Anchorage Circular 9 – 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 – Enjoy the day in Anchorage
Lodging location: Anchorage
Day 3 – Drive to Valdez and on the way stop for a visit at Matanuska Glacier, 5.5 hours drive
Lodging location: Valdez
Day 4 – Take a one day cruise from Valdez to the Columbia Glacier
Lodging location: Valdez
Day 5 – 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 6 – Drive to Yukon (cross the border to Canada), 7 hours drive
Lodging location: Beaver Creek
Day 7 – Drive to scenic Lake Kluane and visit Kluane National Park, 3.5 hours drive
Lodging location: Haines Junction
Day 8 – Drive to the beautiful town of Haines and enjoy the views along the way, 3 hours drive
Lodging location: Haines
Day 9 – Spend the day in Haines and enjoy the town’s scenic surroundings, short drive
Lodging location: Haines
Day 10 – Enjoy one more day in Haines and enjoy the town’s scenic surroundings, short drive
Lodging location: Haines
Day 11 – Take the ferry from Haimes to Juneau, Alaska’s capital city and spend the afternoon in town, 4.5 hours ferry ride
Lodging location: Juneau
Day 12 – 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 13 – Take a one day cruise to the Glaciers of Glacier Bay National Park
Lodging location: Gustavus or Glacier Bay
Day 14 – Go on a whale watching tour out of Gustavus and then spend the afternoon in the area
Lodging location: Gustavus or Glacier Bay
Day 15 – Return to Juneau by ferry or flight and spend the afternoon in the city or it’s surroundings, short drive
Lodging location: Juneau
Day 16 – Take the ferry from Juneau to the town of Skagway and spend the afternoon in town, 5.5 hours ferry ride
Lodging location: Skagway
Day 17 – Spend the morning in Skagway and drive to the town of Whitehorse (Yukon, Canada), 2 hours drive
Lodging location: Whitehorse
Day 18 – Spend the day in the city of Whitehorse or it’s surroundings, short drive
Lodging location: Whitehorse
Day 19 – Start driving to the northeast, back to Alaska, 5 hours drive
Lodging location: Beaver Creek
Day 20 – Continue driving back to Alaska, cross the border to the USA and drive towards the eastern entrance of the Denali HWY, 5.5 hours drive
Lodging location: Paxson (or here, 45 minutes drive north of Paxon)
Day 21 – Drive west on the magnificent Denali HWY, 4 hours drive
Lodging location: Denali
Day 22 – Take a bus tour to the heart of Denali National Park
Lodging location: Denali
Day 23 – 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 24 – 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 25 – 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.
