Hike to scenic outlooks with an experienced guide.

Alaska Discovery Self-Drive - Tour 168

From boundless tundra to granite massifs to deep fjords, a beautifully balanced Alaskan vacation package.

Seward's Harbor 360 provides convenient access to day cruises.

Alaska Discovery Self-Drive - Tour 168

From boundless tundra to granite massifs to deep fjords, a beautifully balanced Alaskan vacation package.

Overview
What's Included
Itinerary
Map
Rates & Dates
Options & Upgrades
Photos
Add to My Trip

Trip Overview

Cover nearly 1,000 miles of Alaska's highways on this rental car vacation package. The itinerary includes nights in Anchorage, the Denali Park area, Fairbanks, Talkeetna, and Seward. There are activities throughout, each chosen for their high ratings among past guests and the breadth of experiences they offer. These include guided bus and flightseeing excursions into Denali National Park, a day cruise and glacier hike out of Seward, and a historic riverboat tour in Fairbanks. In between these planned tours, there's plenty of time to sightsee independently. The nine-day trip begins and ends in Anchorage.

Trip Highlights

Enjoy the independence of traveling by rental car on some of Alaska's most scenic highways.
Learn about Fairbanks' rowdy gold rush history, plus a few infamous Alaskan pastimes on a riverboat tour.
Cruise the coastal waters of Northwestern Fjord on a Kenai Fjords National Park wildlife and glacier day tour.
Take a guided hike near Exit Glacier outside of Seward.
Journey throughout Denali National Park by tour bus and bush plane.

Why Pick This Trip

This 10-day travel package is an ideal fit for those who like a well-balanced vacation blending free time and planned excursions. You'll be able to explore as you go, discovering Alaska on your own by rental car in between handpicked side trips and nights in comfortable hotels and lodges.

What's Included

Here is everything that is included. Remember, we can easily add or remove services so this vacation package is the perfect fit for your party.

Anchorage | 1 Night

Enjoy complimentary breakfast and a convenient location at this recently renovated Anchorage hotel. Learn More >

Anchorage | 8 Days

When flexibility and freedom is a must, opt to travel by rental car. Rates available for compact, midsize, full size, and minivans. Learn More >

Denali Park | Depart 5:00 PM | 3 Hours

Offering active exploration of the unique natural setting of the Denali Park area, guests return from this three-hour walking tour both energized and educated. Learn More >

Denali Park | 2 Nights

Stay in a cedar cabin or comfortable lodge room at this resort-style property. The Village is seven miles from the entrance to Denali Park and offers guests free shuttle service. Learn More >

Denali Park | Depart 1:30 PM | 5 Hours

Fully narrated bus tour with a turnaround point at the historic Murie Cabin deep inside Denali National Park. Learn More >

Fairbanks | Depart 2:00 PM | 3 Hours

Ride on a historic sternwheeler on this fully narrated three-hour tour featuring floatplane and sled dog demonstrations and an Athabascan village walk. Learn More >

Fairbanks | 1 Night

Relax in a private riverfront or garden cottage in this quaint property. The resort, which offers a free shuttle service to the Fairbanks airport and depot, is located on the banks of the Chena River. Learn More >

Talkeetna | Depart 6:30 PM | 1 Hour

Experience the extreme beauty of Denali and the fortress of granite peaks surrounding it on this must-do flightseeing trip out of Talkeetna. Learn More >

Talkeetna | 1 Night

When the mountain is "out" Denali is unmissable from this ridge-top property. The lodge comprises two full-service restaurants, a coffee shop, bar, and comfortable guest rooms with either forest or mountain views. Learn More >

Palmer | Depart 3:00 PM | 3 Hours

Learn a fascinating blend of glaciology, geology, and Alaskan history on this fun and educational hiking tour in Palmer. Learn More >

Palmer | 1 Night

Featuring private cabins on a hillside overlooking the Knik River, this lodge is known for both its accessibility to Anchorage and the quiet backcountry experience it provides. Learn More >

Seward | 2 Nights

Just three miles north of Seward, this full-service lodge invites guests into a secluded forest setting while providing convenient shuttle service to local activities. Learn More >

Seward | Depart 8:30 AM | 8 Hours

Cruise into the farthest coastal reaches of Kenai Fjords National Park on this remote and immersive nine-hour boat tour from Seward. Learn More >

Seward | Depart 11:15 AM | 3 Hours

Explore Kenai Fjords National Park's only road-accessible glacier on this two-hour guided hike to the toe of Exit Glacier. Learn More >

Anchorage | 1 Night

Enjoy complimentary breakfast and a convenient location at this recently renovated Anchorage hotel. Learn More >

Itinerary

Read on for a day-by-day breakdown of this tour package. Click on an item to get started, and be sure to contact us if you have any questions.

Fly into Ted Stevens International Airport and transfer to your hotel. Overnight Anchorage.

Pick up your rental car this morning and head north out of Anchorage toward Denali National Park. This scenic drive takes about five hours, with lots to see along the way. You'll pass a handful of small towns like Willow, the official starting point of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, plus overlooks with mountain views if the weather is clear.

This evening, join a local guide for a naturalist hike near the Denali National Park entrance. It's a mellow amble more focused on learning than exertion, so you'll walk away with a richer knowledge of this wild, remote area. Overnight Denali.

You'll experience even more of Denali Park on a bus trip down the park's only road. Keep your eyes peeled for wildlife. This guided tour travels through prime moose, grizzly, and Dall sheep habitats. Overnight Denali.

Fairbanks is a short two-hour drive north on the Parks Highway, so enjoy a leisurely morning at your Denali area hotel before heading out. On this stretch of highway, you'll get a taste of Alaska's vast interior. After you arrive, you'll spend a few afternoon hours on a historic riverboat cruise down the Chena River. Overnight Fairbanks.

Return south today, retracing the miles back through the Denali Park area and into Talkeetna. The small town is tucked against the banks of the silty-gray Susitna River at the end of a 15-mile spur road.

From here, you're only 50 miles by air from Denali, the highest mountain in North America. You'll fly deep into the peaks surrounding "The High One" on an hour-long flightseeing tour. The scenery is beyond compare. Overnight Talkeetna.

You're bound for a wilderness lodge outside of Palmer today. On the way stop in Palmer for a guided hiking tour that showcases the glacial history of the area. This evening enjoy the quiet and the views from the porch of your own small cabin. Overnight Palmer.

Although it only takes about three hours to get to Seward, the drive is so scenic, and the sites along the way so plentiful, that you can easily spend a whole day. Take your time. Overnight Seward.

This morning you'll board full-day boat tour out of Seward and into Kenai Fjords National Park. The day's destination is the isolated Northwestern Fjord and the colossal tidewater glaciers flowing into its calm water. Overnight Seward.

Put on your hiking boots, you're hiking up to Exit Glacier today. The trail to the glacier is moderate, and the views and your guide's narration top notch.

Your Alaska vacation concludes with a return drive and final overnight in Anchorage.

Map

Check out the map below for a visual overview of this specific tour package. You can see a larger version of the map here, or try our an interactive tour map by using the link below.

SHOW INTERACTIVE MAP >

Rates & Dates

The prices below will give you an idea of approximately how much this trip will cost. Keep in mind your actual price will likely vary based on your departure date, availability, and any modifications you make. You can use one of the links below to request an exact quote for your party, or price the trip yourself if you prefer using our My Trip feature. You can often save money by traveling in the value season, typically May and September.

	Single	Double	Triple	Quad	Child
Tour Price	Single: $5,976	Double: $3,572	Triple: $2,830	Quad: $2,459	Child: $899
Taxes & Fees	Single: $626	Double: $359	Triple: $274	Quad: $231	Child: $56
Total	Single: $6,602	Double: $3,931	Triple: $3,104	Quad: $2,690	Child: $955
The columns above represent room occupancy. For example, "Double" means two adults sharing one room. The "Child" rate shown is based on an 11 year old sharing a room with two adults.

	Single	Double	Triple	Quad	Child
Tour Price	Single: $5,976	Double: $3,572	Triple: $2,830	Quad: $2,459	Child: $899
Taxes & Fees	Single: $626	Double: $359	Triple: $274	Quad: $231	Child: $56
Total	Single: $6,602	Double: $3,931	Triple: $3,104	Quad: $2,690	Child: $955
The columns above represent room occupancy. For example, "Double" means two adults sharing one room. The "Child" rate shown is based on an 11 year old sharing a room with two adults.

Options and Add-Ons

This is one of our more popular rental car packages, but you can make it even better! We can add or remove services to make it a perfect match for your party. Many of our guests who have a little extra time available add a full day in Fairbanks for a tour above the Arctic Circle. Want to see even more of Denali National Park? Switch to a flightseeing trip with glacier landing. You can tweak tours or upgrade lodging, the choices are many! Check out a few more suggestions listed below.

You can make these changes at check out and your final package price will be updated to reflect just the services you choose. Give us a call or request a quote for more specifics.