Alaska, Yukon & Arctic Circle

Day 1: Anchorage - Denali National Park

Our tour starts at 7:30 am at the Inlet Tower Hotel & Suites in Anchorage. As this is an early start we recommend that you book a night's pre-tour accommodation at this hotel, which can be booked at the same time you book this tour. The largest city in Alaska with only 250,000 people, Anchorage has gone through quite a change since the earthquake of 1964. Now a bustling city fuelled by the oil boom and tourism, it was not that long ago that Anchorage was the last outpost before heading into the ‘Last Frontier’. After leaving Anchorage we travel north to Denali National Park and Preserve for our three-night stay in cabins at Carlo Creek. Meals included: 1 lunch

Day 2 & 3: Denali National Park

Denali National Park is where nature survives in a timeless state. Surrounding Mount McKinley, at 6196 metres (20,327 feet) the tallest mountain peak in North America, grizzly bears, caribou, Dall sheep, marmots and wolves all roam the park. Activities such as river rafting, dog sled demonstrations or walking on a quiet nature trail are available near our lovely campground setting bordering the park. The following days we are free to explore the backcountry. Take the included Denali shuttle bus, which offers scenic views of the taiga and sub-arctic tundra and offers superb opportunities to view wildlife as well as access to limitless hiking options. For a real treat why not try an optional scenic flight to get a good view of Mount McKinley's towering peak. You could even opt for a glacier landing! Meals included: 2 breakfasts, 2 lunches

Day 4: Alaska Range

We head into the heart of the Alaska mountain range where we then spend a night camping. Here we experience the quiet lakes of the tundra and look out for grazing caribous. This is a birder's paradise with many species often sighted and there is a chance to experience excellent fishing for grayling. This range is actually the highest mountain range in North America and includes Mount McKinley - the highest peak in North America, measuring an impressive 6196 metres (20,327 feet). Also with this range are three national parks - Kluane, Wrangell-St Elias and Mount McKinley, which was later re-named Denali National Park and Preserve. Meals included: 1 breakfast, 1 lunch, 1 dinner

Day 5: Dawson City

Heading north on the scenic ‘Top of the World Highway’, we cross into Canada and head into the Yukon Territory before arriving at Dawson City. This town of just over 1300 people was founded in 1897 and named after a Canadian geologist, George Dawson. It was the capital of the Yukon until 1952 when Whitehorse became the capital. It is hard to believe that 40,000 people were here in 1896 during the Klondike Gold rush, but by 1899 there were only 8000 people that remained. Dawson City featured in the writings of Jack London, famous for his novel, ‘The Call of the Wild’. We camp by the banks of the mighty Yukon River and those interested can try their luck with gambling at Diamond Tooth Gertie's Saloon. Meals included: 1 breakfast, 1 lunch, 1 dinner

Day 6 - 8: Yukon - Inuvik

We continue on our trek north into Canada’s Northwest Territories on the Dempster Highway and cross the Arctic Circle on our way to Inuvik - Canada's northernmost town! Be prepared for some remote and sparse facilities as we experience first-hand the lifestyle and cultures of the Dene, Metis and Inuvialuit peoples who inhabit in this frontier town. Located on the Mackenzie Delta, the name ‘Inuvik’ means ‘Place of Man’. With a population that fluctuates around 3000, this is the administrative capital and a unique place to visit, largely because of its primarily indigenous population. There is the unique domed Our Lady of Victory Church, which is often referred to as ‘Igloo Church’. In our free time we can take an optional flight to the town of Tuktoyaktuk on the coast of the Arctic Ocean to gain a unique insight into this remote and hardy community. Meals included: 3 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 3 dinners

Day 9 & 10: Yukon - Dawson City

Return south along the scenic Demspter Highway through the Yukon Territory we head back to Dawson City. We have another chance to sample the legendary Sour-Toe cocktail, try our hand at gold panning or enjoy a hike up to Midnight Dome. Meals included: 2 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 2 dinners

Day 11: Whitehorse

We follow the trail of the original Sourdough miners along the Yukon River to Whitehorse and wander the streets of this old frontier capital. Whitehorse is named after the White Horse Rapids in Yukon, which resembles the mane of a white horse. It is also the largest city in the Yukon with a population of over 26,000. In your free time here, why not go for an optional horseback ride with the gang at Sky High Ranch? Meals included: 1 breakfast, 1 lunch, 1 dinner

Day 12 & 13: Kluane National Park

The Yukon's premier national park, Kluane, beckons us next with a lovely waterside campsite along the shoreline of Lake Kluane. This park is full of mountains and glaciers that include Mount Logan (5959 metres or 19,550 feet) – the highest mountain in Canada. There have been over 100 species of birds recorded in the park including the bald eagle and the rock ptarmigan. We have time to enjoy the splendour of this park. Options include hiking up Sheep Mountain or relaxing by the lake and soaking up the serene beauty. Meals included: 2 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 2 dinners

Day 14: Tok

We travel back to USA and the state of Alaska. The small community of Tok sits at 487 metres (1600 feet) high in the mountains and is located on the junction of the Glenn Highway and the first Alaskan Highway, built in the 1940s. With a sizeable number of its 1400 inhabitants being of native Athabascan origin, this town is also the home of the world famous Pancake Toss competition that takes place at the Sourdough campground. If you manage to toss the pancake into a bucket, you could win a hearty pancake breakfast the next morning! Meals included: 1 breakfast, 1 lunch, 1 dinner

Day 15 & 16: Wrangell-St Elias National Park

We travel on to Wrangell-St Elias National Park and spend two nights at our wonderfully eclectic ranch in the ‘bush town’ of McCarthy. Bordering Canada’s Yukon Territory, this stunning national park is the largest in the country, containing glaciers five times the size of Manhattan and nine of the sixteen highest peaks in North America! We have plenty of time to explore the historic abandoned copper mining town of Kennecott or hike along the Kennecott and Root Glaciers. Optional activities available include ice climbing, hiking, mountain biking, sightseeing and glacier walking or taking a scenic flight past the towering mountains and endless glaciers to experience this vast and rugged wilderness. Meals included: 1 breakfast

Day 17 & 18: Valdez

Valdez (pronounced ‘Val-dees’) is tucked away at the end of a glacier-carved fjord and called the ‘Switzerland of Alaska’ due to its surrounding snow-capped mountains, this is the most northerly ice-free port in the Western Hemisphere and the terminus of the Alaskan Pipeline that stretches 1300 kilometres (over 800 miles) to Prudhoe Bay. We enjoy a free day here and a memorable optional activity is kayaking to the foot of either the Shoup Glacier or the larger Columbia Glacier. The Shoup Glacier excursion is a shorter one, but both offer amazing once-in-a-lifetime experiences. Meals included: 1 breakfast, 2 lunches, 2 dinners

Day 19 & 20: Kenai Fjords National Park

We board the Valdez to Whittier ferry across Prince William Sound, where we are greeted by ever more stunning scenery as we pass by the immense Columbia Glacier en route to the colourful fishing village of Seward, the gateway to Kenai Fjords National Park. Optional activities include hiking to views of Exit Glacier, fishing the waters of Resurrection Bay or enjoying an amazing boat tour of Kenai Fjords National Park. Located on the south-eastern side of the Kenai Peninsula, this park covers more than 600,000 acres (2400 square kilometres. We get to enjoy spectacular views of this rugged coastline and the Kenai Mountains and also look out for sea mammals, including pods of orcas. It is also a premier bird watching opportunity and a visit to a tidewater glacier to experience the sights and sounds of icebergs being calved into the sea are all part of this perfect day out. Meals included: 1 breakfast

Day 21: Anchorage

On our final day we journey north along the Kenai Peninsula and return to Anchorage, where our tour concludes upon arrival at approximately 5 pm at the Inlet Tower Hotel & Suites. Optional post-tour accommodation is available - please inquire when booking your tour. If you are planning to fly out of Anchorage tonight, please do not book a flight that departs before 9 pm (21:00 hrs).