Road Trip: Alaska, The Last Frontier

Anchorage is Alaska’s largest city nestled on the shores of Cook Inlet. Sandwiched between rugged peaks and tranquil water, this urban sprawl is home to nearly half of the state’s population. Don’t be surprised to see bears and moose sauntering across private yards or public parks – it’s a way of life here! The Alaska Native Heritage Center is your one-stop source for all things cultural with its traditional craft displays and dance performances. Top it off with a trip to the local museum for your fill of the region’s history. Kayaking, canoeing, and whale watching tours let you explore the area by water, while scenic flight tours are a great way of discovering glaciers. Dog sledding remains a favorite pastime of visitors, followed closely by gold panning at the local mines. Back in town, dining experiences turn into gourmet feasts with fresh seafood and local produce dominating the culinary scene.

Girdwood, tucked into a valley within the Chugach Mountains, has the distinction of being Alaska’s only resort town with plenty to offer year round. Hemmed in by seven glaciers, it offers an idyllic escape just an hour’s drive from Anchorage. Guided hikes and aerial tours allow you to discover the area’s glaciers while kayaking is ideal for enjoying the vistas from the water. The tram ride to the top of Mount Alyeska offers dramatic views of the spectacular landscape. Mountain biking, rock climbing, and paragliding await active travelers. For visitors in quest of an adrenaline rush from the ultimate Alaskan experience, dog sledding is a must! Wildlife spotting opportunities abound at the conservation center set on the outskirts of town. Watch the town come to life with music, dance, and craft displays during the annual spring and summer festivals. The onset of winter brings with it world-class opportunities for skiing and snowboarding.

Cruise along the pristine waters of Prince William Sound in search of glaciers, on this leisurely tour. Sail out from Whittier into the Passage Canal and head north to Port Wells. Relish a hot lunch at your table, as you retrace the route taken by the Harriman Expedition in 1899, and make your way to College Fjord. At College Fjord, look upon majestic glaciers named after East Coast Ivy League colleges. Look out for calving ice from a safe distance as your captain expertly navigates the ice-filled waters to take you up close to Harvard Glacier. Journey on to the scenic Esther Passage, a narrow waterway protected from rough winds by mountains on either side, making it ideal for small vessels. Keep an eye out for orcas and humpback whales in the water and bald eagles overhead, in search of prey. If you’re lucky, you might get to spot black bears on the shore! Glide on to Egg Rocks or Perry Island in search of migratory Steller sea lions before coasting into Blackstone Bay for more glacier vistas. Turn around for the trip back to Whittier, making a stop en route at a kittiwake rookery that hosts over 10,000 birds each summer. (Only possible from 1 May – 2 Oct; Duration: full day; Time: 1250 hrs; Shared activity; Transfers not included; Meals included: lunch; Starting point: Cliffisde Marina, Whittier; Please make your own way to Whittier: driving time 40 min)

Denali National Park and Preserve, with its primeval landscape and untamed wilderness, promises a one-of-a-kind adventure. Located in the Interior Alaska region, it is home to Denali, the tallest peak in North America. This nature lover’s paradise offers an endless sequence of breathtaking vistas all around. Free-roaming moose, grizzly bears, caribou, and wolves make for excellent wildlife viewing. Hiking along marked trails or going off the beaten path top the list of activities for visitors to Denali. Bicycling and bus tours are other ways of exploring the major attractions of this sprawling reserve. Entertaining sled dog demonstrations provide a peek into the life of park rangers and their canine partners. For a rush of adrenaline, go whitewater rafting over the rapids in the many rivers across the park. Aerial tours are also available to give you a bird’s eye view of the spectacular landscape with its mountains and glaciers.

Fairbanks is the second largest city in the state of Alaska with all the charms of small town life. It is a favored base camp with adventure-seekers and explorers en route to the Alaskan Interior or the Arctic region. An excellent year-round destination, there is plenty to keep you busy come summer or winter! Rafting and kayaking down the Chena River appeal to adventure lovers while golfing and fishing are for those who prefer a relaxed pace. Pioneer Park stands as testimony to the city’s historic past of gold mining, and art galleries are filled with exquisite displays of local handicrafts for you to browse. The onset of winter brings with it dog sledding, snowmobiling, and cross-country skiing expeditions. Meanwhile, the hot springs are perfect for rejuvenating with a leisurely soak after every exciting adventure. Fairbanks makes for an especially unique destination during the Fall and Winter months, with the Northern Lights shining through the darkness!

Discover the history of the gold fields in Tanana Valley, Alaska on this visit to Gold Dredge 8, located around 25 minutes from Fairbanks. Listed on the US National Register of Historic Places, Gold Dredge 8 was operational for 31 years, from 1928 onwards, and extracted millions of ounces of gold. Learn about the dredge’s importance to the development of Fairbanks. Then, walk over to the Mining Museum, which contains artifacts from the early 1900s. Discover how gold was mined, from cleaning the land to thawing it to extracting the precious metal. Learn about the prospectors who made it all possible and see an array of ice age fossils uncovered during the mining process. Ride a replica of the Tanana Valley Railroad while listening to a short narration about the railroad. Learn how to pan for gold from Alaskan miners and experience the thrill of spotting real Alaskan gold that you can take home. (Duration: 2 hrs; Shared activity & guide; No transfers; Meals not included)

Black Rapids is located 38 miles south of Delta Junction. Set amid the untamed wilderness of the Alaska Range, this area features rugged, snow-capped mountains, rivers and creeks. This remote, stunningly scenic corner of the Alaskan interior has an impressive range of hiking trails. Short walks above the tree line offer panoramic views of mountain valleys and the Delta River, while Alpine treks include explorations of glacier caves. Angling enthusiasts can enjoy the many fishing spots brimming with trout, northern pike and Arctic char. Canoeing and kayaking are available on Black Rapids Lake. There’s abundant wildlife to look out for, including Dall sheep, moose and caribou, bears and lynx. A wide variety of winter activities include dog-sledding to frozen waterfalls, snowshoeing through backcountry terrain and flightseeing. Visitors may go ice skating on lakes nearby. Some very lucky tourists may witness the elusive Northern Lights, Mother Nature’s light show, where bright colors dance across the sky.

Glacier View is a picturesque place beneath the towering Talkeetna and Chugach Mountains. This erstwhile coal mining destination in the Matanuska Susitna Borough of Alaska is today a popular destination for adventure seekers. Whitewater rafting on the Matanuska River, top hiking spots, ice climbing, glacier hiking, and fishing in the nearby lakes and rivers are the region’s main attractions. The 24-mile-long Matanuska glacier is worth exploring for its beautiful ice formations, deep crevasses and blue melt water pools.

If you have the time and the weather allows it, we recommend visiting Matanuska Glacier. Drive along the Glenn Highway National Scenic Byway, going past ice-capped mountains and sparkling blue lakes. The road will take you towards Lion's Head, one of the most picturesque places along the way. Here, you can stop for panoramic views of the glacier and to take some great photographs. Then, continue to Glacier Park Road. Travel down the hill and across the river until the road ends. Once you reach, join a shared guided tour of the glacier. Gear up with crampons, helmets and extra layers and make your way to the sheer ice walls. Walk alongside moulins, which are cylindrical shafts that are carved by meltwater from the glacier’s surface. Gain insight into the area's history and glaciology, and its original inhabitants, the Alaskan Athabaskans. Take some amazing pictures at scenic spots before heading back. (Duration: 2 hrs; Independent activity; Transfers, entrance fees & meals are not included; Starting point: Glacier Tours office, 66500 Glacier Park Rd; Depending on your personal itinerary, weather conditions and time available to you, it may not be possible to do all recommended activities)

Anchorage is Alaska’s largest city nestled on the shores of Cook Inlet. Sandwiched between rugged peaks and tranquil water, this urban sprawl is home to nearly half of the state’s population. Don’t be surprised to see bears and moose sauntering across private yards or public parks – it’s a way of life here! The Alaska Native Heritage Center is your one-stop source for all things cultural with its traditional craft displays and dance performances. Top it off with a trip to the local museum for your fill of the region’s history. Kayaking, canoeing, and whale watching tours let you explore the area by water, while scenic flight tours are a great way of discovering glaciers. Dog sledding remains a favorite pastime of visitors, followed closely by gold panning at the local mines. Back in town, dining experiences turn into gourmet feasts with fresh seafood and local produce dominating the culinary scene.