Alaska's glaciers & grizzlies self-drive tour

Begin your full immersion into Alaska today, starting with a 90-minute flight over seemingly endless mountain ranges and two active volcanoes. You land on the beach at Chinitna Bay and make your way to the beach where Alaska’s brown bears (also known as grizzly bears) are known to roam. Your Alaskan guide provides insight into their behaviour as you watch them munching on fish, playing together or having a nap. After the flight back to Anchorage, the afternoon is yours to relax.

Collect your hire car from a nearby downtown depot this morning. The rental includes LDW, unlimited mileage and taxes. You then drive north around Knik Arm and along Susitna River to Denali Park Entrance. There are plenty of scenic places to stop along the way, and we recommend having lunch in the small town of Talkeetna. You have the evening to explore the small National Park base.

Head out into Denali National Park today on a group tour. Along the way, you’ll witness the vast setting of the park, Dall sheep, bears and caribou roaming, and — provided good weather conditions — the peak of Mount Denali. The bus will stop frequently for rest stops and when seeing wildlife. The rest of the day is then at your leisure. We recommend taking a hike into the park. For something more adventurous, you can speed down the river on a white-water rafting trip.

Leave the national park behind as you travel further north into Alaska’s wilderness. Your journey takes you through Fairbanks, where we recommend a stop to visit one of the many museums, take a sternwheeler boat on the Chena River, or even take a flight into the Arctic Circle. Continue on to Black Rapids to your secluded lodge amid the Alaska Range.

You have the full day at Black Rapids at leisure. Here, you can feel fully immersed in the glaciers, mountains and wildlife that this region has to offer. The lodge can help arrange guided tours for you, or you can venture into the wilderness yourself. There are hiking trails, fishing expeditions, flightseeing opportunities, and canoeing adventures. You can also choose to curl up in the comfortable lodge and take in the alpine views from the large windows.

Set off early for a longer drive south to McCarthy, a former ghost town with a population of just 66. From here, you catch a shuttle along a back road to the former copper-mining town of Kennicott, deep within Wrangell St-Elias National Park. The afternoon is yours to explore and relax at the lodge. The mine here is now slowly being restored and provides an impressive sight beside the Kennicott and Root Glaciers. Meals are included during your stay here.

Today you strap on your crampons to take a hike on Root Glacier. Surround yourself in the arresting views of the rocky Kennicott Glacier and the surrounding landscape as you listen to the trickle of glacial streams, peer down deep ravines and feel the icy bite of the bright blue pools and waterfalls. Included is lunch with this panoramic view, before returning to Kennicott. Once back in the town, we recommend wandering through the mining ruins, looking through cobweb-strewn windows into the pre-war world of Alaska copper mining.

Depart McCarthy and travel along the western boundary of Wrangell St-Elias, forming an excellent backdrop. For one last viewpoint, we suggest stopping at the visitor center near Glennallen. We also recommend breaking up your journey with a stop at Matanuska Glacier. You can take a helicopter tour to see the glacier from above. Continue on to reach your handcrafted cabin retreat surrounded by mountain views.

A shorter drive awaits today as you journey back through Anchorage, skirting the western edge of Chugach State Park, and making your way to Girdwood. Nestled at the foot of Mount Alyeska, this is an active woodland community and, in winter, Alaska’s premier downhill ski resort. During the summer months, the slopes offer excellent hiking. On arrival at the resort, the rest of the day is yours to relax.

You have the full day at leisure to explore. We recommend taking one of the hiking trails, particularly the Lower Winner Creek Trail, for an easier experience through lush forest. For more wildlife viewing opportunities, the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center is nearby, where you can see moose, caribou, musk oxen, buffalo and eagles. After a day out exploring, you can unwind in the health spa or swimming pool, before enjoying dinner at the top of the mountain with some of the best views in the state.

Today, you drive to Homer at the tip of the Kenai Peninsula. The drive takes about four hours, so the rest of your day is free to explore. Homer is well known for halibut fishing, so you may wish to try your hand at hooking one of these large fish. It’s also a base for bear-watching trips into Lake Clark or Katmai National Parks.

Take a light aircraft flight to Katmai or Lake Clark National Park, soaring over mountains and Cook Inlet, before landing on a deserted beach. From here, you will walk in a small group with your experienced guide, looking for grizzly (brown) bears that are seen in significant numbers in the green meadows here. After your bear-viewing experience, enjoy the views from the aircraft on your flight back to Homer. The rest of the day is at your leisure.

You have a full day at your leisure to enjoy Homer’s coastal setting at your own pace. We recommend taking a fishing trip to try your hand at landing one of the 130 kg (286 lb) halibut giants. For more fresh sea air and the chance to spot porpoises, we suggest a walk to Bishop's Beach, a popular local spot linked by a boardwalk to the Alaska Islands and Ocean Visitor Center, where you can see a rich variety of birdlife.

Make your way back along the edge of Cook Inlet, this time venturing to Seward on the other side of the Kenai Peninsula. Located on Resurrection Bay, the backdrop to this city is abrupt mountain slopes cloaked in summer green and capped with snow. Seward is best known as the gateway to Kenai Fjords National Park, home to thriving marine life and tidewater glaciers. On arrival, the afternoon is yours to explore the city.

Make your way down to the waterfront this morning to embark on a full-day cruise in Kenai Fjords National Park. Here you can appreciate the beauty of the coastal scenery, including icebergs and glaciers, whilst looking out for the abundant wildlife. An onboard National Park ranger provides commentary on the region’s unique features as you glide through the fjords. Listen to the creaks and groans of Aialik Glacier as you move closer, perhaps watching one of the huge chunks of ice calving into the water below. Lunch is included on board.

Spend a day exploring the little town of Seward at your leisure. For those wanting some adventure, we recommend Harding Icefield — one of the most spectacular and strenuous hikes in the area alongside Exit Glacier with panoramic views throughout. For a gentler train, there are other options to walk to Exit Glacier where you can see the wall of blue ice. We also recommend a visit to the Alaska SeaLife Center, a non-profit marine exhibition and aquarium dedicated to maintaining the integrity of the marine ecosystem in Alaska.

Make your way back north for your final stop today. The journey takes you past mountains and around the edge of Turnagain Arm, where you may see dolphins or whales in the distance as you hug the coast. After passing through Anchorage, you reach Knik River, your last base. To cap off your trip with a special experience, we’ve included a helicopter journey above the vibrant blue crevasses of Knik Glacier. Land on a snowfield on the glacier and meet an Iditarod champion dog-sled team. You’ll have the opportunity to meet the dogs and puppies and drive your own team before returning to the lodge.

You have the morning at your leisure, taking in the mountain views before making the short drive to Anchorage Airport for your onward flight. Make sure to look out of the window as you take off, catching one last glimpse of the towering mountains and glittering waterways.