Alaska trip | Self-drive Alaska adventure highlights

In the summer, when the sun shines almost 24 hours a day, Fairbanks is simply buzzing with energy. Search richly for gold, float on the Chena River, cool off at an ice museum, take a refreshing walk or be inspired by stunning art galleries, museums and historical sites. Fairbanks, once a city of gold rush, is now Alaska's second-largest metropolis, known as the "Golden Heart City". The Alaska Highway, the trans-Alaska oil pipeline, military bases, mining and the University of Alaska are all integral to Fairbanks' past and future.

In the spectacularly beautiful state of Alaska, 386 km north of Anchorage, Denali National Park is home to Mount Denali, the highest mountain in North America. This astonishingly vast wilderness provides a haven for a remarkable variety of wildlife, from cinnamon-coloured Toklat grizzly bears to wild wolves and herds of moose with antlers the size of a coffee table!
At the foot of the imposing Mount McKinley lies the breathtakingly beautiful Wonder Lake, a narrow lake formed during the Alaskan Ice Age. The park offers a range of activities for visitors of all ages. Spend your days white-water rafting on the near-freezing waters of the Nenana River or exploring the multicoloured volcanic rocks at Cathedral Mountain and Polychrome Pass. The braided channels of glacier-fed streams such as the Teklanika, Toklat and McKinley rivers serve as highways for both wildlife and hikers. Add to that a number of forest-clad glaciers and magnificent golden eagles, and it is no wonder that Dewali National Park is Alaska’s most highly rated and most visited tourist destination.

As the largest city in the state of Alaska, Anchorage offers a fascinating combination of metropolitan luxury and unrivalled natural beauty. The wider Anchorage area is home to a population of over 300,000, as well as an astonishing array of wildlife, including moose, brown and black bears, Dall’s sheep and many species of migratory birds.
With the glistening waters of the magnificent Cook Inlet and the towering peaks of the Chugach Mountains right on the city’s doorstep, outdoor enthusiasts can enjoy a range of activities, such as hiking, mountain biking, skiing and even kayaking on some of the majestic tidal glaciers in nearby Blackstone Bay. More sedentary travellers can explore the Alaska Native Heritage Centre and the Anchorage Museum, where daily indigenous dance performances are held and guided tours take visitors along a short trail with various stations, each illustrating one of Alaska’s indigenous cultures.
With its famous wildlife, spectacular mountain views, intriguing cultures and ice-cold glaciers, Anchorage is truly an unforgettable holiday destination.

The rugged, undeveloped and remote Wrangell - St Elias National Park and Preserve in south-central Alaska is the largest park in the US and promises the adventure of a lifetime. The sights alone are enough to amaze - enjoy the spectacular glory of the looming mountains (four major ranges that converge in the park), huge glaciers and ice-fed rivers, or trek along the park's primitive roads. A visit to the Kennecott Mines national historic monument, a perfectly preserved relic of copper mining in the early 20th century, is a must.

Sandwiched between Mount Marathon and the shimmering waters of Resurrection Bay, picturesque Seward is surrounded by lush rainforests and is easily accessible from Anchorage. The vast surrounding wilderness makes Seward an ideal base for kayaking, hiking, fishing, whale watching and glacier viewing excursions. It also serves as the gateway to the impressive Kenai Fjords National Park, which offers exceptionally beautiful scenery and a remarkable variety of unusual marine animals. Many visitors take a day cruise along the coast south of Seward to see glaciers calving into the sea and spot seals, sea lions and whales.

From the skyscrapers of New York City to the scenic country roads of New England, The United States of America is a place of beauty and of unprecedented diversity. Visit the glorious Golden Gate Bridge, the famous Empire State Building, the Iconic Statue of Liberty and catch a glimpse of the lights of Las Vegas! Not to mention the country's natural treasures: the many national parks with beautiful landscapes and wildlife. The beaches on both the east and west coasts are also well worth a visit. The United States is a country of such vast dimensions that a lifetime in the United States can still feel like you have barely seen any of the country.

The small, eclectic town of Talkeetna, just south of Alaska's Denali National Park and Preserve, is blessed with a beautiful rural atmosphere combined with a cosmopolitan vibe. Countless international mountaineers gather here to take on the challenge of climbing the spectacular 6193.536-kilometre Mount McKinley (also known as 'Denali', meaning 'the Great'). The town itself, once an early 20th-century gold mining centre, retains much of the early Alaska feel. Blockhouses, a restaurant and shops line the unpaved streets. Visitors can explore the Talkeetna Historical Society Museum, enjoy the breathtaking views on a sightseeing tour from the local airstrip, or simply enjoy the quirky character of this bizarre, exceptionally remote village. There is plenty to see and experience in this remarkably scenic natural wilderness.

The Alaska Range stretches for over a thousand kilometres across central Alaska and is a group of rugged, snow-capped mountains that separate the southern coast from the central interior of Alaska. This spectacular, picturesque mountainous region is in a state of perpetual winter and consists of three distinct sections: the Eastern Alaska Range, the Central Alaska Range and the Southern Alaska Range.
The Central Alaska Range is particularly well known for its enormous glaciers, as well as the region’s highest peaks, including Denali, the highest mountain on the North American continent. This towering peak rises above Denali National Park and Preserve, a vast protected wilderness characterised by tundra, spruce forests and glaciers, and inhabited by an impressive variety of wildlife, including grizzly bears, wolves, moose, caribou and Dall’s sheep.

Glistening on Kachemak Bay in the Alaskan town of Homer is Kachemak Bay State Park. The Wilderness Park to the south consists of more than 1,400 square kilometres of pristine wilderness accessible only by bush plane or boat. This protected nature reserve has a lushly vegetated coastline, impressive fjords and glaciers, and towering mountain peaks that serve as an ideal backdrop for an array of outdoor activities. The park offers excellent hiking opportunities with trails ranging from a relatively easy walk from Glacier Spit to Grewingk Glacier Lake to a strenuous hike along Grace Ridge. Other popular activities in the area include fishing, boating, skiing, kayaking, hiking, camping and birdwatching.

Alaska lies north-west of Canada and is the largest and least densely populated state in the United States. This wild landscape is known as America’s last frontier and boasts some of the most beautiful natural scenery in the world. Famous for its varied terrain, Alaska boasts endless open spaces, volcanic valleys, majestic snow-capped mountains, charming small towns, remote indigenous communities and alpine forests teeming with wildlife.
Explore the vast, flat tundra in the north and catch a glimpse of the magical Northern Lights, kayak amongst icebergs and spot playful humpback whales, or visit Anchorage, home to Alaska’s finest art and indigenous culture museums. This state is a popular destination for outdoor activities such as mountain biking, canoeing, kayaking, hiking, fishing, skiing and much more. Don’t miss the impressive Denali, North America’s highest mountain and the jewel in Alaska’s crown.

The small town of Homer, located on Alaska's Kenai Peninsula on the northern shores of Kachemak Bay, is known as the art capital of southern Alaska. This town is home to the Homer Spit, a long stretch of sand that extends into the bay. Homer is a thriving artist community with several art galleries, excellent restaurants, fascinating museums and theatres. It serves as a gateway for visitors to explore the beautiful surroundings. Homer offers stunning panoramic views of shimmering Kachemak Bay, crowned by the snow-capped Kenai Mountains of Kachemak Bay State Park and the dramatic Grewingk Glacier. This spectacularly scenic area offers a wide selection of exciting wilderness adventures and activities, including hiking, bear spotting, paddling and world-class fishing.

The city of Valdez, located at the northeastern tip of the spectacularly beautiful Prince William Sound, is surrounded by some of the best coastal scenery in Alaska with majestic tidal glaciers and some of the highest mountains in the world. This outdoor paradise offers a range of adventurous outdoor activities for visitors, including: whitewater rafting through the impressive Keystone Canyon,, kayaking among majestic icebergs and seal spotting.

On the south coast of Alaska, to the east of the Kenai Peninsula, lies the large ocean inlet of the Prince William Sound. This extraordinarily scenic channel is ringed by the coastal mountains of the Chugach Range and is surrounded by the peaceful Chugach National Forest. Forming part of the Gulf of Alaska, this area encompasses about 16 000 square kilometres of protected waterways, islands, fjords and glaciers. The sound's waters provide an ideal habitat for an astonishing abundance of marine life including whales, porpoises, sea otters, sea lions and seals. Visitors can look forward to spotting this impressive array of wildlife and soaking up the breathtaking scenery on glacier and wildlife cruises, or while kayaking and rafting in the calm and pristine waters.

Palmer, an alpine paradise located in a vast valley between the Talkeetna and Chugach Mountains, is a fertile agricultural town in the beautiful Mat-Su Valley of south-central Alaska. Palmer has retained the 1930s alpine farming community atmosphere and has plenty of historic architecture against the impressive backdrop of razor-sharp mountain peaks. Not to be missed is a flight from Denali to Talkeetna, a unique opportunity to view the breathtaking landscape from the air. Other unmissable attractions include the Knik and Matunaska glaciers, which can be explored on foot or by airboat. In and around town, visitors can learn more about the town's history at the Palmer Visitor Centre, or take the kids to the reindeer farm.

The Kenai Peninsula is located in Alaska, in the extreme northwest of the United States of America. This breathtakingly beautiful area is one of the most visited in the state, with an incredible array of attractions and outdoor activities to enjoy. Anglers should head to Anchor, Soldotna or Homer (with access to Kachemak Bay), while downtown Kenai is home to a popular annual bird festival and also offers excellent salmon fishing. The small town of Ninilchik offers shellfish digs and a photogenic Russian Orthodox church. Head to Seward for the Alaska SeaLife Centre and to easily reach the beautiful Kenai Fjords National Park, where adventurous travellers can view wildlife and explore the Harding Icefield (found at Exit Glacier).

The riverfront town of Chitina, near the confluence of the Copper and Chitina rivers, is dominated by the majestic Mount Blackburn in beautiful Alaska. Once a bustling train station, today it serves as an excellent starting point to the spectacularly scenic Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, the largest national park in Alaska; as well as a gateway for travellers embarking on the rugged but scenic McCarthy Road. It features stunning surrounding scenery, great hiking trails and an abundance of wildlife spotting opportunities. Other highlights include: fishing in Copper River for the famous and sought-after Copper River Salmon, visiting the historic tinsmith building that has been converted into an art gallery and viewing historic photographs and learning more about local history at the Chitina Ranger Station.