road and opportunities to view the park’s wildlife inhabitants. Picturesque highlights include the craggy cliffside of Cathedral Mountain, wildlife rich Sable Pass and braided wash of the East Fork River in Denali National Park.
Option 3. Upgrade Option: Denali Summit Flightseeing (Small Aircraft) – Get a closer look at Alaska’s majestic Denali from the comfortable window seat of a small aircraft. Slip on your provided headset to hear commentary from your guide as you fly over the snow-covered peaks, jagged ridgelines, and glacier carved valleys of Denali National Park, and get within half a mile of the mountain peak.
Option 4. Upgrade option: Denali Glacier Landing (Helicopter) – Be immersed in the vastness of the Denali National Preserve. On your way to the massive Yanert Glacier, your pilot will serve as your guide through this unique glacially-carved environment. Soar over the rolling tundra, keeping an eye out for local residents – caribou, moose, bear, and Dall sheep. Snow capped peaks and glaciers abound on this journey before you set down on a river of ice.

Depart at leisure this morning on the George Parks Highway. Highlights on today’s trip include the Independence Mine in beautiful Hatcher Pass and the many communities in the Mat-Su Valley. This valley contains many farms with the remarkable growing season in Alaska and offers beautiful views of the Chugach Range.

Start the day with a spectacular helicopter ride over glaciers and icebergs. You often see moose, black bears, Dall sheep, and mountain goats. Land on a huge snowfield high on a glacier and enjoy a whole hour with Alaskan sled dogs and their mushers. Take the dog team for an exhilarating dogsled ride through real snow. Then depart Palmer and drive the Glenn Highway south to Anchorage. This short drive borders the impressive Chugach mountain range and the Knik Arm.

You may choose to extend your holiday with extra time in Anchorage. If not, return your rental car and check in for your flight back to the UK.