Cover the best of the Canadian and American North
For those dreaming of the north, the Best of the Yukon and Alaska Sightseeing Tour awaits. This luxurious, classic adventure takes in the very best Alaska and Canada’s Yukon Territory have to offer. Departing from Whitehorse, a comfortable coach will take you along scenic roads that retrace ancient trading routes, historic Gold Rush trails, and important wildlife corridors. The tour stops at three of the north’s most famous national parks: Kluane, home to Canada’s tallest mountain and the world’s largest non-polar icefield; Denali, world renowned for wildlife viewing and home to the tallest mountain in North America; and an optional tour to the all-marine Kenai Fjords National Park for the North’s premier marine life viewing.
Mountain ranges, cascading glaciers, fascinating First Nations culture and colourful Gold Rush history – all this and more awaits you in the Land of the Midnight Sun.
Highlights of the Best of Yukon and Alaska Sightseeing Tour
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Best of Yukon and Alaska Sightseeing Tour Itinerary
Day 1 Arrival in Whitehorse
Welcome to Canada's Yukon Territory! Your tour guide will meet you at the airport and transfer you to your hotel, where you will meet your fellow travellers. Your guide will run the group through a brief orientation.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Whitehorse
Meals: None
Day 2 Whitehorse to Haines Junction
After breakfast, you’ll take the opportunity to explore Yukon's capital. This may include a visit to the SS Klondike, a restored sternwheeler next to the Yukon River. From here, the group will take a short trip westbound along the Alaska Highway to Haines Junction. This small town is located right next to Kluane National Park, which contains a significant portion of the largest non-polar ice fields on earth and is home to a variety of wildlife. Depending on the weather and the group’s interest, you may take a short, guided hike into the national park, or charter a bush plane over the spectacular glaciers that lay beyond the front ranges.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Haines Junction
Meals: None
Day 3 Haines Junction to Tok
Today you’ll drive along the scenic shore of eighty-kilometre long Kluane Lake. The first stop will be the Sheep Mountain Visitor Center, where chances are good you’ll spot the Dall sheep that make their home on high in the surrounding mountains. Shortly after, you will stop at the Soldier Summit. This site will give us more information about the construction of the Alaska Hwy, and it commemorates a ceremony that took place on 20 November 1942. Further on the Alaska Hwy, the group will reach the Alaska-Canada (ALCAN) border in the afternoon. You’ll then continue along the Alaska Highway to Tok, a very special little hub of the north.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Tok
Meals: None
Day 4 Tok to Valdez
The first part of today’s leg of the journey leads you along the Glenn Highway, passing spectacular Wrangell-St. Elias National Park. From here you take the Richardson Highway southbound to the small seaport of Valdez at the Pacific coast, crossing of the Coast Range via the Thompson Pass, where waterfalls thunder right next to the road. Valdez, known as Little Switzerland to locals, is surrounded by snowy mountains. It is also the end point of the world-famous Trans Alaska Pipeline, where enormous oil tankers come and go.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Valdez
Meals: None
Day 5 Valdez to Seward
Today you’ll cross Prince William Sound via ferry. Without a doubt this is a highlight, even by Alaskan standards. The ferry gives you breathtaking vistas of the Fjords and glaciers along the Pacific, and with a bit of luck you’ll have the chance to spot otters, puffins, sea lions, and even whales.
Once ashore you will continue overland through the scenic Chugach mountain range, the glacier lakes and rivers to the coastal town of Seward. In this lively town, take the chance to treat yourself with Alaskan king crab at one of the numerous restaurants and go for a private lovely walk on the coast.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Seward
Meals: None
Day 6 Seward to Anchorage
Seward is world-famous for the nearby Kenai Fjords National Park, which offers some of the best marine life viewing in the world. We highly recommend taking the optional motorboat tour into the park this morning.
The rest of the day begins with a drive through the Kenai Mountains and later along the Turnagain Arm to Anchorage. Keep an eye out for the beluga whales that hunt in the tidal waters along the way. Back in Alaska’s biggest city the group can enjoy a nice dinner together in the evening. You also can check out Lakes Hood and Spenard, where up to 800 floatplanes take off and land daily. The aviation museum is nearby, a great place to gain an appreciation for this important part of Alaskan life.
Overnight Location: Hotel near Denali National Park
Meals: None
Day 7 Anchorage to Denali National Park
Today you leave the Pacific coast region and move inland again. The George Parks Highway takes you north to Denali National Park, past sweeping panoramic views of distant glaciers, with glimpses of the beaver dams along the nearby river.
Late afternoon, you have the opportunity to take an optional one-hour glacier flight over Denali (Mount McKinley), which at 6193 meters is the highest peak in North America. This is a highly recommended adventure, particularly when the weather is clear.
Overnight Location: Hotel near Denali National Park
Meals: None
Day 8 Denali National Park
In the morning you’ll take a park-owned shuttle bus deep into one of the most scenic landscapes in North America. Without a doubt, this is a highlight of most visitors’ experience. Weather permitting, you’ll get a view of soaring Denali, and with a little luck you will see wolves, Dall sheep, moose, caribou, and grizzly bears along the scenic loop.
Overnight Location: Hotel near Denali National Park
Meals: None
Day 9 Denali National Park to Fairbanks
Back on the George Parks Highway, you will reach Fairbanks early in the afternoon, the city of the midnight sun. Fairbanks is a unique northern town about 320 kilometres south of the Arctic Circle, and the rest of the day is free to explore places of interest in and around it. Fairbanks offers everything you need for a true city experience. You can visit a diversity of museums to learn more about the geology and history of Alaska or use the afternoon to take a relaxed walk next to the Chena River and downtown. In addition, you could take a sternwheeler cruise on the Chena River (optional).
Overnight Location: Hotel in Fairbanks
Meals: None
Day 10 Fairbanks to Dawson City
On the road again! You’ll see the Trans-Alaska Pipeline crossing the Tanana River right next to the highway. In Delta Junction, you’ll re-join the Alaska Highway and stop at the local visitor centre. From here you strike out into the open tundra along the Top of the World Highway, passing through quirky northern towns like Chicken and Action Wade Camp, and crossing the international border again at Little Gold Creek, the highest border checkpoint anywhere on the continent.
In the afternoon you’ll cross the Yukon River by ferry to reach Dawson City.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Fairbanks
Meals: None
Day 11 Dawson City
This legendary boomtown was epicentre of the famous Klondike gold rush of 1898, and gold still animates the place. Immerse yourself in Dawson’s history and try your luck panning the creeks yourself. You’ll also want to take some time to simply stroll around the town, with its garish Gold Rush architecture and friendly locals.
In the evening, the turn-of-the-century style casino and can-can girls kick up their skirts for an evening of entertainment at Diamond Tooth Gertie’s Gambling Hall.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Dawson City
Meals: None
Day 12 Dempster Highway
An early start puts you on the Dempster Highway with plenty of time to explore. This gravel highway, built on solid permafrost, is Canada’s only link by road to the remote town of Inuvik, 738 kilometres away. You’ll take the Dempster up into Tombstone Territorial Park, where jagged black mountains give the area its name and the vast arctic tundra begins.
Back in Dawson City you will drive up the Midnight Dome and enjoy the beautiful vistas.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Dawson City
Meals: None
Day 13 Dawson City to Whitehorse
Today you’ll head back to Whitehorse via the Klondike Highway. Along the way, you can catch many glimpses of the mighty Yukon River, one of the longest waterways in North America and the historic artery of Yukon and Alaska. The group will stop at the infamous Five Finger Rapids, and you can stretch your legs at any of the old post offices, roadhouses, and small villages that still give the area a unique northern character.
In the late afternoon you will arrive in Whitehorse. There, you can visit Miles Canyon, a most dramatic natural feature where the Yukon River has cut its way down through a flow of basaltic lava.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Whitehorse
Meals: None
Day 14 Skagway
From Whitehorse, a day trip takes you down the Klondike Highway to the Alaskan Coast again. This drive will provide you with several wonderful photo opportunities, like the Carcross desert or the colorful Emerald Lake. In just 175 kilometres, you will pass through a wonderful variety of ecoregions and alpine landscapes as you cross over the continental divide to the seaport of Skagway. Like Dawson, Skagway is a legendary gold rush town that has preserved its turn-of-the-century character. For an up-close experience of the infamous White Pass, try taking an optional train ride along the narrow-gauge railway back to Carcross.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Whitehorse
Meals: None
Day 15 Departure
The tour is officially over, giving you the chance to relax or do a little shopping in Whitehorse before returning home. The team will provide a transfer to the airport or to a connecting program when it’s time.
Overnight Location: None
Meals: None
Best of Yukon and Alaska Sightseeing Tour Price and Dates
This guided overland tour of Yukon and Alaska is run as a fixed-departure tour and the price per person depends on what kind of room you stay in.
Prices below are per person.
Accommodation on the Best of Yukon and Alaska Sightseeing Tour
This tour is based in 3 or 4-star hotels. The rooms are superior middle-class.
In some cases, the accommodation listed below may need to be substituted for other comparable accommodations.
Single Rooms and Solo Travelers
Rooms are double occupancy. You can pay a supplement of $1,525 USD to have a private room in a hotel where possible. Solo travellers may be required to pay a supplement.
Hotels on Standard Tour
Hotels in Yukon and Alaska
The exact hotels you’ll stay in will be confirmed upon booking, but expect pleasant 3 or 4-star options.
What’s Included in the Best of Yukon and Alaska Sightseeing Tour?
Meals
No meals are included, but the hotels may offer free breakfast. If you stay in a hotel with no free breakfast, you will be required to cover food costs on your own.
Accommodations
Accommodations for 14 nights are included.
Transportation during the Tour
All personal and luggage transfers required by the itinerary are included. This includes pickup from the airport and departure transfers.
Also Included
- All overland transportation
- Air-conditioned maxi van (capacity 15 seats) or comfortable air-conditioned midsize coach
- Prince William Sound ferry
- Day trip into Denali National Park
- Entrance fees for national parks
- Guided hike in Kluane National Park
- Entrance fee for “Diamond Tooth Gerties” Casino
- Entrance fee for Dawson City Museum
- Airport shuttle
Not included
- Visas if required
- GST (5%)
- Personal gear
- Flights
- Travel insurance
- Airport transfers
- Meals
- Optional tours
- Anything not mentioned as included
Optional Extras
- Additional nights before or after the tour
- Single occupancy upgrades where available
- Optional tours or experiences
Frequently Asked Questions about Best of Yukon and Alaska Sightseeing Tour
Ruby Range Adventure has been guiding visitors to the Yukon and Alaska for over 30 years. They are a Yukon-based wilderness tour operator providing an unmatched experience and a genuine love of the North in every trip they lead.
Ruby Range’s guides are qualified to lead guests into the deepest wilderness and knowledgeable enough to explain the rich history of the communities that dot the landscape.
They recognize that their livelihood is based on the environment, so they work to protect the balance between man and nature by limiting group size and choosing eco-conscious excursions.
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Stephan is a trusted adventurer and a longtime guide with Ruby Range Adventure.
His love of the North and nature is what brought him into guiding over 25 years ago.
You can meet him on one of their canoe expeditions, on a sightseeing adventure or on a hiking trip- he does it all!
- Q: What is the best part of guiding tourists in your region?
- A: Reconnecting guests with nature so they can recharge for their busy life back home. Making them aware of the environmental sensitivity of the North so they can understand the importance of protecting Yukon's wilderness and wildlife for future generations.
- Q: What are guests most surprised about when visiting your region?
- A: The pristine wilderness of the Yukon, its rich living history, its vibrant culture, stunningly unique geography, epic scenery, and wildlife. Also, the fact that the Yukon is almost twice the size of Germany, but moose still outnumber humans by far.
- Q: What is one local dish or drink that visitors absolutely have to try?
- A: Homemade Pemmican, it's Canada's oldest power bar made from dried meat or fish, dried wild berries, and tallow.
- Q: What do guests say about the tours you lead?
- A: Guests value my experience and vast local knowledge about Yukon and indigenous history and about the wildlife. They appreciate my professionalism and kindness and how I ensure every guest has a memorable trip experience.