Anchorage Circular 4 – A wonderful route in Alaska that reveals the traveler to most of the state’s classic pearls. The route includes amazing landscapes – towering peaks, glaciers, ice fields, fjords, tundra, lakes, rivers, great scenic routes, and of course wildlife viewing – bears, caribou, elk and perhaps even whales. This route Includes the city of Anchorage, Denali National National Park, the beautiful Denali Road, the coastal town of Valdez, the Kenai Peninsula (the towns of Homer and Seward the magnificent nature surrounding them), and the Kenai Fjords National Park, all while driving on great roads alongside glaciers, wild landscapes and picturesque small villages. This trip includes a ferry ride from Valdez to Whittier, this ferry does not sail every day and it is necessary to coordinate this route to it’s itinerary.
Day 1 – Land in Anchorage and spend the afternoon in the city
Lodging location: Anchorage
Day 2 – Drive north to Denali National Park, on the way take a detour to the small town of Talkeetna and embark on a glacier viewing flight, 4.5 hours drive
Lodging location: Denali
Day 3 – Take a bus tour to the heart of Denali National Park
Lodging location: Denali
Day 4 – Drive east on the magnificent Denali HWY, 4 hours drive
Lodging location: Paxson (or Gakona, 1 hour drive south of Paxon here or here)
Day 5 – Drive south to Valdez and spend the afternoon in town, 3.5 hours drive
(you may add a day or two to the trip and visit, on the way north, Wrangell-St. Elias National Park)
Lodging location: Valdez
Day 6 – Take a one day cruise to the Columbia Glacier
Lodging location: Valdez
Day 7 – Take the ferry from Valdez to Whittier (reserve well in advance) and then drive to Copper Landing, 6 hours ferry ride plus 1.5 hours drive
Lodging location: Copper Landing
Day 8 – Go on a rafting trip in the Kenai River and then drive to Homer, 2.5 hours drive
Lodging location: Homer
Day 9 – Spend the day in Homer and go on activities that depart from town such as bear viewing flights, short drive
Lodging location: Homer
Day 10 – Drive to Seward and on the way stop for a visit at Exit Glacier, 3.5 hours drive
Lodging location: Seward
Day 11 – Take a one day cruise to the Kenai Fjords National Park
Lodging location: Seward
Day 12 – Drive back to Anchorage and spend the afternoon in the city, 2.5 hours drive
Lodging location: Anchorage
Day 13 – Fly home
– In order to fill this route with content – see our Alaska destinations pages, where you can find articles that include suggestions what to do in various locations along this route.
