I am looking to check Alaska off my bucket list. Boutique, small ship adventure cruises in Alaska's Inside Passage, Cruises depart from Whittier, a 1 hr drive from Anchorage. I hope that helps give you some ideas! Sangeeta, thanks for your comment. Car rentals are prohibitively expensive in Denali. Dis­cov­er our opti­mal month due to day­light, tem­per­a­ture, and rain, Over­whelmed by choic­es? No hiking or long walks so you’ve given me several great ideas for tours and sightseeing. I recommend checking out the Denali National Park website to be sure they’ll be open on the specific dates you have in mind. It’s on my short list! If you’re looking for the best weather, it’s undeniable that the best months to visit Alaska are June through August. The question isn't whether you'll see something life-changing here—it's a given—but which type of sights you'll choose to focus on. Highlights plus less visited destinations. I would be open to camping but am worried about temperatures at this time of year. If you choose a conventional cruise, take a cross-Gulf itinerary and add a land tour. This is so helpful. But, because of the vastness of Alaska I was considering a tour. They are my preferred provider after trying many of the flightseeing providers in the area when I worked in Denali one summer. Pros: Can be inexpensive at certain times, all prepaid, fun activities for the kids on the ship, fun excursions for kids off the ship, beautiful scenery and wildlife seen from the ship. I would appreciate your input. Any recommendations where we could fish and fit into this itinerary? I hope you can make it at least sometime in the future, no matter the season! Day 6: Lost Lake/other hike Thanks for your comment, Anshu. You don’t want to spend the whole trip feeling damp and cold. As far as you know, are all of these places open this summer? Is it easy to see Anchorage without a car? Happy to help . When salmon are running, bears frequent the Russian River Falls—a two-mile hike over a mostly flat trail from the Russian River Campground outside Cooper Landing. I’m mainly motivated by the price but your ‘reasons to visit in Spring’ post did make me think maybe money isn’t the only reason! The thing that I have gathered so far is that I need to stay 3 nights at Denali. Alaska is totally on my bucket list!! Most trips are 7 day cruise and 4-7 land tour. Stay another night in Anchorage. Our children are 21 and 23 so no need to entertain little ones. Thanks so much for reading, and for your comment Sarah! You can totally do a 1-way trip – it’s easy to book a single one-way flight from Anchorage back up to Fairbanks and have a round-trip ticket to/from Fairbanks if that’s cheaper. Everything on your itinerary sounds pretty good with two notes: Thanks for your comment, Keith! what would you say the ball park price is for the trip you suggested minus the air fare to and from…? This sounds like a great trip. We are starting with a 7 day cruise from Vancouver to Seward (16th-23rd August) South Central and the Interior: Alaska Railroad The South Central region, where Anchorage is located, is arguably the most accessible part of Alaska. And that’s why our trip to Alaska is going to have to be on a schedule. Thank you for suggesting an awsome 10 day iternary. Is 10 days sufficient to fit in a few decent hikes and still see Denali and Seward. Alaska is intimidatingly huge. Unfortunately, this itinerary doesn’t work for fishing, and I don’t think you can fit this in with all the other activities I have recommended. Such great and detailed info! Alaska has never really been on my radar but looks so much fun! I had an opportunity to explore Alaska for the first time this December and was just blown away! Take some time before or after the cruise. You can link whale watching with Alaska Native culture, and cycling to glacier views, all without adding travel time or backtracking. Try checking here for more Alaska tips: https://www.valisemag.com/guides/alaska/ I have written about hiking already! Day 9: Denali (coach trip) Can’t thank you enough for the recommendations and tips. If you want to do Talkeetna though, you probably need to rent a car and make the drive from Fairbanks > Denali > Talkeetna > Anchorage. I’ve never done a flightseeing tour for bears, but I think the greatest variety of option will be available from Anchorage…. I’d recommend maybe 3d/2n in Anchorage (maybe 1 night at the beginning and one at the end), 4d/3n in Denali, and 3d/2n in Fairbanks (I don’t know Fairbanks too well, so Google is your friend here!). I realllllly want to make a trip to Alaska. Thanks for pointing out about Hatcher Pass – I’d given it no further thought than “oh that’s on the way” (must do some more research). Alaska Trip Planning Tip: By Train or By Car? Cruises are a great way to see Alaska’s coastal mountains, glaciers, marine wildlife, and towns. After the second night in Seward, the goal is to reach Girdwood on Day 8, a 1.5-hour drive. One question – What do you suggest regarding bear viewing? Thanks for your comment, Caleb! Walk along the boardwalk at Potter Marsh, a huge wetland where you can still occasionally spot a moose. We didn’t get to see the eclipse but we did drive all the way to Alaska and back and had a super trip! I’m also worried Denali may not be open at this time. You can then rent a car in Anchorage to drive to Seward or anywhere else you want to go. Nevertheless the great spaces and limited accommodations have made Alaska best as a travel-agent-and-tour-operator-cruise pattern of travel. Day 7: Driving day – Seward > Denali (lunch-stop in Anchorage) If there is one destination about which I receive more questions than any other, it’s Alaska. Copyright © 2013-2020, Valerie & Valise. There is a lot to see and do while you’re aboard with shopping, dining, and entertainment all at your fingertips. I am planning a trip to Alaska in September, 2020. I would definitely take the train though, as one-way car rentals are a lot more expensive (usually 1.5-2x more) in Alaska. Since I grew up just outside Anchorage, I could easily give you a week worth of things to do, but let’s try and keep it to just one day – there’s so much to see in Alaska and it’s such a big state that you need the rest of this Alaska itinerary for 10 days to see other amazing sights! John and Marna, Williston Vermont. This is perfect. Dan, thanks so much – and thanks for reading! Great itenary, will be arriving in June 2020, I also have an RV rented for 10 days. McKinley) and was crestfallen when it never broke through the clouds. Our kids are especially eager to see wildlife (wolves and bears). Our 11 tips for reducing the cost of a trip to Alaska. Luke, thanks for reading! (All of the big hotels have shuttles and buses to help people get to/from the Visitor Center.). Cruising is great, BUT the ports you visit are very artificial. I wouldn’t mind going during winter or spring, either. Wow, I had no idea that you can visit Alaska year-round! Your IDP should be sufficient, but I recommend checking the terms of your rental car reservation to be sure. Looking at doing Anchorage- Delani for two days – Steward- Valdez – Homer Spit. Free personal GPS–driven travel guide to Alaska. We want to do kayaking, water rafting, salmon fishing and dog sledding. I’ve looked a dozens of suggested itineraries and I think yours is the best I’ve read. My plan is to take a roadtrip in 2021 based in Girdwood. Stopping for special excursions along the way… Drive safely . At 12:30 pm, catch the Alaska Railroad south to Anchorage. I just set up this new quiz as an Alaska trip planner you. You’ve given me more budget friendly ideas than I’ve found on my own. Trips available from Whittier, Homer, Seward, Juneau, and Sitka. reasons to visit during Alaska’s winter months, here are some of my favorite Denali viewpoints, 8.5 Hour Kenai Fjords Northwestern Fjord Cruise, another easy hike I recommend for first-time travelers to Alaska, 7 Reasons Why You Should Visit Prague in January, 17 Local Central Asia Foods & Drinks to Try on Your First Trip, https://www.valisemag.com/alaska-travel-coronavirus/, http://dnr.alaska.gov/parks/units/hatcherpass/hatcherpass.htm, https://www.valisemag.com/product/custom-alaska-itinerary/, https://www.valisemag.com/denali-summer-2020/, https://www.valisemag.com/visit-alaska-fall/, https://www.valisemag.com/alaska-northern-lights-trip/, Seasonal events like Fur Rendezvous and the Iditarod. Hi! Note: the map does not include the four parks accessible by flight, only the starting points. Beautiful autumn colors too. Thanks Valerie! Thanks! Have other questions about this Alaska trip plan? There are VERY few roads in the entire state. There isn’t a ton to do in Hope, but it gives you a good picture of what life is like outside the “cities” in Alaska. My preferred tour provider in Seward is Major Marine Tours, though there are others to chose from. This is the estimated route we are taking to get to Alaska’s parks. Do you need to rent a car for the first few days or doe you wait until you return from denali? Major Marine informed us of high swells on the day of our cruise and gave us the option to reschedule the next day, which we did and the weather was perfect. Do you know where the resort is?? We are from Brisbane Australia. We are so confused whether to take land or cruise at the first place…both has their own pros and cons but this is our first trip to Alaska . Thanks. It was absolutely amazing! Try checking out this article: https://www.valisemag.com/denali-summer-2020/ but be aware I don’t think non-residents will be likely to get any of the drive-in permits and you’d need to get a rental car to do that. We would follow your itinary going in the opposite direction flying into Fairbanks and fly out of Anchorage. I am planning a trip for my son 21 and myself. I hope Alaska will be open by then too – I’m set to go on a cruise in September also! Oh very cool! Thoughts?? Take a direct double decker train from Anchorage to … Thanks!! Stay another night at your booked accommodations. Hi Valerie – A great guide for Alaska. Thanks again. Day 3: Harding Icefield hike What an amazing state to be born and raised! On this day, book the 8:30 am guided flightseeing tour with Fly Denali. When I vacation I vacation for months at a time. If you have any photos, I’d love to see them by email (and share with the community if you’re okay with that! If you’re in Anchorage on a weekend, be sure to add the Anchorage Market & Festival to your list. There’s an optimal chance to see wildlife, and you’ll ride along a significant length of the park road. You mentioned not getting a rental car until returning from Denali…but day 2 is explore Anchorage day. Not many visitors make it to see Childs Glacier on the Copper River Delta, which is the most spectacular accessible glacier in Alaska. All Rights Reserved. We have spent time in Canada a few years ago but missed Alaska. There aren’t a ton of Airbnb options near Denali National Park, so you’ll need a car if you choose to stay in an Airbnb instead of a hotel right in town. No, I don’t believe there is Lyft or Uber in Denali – so you should definitely contact the hotel you’re staying at to confirm their shuttle arrangements. Most visitors come around mid-June to early September. A question for you, if we plan our trip during May end (memorial day weekend), will we be able to cover Denali ? If I want to add a few days here would you give me some ideas. Be sure to research backcountry camping/hiking through the Park Service if that’s on your itinerary. Add another stop along the way? Day 4: Kenai cruise Unfortunately, tough to say without knowing which hotels you’re staying at, which days (weekends vs not), and which restaurants you plan to eat at… I’ve never priced it out because there’s too many variables! Are there buses available which may drop to the visitor center? Secondly, If we just do land tour or fly out to Anchorage what’s should be our best places to visit in 7days itinerary? Thanks so much! Where will I fit in river rafting and fishing? Overwhelmed by choices? Or multi-day hikes? “Write what you know,” they say. To see everything that majestic Denali has to offer in its 8,000,000 acres of Alaskan wilderness would take more than a lifetime. Almost all of the activities I recommend in this post are only available in the summer months. Skip the skimpy shoes and opt for sturdy walking or hiking shoes. Visit September to April to see the Northern Lights, Best Northern Lights Viewing Spots Near Anchorage, How to Travel to Alaska in January and February, The Best Large Family & Group Vacations in Alaska, How to Get from Anchorage to Your Cruise Port in Whittier or Seward (or the reverse!). Please check your email to verify your subscription. The Alaska Railroad is your transportation method. And regarding what’s open – no, I can’t verify that all of these places are open. Alaska is not a cheap destination, especially in summer when prices are higher because of the tourist season. If you choose to take the train one way, you’re taking it both ways – same goes for a car. 2-5 day small ship explorations. My husband and I usually travel independently. My husband and I would love to visit Alaska for our next vacation. Use a local Alaskan travel agent to help you plan a custom land tour. Since I started this blog, I’ve become a bit of an expert in Alaska trip planning and at times I publish so many stories that it seems like I’m running an Alaska travel blog! I’ve taken several tours with Major Marine Tours over the ages and put together a review of two different tours I’ve done recently: the 6-hour Kenai Fjords National Park Cruise and the 8.5 Hour Kenai Fjords Northwestern Fjord Cruise. Yes, it’s colder and darker in the winter, but there are several reasons to visit during Alaska’s winter months: Similar reasons make visiting in the shoulder season (spring and autumn) appealing. Ray, thanks for reaching out. I got your email as well so I relied there . If you want to explore Alaska there is no better way than on an Alaskan Cruise. Good luck planning your trip! Do you have any recommendations? Awesome post! Hari, sorry but I have never done this and it’s not a common trip – most car rental companies won’t let you rent a car to do this either. Courtney, sorry but I don’t have any suggestions here. If you’re on the fence, I put together a list of reasons to visit Alaska in the spring (these apply to autumn too). We'll match you with a local itinerary expert to help you plan your trip. I think you’re trying to squeeze too much in, to be honest. I’m also going to guide myself by your 10 day itinerary. Thanks for your comment, Nitin. It gets rainier as the summer progresses; read our Best Time To Visit Alaska article to find your optimal window. My husband and I had booked a cruise for our 50th Anniversary. For example, from Seattle, most flights to Alaska leave in the afternoon or evening, and you arrive in Anchorage late in the day. If you were to add another 2-4 days to this trip, what are some other accessible, must see destinations that might naturally fit into this itinerary? 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