Classic Alaska holiday with Seattle city break

Itinerary in brief:

• 2 nights Anchorage
• 2 nights Seward
• 2 nights Homer
• 1 night Girdwood
• 1 night Talkeetna
• 2 nights Denali Park Entrance
• 1 night Anchorage         
• 3 nights Seattle        

Day 1: UK to Alaska

Depart the UK from your chosen airport. On arrival, you’ll make your own way into the city, check into your hotel for two nights and head to bed early, ready to explore tomorrow.

Included: International flight, 4* hotel

Day 2: Anchorage

Many people arrive in Anchorage expecting to see a wild west town of gold panning Alaskans, but Anchorage is a bustling cosmopolitan city where you can enjoy theatre, museums and world-class food. Enjoy a huge American breakfast of eggs, hash browns and orange juice at a local breakfast joint before heading to the Alaska Native Heritage Centre where you can learn how early humans survived in the northern wilderness. Take a long leisurely walk along the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail before heading back downtown to catch a trolley tour looking out for urban moose while enjoying a coffee from Snow City Café. For dinner tuck into a plate of King crab or reindeer sausages with fresh herby vegetables on the side – delicious!

Included: 4* hotel  

Day 3: 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 4: 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 5: 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 6: 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 8: 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 9: Drive to Talkeetna

Today you'll drive north from Girdwood along Turnagain Arm, where you can enjoy the views over the dramatic coast before passing through Anchorage and into the Matanuska-Susitna Valley. The landscape opens up into farmland and forests, with views over the Alaska Range. You'll soon arrive in Talkeetna, a rail town on the confluence of three rivers, with views of Denali on clear days. 

Included: Car hire, 4* hotel

Day 10: Denali flightseeing with glacier landing

This morning, you'll head out on an incredible experience to fly over the Alaska Range, with river valleys and spruce forest beneath you, giving way to snow-covered peaks and ice-carved valleys. Admire the vast peak of Denali before landing on the glacier to step out onto the snow and really soak up these breath-taking views. In the afternoon, you'll continue driving north to Denali National Park, following the Parks Highway past rivers and forests as you arrive at the national park by land, after your epic flight this morning. Enjoy the views as you get ready to explore on the ground tomorrow. 

Included: Flightseeing tour of Denali with glacier landing, car hire, 4* hotel 

Day 11: Denali National Park

Today is yours to enjoy the incredible wilderness of Denali National Park. In the morning, you'll head out on a half day jeep tour, learning about the region, the wildlife and the history of human activity in these incredible mountains. The afternoon is yours to enjoy the local trails, do some hiking and enjoy this incredible national park further. 

Included: Denali Highway jeep excursion, car hire, 4* hotel  

Day 12: Drive to Anchorage

Depart Denali at your leisure this morning to head back down the road to Anchorage. We recommend a stop at Wasilla where you can learn about the Iditarod Dog Sled race across Alaska and see some of the Huskies and malamutes that participate in it. Arriving in Anchorage, you will check into your hotel for 1 final night in Alaska and head into the city to visit any highlights that you missed on your first visit.

Included: Car hire, 4* hotel

Day 13: Fly to Seattle 

After your final night in Alaska, you’ll drive back to the airport for your flight down to Seattle. On arrival, you’ll make your own way into the city, before checking into your hotel for three nights             

Included: Car hire, international flight, hotel

Days 14 & 15: Seattle

Start your day with a tour of Pike Place Market, where a guide will show you where to find the best cheese, pastries and seafood in this vast market as well as watching some fish throwing as the catch of the day arrives. Explore everything from Bowie to Star Trek at the Museum of POP Culture where you can wander through the Guitar Gallery, home to instruments owned by Kurt Cobain, the Kinks and Van Halen. Why not visit the aquarium to learn about local wildlife before heading out on a cruise of Puget Sound where you can enjoy views back to Seattle as well as the many islands and mountains surrounding the city?

If you want to get out of the city, try a wine tour of Washington’s best vineyards or head out on a whale watching tour of the San Juan Islands. On your final evening, head to Pioneer Square, the city’s “first” neighbourhood where you can enjoy the Neo-Renaissance architecture while you eat dinner before heading up to the top of the Space Needle to watch the sunset, with panoramic views over the city and Puget Sound below you – the perfect way to end your time in this eclectic city.

Included: Hotel, day tour

Day 16: Depart Seattle

Today is the final day of your trip through Iceland, Alaska and Seattle. Make your own way to the airport in time to catch your flight, heading home with memories of a wonderful and exciting holiday.

Included: International flight

Day 17: Arrive UK