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Combine the untamed wilderness of Alaska with the golden sands of Hawaii on this beautiful honeymoon. You'll start in historic Anchorage before heading off on a road trip down to the Kenai Peninsula for wildlife watching, cruising through the fjords and gazing at glaciers. Next, you'll head north to Denali National Park where you’ll journey deep into the woods and experience the best of the Alaskan wilderness. Finally, you'll fly to Hawaii, where beautiful beaches, wild coastlines and epic surf is the ideal way to finish your romantic trip in style.
This itinerary can be tailored to suit your requirements; please contact one of our consultants to start planning your dream trip.
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.
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!
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. Why not stop off at Portage Glacier on your way – they have a fascinating visitor centre and it is one of the most accessible glaciers in the region, sat at the end of the deep blue lake in all its icy glory. Arriving in Seward 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.
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.
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.
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.
Today, you’ll leave Homer for a scenic drive to Ninilchik, the oldest settlement in the area. Established by the Russians in the 1820s, settlers soon congregated here, soon erecting the Russian Orthodox church. After learning a little about the Russian culture here you’ll drive on to Cooper Landing, located on the Kenai and Russian River where you’ll enjoy a two-hour float trip, keeping a keen watch for moose, bears and eagles as your guide navigates you through the mountain scenery. You’ll finish on the shores of a glacier-carved lake in the heard of the wildlife refuge. Tonight you’ll stay in Cooper Landing, checking into your hotel for 1 night.
This morning you’ve got a short 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. This afternoon you’ll experience dog-sledging on a glacier! Enjoy a scenic helicopter flight to the unique glacier base camp which is the summertime training ground for Iditarod sled dogs, where you learn about mushing and hold adorable puppies while the team is prepared. Head off along a spectacular glacier trail for the ride of your life! In the evening, enjoy some top-quality food in one of the resort's restaurants and relax after an exciting day.
Today you’ll leave the Kenai Peninsula and head north, passing through Anchorage and up to Talkeetna. Why not stop off in Portage again, where you can visit the Wildlife Conservation Center and watch rescued baby moose being bottle-fed? Arriving in Talkeetna, you’ll check into your hotel for 1 night and set out to explore this turn of the century gold mining town. Talkeetna retains much of its early Alaskan flavour, with log cabins and clapboard storefronts lining the streets while Mount Denali looms overhead. Settle in and enjoy the view of the mountain, ready to head deep into the national park tomorrow.
Driving along the Parks Highway this morning, you’ll pass by incredible forest and mountain landscapes. When you arrive at the entrance to the park, you’ll leave your car behind and transfer by bus into the park, where you’ll check into your lodge for 2 nights. Look out for wildlife as the bus carries you through the park – bears, caribou, sheep and wolves all lurk amongst the trees. Dinner is included on your arrival.
Nestled in a snug valley, the Denali Backcountry Lodge offers a true wilderness experience, all from the cosy warmth of your own heated cabin. The lodge is located at the end of a restricted road, so you really are completely surrounded by the Alaskan wilderness. Spend your day here hiking, gold panning, taking guided botany walks and visiting Wonder Lake, all the while taking photos of Mount Denali high above you. You can also visit Fannie Quigley’s Cabin, home of one of the original miners. All your meals are included and can be enjoyed at the lodge in the wooden dining room.
An early departure this morning will give you another chance to look for wildlife on your journey through the park before arriving at the entrance and checking into your hotel for 1 night. The rest of the day is yours to explore Denali Village.
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.
After your final night in Alaska, you’ll drive back to the airport for your flight down to Hawaii. On arrival in Honolulu, you will be met and transferred to your hotel on the North Shore, where you will check in for six nights.
After two weeks of exploring the wilds of Alaska, some rest and relaxation on the sands of Hawaii will be a welcome end to your honeymoon. You’ll be staying at Turtle Bay, on the north shore, around an hour from Waikiki Beach – it’s a beautiful spot with stunning beaches like Waimea Bay and Sunset Beach, perfect for sunbathing and playing in the surf.
While you’re here, why not try a surfing lesson – there are plenty of beaches with waves that are perfect for beginners (depending on the beach/time of year) and watching the locals heading out to sea with their colourful boards will easily tempt you into trying it. We can book you a two-hour lesson that will show you how to ride the waves.
On one of your days, we’ve included a tour of Pearl Harbour, the famous and tragic site of the Japanese attack in 1941 that triggered the United States’ entry into World War II. You’ll be able to pay your respects at the Arizona Memorial before exploring the visitor centre where you can learn and the events and lead up of that fateful day. You’ll also visit the Punchbowl National Cemetery and tour through the city of Honolulu enjoying visits to the Kawaiahao Church, the Iolani Palace and the statue of King Kamehameha who founded the Kingdom of Hawaii.
You can see that there is plenty to do on Oahu but we’d definitely recommend you take time to sit back, relax and enjoy walking along the beach hand in hand, reflecting on your adventurous and beautiful trip together. A sunset cruise on your final evening is the perfect way to round of your honeymoon in style.
Your honeymoon has come to an end – today you’ll be driven back to the airport and catch your flight back to the UK
The best time to visit Alaska is in the summer, usually between May and September. As it’s a huge region, the weather varies hugely depending on where you are, but short sleeves and a light jacket is (fingers crossed) enough for summer. That’s not to say there isn’t anything to find during the winter – spotting the northern lights is popular in the far reaches of the north. As with Canada and Iceland, the summer days are long and the winter days very short. This means that, on a summer trip, you’ll have plenty of daylight to explore.
High season in Hawaii runs from December to April and June to August. Winter is wetter, but it's a good time for whale watching and surfing. Prices are highest around the Christmas, New Year and Easter holidays, while with October and November are the cheapest months to visit. May and September can be good months to visit, with fewer crowds and mild temperature.
This itinerary is purely a suggestion and can be tailor-made to your requirements, so please contact us with your dates and requests, and we’ll put together a bespoke quotation for you.