14 DAYS/13 NIGHTS
Begins and ends in Whitehorse.
DEPARTURES
May, June, July and August
YOUR FLY DRIVE INCLUDES:
• Round trip scheduled flights
• Fully inclusive Intermediate 4 door car hire
• Accommodations as stated
• Ferry crossing from Haines to Skagway
• Route maps and detailed itinerary
DAY 1 ARRIVE WHITEHORSE
Depart the UK on your chosen flight to Whitehorse. Upon arrival, collect your rental car and proceed to your hotel. Whitehorse is the Yukon’s capital, and home to almost 75% of its population.
Hotel: Best Western Gold Rush Inn
DAY 2 MAYO
Driving distance: 81Mi/130Km
Following breakfast, begin the scenic drive through central Yukon, which is wonderfully picturesque and offers many opportunities to stop and take pictures. Glimpses of the Stewart River and spectacular views of glaciated terrain can be spotted when approaching Mayo. The roads surrounding Mayo are of historical significance, and are known as the Silver Trail, referring to the transportation system that carried the silver discovered here to Stewart River. Whilst in Mayo, perhaps visit Binet House, displaying early medical instruments, wildlife and local geological exhibits.
Hotel: North Star Motel
DAYS 3 & 4 DAWSON CITY
Driving distance: 143Mi/230Km
Today make an early start as your journey takes you along the famous Dempster Highway to Tombstone Territorial Park, where you can spend hours hiking the trails for majestic views of the Ogilvie Mountains. The legendary Klondike Gold Rush of 1898 brought thousands of hopeful gold seekers to Dawson City. Now a National Historic Site, the city has maintained its original charm and is reminiscent of a bygone era. Take a step back in time and you’re your luck at gold panning at Claim 33 and see the progression to machine gold searching at fascinating Dredge No. 4. We suggest taking an interpretive tour of this small quaint town and enjoying a night of entertainment at Diamond Tooth Gerties gambling hall: it’s a real gem!
Hotel: Aurora Inn
DAY 5 BEAVER CREEK
Driving distance: 272Mi/438Km
Leaving Dawson City, take the ferry across the wonderfully scenic Yukon River to begin your drive into the mountains. Known as the Top of the World Highway, the road certainly lives up to its name and provides spectacular views in all directions. Beaver Creek, close to the Alaska Border, has a tiny population of only 150 people but is still extremely welcoming. This evening, we suggest you enjoy dinner and entertainment at the Rendezvous Dinner Show.
Hotel: Westmark Inn
DAYS 6 & 7 HAINES JUNCTION
Driving distance: 180Mi/290Km
Today make the short journey to Haines Junction, passing Kluane Lake, the longest lake of the Yukon and well worth a stop. Haines Junction, a picturesque mountain village boasting quaint restaurants and delicious bakeries, is the gateway to Kluane National Park. A wilderness adventure playground, Kluane National Park provides the ideal base for hiking, river rafting, canoeing, glacier flight-seeing, horseback riding and much more. Keep your eyes open for the moose and bear which roam this picturesque region.
Hotel: The Raven
DAY 9 HAINES
Driving distance: 145Mi/233Km
Today you cross the border from Canada to USA, taking the Haines Highway, which hugs Kluane National Park. Famous for its population of Bald Eagles, we suggest a visit to the Bald Eagles Foundation to meet some of these wonderful creatures first hand. The waters around Haines are rich with salmon, providing great fishing opportunities and a popular habitat for bears.
Hotel: Hotel Halsingland
DAYS 9 & 10 SKAGWAY
Driving distance: 24Mi/39Km
Leaving Haines, you journey through the Lynn Canal to Skagway by ferry. Dating back to 1897, Skagway was a lively gold mining town with a booming population of 20,000. Today it has decreased to just 800, but has maintained many of its original charms from the gold rush days, including The Red Onion Saloon which is a great way to end your busy day.
Hotel: Mile Zero
DAYS 11 & 12 CARCROSS & EMERAL LAKE
Driving distance: 116Mi/187Km
Your journey today takes you on the Klondike Highway, offering yet more wonderful scenery. We suggest a stop at Carcross, boasting the smallest desert in the world and the home of the historic White Pass and Yukon Route railway, and another stop at Emerald Lake, where turquoise waters shimmer to life. Your accommodation for the next two nights is the aptly named Inn on the Lake, (just 35 minutes from Whitehorse) where you can enjoy the ultimate wilderness nature experience. Enjoy gold panning, quad biking, hiking, canoeing, mountain biking, and fishing. Moose can often be spotted along the shoreline of Teslin River, and during the evening the skies are known for magnificent views of the Northern Lights.
Hotel: Inn on the Lake
DAYS 13 WHITEHORSE
Driving distance: 35Mi/56Km
After breakfast, it’s a short final drive back long the Alaska Highway to Whitehorse. If time allows, make a stop at Muktuk Dog Kennels, home of over 60 sled dogs. Sitting on the banks of the mighty Yukon River, historically it was a stopover for gold seekers heading down the river. Today, this is a lively city, offering lots of outdoor activities, as well as home to the Beringia Interpretive Centre and Old Log Church Museum.
Hotel: Best Western Gold Rush Inn
DAY 14 JOURNEY HOME
Make your journey back to Whitehorse Airport, return your rental car and check-in for flight to the UK.
PRICES
From £3047 per person based on twin occupancy of Standard rooms in low season. Other prices available on request.
Please note that due to the remote locations visited, some accommodation is below the standard that we would normally recommend. Additional car hire restrictions apply within the Yukon and Alaska, call for full details.
