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SDWT01 Denali Discovery – Road Trip from Whittier

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This four-day self-drive tour gives you time to experience the spectacular wilderness of Denali National Park and the surrounding Alaska Range. Arrive in Whittier by cruise ship or Alaska Ferry and take a scenic coach transfer to Anchorage. After picking up your rental car in Anchorage, drive along George Parks Highway north toward Denali National Park. The name ''Denali'' means ''The Great One'' in the native Athabascan language. At 20,310 feet above sea level Denali is the highest peak in North America and is surrounded by one of the world's most spectacular wildlife sanctuaries. Continue to the charming town of Talkeetna, where you can join an unforgettable flightseeing tour for spectacular views of Denali, glaciers, icefalls and the Alaska Range. Your journey concludes in Anchorage, Alaska's largest city and a great place to enjoy outdoor activities, local attractions and shopping. Visit our complete Alaska Guide for helpful travel information and tips. We’re happy to customize this itinerary to suit your needs.

  • Itinerary

  • Prices & Dates

  • Attractions & Add-ons

  • Accommodation

  • Rental Car

  • Map

  • Tour Info & FAQ

  • Reviews

Whittier - Denali National Park ( Driving Distance: 300 miles | Overnight: Denali Village )

Upon arrival in Whittier by ferry or cruise ship, your coach transfer takes you north to Anchorage. Along the way, enjoy the panoramic views of Cook Inlet and the surrounding mountains. Your transfer ends at Anchorage Airport, where you will pick up your rental car and begin your self-drive adventure to Denali. The scenery becomes increasingly spectacular as you leave Anchorage behind and follow the Parks Highway north. Arrive at Denali Village and check into your room. Once you’ve settled in, take a stroll through Denali Village, join a flightseeing tour, enjoy a whitewater rafting trip, or visit a sled dog kennel for an up-close experience with Alaskan sled dogs and life on a working mushing homestead.

Denali National Park ( Overnight: Denali Village )

Today is dedicated to exploring Denali National Park and its spectacular wilderness. Board your included Denali Transit Bus and travel into the park along the Denali Park Road. Keep an eye out for wildlife such as grizzly bears, moose, caribou, Dall sheep, and wolves. Your driver provides information about the park's landscape, wildlife, and history, with opportunities to stop for wildlife viewing and photography. The included transit bus journey takes you toward Eielson Visitor Center. The flexible transit bus service also allows you to get off along the route for hiking and exploring, then continue later on another bus. Optional upgrades and additional excursions are available for travelers who would like to explore farther into the park or enjoy a more guided experience.

Denali National Park – Talkeetna ( Driving Distance: 150 miles | Overnight: Talkeetna )

Spend the morning at Denali Village and join a whitewater rafting tour, watch a sled dog demonstration presented by the Denali park rangers or go on a short hiking trip around the Denali Visitor Center. Leave for Talkeetna - the base for most climbing expeditions and spectacular glacier flightseeing activities within the Alaska Mountain Range. This afternoon take a flightseeing trip within 6-Miles of Denali's 20.320 ft summit and get a picture perfect view of the Kahiltna and Ruth Glacier with its Great Gorge - over 9.000 ft deep - as well as onto magnificent ice-falls. You will also see the Sheldon Amphitheatre - the largest of its kind in the world. Another highlight will be an adventurous glacier landing at the 5600 foot level of Ruth Glacier. Included: Mt. Denali Flightseeing Tour

Talkeetna - Anchorage, Depart Anchorage ( Driving Distance: 115 miles )

Join a jet boat safari on the Susitna, Talkeetna and Chulitna Rivers this morning. Return to Anchorage via the Parks Highway and take a break in Wasilla - Home of the Iditarod Trail Headquarter. The museum features historical displays of the "Last Great Race on Earth", videos and a gift shop with unique souvenirs. Stopover at Eklutna Indian village which is an Athabascan Indian settlement. It houses a unique cemetery, in which each grave is surrounded by a small, decorative burial house. Alternative Routing: From the Parks Highway drive via Hatcher Pass Road to the Independence Mine Historical Park - operated from 1938 - 1941 by one of the largest gold producers in the Willow Creek Mining District.

Rates in US $ / per Person
Comfort Hotel Category Single Double Triple Quad Child
May 18 - May 31 $2147 $1339 $1097 $972 $381
June 1 - August 31 $2539 $1535 $1227 $1070 $381
September 1 - September 13 $2147 $1339 $1097 $972 $381
First Class Hotel Category Single Double Triple Quad Child
May 18 - May 31 $2390 $1461 $1187 $1050 $381
June 1 - August 31 $3044 $1801 $1413 $1220 $381
September 1 - September 13 $2390 $1461 $1187 $1050 $381

What’s included

3 Nights Comfort OR First-Class Accommodation

Hotel and State Taxes

4 Days Midsize Rental Car(For additional Upgrades and Extras Click Here)

Unlimited Free Mileage

Rental Car Licensing Fees

CFC, State & City Rental Car Sales Taxes

One Way Rental Fee

Denali Transit Bus Ticket to Eielson Visitor Center

60 Min Mt. Denali Flightseeing Tour

Tour Documentation

Sightseeing Information

Tour Departures

Daily  from  May  18th  –  September  13th

Denali: Extend Denali Transit Bus Tour to Wonder Lake

The Denali Transit Bus is the official shuttle bus service into Denali National Park. The shuttle is best suited for those visitors who are seeking flexibility in their day trip into the Park and would like to have the option of getting off the bus to hike or explore on your own. Excellent hiking and wildlife viewing opportunities all along the Park Road. Created by retreating glaciers, Wonder Lake offers visitors stunning views of Mt. Denali and the Alaska Range, as weather permits. Along the Park Road, alder and willow carpeted hills are dotted with kettle ponds often frequented by waterfowl and other wildlife. Reflection Pond, an amazing photo stop on a clear day, requires you utilize the Kantishna Transit Bus or hike 2.5 miles from the Wonder Lake turnaround stop.

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Denali: Exchange Transit Bus Tour to Denali Tundra Wilderness Tour

The fully narrated 62-mile Tundra Wilderness Tour into Denali National Park is led by a certified naturalist driver/guide who will also provide historical and geographical background of the area. The tour will last approximately eight to nine hours and includes ample photo and rest stops. When your tour driver is able, he/she will take video footage of animals along Park Road and project these images onto drop-down video screens, featured only our specially designed tour buses. This way you can get a close-up look at the roadside action. At the end of the tour, you’ll have the opportunity to purchase a “Tundra Wilderness Tour” DVD, which will feature some of the video footage shot from your tour! Guests cannot switch buses throughout the day (only the Denali Transit Bus allows this).

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Denali: Exchange Transit Bus Tour to Kantishna Wilderness Trails Tour

The Kantishna Wilderness Trails tour is the premier Denali Park wilderness bus excursion. Spend the entire day in Denali National Park and discover a piece of Alaska's gold rush history and warm hospitality at the historic Kantishna Roadhouse, located just past Wonder Lake on the banks of Moose Creek. Your 12 to 13-hour fully-narrated excursion to Kantishna travels via a custom motorcoach through 95 miles of Denali National Park's prime wildlife habitat. The last 30 miles allow for full viewing of Mt. Denali, weather permitting. The wilderness backcountry of Denali Park provides diverse habitats which support big-game species such as black bear, grizzly, moose, caribou, Dall sheep, wolf, and wolverine. Hot beverages and refreshments are included en route to the Kantishna Roadhouse. After a hearty deli style lunch in the dining room at the Roadhouse, relax and visit the Historical Recorder's Cabin and enjoy a dog sled demonstration or gold panning. Guests cannot switch buses throughout the day (only the Denali Transit Bus allows this).

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Denali: Exchange Transit Bus Tour to Denali Backcountry Adventure Bus Tour

The Denali Backcountry Adventure Tour is another premier Denali Park Wildlife bus excursion. This full-day, 13-hour tour travels 95 miles in each direction to the Denali Backcountry Lodge in Kantishna. You'll travel by private bus with a trained naturalist driver/guide giving interpretation along the way helping you search for bear, moose, caribou and other wildlife while pointing out the biology and geology of the region. Several photo and rest stops will be made. Snacks, drinks and lunch are provided. Lunch is served at the exclusive Denali Backcountry Lodge in Kantishna. Lunch consists of a sandwich bar, soups, fruits, snacks, fresh baked goods and non-alcoholic drinks. After lunch try your luck at gold panning near the lodge or take a guided nature walk before returning to the Park entrance.

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Talkeetna: Denali Flightseeing Tour - Add Glacier Landing

The 1 hr Denali flightseeing tour (included) takes you within six miles of Mt. Denali's summit. As your flight departs Talkeetna, you begin to notice how the last ice age has shaped the land. Moments later you enter a world of rugged high mountain peaks and wide glacier filled valleys. See the Sheldon Amphitheater, beautiful Ruth Glacier, and the Great Gorge (the world's deepest - almost 2 miles from top to bottom). Add a glacier landing to your flightseeing tour for a one-of-a-kind expedition. Passengers land usually at the 5600 foot level of the Ruth Glacier, located in the Sheldon Amphitheater. Other popular landing spots are the Kahiltna, the Pika, or the Eldridge glaciers. A glacier landing takes an additional 30 minutes (15 minutes of time exploring on foot and 15 minutes for landing and takeoff).

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Jim, GA: We have been home several weeks now and I am just sending you a little note to thank you for arranging such a wonderful trip for us. The arrangements were excellent and we did not experience any problems. The driving tour to Denali Park was the ideal package after our scenic cruise from Vancouver.