Anchorage Circular 16 – A comprehensive route in Alaska that also includes a taste of the Canadian Yukon Territory. This route reveals the traveler to the wild land of the Yukon and Alaska. Along it are towering peaks, glaciers, ice fields, fjords, tundra, lakes, rivers, picturesque bays, great scenery, and of course a chance to view bears, caribou, elk and the highlight – whales In the Glacier Bay National Park (one of the best places in the world to view these marine mammals). The route includes the town of Anchorage, the coastal town of Valdez, Lake Kluane and the Kluane National Park (Yukon), the beautiful town of Haines, the town of Juneau (the capital of Alaska), Glacier Bay National Park and its surroundings, the town of the gold miners Skagway, the impressive road to the town of Whitehorse (Yukon) as well as the surroundings of this town, the beautiful Denali Road and the Denali National Park. This route includes many ferry rides. The schedule of these ferries should be adjusted to the schedule of this trip. In addition, all reservations for arrival, activities and stays in the Glacier Bay area must be made well in advance.
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 toward the Canadian border and cross the border to Yukon, Canada, 5.5 hours drive
Lodging location: Beaver Creek
Day 6 – Drive to Whitehorse, 5 hours drive
Lodging location: Whitehorse
Day 7 – Spend the morning in the town of Whitehorse and drive to Skagway (Alaska), 2 hours drive
Lodging location: Skagway
Day 8 – Spend the morning in Skagway and take the ferry to Juneau Alaska’s capital city, 6.5 hours ferry ride
Lodging location: Juneau
Day 9 – Take a short flight or take the ferry to Gustavus (you may leave your car in Juneau) and spend the afternoon in this small and scenic village, 4.5 hours ferry ride or 30 minutes flight
Lodging location: Gustavus or Glacier Bay
Day 10 – Take a one day cruise to the Glaciers of Glacier Bay National Park
Lodging location: Gustavus or Glacier Bay
Day 11 – Go on a whale watching tour out of Gustavus and then return to Juneau by ferry or flight
Lodging location: Juneau
Day 12 – Spend the morning in Juneau and take the ferry from Juneau Haines, 4.5 hours ferry ride
Lodging location: Haines
Day 13 – Spend the day in Haines and enjoy the town’s scenic surroundings, short drive
Lodging location: Haines
Day 14 – Enjoy one more day in Haines and enjoy the town’s scenic surroundings, short drive
Lodging location: Haines
Day 15 – Drive north back to Yukon and enjoy the views along the way, 3 hours drive
Lodging location: Haines Junction
Day 16 – Drive to scenic Lake Kluane and visit Kluane National Park, 3.5 hours drive
Lodging location: Beaver Creek
Day 17 – Drive back to Alaska to the scenic coastal town to Valdez, 7 hours drive
Lodging location: Valdez
Day 18 – Take a one day cruise from Valdez to the Columbia Glacier
Lodging location: Valdez
Day 19 – Drive back to Anchorage, on the way stop for a visit at Matanuska Glacier, 5.5 hours drive
Lodging location: Anchorage
Day 20 – 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.
