After reading suggestions and sample itineraries from just about everywhere, this is what we have come up with. We are a family of three with 15 year old son. We are most interested in hiking, kayaking, flightseeing, rafting, and fishing, not really into museums We start out with a northbound cruise out of Vancouver to Whittier, disembarking on July 8. More than likely we will have done Misty Fjords in Ketchikan, whalewatching in Juneau, and the White Pass Railroad in Skagway. From there, this is roughly what we have come up with. Airline reservations are made and we have 7 nights for the land tour. Please feel free to comment and critique:
July 8- after transfer from Whittier, rent car in Anchorage. Drive to Denali
The only part of this trip that we know FOR SURE we want is THREE nights in the Denali area to cover one day on the shuttle (July 9) and one day hiking/rafting, etc. (July10)
July 11- Leave Denali for Valdez. Possible stop early in Talkeetna for flightseeing. Travel Glenn highway to Mantanuska for glacier hike. Overnight in either Copper Center or Glennallen.
My original idea was to make it to Valdez by evening of the 11th but realize that may be a little much and will not allow for stops and enjoyment of the drive.
July 12- Drive to Valdez, possible fishing or rafting trip in Keystone Canyon. Overnight in Valdez.
July 13- Board ferry to Whittier, drive to Seward. We are most likely going to forego a Kenai Fjords cruise given the whalewatching we already did in Ketchikan (good idea?)
Overnight in Seward
July 14- Kayaking to Aialik Glacier. Overnight in Seward
July 15- Drive to Anchorage. Depart for home on redeye.
My main question: is this too ambitious an itinerary for just 7 nights? Like I said, the 3 nights in Denali is a must. We could always knock off a night in Seward and spend one more night in Valdez and do the Columbia Glacier Kayak trip there. Or we could not head towards Valdez at all and just go straight to Kenai from Denali and maybe spend some time in Homer. But we really want to experience the beauty of the drive to Valdez.
Thanks a bunch in advance!
Advice on temporary Alaska itinerary, please help!
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Drive from Seward to Anchorage, Turnagaun Arm is beautiful. Stop in Girdwood, Alyeska.
If you Kayak to Ailik you are doing the same thing as the Kenai Cruise Tour anyway. That is where they go. We saw Ailik from the cruise--I so so wish we had done the Kayak there- so good idea.
We really enjoyed a day fishing trip to Wolverine Creek. This is just on the outskirts of Lake Clark National Park. It included a float plane ride. We also saw 20+ bears(from canoe only a few feet away-never felt in danger)and lost count of all the bald eagles. Great experience. We also did a Helicpoter/Glacier Landing/Dog Sledding from Alyeska/Girdwood. That was great too.
I have not been to Denali. However, my parents went last year and did the Talkeetna air tour with a Glacier Landing. That was the highlight of their trip. They did a similar trip as to what you are doing--cruise and land combo.
"forego a Kenai Fjords cruise (good idea?)" No, not a good idea IMO. A Kenai Fjord cruise is not the same as whale watching in Juneau. If you have the time, I highly recommend the Kenai Fjords cruise.
But the Kenai Ford Cruise goes to the exact same place as the Kayak Ailik Glacier Tour as OP indicates he is doing. Plus, OP will likely be on a smaller taxiboat, so I assume it would stop for wildlife. The kayak would be much better than a larger boat around the glaciers, IMOP.
Spiro, I missed that, and I agree
It's too much ground to cover in 7 days. When you disembark in Whittier, rent a car and go to Seward, and then to Denali and back to Anchorage. I'd stop in Girdwood rather than driving over to Homer because you don't have much time. Alternatively, skip Seward and spend more time between Denali and Valdez. With 3 nights in Denali, you will spend the rest of the week in your car driving to your next destination with your current itinerary. Do not underestimate how long it will take you to drive on the 2 lane roads around Alaska. Between summer road construction, and slow moving RVs and trucks, you will not approach interstate speeds as you would in the lower 48.