Anchorage Circular 15 – 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 – Spend the morning in Anchorage and drive to Seward, 2.5 hours drive
Lodging location: Seward
Day 3 – Take a one day cruise to the Kenai Fjords National Park
Lodging location: Seward
Day 4 – Spend the day in Seward’s surroundings and visit Exit Glacier, short drive
Lodging location: Seward
Day 5 – Drive to Homer and visit sites along the way, 3.5 hours drive
Lodging location: Homer
Day 6 – Spend the day in Homer and go on activities that depart from town such as bear viewing flights, short drive
Lodging location: Homer
Day 7 – Drive to Copper Landing and go on a rafting trip in the Kenai River, 2.5 hours drive
Lodging location: Copper Landing
Day 8 – Drive to Whittier and take the ferry from Whittier to Valdez (reserve well in advance), 6 hours ferry ride plus 1.5 hours drive
Lodging location: Valdez
Day 9 – Take a one day cruise from Valdez to the Columbia Glacier
Lodging location: Valdez
Day 10 – Spend the day in Valdez and it’s surroundings, you may also go hiking, go rafting, climb on a glacier and more, short drive
Lodging location: Valdez
Day 11 – Drive north to the eastern staring point of the Denali HWY, 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: Paxson (or Gakona, 1 hour drive south of Paxon here or here)
Day 12 – Drive west on the magnificent Denali HWY, 4 hours drive
Lodging location: Denali
Day 13 – Take a bus tour to the heart of Denali National Park
Lodging location: Denali
Day 14 – Spend on more day in and around Denali National Park – meet the sled dogs, go hiking along the Savage River or go rafting, short drive
Lodging location: Denali
Day 15 – Drive back to Anchorage, 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: Anchorage
Day 16 – Enjoy the day in Anchorage
Lodging location: Anchorage
Day 17 – 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.
