Yukon & Alaska Explorer

Continue through the Yukon’s quaint little villages to Haine’s Junction, a pretty mountain settlement just a stone’s throw from Kluane National Park, where the Champagne and Aishihik First Nations people have lived for many thousands of years. Known locally ‘The Junction’ the town is well set up for rafting, canoeing and fishing adventures in the park. Check out the Da Ku Cultural Centre, filled with colourful displays and local artwork, to learn more about the area’s indigenous history.

Follow the Alaska Highway west to Beaver Creek, where you’ll take to the skies above Kluane National Park in a plane and observe the St Elias Mountains and glacier fields glistening far below you. Look out for Mount Logan, which at 6000m is the second highest point in North America after Mount McKinley. Back in Beaver Creek, relax around the fire pit after a hard day’s sightseeing and look out for the blanket of stars twinkling above.

Passing within 200km of the Arctic Circle, you’ll hop across the Canada-USA border into Alaska, then follow the Alaska Highway past various small towns to Fairbanks, where you’ll spend the night. Fairbanks is the second largest city in Alaska after Anchorage, and as such has plenty to see and do including the Creamer’s Field Wildlife Refuge, home to Canada geese, and the University of Alaska Museum of the North, which has a fascinating exhibition on the Northern Lights.

Look out for moose and caribou in Denali National Park, a beautiful spot dotted with mountains and criss-crossed with streams, overlooked by the mighty peak of Mount McKinley, North America’s highest peak. With two days here, you’ll have plenty of time to hike the trails and try your hand at fishing or canoeing in the wilderness or, if you prefer, simply relax and soak up the beautiful views from the comfort of your secluded cabin at the Denali Grizzly Bear Resort.

Follow the Matanuska River Valley through lush evergreen forests to Anchorage, Alaska’s largest city and where in summer, days can be more than 19 hours long. You’ll have a day to explore Anchorage at your own pace – choose from angling or hiking in Chugach National Forest, visiting the Anchorage Tourism Center or strolling through the Anchorage Botanical Gardens, home to over 150 native arctic plant species. Finish off your stay by tucking into some fresh local crab, accompanied by a crisp glass of wine.

Leaving Anchorage behind, you’ll travel east to Tok. Keep a look out for the dramatic views along the way, as you pass through various fjords and pretty inlets, as well as the Matanuska Glacier State Recreation Area. Here you can hike the Matanuska River walking trails along the glacier before continuing to Tok, the self-proclaimed ‘Sled Dog Capital of Alaska’. In summer, if you’re lucky, you might spot a few of the puppies out and about.

Cross back into Canada at Little Gold Camp, then follow the Top-of-the-World Highway to Dawson City, a Gold Rush town. Here you can learn more about prospecting in the town and the surrounding goldfields, and even have a go at panning for gold yourself. For something a little different try the Diamond Tooth Gertie’s Gambling Hall, a throwback to the Gold Rush days where you can eat, drink, catch a show and gamble to your heart’s content.

Follow the Stewart River back to Whitehorse, keeping a look out for bears, wolves and moose as you go. In Whitehouse, spend the day travelling on the narrow-gauge White Pass & Yukon Route Railway, passing by some spectacular scenery including Glacier Gorge and Bridal Veil Falls. Travel over the 880m White Pass Summit to Skagway, Alaska, returning to Whitehorse by coach. Back in town, why not try one of the local restaurants and cafés?