Best of Denali & Kenai Fjords Self-Drive

Depart London on your daytime flight via Iceland to Anchorage. On arrival, make your way to your downtown hotel. The remainder of the day is spent at your leisure. 

Stay: Hotel Captain Cook (Superior) 

Today you're free to explore Alaska's largest city, the gateway to the beautiful Alaskan wilderness. Day touring options cover every spectrum from historic city tours and wildlife cruises to flight safaris and even a glacier dog sledding experience reached by helicopter!

Stay: Hotel Captain Cook (Superior) 

Collect your rental car in downtown Anchorage and head south on the Seward Highway to Turnagain Arm keeping your eyes peeled for the beluga whales and Dall sheep that frequent this region. After a restful night's sleep, embark on a full day cruise of the Kenai Fjords National Park. The Northwestern Fjord is home to three tidewater glaciers, a number of alpine glaciers and an abundance of wildlife. 

Stay: Exit Glacier Lodge (Superior)

Leave Seward behind and travel the Sterling Highway through a landscape of volcanic peaks. Your destination for the next two nights is Homer, which boasts a remarkable setting beneath the soaring peaks of the Kenai Mountains. Your time here is free to explore. Or, perhaps take an optional bear viewing tour into the Hallo Bay Wilderness. 

Stay: Land's End Resort (Standard)

Your destination on leaving Homer is Ninilchik, the oldest settlement on the Kenai Peninsula. Then, from here, continue on to Coopers Landing and a tour of the Upper Kenai River.

Stay: Kenai Princess Wilderness Lodge (Standard) 

Continue northwards to Girdwood which lies in a valley in the southwestern Chugach Mountains. This afternoon you'll enjoy a helicopter flight to the base camp high in the Chugach Mountains which is also the training ground for the Iditarod sled dogs. On this giant snowfield you'll learn how the dogs are trained, about their endurance and how they possess an inherent desire to run. 

Stay: Alyeska Resort (Superior)

Next stop is the tiny, quirky town of Talkeetna, for many a perfect representation of small-town Alaska. This early gold rush town retains much of its history with clapboard houses, log cabins and a main street which is the only paved road in town. Talkeetna is also the jumping off point for many expeditions to Mount McKinley.

Stay: Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge (Superior) 

From Talkeetna you'll follow the Parks Highway north to Denali. Leave your car at the park entrance and transfer by bus deep into the park and your base for the next two nights. Keep an eye out for the myriad wildlife which includes bears, caribou, moose, sheep and wolves plus an abundance of birdlife. This is a true wilderness experience and there is plenty of time to explore at your leisure. Activities available include panning for gold, day hikes of all levels, botany walks and mountain biking.

Enjoy an early breakfast before the journey back through the magnificent scenery to the park entrance. The rest of the day is yours to explore. 

Stay: Grande Denali Lodge (Standard)

From Denali, make your way back to Anchorage airport for your overnight flight back to the UK arriving on day 14. 

On arrival in the UK continue with your onward journey.