Trip Report - 'Self-Drive Skagway' for Cruise Passengers
Aug 3rd, 2013, 08:00 AM
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Trip Report - 'Self-Drive Skagway' for Cruise Passengers
Hi People,
I recently travelled with Norwegian Sun and we visited 3 port of calls, Ketchikan, Juneau and Skagway. Well, I was given a budget to work with so for Skagway, I decided that we do a self-drive from Skagway to Yukon instead of taking the train which is relatively cheaper for 5 of us. Doing the train will costs us about USD$600 in total. For the self-drive, we only spend about $150 for car rental. That's a huge difference of $450.
I would say that taking the train and self-driving are 2 different experiences. However, one thing for sure, self-driving though cheaper is not an inferior option. To some, it may be the better or preferred option as you get to stop as and when you like and visit the same towns(e.g. carcross, whitehorse) as when you travel by train.
For people interested in self-driving, I highly recommend Murray's Guide to South Klondike Highway.
Website: http://www.murraysguide.com
With a minimal fee of USD$5, murray's guide is extremely detailed. With some history, background and a description of what you will see at each mile/viewpoint. There are also a list of lunch places and toilet stops. This has made my planning a whole lot easier. At first I was worried that I might get lost driving without a GPS, BUT, it is extremely easy to drive in Skagway. One road in, One road back. Very few/no cars on the road most of the time.
We made a lot of stops along the way. The highlights would be the:
1. The drive. The scenary is changing every few minutes. One minute you see snow-capped mountains, another minute you see blue lake then another minute you see green lake. It's just magnificent.
2. Emerald Lake. Emerald Lake is notable for its intense green color. The color derives from light reflecting off white deposits of marl, a mixture of clay and calcium carbonate, at the bottom of the shallow waters.
3. Carcross.
Tip: Do drop by the visitor centre to ask for recommendation on lunch places. And if you are interested in the history of carcross, you may request for a walking tour map of carcross and do the walking tour yourself. It's free and easy. The map is detailed and the town isn't really big to begin with so it's definitely doable in less than an hour.
4. Alaska/Yukon Signage. Touristy.
Tip: If you see that there's a lot of people/tour buses around the sign, do it when you return from Yukon to Alaska as the route back is the same. This goes for the other viewpoints along the way which are less likely to be touristy as there are many viewpoints to choose from.
To get an idea of what you will be able to see, do, please visit
http://www.keeewei.blogspot.sg/2013/...ka-part-6.html
For tips on Ketchikan,
http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...passengers.cfm
For tips on Juneau,
http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...passengers.cfm
Happy planning and hope this helps.
Stay tune for Glacier Bay National Park, Hubbard Glacier, Whittier, Anchorage and Seattle.
Thanks for visiting.
I recently travelled with Norwegian Sun and we visited 3 port of calls, Ketchikan, Juneau and Skagway. Well, I was given a budget to work with so for Skagway, I decided that we do a self-drive from Skagway to Yukon instead of taking the train which is relatively cheaper for 5 of us. Doing the train will costs us about USD$600 in total. For the self-drive, we only spend about $150 for car rental. That's a huge difference of $450.
I would say that taking the train and self-driving are 2 different experiences. However, one thing for sure, self-driving though cheaper is not an inferior option. To some, it may be the better or preferred option as you get to stop as and when you like and visit the same towns(e.g. carcross, whitehorse) as when you travel by train.
For people interested in self-driving, I highly recommend Murray's Guide to South Klondike Highway.
Website: http://www.murraysguide.com
With a minimal fee of USD$5, murray's guide is extremely detailed. With some history, background and a description of what you will see at each mile/viewpoint. There are also a list of lunch places and toilet stops. This has made my planning a whole lot easier. At first I was worried that I might get lost driving without a GPS, BUT, it is extremely easy to drive in Skagway. One road in, One road back. Very few/no cars on the road most of the time.
We made a lot of stops along the way. The highlights would be the:
1. The drive. The scenary is changing every few minutes. One minute you see snow-capped mountains, another minute you see blue lake then another minute you see green lake. It's just magnificent.
2. Emerald Lake. Emerald Lake is notable for its intense green color. The color derives from light reflecting off white deposits of marl, a mixture of clay and calcium carbonate, at the bottom of the shallow waters.
3. Carcross.
Tip: Do drop by the visitor centre to ask for recommendation on lunch places. And if you are interested in the history of carcross, you may request for a walking tour map of carcross and do the walking tour yourself. It's free and easy. The map is detailed and the town isn't really big to begin with so it's definitely doable in less than an hour.
4. Alaska/Yukon Signage. Touristy.
Tip: If you see that there's a lot of people/tour buses around the sign, do it when you return from Yukon to Alaska as the route back is the same. This goes for the other viewpoints along the way which are less likely to be touristy as there are many viewpoints to choose from.
To get an idea of what you will be able to see, do, please visit
http://www.keeewei.blogspot.sg/2013/...ka-part-6.html
For tips on Ketchikan,
http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...passengers.cfm
For tips on Juneau,
http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...passengers.cfm
Happy planning and hope this helps.
Stay tune for Glacier Bay National Park, Hubbard Glacier, Whittier, Anchorage and Seattle.
Thanks for visiting.
Aug 5th, 2013, 03:46 AM
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That's very interesting info thanks. We also looking into renting a car during our Norwegian Sun stop in Skagway. We took cold feet however as we were concerned about what would happen in the event of a mechanical breakdown causing us to miss our ship's departure, and not knowing the road consitions in the areas as we'd never been before (actually they are very good). In the end we did one of the Chilkoot Charter's day tours, bus up to Emerald Lake/Carcross, and train back down from Fraser - still a lot cheaper than the excursions offered through NCL.
Aug 15th, 2013, 09:32 PM
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We went as far as Emerald lake with Dyea Dave. Perfect blue skies, great visibility, traveled from 8 am - 3:30. Many stops up and back including 1 hour in Carcross and a tour of cemetery outside of town. Photos I had seen online in various places did not do this drive justice.
Oct 9th, 2013, 06:42 PM
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I want to add another recommendation for renting a car and using Murray's Guide. Four of us shared a car and took about 7 hours to experience the round trip from the cruise ship to Emerald Lake. We took the scenic by pass to view the town, poked around the cemetery, and made countless stops along the way to Carcross. We ate lunch at the Suspension Bridge, but did not pay to go across. Carcross was deserted when we were there and we got an in depth orientation of the town from a friendly ice cream shop owner. Emerald Lake is amazing. We couldn't stop taking photos.
Other couples in our group opted for the round trip train trip. They were very disappointed in the fact that they never had a chance to get off and experience any of the beautiful sites up close. They felt that during the 3 hour trip they kept dozing off.
Other friends did the train one way and the return by bus and that option worked for them.
We had a beautiful weather day in the beginning of August and have agreed that this driving trip was the highlight of our trip. If you are hesitant. Go for it.
Other couples in our group opted for the round trip train trip. They were very disappointed in the fact that they never had a chance to get off and experience any of the beautiful sites up close. They felt that during the 3 hour trip they kept dozing off.
Other friends did the train one way and the return by bus and that option worked for them.
We had a beautiful weather day in the beginning of August and have agreed that this driving trip was the highlight of our trip. If you are hesitant. Go for it.
