A simply perfect pre-or post-cruise land tour for passengers from Seattle and Vancouver disembarking in Whittier. Your Alaska vacation starts with the pick up of your rental car in Whittier. This 7-day driving tour is ideal to explore central Alaska. Visit the town of Seward and join the spectacular narrated wildlife and glacier cruise within renowned Kenai Fjords National Park. Drive north to Talkeetna where you have the option to join a flightseeing tour to Mt. Denali (formerly Mt. McKinley). Discover famous Denali National Park - one of Alaska’s most popular attraction. Denali National Park is the natural habitat for more than 380 Grizzly Bears, Moose, Wolf, Fox, Lynx, Dall Sheep and Caribou. It is most likely you will spot some of them while taking our full day Denali shuttle bus tour to Eielson Visitor Center, Wonder Lake or Kantishna Roadhouse. You may also enjoy other Denali activities: short guided hikes, Nenana rafting or float trip, backcountry jeep adventure, guided helicopter hiking trips or a sled dog demonstration. Please Note: The self drive tour is also available in reverse. Tour extension & alterations on request. |
AK#02 Discover Alaska Self Drive Tour | Pre-Post Cruise Land Tour
Tour Itinerary
Dates | Rates
Options | Extensions
Accommodation
Rental Car
Self Drive FAQ
Day
01 |
Whittier (or Anchorage) - Seward Pick up your rental car in Whittier (or Anchorage) and drive to Portage. After a stop at the visitor center continue to Seward, a small fishing community at the gateway to Kenai Fjords National Park. This afternoon you have time to visit Exit Glacier. Short trails lead to the toe of the glacier where you can climb on the surface of the glacier itself. 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 or attend a kayaking tour from Lowell Point - the choice is yours. Distance: 120 Miles | Overnight: Seward |
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Day
02 |
Seward | Kenai Fjords National Park In the morning join the Kenai Fjords catamaran cruise 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. Overnight: Seward |
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Day
03 |
Seward - Talkeetna On your drive north to Anchorage stopover at Alyeska Resort, Girdwood. Tucked in a glacier valley between the mountains and the sea, the community is a popular year-round destination. Take the Alyeska Tramway to get a bird's eye view of the surrounding glaciers and the Turnagain Arm. Enjoy sweeping views of snowcapped mountain peaks while traveling from Anchorage on the George Parks Highway via Wasilla (Iditarod Museum) to Talkeetna. The community was established as a mining town and trading post before either Wasilla or Anchorage existed. Several of its old log buildings are today historical landmarks. The town is internationally recognized as the base for many of the climbing expeditions that challenge Mt. Denali, Mt. Hunter and Mt. Foraker during the summertime. Distance: 240 Miles | Overnight: Talkeetna |
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Day
04 |
Talkeetna - Denali National Park This morning you have time to join a flightseeing trip within 6-Miles of Mt. 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'll also see the Sheldon Amphitheatre - the largest of its kind in the world. During the tour you may catch also sights of mountain climbers. Highlight will be an adventurous glacier landing. Continue your journey along the Alaska Range across Denali State Park with countless wildlife viewing opportunities. Stopover at Byers Lake and rent a canoe or kayak. Arrive at Denali Village. The Denali parks office provides many informative ranger-naturalist programs, slide shows and sled dog demonstrations. Distance: 110 Miles | Overnight: Denali National Park. |
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Day
05 |
Denali National Park | Shuttle Bus Wildlife Tour Denali National Park offers excellent wildlife viewing opportunities and spectacular sceneries. Pick up your pre-reserved tickets and explore the WAC 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 National Park |
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Day
06 |
Denali National Park - Anchorage Spend the morning at Denali National Park and watch a sled dog demonstration presented by the park ranger. Join an exhilarating rafting or float trip on the Nenana River or join a backcountry ATV tour. Return to Anchorage during the day. Alternative Routing: From the Parks Highway drive via Hatcher Pass Road to the Independence Mine Historical Park - operated from 1938 - 1941 by one of the largest gold producers in the Willow Creek Mining District, - the Alaska Pacific Consolidated Mine Co. Continue via Palmer - located in the heart of the Matanuska Valley to Anchorage. Distance: 230 Miles | Overnight Anchorage |
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Day
07 |
Anchorage Spend the remaining day in Anchorage, explore Alaska's largest city and visit the many points of interests. Take a walk on the Coastal Trail along Cook Inlet to Earthquake Park with a magnificent view of the Alaska Mountain Range in the distance. Don't miss a delicious lunch at one of Anchorage's top seafood restaurants. Return the rental car at the airport. Individual tour extensions or sightseeing tours are available. |
Rates in US $ / per Person | Single | Double | Triple | Quad | Child | |
May 10 - May 31 | $2921.00 | $1622.00 | $1220.00 | $1022.00 | $225.00 | |
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June 1 - August 31 | $3578.00 | $1943.00 | $1438.00 | $1185.00 | $225.00 | |
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September 1 - September 15 | $2921.00 | $1622.00 | $1220.00 | $1022.00 | $225.00 |
Rates in US $ / per Person | Single | Double | Triple | Quad | Child | |
May 10 - May 31 | $3460.00 | $1884.00 | $1422.00 | $1188.00 | $225.00 | |
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June 1 - August 31 | $4725.00 | $2517.00 | $1830.00 | $1494.00 | $225.00 | |
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September 1 - September 15 | $3978.00 | $2143.00 | $1581.00 | $1297.00 | $225.00 |
Daily Departures from May 10 - September 15 |
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Rates in US $ | per Person | Adult |
Denali: Extend your Shuttle Bus Tour to Wonder Lake | |
Exchange Shuttle Bus to Escorted 13-Hour Kantishna Wilderness Lodge Tour / Denali Backcountry Lodge Tour including Interpretive Program, Gold Panning and Lunch Departure: 6:00 am / Return 7:30 pm |
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Denali: Exchange Shuttle Bus to 8-Hour Tundra Wilderness Tour including Boxed Lunch Departure: 2:00 pm / Return 8:00 pm |
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Denali: ATV Wilderness Adventure (2 1/2 hrs) | |
Talkeetna: Mt. Denali Flightseeing Tour + $120 Optional Glacier Landing (includes 11 % Transportation Fee, Tax) |
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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