Midnight Sun Backroads
$2,495 pp – 9 Days
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Take a wilderness wagon ride to enjoy an All-You-Can-Eat Gourmet Dinner
Day 1 — Anchorage to Denali
- Arrival in Anchorage, Alaska’s largest city located at the base of the Chugach Mountains
- Check into a late model rental vehicle in Anchorage (vehicle provided with unlimited mileage)
- Drive from Anchorage to Denali on the scenic Glenn & Parks Highway (237 miles, approx. 4-hour drive)
- Explore Denali State Park and Byers Lake- an excellent location for hiking, wildlife viewing and kayaking
- Drive the first 15 miles of the Denali National Park Road to Savage River, where it is common to see Moose, Caribou, Dall Sheep and Grizzly Bears.
- Take a 3.5-hour tour in the Denali backcountry traveling in a horse-drawn covered wagon – enjoy a wilderness BBQ gourmet meal (all-you-can-eat dinner)
- Denali area lodging provided
Spend the day exploring Denali National Park
Day 2 — Denali National Park
- Watch a Denali Nat’l Park Ranger sled-dog presentation to learn about managing the park during the winter season
- Pick up a picnic backpack lunch for your day in Denali National Park
- Spend the day exploring Denali National Park- ride the transit bus on a 6-hour tour. Enjoy extensive wildlife viewing and beautiful scenery at your own pace.
- Denali area lodging provided
Enjoy the Riverboat Discovery historic tour on the Chena & Tanana Rivers
Day 3 — Denali to Fairbanks
- Drive from Denali to Fairbanks on the scenic Parks Highway (approx. 2-hour drive)
- Arrive in the Far North remote small city of Fairbanks
- Ride the historic steamboat Riverboat Discovery down the Chena River & Tanana Rivers
- Explore the historic side of Fairbanks – visit Pioneer Park and the Morris Thompson Cultural & Visitors Center
- Fairbanks lodging provided
Enjoy soaking in the Chena Hot Springs
Day 4 — Explore Fairbanks
- Explore the Creamer’s Field Migratory Waterfowl Refuge
- Enjoy a short train ride to the historic Gold Dredge # 8 Mine for a tour and gold panning experience
- Take a relaxing soak at the Chena Hot Springs – Visit the Ice Museum
- Fairbanks lodging provided
Drive the scenic backroads to Glennallen
Day 5 — Fairbanks to Glennallen
- Enjoy a scenic drive through miles of wilderness from Fairbanks to Glennallen ( approx. 4-hour drive)
- Visit the small community of North Pole and the world’s largest Santa
- Enjoy a side trip on the Denali Highway – Have lunch at the Tangle Lakes Lodge Cafe
- Arrive into the small community of Glennallen, located close to Wrangell St. Elias National Park
- Glennallen lodging provided
Explore Wrangell St Elias National Park
Day 6 — Wrangell St Elias National Park
- Visit Wrangell St. Elias National Park & the scenic Copper River Valley – drive the scenic wilderness McCarthy Road
- Visit the small villages of McCarthy and Kennecott – Enjoy lunch at a Historical Lodge
- Take a guided tour of the historical Kennecott Mine – enjoy a relaxing afternoon as you return to Glennallen
- Glennallen lodging provided
Drive the scenic Richardson Highway
Day 7 — Glennallen to Valdez
- Enjoy the scenic Richardson Highway from Glennallen to Valdez (approx. 2-hours of drive time)
- Explore Worthington Glacier, Thompson Pass, and Blueberry Lake – famous for mountain vistas and wildflowers
- Arrive in the small city of Valdez, located on the shores of the Prince William Sound
- Valdez area lodging provided
Enjoy wildlife viewing in the Prince William Sound
Day 8 — Prince William Sound
- Enjoy a six-hour cruise into the Prince William Sound – visit Columbia Glacier to view glacier calving and wildlife viewing (light meal included)
- Visit Crooked Creek for Salmon and Wildlife Viewing
- Travel down Dayville Road – a common area for Bear viewing
- Valdez lodging provided
Enjoy the glacial views of Chugach and the Talkeetna Mountains
Day 9 — Valdez to Anchorage
- Drive the scenic Richardson & Glenn Highway from Glennallen to Anchorage (approx. 4.5 hours of drive time)
- Stop to visit the Matanuska Glacier – enjoy lunch at Sheep Mountain
- Ride the Anchorage Trolley to visit historical locations throughout downtown Anchorage
- Return rental vehicle, transportation provided to the Anchorage Airport