
Alaska Small Towns Discovery - Tour 182
A self-drive Alaska travel package for those who agree that travel isn’t just about the destination, it’s about the journey, too.

Alaska Small Towns Discovery - Tour 182
A self-drive Alaska travel package for those who agree that travel isn’t just about the destination, it’s about the journey, too.

Alaska Small Towns Discovery - Tour 182
A self-drive Alaska travel package for those who agree that travel isn’t just about the destination, it’s about the journey, too.

Alaska Small Towns Discovery - Tour 182
A self-drive Alaska travel package for those who agree that travel isn’t just about the destination, it’s about the journey, too.

Alaska Small Towns Discovery - Tour 182
A self-drive Alaska travel package for those who agree that travel isn’t just about the destination, it’s about the journey, too.
- Home
- Alaska Vacations
- Vacation Packages
- Alaska Small Towns Discovery - Tour 182
Trip Overview
Enjoy both a well-planned itinerary and the independence of traveling by rental car with this 10-day Alaska travel package. It includes five destinations: The small town of Homer on Kachemak Bay, plus more familiar places like Anchorage, Seward, Talkeetna, and Denali National Park. Included activities are unique to each location, ranging from kayaking and a day cruise, to flightseeing, rafting, and wildlife bus tours. The trip ends in Whittier to easily pair with outbound Princess Cruises, so it works especially well as a pre-cruise land tour.
Trip Highlights
- Explore glacially carved inlets and abundant seabirds, sea lions, and other marine wildlife aboard a Kenai Fjords National Park day cruise.
- Paddle the serene waters of Kachemak Bay.
- See Denali National Park from above on a flightseeing tour and from the ground on a full-day wildlife bus trip.
- Travel Alaska's scenic byways by rental car.
- Conveniently connect to Princess Cruises leaving from Whittier via a deluxe motorcoach from Anchorage.
Why Pick This Trip
This "off the beaten path" package lets you discover hidden treasures of Alaska that you might not otherwise experience: Roadside coffee huts and galleries, the artsy town of Homer, restaurants the locals love, pull outs and overlooks with beautiful views, and so much more. It also makes for a convenient pre-cruise land package for those booked on Princess Cruises out of Whittier.
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
Just minutes from the Anchorage airport and lively Lake Hood Seaplane Base, this comfortable hotel offers recently renovated rooms, three restaurants, and a spacious waterfront deck. 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 >

Homer | 2 Nights
The new Homer Aspen Hotel features spacious guest suites with full kitchenettes. Located in the heart of the oceanside community, the hotel is a perfect jumping off point for excursions into beautiful Kachemak Bay. Learn More >

Homer | Depart 10:00 AM | 7 Hours
Paddle the emerald waters of Kachemak Bay on this seven-hour fully guided kayak trip from Homer. The tour includes roundtrip water taxi to the kayak launch at Otter Cove. Learn More >

Seward
Unlock the mysteries of Alaska's rich and diverse marine ecosystem at this renowned education, research, and wildlife rehabilitation facility. 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. The onsite restaurant is a favorite of visitors and locals alike. Learn More >

Seward | Depart 11:30 AM | 6 Hours
Cruise 110 miles along the dramatic coastline of Kenai Fjords National Park on this popular six-hour wildlife and glacier cruise from Seward. 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 >

Denali Park | Depart 6:30 PM | 3 Hours
Splash through wilder rapids in the Nenana River Gorge on this three-hour trip with Denali's longest-running rafting company. Learn More >

Denali Park | 2 Nights
Minutes away from the Denali National Park entrance, this mountaintop property offers standard guest rooms, premium rooms with a view, and private cabins as well as fine dining at the Alpenglow Restaurant and Peak Spirit Lounge. Learn More >

Denali Park | Depart 6:30 AM | 13 Hours
Take a guided bus tour into the heart of Denali National Park, enjoy a hearty lunch at the Kantishna Roadhouse, and spot iconic wildlife on this full-day excursion. Learn More >

Anchorage | 1 Night
Just minutes from the Anchorage airport and lively Lake Hood Seaplane Base, this comfortable hotel offers recently renovated rooms, three restaurants, and a spacious waterfront deck. Learn More >

Anchorage | Depart 9:00 AM | 2 Hours
Learn about Anchorage, from its tent city origin to its modern day culture, on this guided two and a half hour tour. Learn More >

Depart 3:00 PM | Arrive Whittier 5:00 PM
Easily connect to cruise ships leaving out of Whittier on this two-hour Park Connection motorcoach route out of Anchorage. 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 nearby hotel by courtesy shuttle. Overnight Anchorage.
Enjoy watching float planes take off from the Lake Hood Seaplane Base just beyond your hotel before picking up your rental car this morning. Your destination is Homer, a small town at the end of the Sterling Highway.
On the way, take pictures at pullouts along Turnagain Arm, detour into Girdwood for coffee, stop to stretch your legs along the Kenai River at Cooper Landing, and take a break for lunch in Soldotna. Enjoy the drive, it's a beautiful one. Overnight Homer.
Stop for sandwiches from one of Homer's many local cafes on your way to the Homer Spit this morning. Your guided kayaking trip leaves from here, starting with a water taxi ride across the sparkling blue water of Kachemak Bay to the paddling base at Otter Cove. After you return from up to five hours of serene coastal kayaking, explore the spit's eclectic shops and galleries. Overnight Homer.
You'll retrace your steps today, driving from Homer back to Cooper Landing, and then south into Seward. Take some time to wander the first mile of the Iditarod National Historic Trail along Resurrection Bay. Spend a few hours at the Alaska SeaLife Center. Stop in at the Kenai Fjords National Park Visitor Center in the Small Boat Harbor. Then, when you're ready to relax for the evening, settle into your lodge accommodations along the Resurrection River just outside of town. Overnight Seward.
Return to the Small Boat Harbor this morning for a day cruise into Kenai Fjords National Park. The cruise vessel is a stable catamaran with wrap-around decks and spacious heated cabin, although for the best experience you'll want to be outside. The coastline is a mix of weather-beaten rocks, rough cliffsides, and huge Sitka spruce trees eclipsed in places by hulking tidewater glaciers. There's a good chance to see wildlife throughout the cruise as well, especially in the calmer waters of Aialik and Resurrection bays. Overnight Seward.
Say farewell to the coast for now, you're heading inland. Today you'll drive to Talkeetna, a quirky little community with many good eateries and lots of local characters. Talkeetna is often called the "Gateway to Denali," a moniker you'll fully appreciate after an hour of flightseeing around Denali and the giant granite massifs surrounding it. Overnight Talkeetna.
Continue north to the Denali National Park entrance area today. Just for fun, head a few more miles north to take in the view at Windy Bridge. This evening, you'll raft under that tall bridge on a whitewater trip down the Nenana River. Overnight Denali.
Your tour today leaves bright and early, taking you beyond the borders of Denali National Park by bus. Experiences range widely on this popular excursion, changing from exciting wildlife sightings and talk of local history, to quiet moments of reflection amidst the park's vast, uniquely beautiful landscapes. The tour includes a hearty lunch at the Kantishna Roadhouse 90 miles into the park. Overnight Denali.
There's more to see in the Denali Park area, so spend some time exploring on your own this morning before making your return drive to Anchorage. Overnight Anchorage.
After an entertaining two-hour guided tour of Anchorage in the morning, you'll wrap up your trip with a cruise transfer via Park Connection Motorcoach from Anchorage to Whittier.
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.
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: $4,360 | Double: $2,689 | Triple: $2,206 | Quad: $1,959 | Child: $797 |
Taxes & Fees | Single: $397 | Double: $235 | Triple: $186 | Quad: $161 | Child: $52 |
Total | Single: $4,757 | Double: $2,924 | Triple: $2,392 | Quad: $2,120 | Child: $849 |
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: $4,135 | Double: $2,577 | Triple: $2,131 | Quad: $1,903 | Child: $797 |
Taxes & Fees | Single: $357 | Double: $215 | Triple: $173 | Quad: $151 | Child: $52 |
Total | Single: $4,492 | Double: $2,792 | Triple: $2,304 | Quad: $2,054 | Child: $849 |
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 most popular self-drive tour packages, but you can make it even better! We can add or remove services to make it a perfect match for your party. For example, many of our guests choose to upgrade their Denali flightseeing experience out of Talkeetna to a flight with glacier landing. Want to see more of Kenai Fjords National Park? Add a guided hike to Exit Glacier the afternoon you drive into Seward. You can add more days or adjust accommodations, the choices are endless. Just a few suggestions are 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.

Talkeetna | Depart 8:30 AM | 1 Hour
Land on a glacier deep within the Alaska Range on this unforgettable flightseeing trip out of Talkeetna. Learn More >

Seward | Depart 9:00 AM | 7 Hours
Set foot on a glacier most visitors only see from a distance on this active seven-hour trail and ice hiking adventure out of Seward. Learn More >

Denali Park | Depart 8:00 AM | 1 Hour
For visitors planning a full-day bus trip into Denali National Park, this one-way flightseeing trip makes for a shorter but no less scenic return to the park entrance. Learn More >

Anchorage
One of the 10 most visited attractions in the state, this world-class museum is located in the heart of Alaska’s busiest city. Learn More >
Package Detail
- Tour ID 182
- Price From $2,577 + Tax
- Duration 10 Days / 9 Nights
- Start / End Anchorage / Whittier
- Departure Dates Daily from 5/27/2021 to 8/28/2021
- Travel By Motorcoach, Rental Car
- Tour Type Self Guided
- Destinations Anchorage, Homer, Seward, Talkeetna, Denali Park, Whittier

Next Steps
Select an option to book or get more details. Questions? Give us a CALL or CONTACT US online.