Alaska’s Natural Wonders

Collect your rental car today and drive south to the scenic Kenai Peninsula. Your destination for today is the port town of Seward, gateway to Kenai Fjords National Park. Seward is one of Alaska’s oldest and most scenic communities, with Mt. Marathon rising steeply behind the town.

Today is at leisure to explore Seward and the surrounding area. You may wish to hike at nearby Exit Glacier or visit the Alaska SeaLife Centre. Highly recommended is an optional cruise through the Kenai Fjords. Home to miles of beautiful fjords, glaciers and coastal landscapes, the Kenai Fjords National Park is also known for its abundant wildlife – you may be lucky enough to spot orcas and humpback whales, Steller sea lions, harbour seal and sea otters.

Today is at leisure to explore Seward and the surrounding area. You may wish to hike at nearby Exit Glacier or visit the Alaska SeaLife Centre. Highly recommended is an optional cruise through the Kenai Fjords. Home to miles of beautiful fjords, glaciers and coastal landscapes, the Kenai Fjords National Park is also known for its abundant wildlife – you may be lucky enough to spot orcas and humpback whales, Steller sea lions, harbour seal and sea otters.

In pictures

Make your way north to Girdwood, where you may wish to take a hike through North America’s northern-most temperate rainforest. Alternatively take the Alyeska Aerial Tram to the top of Mt Alyeska for panoramic views over Turnagain Arm and the endless peaks and glaciers of the Chugach Mountain range.

Moose and bear sightings are common around Girdwood, so take a good look around before you head north to the quaint little town of Talkeetna. The town of Talkeetna has retained much of its early Alaskan flavour. Log cabins, a roadhouse and clapboard storefronts line the dirt streets, colourful locals and bush pilots stroll the wooden sidewalks. There are also plenty of activity options on offer here, including scenic flights over Denali National Park – pre-booking is advisable for a memorable introduction to this spectacular wilderness.

Today continue your journey north to Denali Village, just outside Denali National Park.

Enjoy a guided excursion into Denali National Park today. Led by an experienced naturalist driver and guide, you will be provided with an overview of the land and its wilderness as you travel approximately fifty-three miles on the open park road. This vast wilderness is home to bears, moose, wolves and caribou, as well as sparkling lakes, rivers and towering mountain peaks.

Enjoy a guided excursion into Denali National Park today. Led by an experienced naturalist driver and guide, you will be provided with an overview of the land and its wilderness as you travel approximately fifty-three miles on the open park road. This vast wilderness is home to bears, moose, wolves and caribou, as well as sparkling lakes, rivers and towering mountain peaks.

In pictures

Today you will drive the Parks Highway north to Fairbanks, Alaska’s second largest city. Accompanied by incredible forest and mountain landscapes, drive through the communities of Healy, Nenana and Ester – an old mining camp. A visit to the Museum of the North is highly recommended.

Make the long drive south to Chitina, where you will board an Alaskan bushplane for your flight into the heart of Wrangell-St Elias National Park. This park is the largest in the United States National Parks system and contains several of the tallest mountains in the country, as well as the greatest concentration of glaciers in North America. Together with Glacier Bay National Park, and both Kluane National Park and Tatshenshini-Alsek Park in Canada, this area represents the single largest tract of protected land in the world, and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Your destination is McCarthy, from where you will transfer to the ghost town of Kennicott.

Make the long drive south to Chitina, where you will board an Alaskan bushplane for your flight into the heart of Wrangell-St Elias National Park. This park is the largest in the United States National Parks system and contains several of the tallest mountains in the country, as well as the greatest concentration of glaciers in North America. Together with Glacier Bay National Park, and both Kluane National Park and Tatshenshini-Alsek Park in Canada, this area represents the single largest tract of protected land in the world, and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Your destination is McCarthy, from where you will transfer to the ghost town of Kennicott.

In pictures

This magical location is the furthest road extension in the massive Wrangell-St. Elias National Park. With only a handful of year-round residents, the area is attracting a growing number of people looking to experience Alaska as they imagine it – a mix of solitude and scenery. Today you will join a 2-hour guided tour of Kennicott’s historic highlights, learning about this former thriving mining settlement which is now abandoned. The rest of the day is at leisure.

Today fly back to Chitina by bush plane while enjoying great views of the Wrangell Mountains. From Chitina continue by car to Knik River, near Palmer.

Today is at leisure for you to explore. Highly recommended is a visit to the Knik River Glacier – at over 28 miles long and 5 miles across, this is one of central Alaska’s greatest rivers of ice.

Today is at leisure for you to explore. Highly recommended is a visit to the Knik River Glacier – at over 28 miles long and 5 miles across, this is one of central Alaska’s greatest rivers of ice.

In pictures

Today make the short drive back to Anchorage, keeping an eye out for for Dall sheep combing the mountainsides.

Enjoy a full and final day in Anchorage – the city boasts some interesting museums and galleries and great day hikes and bike trails, as well as a choice of shopping and dining options.

Enjoy a full and final day in Anchorage – the city boasts some interesting museums and galleries and great day hikes and bike trails, as well as a choice of shopping and dining options.

In pictures

Return your rental car at the airport and depart Alaska.