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Alaska's "Classic Route" travel package offers a comprehensive look at Alaska's most diverse regions. It includes most of the highlights and scenic wonders in the central region of Alaska. From Anchorage, drive to Talkeetna for a scenic flight to the ice world of Mt. Denali (formerly Mt. McKinley). Continue to Denali National Park, where you can observe grizzly bears, caribou and a variety of wildlife in their natural habitat. Your journey continues north into Alaska's interior - to Fairbanks with its gold rush atmosphere and Chena Hot Springs Resort. Now you will get to know the marine region - Prince William Sound and Kenai Fjords National Park. Ride the Alaska ferry and visit the magnificent Columbia Glacier - the largest tidewater glacier in Alaska. Watch glaciers calve and whales roar during the Kenai Fjords Wildlife and Glacier Cruise. You'll have time to try your luck at fishing, kayaking, renting a dog sled or taking a helicopter ride to the Godwin Glacier. |
AK#05 Alaska Classic Self Drive Tour - Alaska Travel
Tour Itinerary
Dates | Rates
Options | Extensions
Accommodation
Rental Car
Self Drive FAQ
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Day
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Anchorage Welcome to Anchorage! Pick up your rental car at the airport or in downtown and get ready for an Alaska vacation of a lifetime. Anchorage features dozens of parks and 122 miles of paved bike paths. Warmed by a maritime climate, you can try your luck salmon fishing at Ship Creek, hike the nearby mountains, photograph glaciers and dine at a four-star restaurant. Within a 15-minute drive from downtown on the hillside is the tree-lined trailhead of Anchorage’s most popular hike, Flattop Mountain. A short floatplane ride opens up the possibility of almost any type adventure. That’s one reason why Anchorage’s Lake Hood is the world’s busiest floatplane base. Try some fresh Alaska seafood (Salmon, Halibut and Dungeness Crab) for dinner in one of the many excellent restaurants around the hotel. Afterwards enjoy a stroll along the coastal trail with sweeping views of Mt. Denali and Mt. Susitna aka: the "Sleeping Lady". |
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Anchorage - Talkeetna Enjoy sweeping views of snowcapped mountain peaks while traveling from Anchorage on the George Parks Highway via Wasilla (Iditarod Museum) to Talkeetna - the base for most climbing expeditions. This afternoon enjoy a flightseeing tour to Mt. Denali (included). This magnificent flight takes you within six miles of Mt. Denali's summit. As your flight departs, you begin to see how the last ice age has shaped the land. Moments later, you enter a world of rugged high mountain peaks and wide glacier filled valleys. See the Sheldon Amphitheater, beautiful Ruth Glacier, and the Great Gorge. Distance: 120 Miles | Overnight: Talkeetna |
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Talkeetna - Denali National Park Continue your journey along the Alaska Range through Denali State Park with countless wildlife viewing opportunities. Stopover at Byers Lake and rent a canoe or kayak. Arrive at Denali Village. The parks office provides many informative ranger-naturalist programs, slide shows and sled dog demonstrations. Optional: Visit Jeff King’s Sled Dog Kennel - Join an intimate group for a personal tour with four-time Iditarod champion Jeff King at his Husky Homestead Kennel. Widely heralded as the most authentic and entertaining look into “bush Alaska” lifestyles, your visit includes holding Husky puppies, greeting more than sixty world-class sled dogs, and sharing twenty-five years of Alaskan tales of the trail. Enjoy the compelling stories and check out arctic survival gear, racing sleds and equipment used to traverse the 1100 mile long "Last Great Race on Earth". Distance: 120 Miles | Overnight: Denali National Park |
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Denali National Park Early departure (pre-reserved time) for a full day national park and wildlife observation tour within the shadows of 20.320 foot Mt. Denali to the Eielson Visitor Center or scenic Wonder Lake with a immense view of “ the Mountain”. Watch out for grizzly bears, moose, caribou, wolf and fox along the ridges and riverbeds or observe one of the 150 different bird species which inherit the park area. From the park road you enjoy great hiking opportunities. Return to the Denali Park entrance anytime during the day. Optional: Exchange to the Kantishna Wilderness Trails or Tundra Wilderness Tour. Return to the Denali Park entrance at any time during the day and participate in a ranger talk if time permits. Overnight: Denali National Park |
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Denali National Park - Fairbanks Short drive via Nenana (Alaska Ice Classics) to Fairbanks. Fairbanks, known as the Golden Heart City of Alaska, is the gateway to the interior and features almost 24 hours of daylight during the summer months. You are invited to explore the local gold rush history, its vibrant traditional native cultures as well as its abundant wildlife and fantastic scenery. Tucked into miles of unexplored wilderness only 120 miles from the Arctic Circle, Fairbanks offers excellent year-round outdoor recreational opportunities. This afternoon you may visit the renown Alaska University Museum featuring Alaska's natural history best collection, Alaskaland or take an authentic sternwheeler on a scenic 20-mile roundtrip cruise down the Chena and Tanana Rivers. Enjoy lively narration, stop at a reconstructed Athabascan Indian Village to learn about native hunting & fishing techniques and watch a dogsled demonstration. Distance: 120 Miles | Overnight: Fairbanks |
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Fairbanks In Fairbanks you have the unique chance to cross the Arctic Circle and to visit the vast interior. Join us on a guided van tour along the Dalton Highway to the Arctic Circle. En-route enjoy stunning views of the interior and the Trans-Alaska-Pipeline, put your hand in the Yukon River, travel through the wetlands and crest the high plateau of Finger Mountain looking out for wildlife. You can also join a bush mail plane flight and experience how the Gwich'in Athabascan Natives live in "Bush" Alaska. Another option is to drive along Chena Hot Springs road (watch out for moose!), go on a hiking trip and visit Chena Hot Springs Resort. Here you can relax in the large heated indoor pool or the natural outdoor rock lake. Visit the Aurora Ice Museum and grant yourself to a "Appletini" beverage served in an ice glass. Overnight Fairbanks. |
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Fairbanks - Valdez Heading south, the Richardson Highway passes through stands of white birch and black spruce, often photogenically close to the Tanana River. Soak up the raw beauty of the drive into the central Alaska Range, often paralleled by the Alaska pipeline. Visit the historic roadhouse in Copper Center before the Washington Glacier peeks into view. Arrive in Valdez, gateway to Prince William Sound. A favourite tour is the cruise to the amazing icebergs of the Columbia Glacier. Distance: 360 Miles | Overnight: Valdez |
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Valdez - Prince William Sound | Ferry Trip - Seward Scenic cruise across Prince William Sound onboard the Alaska Marine Highway Ferry. Watch out for whales, bald eagles, seals, sea lions and other marine wildlife. In the distance you'll see Columbia Glacier - one of the largest tidewater glaciers in Alaska. Arrive in Whittier and drive to Portage Glacier. After a stop at the visitor center continue to Seward, a small fishing community at the gateway to Kenai Fjords National Park. This afternoon you have time to visit Exit Glacier. Short trails lead to the Toe of the Glacier where you can climb on the surface of the glacier itself. Distance: 120 Miles + Ferry Trip | Overnight: Seward |
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Seward | Kenai Fjords National Park In the morning take a Kenai Fjords cruise tour boat for an exciting glacier and wildlife cruise into magnificent Aialik Bay with its calving glaciers and stunning scenery. Covering 110-miles, the trip is narrated by a National Park Ranger, who is highly adept at spotting wildlife and pointing out the many spectacular sights. Wildlife is abundant throughout Kenai Fjords National Park, and the tidewater glaciers are massive. You'll visit the mighty Aialik Glacier where guests witness calving - a process by which glaciers shed giant blocks and slabs of ancient ice. The cruise also offers the good chance to spot whales in Alaska. Overnight: Seward |
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Seward – Alyeska – Anchorage You may spend some time at the Alaska SeaLife Center – the world’s first cold water marine search institute with wildlife rehabilitation and public education facilities, try your luck halibut or salmon fishing or attend a kayaking tour from Lowell Point - the choice is yours. On your drive back to Anchorage, stopover at Alyeska. Tucked in a glacier valley between the mountains and the sea, the community is a popular year-round destination. Take the Alyeska Tramway to get a bird's eye view of the surrounding glaciers and the Turnagain Arm. Continue to Anchorage and drop off your rental car. Distance: 120 Miles |
| Rates in US $ / per Person | Single | Double | Triple | Quad | Child | |
| May 15 - May 31 | $4515.00 | $2618.00 | $2031.00 | $1737.00 | $525.00 | |
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| June 1 - August 31 | $5254.00 | $2983.00 | $2271.00 | $1915.00 | $525.00 | |
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| September 1 - September 20 | $4363.00 | $2542.00 | $1979.00 | $1701.00 | $525.00 | |
First Class Hotel Category
| Rates in US $ / per Person | Single | Double | Triple | Quad | Child | |
| May 15 - May 31 | $5371.00 | $3035.00 | $2309.00 | $1943.00 | $525.00 | |
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| June 1 - August 31 | $6500.00 | $3599.00 | $2699.00 | $2256.00 | $525.00 | |
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| September 1 - September 20 | $5180.00 | $2939.00 | $2268.00 | $1926.00 | $525.00 | |
Departure Days
| Daily Departures from May 10 - September 20 |
Services included
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Flexible Tour Options - Upgrades & Sightseeing
| Tour Details | Rates per Person |
| Talkeetna: Add on Glacier Landing | |
| Exchange Shuttle Bus to 8-Hour Tundra Wilderness Tour including Boxed Lunch | |
| Exchange Shuttle Bus to Escorted 13-Hour Kantishna Wilderness Lodge Tour including Interpretive Program, Gold Panning and Lunch Departure: 6:00 am / Return 7:30 pm |
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| Exchange Shuttle Bus to Escorted 13-Hour Denali Backcountry Lodge Adventure including Guided Nature Hike, Gold Panning and Lunch Departure: 6:00 am / Return 7:30 pm |
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| Fairbanks: Full Day Guided Arctic Circle Van Tour (7 AM - 10 PM) | |
| Fairbanks: Full Day Guided Arctic Circle Fly/Drive to Coldfoot & the Yukon River | |
| Fairbanks: 1/2 Day Bush Mail Plane Flight to Arctic Village | |
| Fairbanks: 5 hr Arctic Circle Flightseeing Tour to Fort Yukon & the Yukon River | |
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First Class Hotel Category (**** Hotels & Lodges) First Class hotels usually offer additional amenities such as a restaurant, lounge, bar, fireplace seating, fitness room, swimming pool/hot tub, etc. All rooms in First Class hotels belong to a higher category and are always equipped with a private bathroom. Most hotels in this category are usually located in prime locations in prime downtown locations or in national parks. These include larger hotel chains such as: Marriott Hotels, Sheraton, Westmark Hotels, Princess Hotels and Lodges, Clarion Suites, Comfort Inn & Suite. The larger hotel chains are only available in Anchorage and Fairbanks. If a major hotel chain is not available, we prefer to book local premium hotels/deluxe cabins or cottages for our clients. Please note that premium accommodations may not be available in small towns; in such cases we will book the best available accommodation..  Superior Hotel Category (*** Hotels, Motels & Lodges) Superior Hotels offer a good amount of essential guest services and are located in downtown locations and/or in/near national park areas. All superior class hotel rooms are equipped with a private bathroom. Example larger hotel chains for superior class hotels are: Holiday Inn, Howard Johnson, Guesthouse Inn, Ramada Inn, High Country Inn, Aspen Hotel Group, Comfort Inn. As you might be aware, that these hotel chains are not available throughout Alaska. In such cases or/and when we feel that Alaskan owned hotels & lodges offer a better experience, we go with that choice. Cabins and Cottages also considered in this category to make your experience even more ‘Alaskan’. We ensure that all the Cabins & Cottages have a private bath to make your stay comfortable.  |
Rental CarWe have compiled a list of car rental categories that fit Alaska trips and are suitable for various budgets, trip durations, as well as group sizes. Mid Size Car (included - part of the package / additional day $150) Generally, midsize cars measure between 180 to 195 inches in length but can vary depending on specific models. Mid-size cars, also commonly known as intermediate or standard cars, are four-door sedans that are more spacious than compact cars while still being fuel-efficient. They can fit 3 or sometimes 4 bags depending on the model. They feature more interior space compared to compact cars and offer comfortable seating for four to five passengers.  Full Size Car (upgrade $8 per day / additional day $160) Full Size cars are what many people would describe as large cars. A full-size car typically refers to a vehicle that offers more extensive interior space, comfort, and power compared to smaller vehicles such as compact or midsize cars. These cars usually have larger dimensions, including length, width, and height. They commonly feature roomy interiors with ample seating for five or more passengers along with expanded trunk capacity for luggage or cargo. Historically, full-size cars were synonymous with large sedans boasting V8 engines and body-on-frame construction. While this has changed over time due to evolving industry trends and technological advancements, what remains consistent is the emphasis on spaciousness, comfort, and performance these vehicles provide.  Standard Size SUV (upgrade $55 per day / additional day $210) SUVs (short for sport or suburban utility vehicles) are good-sized vehicles with a rugged look, set higher off the road than normal cars. In an SUV, the description of “standard” generally refers to the size of the SUV. The standard SUV is larger than the intermediate or compact versions. These full-size models are more powerful, like a truck, and they are usually more equipped to handle a wider variety of terrains and road conditions as well. In addition to being powerful, their size also means that they typically have more seating capacity than the smaller SUVs. They can seat more passengers and have more cargo space for transporting luggage and equipment.  Premium SUV (upgrade $170 per day / additional day $325) A favorite of weekend warriors and full-time adventurers, this sturdy SUV rental boasts versatile interior and strong performance. A premium SUV is a high-quality, extra-large sport utility vehicle made to seat 7 or 8 passengers in three rows of seating. They also have powerhouse engines and room for plenty of cargo. The result is a smooth and spacious ride. Premium SUVs are suitable for different types of terrain and great for all types of travelers and occasions. Book from this vehicle group to enjoy a safe, strong, family-friendly SUV with extra space and premium features. The following models included in the premium SUV vehicle group will make you happy to hit the road.  Mini Van (upgrade $90 per day / additional day $250) This roomy mini van is your ticket to family adventures and travel memories on your next rental. More spacious than a full-size car, and with better gas mileage than an SUV, a minivan is a 7-passenger van that provides unbeatable comfort and convenience. By providing leg and luggage room, configurable seating and storage layouts, easy in-and-out, competitive fuel efficiency, and high-performance drive—all without sacrificing style—minivans accommodate every kind of group outing, from lengthy family vacations to quick business trips. Did somebody say “road trip”?  11 Passenger Van (upgrade $250 per day / additional day $400) Choose a 11-person passenger van so that no one gets left behind on your road trip or vacation. Instead of trying to coordinate a car pool; save time, resources, and gas money by putting everyone together in one clean and comfortable van. You'll find each passenger has much more leg room. Sample Models: Chevrolet Express, Ford Transit or similar Sample Features: 3 Doors –10 to 11 Passengers- 6 Large Suitcases - Air-conditioning - Automatic Transmission  |
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Self Drive Tours Information - FAQ
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