The 7-day Alaska self drive tour is perfectly suited for travelers with a limited amount of time. Discover famous Denali National Park - one of Alaska's most popular attraction and destinations in the shadows of towering 20.320 ft. Mt. Denali (formerly Mt. McKinley). The national park is the natural habitat for Dall sheep, moose, caribou, wolves and grizzly bears. It is most likely you will spot most of them while taking our full day wildlife tour. If you are of adventurous nature, add a flightseeing trip to Mt. Denali and land on a glacier. Continue your journey and visit Alyeska Resort - Alaska’s largest ski area and try your luck fishing for salmon on the Kenai River. In Seward take a spectacular narrated wildlife and glacier cruise within renowned Kenai Fjords National Park and explore the Alaska SeaLife Center - Alaska’s premier public aquarium and Alaska's only permanent marine mammal rehabilitation facility. |
AK#03 Best of Denali & Kenai Fjords National Park
Tour Itinerary
Dates | Rates
Options | Extensions
Accommodation
Rental Car
Self Drive FAQ
Day
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Anchorage Welcome to Anchorage! Pick up your rental car at the airport or in downtown and get ready for an Alaska vacation of a lifetime. Anchorage features dozens of parks and 122 miles of paved bike paths. Warmed by a maritime climate, you can try your luck salmon fishing at Ship Creek, hike the nearby mountains, photograph glaciers and dine at a four-star restaurant. Within a 15-minute drive from downtown on the hillside is the tree-lined trailhead of Anchorage’s most popular hike, Flattop Mountain. A short floatplane ride opens up the possibility of almost any type adventure. That’s one reason why Anchorage’s Lake Hood is the world’s busiest floatplane base. Try some fresh Alaska seafood (Salmon, Halibut and Dungeness Crab) for dinner in one of the many excellent restaurants around the hotel. Afterwards enjoy a stroll along the coastal trail with sweeping views of Mt. Denali and Mt. Susitna aka: the "Sleeping Lady". |
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Anchorage - Denali National Park Enjoy sweeping views of snowcapped mountain peaks in the distance while driving from Anchorage on the George Parks Highway to Wasilla - home of the Iditarod Headquarter. Follow the highway across the Denali State Park with good wildlife viewing, canoe rental and excellent hiking opportunities. Arrive at Denali National Park and check in your hotel. Denali, the “Great One”, is the name Athabascan people gave the massive peak that crowns the 600-mile long Alaska Range. Denali National Park and Preserve was created 1980 from the former Mt Mc.Kinley National Park. At over 6 million acres, the park is larger than the State of Massachusetts. It exemplifies interior Alaska’s character as one of the world’s last great frontiers for wilderness adventure and it remains largely wild and unspoiled, as the Athabascan knew it. Distance 230 Miles | Overnight: Denali Village |
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Denali National Park Denali National Park offers excellent wildlife viewing opportunities and spectacular sceneries. In the morning drive to the Wilderness Access Center where your wilderness bus tour starts. Pick up your pre-reserved tickets and explore the center if time allows. Board the bus, sit back and look for Dall sheep, moose, caribou, wolves and grizzly bears along the ridges and river beds or observe one of the 150 different bird species which inherit the park area. Your driver informs you about the history of Denali National Park, its diverse wildlife and flora. Once a bear, caribou or another animal has been spotted the bus will stop that everyone can watch and take pictures. Your tour turns around at Eielson Visitor Center - 66 miles into the park. We can extend the bus tour to Wonder Lake or Kantishna Roadhouse. You can get off the bus anytime you wish and take a stroll, go hiking and enjoy the landscape. Return to the Denali Park entrance anytime during the day. Overnight: Denali Village |
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Denali National Park - Talkeetna Spend the morning joining a rafting tour, watch a sled dog demonstration presented by the park rangers or go on a short hiking trip. Drive to Talkeetna - the base for most climbing expeditions and spectacular glacier flightseeing activities within the Alaska Mountain Range. Optional Tour: Take a flightseeing trip within 6-Miles of Denali's 20.320 ft summit and get a picture perfect view of the Kahiltna and Ruth Glacier with its Great Gorge - over 9.000 ft deep - as well as onto magnificent ice-falls. You will also see the Sheldon Amphitheatre - the largest of its kind in the world. During the tour you may catch also sights of mountain climbers attempting the "Great One". Another highlight will be an adventurous glacier landing. Distance: 110 Miles | Overnight: Talkeetna |
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Talkeetna - Alyeska - Copper Landing | Kenai River Drive south past Anchorage and take the Seward Highway. This highway offers incomparable vistas of fjords, glaciers and mountains as you follow the Cook Inlet and Turnagain Arm. Arrive in Cooper Landing. The Russian and Kenai Rivers are providing some of the best and most productive salmon fishing in Alaska. Four species of salmon - by the hundreds of thousands - find their way into the rivers and lakes to return to where their lives began. Virtually any time of the summer is salmon fishing season on the Kenai Peninsula. The largest King Salmon of all, weighing close to 100 pounds, were caught on the famed lower Kenai River. Tip: Drive towards the town of Kenai or Ninilchik and enjoy some wonderful views of the scenic Cook Inlet, miles of sandy beaches and active volcanoes. Distance: 210 Miles | Overnight: Cooper Landing |
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Cooper Landing - Seward Short drive to Seward, the gateway to Kenai Fjords National Park. At 11 AM board the Kenai Fjords cruise tour boat for an exciting glacier and wildlife cruise into magnificent Aialik Bay with its calving glaciers and stunning scenery. Covering 110-miles, the trip is narrated by a National Park Ranger, who is highly adept at spotting wildlife and pointing out the many spectacular sights. Wildlife is abundant throughout Kenai Fjords National Park, and the tidewater glaciers are massive. You'll visit the mighty Aialik Glacier where guests witness calving - a process by which glaciers shed giant blocks and slabs of ancient ice. The cruise also offers the good chance to spot whales in Alaska. Distance: 50 Miles | Overnight: Seward |
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Day
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Seward - Anchorage This morning you may spend some time at the Alaska SeaLife Center – the world’s first cold water marine search institute with wildlife rehabilitation and public education facilities, try your luck halibut or salmon fishing, attend a kayaking tour from Lowell Point or hike to Exit Glacier - the choice is yours. Return to Anchorage during the day and drop off your rental car. Optional: Stay another night in Seward. Distance: 110 Miles |
Rates in US $ / per Person | Single | Double | Triple | Quad | Child | |
May 10 - May 31 | $2693.00 | $1512.00 | $1153.00 | $972.00 | $206.00 | |
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June 1 - August 31 | $3199.00 | $1761.00 | $1315.00 | $1092.00 | $206.00 | |
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September 1 - September 20 | $2617.00 | $1474.00 | $1127.00 | $955.00 | $206.00 |
Rates in US $ / per Person | Single | Double | Triple | Quad | Child | |
May 10 - May 31 | $3325.00 | $1817.00 | $1377.00 | $1145.00 | $206.00 | |
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June 1 - August 31 | $4180.00 | $2244.00 | $1662.00 | $1362.00 | $206.00 | |
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September 1 - September 20 | $3325.00 | $1817.00 | $1377.00 | $1145.00 | $206.00 |
Daily Departures from May 10 - September 20 |
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Rates in US $ | per Person | Adult |
Talkeetna: 1 hr Mt. Denali Flightseeing Tour + $ 120 optional Glacier Landing (11 % Transportation Fee, Tax included) |
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Exchange Shuttle Bus to 8-Hour Tundra Wilderness Tour including Boxed Lunch Departure: 2:00 pm / Return 8:00 pm |
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Exchange Shuttle Bus to Escorted 13-Hour Kantishna Wilderness Lodge Tour including Interpretive Program, Gold Panning and Lunch Departure: 6:00 am / Return 7:30 pm |
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Exchange Shuttle Bus to Escorted 13-Hour Denali Backcountry Lodge Adventure including Guided Nature Hike, Gold Panning and Lunch Departure: 6:00 am / Return 7:30 pm |
First Class Hotel Category (**** Hotels & Lodges) First Class hotels usually offer additional amenities such as a restaurant, lounge, bar, fireplace seating, fitness room, swimming pool/hot tub, etc. All rooms in First Class hotels belong to a higher category and are always equipped with a private bathroom. Most hotels in this category are usually located in prime locations in prime downtown locations or in national parks. These include larger hotel chains such as: Marriott Hotels, Sheraton, Westmark Hotels, Princess Hotels and Lodges, Clarion Suites, Comfort Inn & Suite. The larger hotel chains are only available in Anchorage and Fairbanks. If a major hotel chain is not available, we prefer to book local premium hotels/deluxe cabins or cottages for our clients. Please note that premium accommodations may not be available in small towns; in such cases we will book the best available accommodation.. Superior Hotel Category (*** Hotels, Motels & Lodges) Superior Hotels offer a good amount of essential guest services and are located in downtown locations and/or in/near national park areas. All superior class hotel rooms are equipped with a private bathroom. Example larger hotel chains for superior class hotels are: Holiday Inn, Howard Johnson, Guesthouse Inn, Ramada Inn, High Country Inn, Aspen Hotel Group, Comfort Inn. As you might be aware, that these hotel chains are not available throughout Alaska. In such cases or/and when we feel that Alaskan owned hotels & lodges offer a better experience, we go with that choice. Cabins and Cottages also considered in this category to make your experience even more ‘Alaskan’. We ensure that all the Cabins & Cottages have a private bath to make your stay comfortable. |
Rental CarWe have compiled a list of car rental categories that fit Alaska trips and are suitable for various budgets, trip durations, as well as group sizes. Mid Size Car (included - part of the package / additional day $150) Generally, midsize cars measure between 180 to 195 inches in length but can vary depending on specific models. Mid-size cars, also commonly known as intermediate or standard cars, are four-door sedans that are more spacious than compact cars while still being fuel-efficient. They can fit 3 or sometimes 4 bags depending on the model. They feature more interior space compared to compact cars and offer comfortable seating for four to five passengers. Full Size Car (upgrade $8 per day / additional day $160) Full Size cars are what many people would describe as large cars. A full-size car typically refers to a vehicle that offers more extensive interior space, comfort, and power compared to smaller vehicles such as compact or midsize cars. These cars usually have larger dimensions, including length, width, and height. They commonly feature roomy interiors with ample seating for five or more passengers along with expanded trunk capacity for luggage or cargo. Historically, full-size cars were synonymous with large sedans boasting V8 engines and body-on-frame construction. While this has changed over time due to evolving industry trends and technological advancements, what remains consistent is the emphasis on spaciousness, comfort, and performance these vehicles provide. Standard Size SUV (upgrade $55 per day / additional day $210) SUVs (short for sport or suburban utility vehicles) are good-sized vehicles with a rugged look, set higher off the road than normal cars. In an SUV, the description of “standard” generally refers to the size of the SUV. The standard SUV is larger than the intermediate or compact versions. These full-size models are more powerful, like a truck, and they are usually more equipped to handle a wider variety of terrains and road conditions as well. In addition to being powerful, their size also means that they typically have more seating capacity than the smaller SUVs. They can seat more passengers and have more cargo space for transporting luggage and equipment. Premium SUV (upgrade $170 per day / additional day $325) A favorite of weekend warriors and full-time adventurers, this sturdy SUV rental boasts versatile interior and strong performance. A premium SUV is a high-quality, extra-large sport utility vehicle made to seat 7 or 8 passengers in three rows of seating. They also have powerhouse engines and room for plenty of cargo. The result is a smooth and spacious ride. Premium SUVs are suitable for different types of terrain and great for all types of travelers and occasions. Book from this vehicle group to enjoy a safe, strong, family-friendly SUV with extra space and premium features. The following models included in the premium SUV vehicle group will make you happy to hit the road. Mini Van (upgrade $90 per day / additional day $250) This roomy mini van is your ticket to family adventures and travel memories on your next rental. More spacious than a full-size car, and with better gas mileage than an SUV, a minivan is a 7-passenger van that provides unbeatable comfort and convenience. By providing leg and luggage room, configurable seating and storage layouts, easy in-and-out, competitive fuel efficiency, and high-performance drive—all without sacrificing style—minivans accommodate every kind of group outing, from lengthy family vacations to quick business trips. Did somebody say “road trip”? 11 Passenger Van (upgrade $250 per day / additional day $400) Choose a 11-person passenger van so that no one gets left behind on your road trip or vacation. Instead of trying to coordinate a car pool; save time, resources, and gas money by putting everyone together in one clean and comfortable van. You'll find each passenger has much more leg room. Sample Models: Chevrolet Express, Ford Transit or similar Sample Features: 3 Doors –10 to 11 Passengers- 6 Large Suitcases - Air-conditioning - Automatic Transmission |
Self Drive Tours Information - FAQ
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