Kenai Peninsula Alaska road trip with bear watching flight

Itinerary in brief: 

• 1 night Anchorage 
• 2 nights Seward
• 2 nights Homer 
• 1 night Girdwood 

Day 1: Arrive Alaska 

On arrival, you’ll make your own way into the city, check into your hotel for the night and head to bed early, ready to start your Alaskan adventure tomorrow.

Included: 4* hotel

Day 2: Drive to Seward

This morning, you’ll pick up your rental car and begin your road trip through Alaska! You’ll drive along the Seward Highway towards Turnagain Arm, a huge body of water where you might spot Beluga whales chasing salmon in the bay or Dall sheep grazing by the shore. Stopping in Whittier, you'll head out on the Prince William Sound Glacier cruise, heading into a world of floating ice, waterfalls and glaciers, all the while looking for sea otters, whales and seabirds. Enjoy lunch onboard before driving on to Seward, where you'll check into your hotel for two nights before heading out into the town for a look around – we recommend the SeaLife Centre for a glimpse into local marine life.

Included: Cruise, car hire, 4* hotel    

Day 3: Seward

Today we’ve arranged an all-day cruise of Kenai Fjords National Park. You’ll head deep into the park and visit the magnificent Northwestern Fjord, home to numerous tidewater and alpine glaciers. There is an abundance of wildlife to be found here – black bears, beavers, lynx and red squirrels on land as well as orcas, sea otters and porpoises under the waters. You’ll also visit the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Reserve, an island home to teeming seabird rookeries and enjoy lunch onboard. This cruise will give you a great insight into the wild beauty of Kenai Fjords before heading back to your hotel at the end of the day.

There are loads of other activities you could enjoy here instead of the cruise - dog sledding, kayaking, canoeing, fishing and even a helicopter flight to the glacier - if you want to change to one of these, just ask!

Included: Cruise, car hire, 4* hotel           

Day 4: Drive to Homer

Continuing your road trip you’ll follow the Sterling Highway today, a designated scenic highway covering miles of spectacular wilderness – think snow-capped mountains and active volcanoes, as well as excellent salmon fishing along the Kenai River. Homer is blessed with a view to the south, where the rugged Kenai Mountains sit above the sparkling waters of Kachemak Bay. If you love fishing, then this is the place to be - King salmon and halibut are found here in the spring and into the summer. On arrival, you’ll check into your hotel for two nights.

Included: Car hire, 4* hotel        

Day 5: Homer          

Homer is a haven for foodies – every street corner has a local coffee shop, gourmet sandwich bar or fine dining restaurant, unusual for rural Alaska and one of the things that makes Homer so special. It is a centre for artists in the area and the plethora of galleries, museums and music venues give credence to Homer being the cultural capital of Alaska. It is also located in a beautiful spot where the looming Kenai Mountains stand sentry over the wildlife-filled bay – you’ll spend much of your day here falling in love with this quirky little town. If you'd like to add in something more adventurous, we can book bear viewing flights or fishing excursions - just ask!

Included: Car hire, 4* hotel         

Day 6: Drive to Girdwood

This morning you'll drive north to reach Girdwood, the home of the only 5-star resort in Alaska – the Hotel Alyeska, where you’ll check in for 1 night. On the way you'll pass the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Centre, which provides care and rehabilitation to some of Alaska's largest land mammals - you'll be able to get close to moose, caribou, bears and musk ox. In the evening, enjoy some top-quality food in one of the resort's restaurants and relax after an exciting day.

Included: Car hire, Alyeska Hotel

Day 7: Depart Alaska

This morning, you'll drop your hire car off at the airport in Anchorage before catching your onwards flight.