

Alaska - Self Drive
Highlights
Enjoy 3-hour Sternwheeler Riverboat Cruise into the Alaskan Interior, traveling the Chena and Tanana Rivers
Explore the dynamic features of Root Glacier on a guided trail and ice hike!
Take a Scenic Flight from Chitina to McCarthy-Kennicott
Freedom of Choice Activity
Experience the many faces of Alaska in this 14-day self-drive adventure. Start in Anchorage, an unforgettable paradise famous for glaciers, mountain vistas, wildlife, and modern luxuries. Drive the scenic Glenn Highway towards Talkeetna and make few interesting stops along way such as the Alaska Native Heritage Center and the Eklutna Indian Village. Take a sightseeing flight to Mount Denali, the tallest mountain in North America, before continuing north along the scenic Parks Highway to explore Denali National Park, the world’s last great frontiers for wilderness adventure.
Continue on the George Parks Highway north to Fairbanks. Then, climb aboard the Riverboat Discovery III for an unforgettable 3-hour cruise into the Alaskan Interior, traveling the Chena and Tanana Rivers. Drive towards the tiny town of Chitina for your scenic flight above mountains, glaciers and wilderness before arriving in the magical place of McCarthy-Kennicott. Enjoy a half-day Root Glacier hike exploring other-worldly formations unlike anything else you have ever seen: blue pools, waterfalls, canyons, crevasses and moulins. Fly back to Chitina then head over to Sheep Mountain and check out scenic Matanuska Glacier! Drive back towards Seward and visit the magnificent Northwestern Fjord, home to three amazing tidewater glaciers and numerous alpine glaciers. As you reach Anchorage, spend time enjoying wildlife and the stunning landscapes before your tour ends.
Included

Our Freedom of Choice program offers flexibility, by allowing you to choose from different options on pre-selected days.
Our per person price includes one tour on each Freedom of Choice day, as follows:
- One "Freedom of Choice" tour on day 2
Expand the itinerary below for more details.
Please note, if more than one room is selected during the booking process, our team will contact you afterwards to discuss options.
Itinerary
Upon arrival in Anchorage transfer to your hotel, the rest of the day is at leisure to enjoy the sights.
Overnight stay in Anchorage at Hilton Anchorage Hotel in a standard room.

Today enjoy one pre-selected tour from our Freedom of Choice options below.
Overnight stay in Anchorage at Hilton Anchorage Hotel in a standard room.
Freedom of Choice Options
- Anchorage Brew Tour:
Get the inside scoop on Anchorage’s beer culture and brewery history on this half-day tour. An in-the-know guide whisks you around the city to sample six tasty offerings at three venues, including three classic breweries that you are sure to enjoy. Pair the hoppy happiness with light snacks, chat it up with locals and take with you a renewed perspective on Anchorage’s stand-out beer scene.
OR
- Eco Nature Tour:
Anchorage is home to ecological treasures that mirror Alaska’s wild beauty, but they are often left off of city tour itineraries. This tour visits natural attractions all within city limits: take a walk through a boreal forest, peer into the statewide ecosystem at a fish hatchery, and observe wildlife at a coastal wildlife refuge.

This morning drive the Glenn Highway northbound, connecting to the Parks Highway in Wasilla. A few interesting stops along way are the Alaska Native Heritage Centre and the Eklutna Indian Village. Talkeetna serves as a base camp for Denali climbers; the community of under 1000 residents is located at the confluence of the Talkeetna and Susitna Rivers.
Overnight stay in Talkeetna at Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge in a guest lodge room.

In the morning you have time to take a sightseeing flight to Mount Denali, the tallest mountain in North America, before continuing north along the scenic Parks Highway. Your route will travel along the boundary of Denali State Park and Hurricane Gulch with massive peaks of the Alaska Range in view nearly the entire route. At 6 million acres, Denali National Park is one of the world’s last great frontiers for wilderness adventure.
Overnight stay at Grande Denali Lodge in a standard room.

This full-day narrated coach trip explores the entire 148 km/92 mi of Denali Park Road on your way to Denali Backcountry Lodge. With multiple stops for wildlife viewing and photography, your experienced driver-guide will help search for grizzly bears, moose, wolves, caribou and Dall sheep while sharing the biology and geology of the area. For the return trip, board a small Alaskan bush plane for a flightseeing tour back to the park entrance where if weather permits, you will fly close to Mount Denali (Lunch &
snacks included today between Jun 4 - Sep 12).
Overnight stay at Grande Denali Lodge in a standard room.
Please note during May to Jun 4 this tour does not include the scenic return flight and will be replaced with a shorter 6-7 hour Tundra Wilderness Coach Tour while the road further into the park thaws and dries out.

Continue on the George Parks Highway north to Fairbanks. In the afternoon, climb aboard the Riverboat Discovery III for an unforgettable 3-hour cruise into the Alaskan Interior, traveling the Chena and Tanana Rivers on the only authentic sternwheeler riverboat operating in Alaska. You will see a floatplane take off, meet sled dogs, witness the “wedding of the rivers,” and gain insight into the ancient Athabascan Indian culture. Athabascan guides who have worked and lived in Alaska will take you on a personalized tour of the Chena Indian Village.
Overnight stay in Fairbanks at Rivers Edge Resort in a river cottage.

In Fairbanks you have the unique chance for an optional day tour to cross the Arctic Circle and to visit the vast interior. Another option is to drive along Chena Hot Springs road (watch out for a moose!), go on a hiking trip and visit Chena Hot Springs Resort. Here you can relax in the large heated indoor pool or the natural outdoor rock lake.
Overnight stay in Fairbanks at Rivers Edge Resort in a river cottage.

Settle in for a day of driving through some of Alaska’s most diverse and dynamic landscapes. You’ll drive the Richardson Highway along the Tanana River through Delta Junction, home to the Delta Bison Sanctuary. Once you’ve reached Copper Centre you’ll turn east to the small town of Chinitna. Flying from Chitina is the best way to get to McCarthy-Kennicott and the flightseeing that is included in the trip makes it a great value. On the way to McCarthy fly alongside 16,000’ Mt. Blackburn, over the Kennicott and Root
Glaciers, past the Erie Mine and view the awe-inspiring Stairway Icefall. A flyby of Kennicott and McCarthy before landing will orient you to the area you are about to explore. Along the way your pilot will describe landforms, point out wildlife and fill you in on a bit of the human history of the area. (Please note: Flying has the added benefit of saving 4-5 hours of driving on the single lane, gravel surfaced McCarthy road).
Overnight stay in McCarthy at Kennicott Glacier Lodge in a south wing room.

Spend the morning exploring the dynamic features of nearby Root Glacier on a guided trail and ice hike. The afternoon is yours to visit the Kennecott Mines National Historic Landmark and the funky-rustic nearby enclave of McCarthy.
Overnight stay in McCarthy at Kennicott Glacier Lodge in a south wing room.

Today fly back to Chitina to retrieve your rental vehicle and then drive the Richardson Highway north to the Glenn Highway. Take the Glenn Highway towards Anchorage to Sheep Mountain. Check out scenic Matanuska Glacier before you relax for the evening.
Overnight stay at Sheep Mountain Lodge in a classic cabin.

Drive the Glenn Highway south to Anchorage. Highlights on today’s trip include the Independence Mine in beautiful Hatcher Pass and the many communities in the Mat-Su Valley. Continue on through Anchorage along the Seward Highway towards scenic Turnagain Arm, a body of water featuring the world’s second highest tides at over 30 feet. Keep an eye out for Beluga whales chasing salmon in the bay or Dall sheep along the highway. In Seward we suggest a visit to Exit Glacier and the Sea Life Centre.
Overnight stay in Seward at Seward Windsong Lodge in a standard room.

Today we have arranged for you to take an all-day Kenai Fjords National Park Cruise. Travel farther into Kenai Fjords National Park than with any other cruise and visit the magnificent Northwestern Fjord, home to three amazing tidewater glaciers and numerous alpine glaciers.
Overnight stay in Seward at Seward Windsong Lodge in a standard room.

Travel further the Sterling Highway, a designated scenic highway covering miles of spectacular landscape. Along the way view snowcapped mountains, active volcanoes including Mt. Iliamna, Mt. Redoubt and Mt. Augustine, deep ocean bluffs, excellent salmon fishing opportunities along the Kenai River, and a magnificent coastline.
Overnight stay in Homer at Land’s End Resort in a midship bay room.

Homer “Halibut Capital of the World” provides you with truly incredible panoramic views of mountain ranges, white peaks, glaciers and the famous Homer Spit. Use the day to explore the area - kayak to a remote cove, take a scenic cruise and spot wildlife including whales, seals, sea otters and many shorebirds.
Overnight stay in Homer at Land’s End Resort in a midship bay room.

This morning, drive north on the scenic Sterling and Seward Highways back towards Girdwood. Along the way we have included admission to the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Centre which provides care and rehabilitation for injured and orphaned wildlife. If time permits, take the aerial tram up Alyeska Mountain for views of Turnagain Arm, up to seven “hanging” glaciers and the endless peaks of the Chugach Mountain Range before
continuing the short drive from Girdwood to Anchorage.

Additional information
Hotel options
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Anchorage
We’re in the heart of downtown, within three blocks of the Egan and Dena'ina convention centers, 5th Avenue Mall, and the Alaska Center for the Performing Arts. Our lobby features an extensive collection of Alaskan art. Visit our fitness center and relax in our indoor pool and steam room. We have a business center open 24 hours. Enjoy American favorites and local specialties, such as wild Alaskan salmon caponata and seared Alaskan halibut in our restaurant. Our open-air, non-smoking lounge offers drinks and televised sports games.

Talkeetna
Set on a ridge just above the town of Talkeetna, the Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge offers majestic views of the tallest peak in North America. It’s the best of Alaska, outside and in. Outside, we’re at the doorstep for high-energy outdoor adventures in Denali and beyond. Inside, there’s a crackling fire in a giant river rock fireplace, and a carefully-curated selection of Native art in the boutique. Award-winning cuisine, the best wine selection in the area, friendly service—and a great night’s sleep! All rooms feature a full private bath, hair dryer, coffee maker, refrigerator, satellite television, telephone, and wireless internet.
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Denali National Park
The Grande Denali Lodge on Sugarloaf Mountain is designed with your comfort and convenience in mind. The interior design highlights the Alaska Native Heritage of its owners while it offers panoramic views of the surrounding Denali wilderness and the Nenana River canyon. You'll find the lodge is a very special place where you can truly relax, meet friends, share a meal, or simply take in the beauty all around you. Grande Denali Lodge offers spacious guest rooms with canyon or hillside views and a selection of Alaskan-style cabins with a range of creature comforts. Our Alpenglow Restaurant features New American cuisine with a focus on fresh Alaskan seafood and tender, all-natural meats combined with seasonal fruits and vegetables.

Fairbanks
Our unique resort property offers a full range of accommodations, dining, and RV Park sites and campgrounds. Enjoy the beauty of authentic Alaska in your own private cottage setting situated along the banks of the Chena River. Relax in a river front cottage, where the sounds of the Chena River flowing joins with the rustling of birch leaves.

McCarthy
Kennicott Glacier Lodge is a family owned lodge featuring gracious hospitality, breathtaking Alaska scenery, and access to lots of outdoor activities. We are the only lodge in the historic town of Kennicott, Alaska and most of the activities in the area begin right across the street from us. Try glacier hiking or ice climbing on the Root Glacier, one of the few easily accessible glaciers in North America. Learn about the unique history of the National Historic Landmark of the Kennicott Copper Mine. Or spend your time flight seeing, alpine hiking, or river rafting. Kennicott is located 314 miles east of Anchorage. Approximate drive time is 7 hours from Anchorage, 5 hours from Valdez, and 9 hours from Fairbanks.

Sheep Mountain
For over 75 years, Sheep Mountain Lodge has hosted travellers from across Alaska and around the world. The Lodge is located along the scenic Glenn Highway halfway between the towns of Palmer and Glennallen. Our guests enjoy spectacular mountain views, local outdoor recreational activities, cabins with private bath and showers, delicious home cooked meals, and old fashioned Alaskan hospitality that has made Sheep Mountain Lodge famous. Extensive decks, greenhouses and flower gardens compliment the scenery. You can watch Dall Sheep through our telescope, read on the deck of your cabin or relax in the hot tub after a day of traveling or hiking.

Seward
Set alongside the Resurrection River, on the edge of Chugach National Forest near the Exit Glacier. Windsong Lodge is a tranquil retreat designed to showcase Alaska’s wild beauty. While the bustling port of Seward and vast protected expanses of Kenaj Fjords National Park are mere minutes away, Windsong’s peaceful setting and unique dining experiences offer a quiet and cosy escape after an exhilarating day of exploration. Our contemporary Alaskan-inspired guest rooms and suites feature a private ensuite, hair dryer, coffee maker, refrigerator, flat-screen television, telephone, and complimentary Wi-Fi.

Homer
For half a century, Land’s End in Homer, Alaska, has been among Alaska’s most cherished waterfront hotels. Perched on the beach at the tip of the famous Homer Spit, Land’s End immerses you in the natural paradise of Kachemak Bay. View whales and sea otters right outside your window or shorebirds as they migrate the shoreline. Wake up to the sounds of the surf and the eagle’s antics. View sunrises and stunning vistas of the Kenai Mountains from your private deck. This Alaska resort hotel features a variety of lodging styles, including fully furnished beachfront homes, view-lofts and two-room suites.
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Booking Summary
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Start your holiday when and with who you want! Our Independent Holiday Packages are NOT group tours with set departure dates. Available daily, they are pre-designed, purpose built, packaged itineraries full of memorable experiences delivered by our hand-picked local partners.

Our Freedom of Choice program offers complete flexibility allowing you to choose from a menu of different sightseeing options. The experiences offered are included in the package price, so all that’s left for you to do is choose and personalise your package!

Our Exclusive Packages have been carefully created with our preferred overseas travel partners with package inclusions on offer exclusively to Entire Travel Customers.
Excluded
- International airfares and taxes
- Domestic airfares and taxes, unless otherwise specified in our holiday package
- Visa expenses, processing and issuance fees
- Meals other than as specified in our holiday package
- Travel Insurance or expenses of a personal nature (mini-bar, phone call, laundry, etc.),
- Tips or gratuities to guides, drivers, porters, hotel, restaurant or boat staff, etc.
- Or any other travel expense that has not been included in our holiday package
Blackout dates may apply during festive season.
FAQs
Entire Travel Group is celebrating 50 years of passionately delivering unique and memorable travel experiences. We are an Australian, family owned, award winning business, with a friendly team ready to match your expectations to the perfect holiday package.
Entire Travel Group used to be known by the individual brands shown in the footer of the website. The company has not changed, but we have amalgamated under one brand - Entire Travel Group.
For more details please visit - About Us | Entire Travel Group
Well, put simply - we’re famous for building things. We offer an exclusive range of pre-designed, purpose-built, independent holiday packages full of unique and memorable experiences. The packages are delivered by our global network of handpicked suppliers, who also provide on ground travel support to our clients.
Entire Travel Group is proudly Australian family owned and operated and as it stands today represents 50 years of experience, progress, and evolution. We proudly support the community with our long-term commitment to many important charity organisations. We were awarded the best operator in our class at the most recent National Travel Industry Awards.
Entire Travel Group is ATAS Accredited. ATAS, which stands for AFTA Travel Accreditation Scheme is administered by the Australian Federation of Travel Agents (AFTA). AFTA is the industry body for the Australian retail travel industry. We are also a registered member of the Council of Australian Tour Operators (CATO).
Entire Travel Group was awarded “Best Specialty Wholesaler” at the 2019 National Travel Industry Awards (NTIA), which are held annually by the Australian Federation of Travel Agents (AFTA).
The awards recognise quality and excellence in the Australian travel industry. We were extremely honoured to receive this recognition and we will continue to deliver the best service and value to our customers.
In some cases, we are the sole representative in Australia for the overseas travel operator. In other circumstances the product developed has been exclusively built for Entire Travel Group and can’t be found elsewhere.
- They are not group tours with set departures - they are pre-designed, purpose built, independent holiday packages full of unique and memorable experiences.
- Our holiday packages have been exclusively built for us in collaboration with our handpicked suppliers, who also offer full on-ground support for the clients.
- We are offering unique travel experiences which cannot be found elsewhere.
- Many packages include our “Freedom of Choice” options which allow you to tailor the holiday experience. Like a sommelier matching wine to a meal, we have used our experience to carefully select and offer the right experiences in each location.
- They include our Peace of Mind Booking Plan.
- A wide selection of our packages are compliant with the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) Covid Safe Travels.
Our motto for Independent Holiday Packages is start your holiday when and with who you want!
Our Independent Holiday Packages are NOT group tours with set departure dates. Group Tours have specific set departure dates, and of course, you are travelling with unknown passengers in a coach. These tours are great for certain travellers and there are many reputable tour operators providing a wide range of options around the world.
At Entire Travel Group, our focus is Independent Holiday Packages. Available daily, they are pre-designed, purpose built, packaged itineraries full of memorable experiences delivered by our hand-picked local partners.
Our holidays suit every demographic, from couples to singles, to retirees to families and everyone else in between.
Of all the attributes Entire Travel Group offer - we have settled on “Experience” as the one quality we believe adds the most value to our customers. That’s how our tagline “When Experience Matters” came to life and encapsulates our business in three words, as experience does matter!
We have been operating for many years and have the experience to determine what sightseeing, duration and accommodation style makes a great itinerary. Our technology is continually enhanced, giving our team the ability to provide a great customer service experience. Our relationship with our operators is extremely strong, which ensures we are confident of the travel experience and on ground support for our clients.
For more details please visit - About Us | Entire Travel Group
Our Peace of Mind Booking Plan allows you to book with confidence in the new international travel environment. With low deposits, a cooling off period and a flexibility period where you can cancel and rebook later, we really do have you covered.
For more details please visit - Peace of Mind Booking Plan | Entire Travel Group
Look for packages with our Peace of Mind Booking Plan logo on the website.
- We understand that occasionally plans may change, so we give you the confidence to proceed with a cooling off period.
- You may cancel for any reason within 7 days, where you will receive a 100% refund of your $100 per person deposit.
For more details please visit - Peace of Mind Booking Plan | Entire Travel Group
At Entire Travel Group we understand that our customers have their own personal tastes and interests - so throughout our packages look for “Freedom of Choice” which gives you the ability to tailor your holiday from the various experiences offered on selected days. Like a sommelier matching wine to a meal, we have used our experience to carefully select and offer the right experiences in each location.
The Freedom of Choice options are included in the package price, and the price remains the same regardless of the choice you make on each day.
For more details please visit - Freedom of Choice | Entire Travel Group
Our Freedom of Choice program offers flexibility, by allowing you to choose from different options on pre-selected days in the itinerary.
- Our per person price includes one tour on each Freedom of Choice day in the itinerary.
- The price of the package remains the same regardless of the choice you make on each day.
This specially designed program allows travellers to recognise governments and companies around the world who have adopted health and hygiene global standardised protocols, so consumers can experience “Safe Travels”.
For more details please visit - Safe Travels Stamp | Entire Travel Group
Book Now offers you the ability to make a reservation on our website for Holiday Packages that include our Peace of Mind Booking Plan. But it’s not just a static offer – you have complete flexibility from travel dates, passenger numbers, single supplements, room upgrades, optional extras, flexible booking terms and more.
- Our team will contact our overseas suppliers and confirm all arrangements.
- A Confirmation from our reservation system will be sent in the coming days.
- The Booking Number on this confirmation supersedes the website reference.
- To confirm a booking using our on-line Book Now process, a credit card must be used to pay the refundable deposit.
- For additional payments on the booking, Entire Travel Group supports bank transfer, credit card, TravelPay B2B, PaymentGate.
- For further details please visit our Payments page.
- Entire Travel Group have partnered with TravelPay to ensure secure on-line credit card payments.
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For more details please visit - Security and Compliance - TravelPay
On some Islands Holiday Packages (e.g. Fiji), it is practical to include flights, so where we have done this it is indicated by the plane icon.
However, on the majority of our Holiday Packages, we do not include international flights.
We found that many customers may prefer to:
- Travel on a specific airline of their choice
- Have the flexibility to book flights with Frequent Flyer points
- Select flight dates that may be different to our Holiday Package start/end dates
- Use a Travel Credit already held with the airline
- Use their travel agent for this service
We are able to assist with flights on any Holiday Package, so please just notify us during the Book Now process or contact our team.
If a package on our website does not include our Peace of Mind Booking Plan, it will not be available to Book Now.
Due to the boutique nature and limited capacity of some travel experiences offered, they have strict payment and cancellation policies. (e.g., a remote bear lodge in Canada with only a few cabins).
Although technically possible, we have decided that it is impractical for us to try and sell these type of travel services on-line. We believe it is important that such product is discussed, so that we can ensure these strict payment and cancellation policies are understood before we proceed with a booking.
For such product we may act as an agent only for the principal suppliers. Where we act as agent, your contract for the delivery of travel arrangements will be with the principal supplier and will be subject to their Booking Conditions.
We will advise you prior to confirming your booking if we are acting as agent and we will confirm the details of the principal supplier. Our responsibility to you where we sell travel arrangements as agent for the supplier is specified in the ‘Responsibility’ section of our Booking Conditions.
Travel insurance is strongly recommended. During the Book Now process please confirm you require assistance, and our team will be in contact with you.
Before you travel it is your responsibility to ensure you have the appropriate documentation including visas. If you are travelling on a passport other than Australian or New Zealand, you will require a permit to re-enter Australia. It is your responsibility as the traveller and/or travel booker to meet all government entry requirements.
For more information please visit - Before you travel | Entire Travel Group
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How do I start a Booking?
- On any page that has Book Now simply follow the booking process.
- You must select the Travel Agent tick box and provide correct details.
- To confirm a booking only the refundable deposit is required.
- An agency credit card must be used for this initial payment.
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