Inspiration for your own tailor-made trip
Canada – USA – the Yukon – Alaska
100% customisable for you
Your epic journey to the land of the Gold Rush begins today with a connecting flight from the UK. Reading material at the ready as you settle in for the first leg, which takes between six and nine hours depending on which Canadian city you transit through. After a brief stopover, board your second flight to Whitehorse, which takes around two-and-a-half hours.
When you arrive, collect your rental car and check into your cosy hotel for two nights. Whitehorse is named after the Yukon River rapids, which early adventurers likened to the flowing manes of white horses. It’s also conveniently set at the crossroads of the Alaska and Klondike highways, making it a great launchpad for a regional road trip.
Depending on your arrival time, grab some dinner before heading to bed or spend a few hours exploring the town, where you’ll find markets, museums and stores for stocking up on supplies (candy, anyone?).
Today, it’s time to get your first proper taste of the Yukon’s pristine wilderness and abundant wildlife. The Yukon River is the third-longest in North America, winding through rugged landscapes and remote boreal forests, so what better way to get your bearings than with a canoe trip? Led by an experienced local guide, paddle along a 12-mile stretch of shimmering waters, peering down to glimpse shoals of fish and up to spot majestic birds.
Fancy an adventure on land? After hopping out of the canoe, walk along the peaceful banks of the river, rubbing shoulders with nature and (if you’re lucky) some curious critters, too.
Wave goodbye to Whitehorse this morning to head north to Mayo on the Dawson River. Gold was discovered here in the 1880s and – perhaps unsurprisingly – wealth came soon after, turning the lives of the indigenous Na-Cho Nyak Dun peoples upside down. When you arrive, settle into your new hotel before heading out to explore.
For an immersion into the area’s rich history, take the Silver Trail to Keno, a small mining town full of abandoned houses. It might sound a little spooky, but this actually makes the whole place incredibly photogenic – be sure to snap a few shots of the old petrol station, with its overgrown vegetation and rustic splendour.
Besides the photo-ops, there’s also plenty of history to be absorbed in Keno, especially at the town’s bar, restaurant and flea market. You can also visit the Keno City Mining Museum to learn more about the Silver Trail, a route which tells the story of the region's mining past and the First Nations community.
Today, buckle up for the three-hour drive to Dawson City, the first capital of the Yukon. En route, take the Dempster Highway, crossing the tundra-covered Tombstone mountain range, home to a variety of wildlife (eyes peeled).
Arriving in Dawson City, settle into your characterful central hotel for two nights. Once you’ve done a bit of unpacking, head out to get your bearings before ending the day with a hearty meal at a local inn.
Dawson City was the centre of the Klondike Gold Rush in 1896, and prospectors, adventurers, trappers and elites rubbed shoulders in its streets. If you’re a fan of silent cinema, you may recognise the town from its starring role in Charlie Chaplin’s 1925 film, aptly titled The Gold Rush. Of course, Dawson has changed a lot since those days – but it still retains the same rustic charm.
Take time today to explore downtown Dawson City on foot, being sure to dip into the Commissioner's Residence and the Palace Grand Theatre, where the city's elite used to meet. For a spot of history and culture, head to the Jack London Museum or Danoja Zho Cultural Center – or, for another hiking adventure, set your sights on Tombstone National Park. Crisscrossed by beautiful hiking trails, this area is easily explored with or without a guide. As you walk along, you might even encounter some local wildlife – cameras at the ready…
Leaving Dawson City – and Canada – behind this morning, take Yukon Highway 9 (more charmingly known as Top of the World Highway) to the remote village of Tok in Alaska’s Tanana Valley. An old Athapaskan settlement, Tok owes its development to the establishment of the Alaska Highway in the 1940s and 50s. It’s also set at the intersection of the roads to Fairbanks, the Canadian border and Anchorage, so it’s a popular pit stop for adventurous road trippers.
This evening, settle down for a night in a log cabin – a quintessential Alaskan experience. Surrounded by miles of untouched nature, lean back, slip on an eye mask and rest up, ready for the adventures of tomorrow.
After fuelling up on a hearty breakfast in Tok, set out on the 300-mile drive to Canada’s Haines Junction, which should take around six hours. Along the way, pass through alluvial plains and glacial valleys – there's no shortage of spectacular landscapes to keep you company for this portion of the road trip.
After a day of driving, arrive in the small mountain village of Haines Junction, where you’ll be hunkering down for the next two nights. Conveniently, you’ll also be staying right on the edge of Kluane National Park, where tomorrow’s adventure begins...
Today is all about the great outdoors – and ‘great’ might be an understatement in Kluane National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site criss-crossed by superb hiking trails full of grandiose panoramas. It’s a nature-lover's dream, and probably the kind of once-in-a-lifetime landscape you pictured when you imagined this trip.
This afternoon, we can arrange for you to get to know your spectacular surroundings with a half-day trek accompanied by a local guide. Along the way, see just a small snapshot of icefields, glaciers, forests and lakes, while keeping your eyes peeled for wildlife like caribou, moose, wolves and grizzly bears. Not quite enough adventure for you? Swap hikes for helicopters as you soak up the park’s dramatic landscapes from above on an exciting aerial tour.
Today, swap Haines Junction for... Haines. It’s a little confusing, isn’t it? Despite sharing a name, one is in Canada, while the other is in the US, so head back over the border this morning for another sojourn in Alaska.
Travelling with a history buff? Don't miss the Chilkoot Barracks, home to large fort structures and sprawling grounds. Less than a mile from Haines, this US military establishment (built between 1902 and 1904) witnessed border negotiations between the two countries. For a trip even further back in time, visit the ancient village of Tinglit, home to a photogenic array of totem poles.
Afterwards, work up an appetite for dinner with a walk along the river. If you’re lucky, you might even spot bears fishing for salmon.
The best way to admire the beauty of the magnificent Lynn Canal? From the water. Today, take a 45-minute ferry crossing from Haines to Skagway, gliding through the glacial waters of the fjord and admiring its forested banks and tumbling waterfalls (another opportunity to fill your camera roll with photos).
Arriving in Skagway, check into your historic hotel for two nights. Unpack, settle in and enjoy a relaxed evening ahead of more exploring tomorrow.
The small port town of Skagway was central to the Klondike Gold Rush. By 1898, it was the largest city in Alaska, a status which lasted as long as the rush itself. Now, Skagway is the gateway to (deep breath) the Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park, where you can hike in the footsteps of the prospectors of the past.
Spend today sightseeing, starting in Dyea, an ancient port city that was abandoned after the White Pass and Yukon Railway Route was constructed and is now part of the Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park. From here, the famous Chilkoot Trail runs for 33 miles to British Columbia – but don’t worry, you won’t be going that far. As you wander through the city, stop at fascinating ruins and ancient trading posts – a fascinating insight into the region’s past.
Hop back in the car this morning for the (just under) two-hour drive to Tagish along the Klondike Highway. Before you’re even halfway there, you’ll have crossed the border back into Canada, ready for the penultimate leg of your epic adventure in the land of the Gold Rush.
In Tagish, check in for two nights in an old ranch and truck stop. This is your final two-night stay of the trip, so unpack a little and settle in. This evening, venture into town for a delicious dinner (bonus points if you end up at a table overlooking Tagish Lake).
Prepare to dive (or should we say mine?) deep. Today is all about the past, and Tagish offers so many ways to approach it. Learn about the region's history at the Caribou Crossing Trading Post, and visit the Skookum Jim House, which sits on the edge of the historic Chilkoot Trail.
Later, take a tour of the Carcross/Tagish Learning Centre, a meeting place of two cultures housed in a building full of totem poles, colourful walls and impressive views of the surrounding landscape. By the end of the day, you’ll be experts on the history and heritage of this quaint community – not to mention formidable additions to any general knowledge quiz.
Today marks the final drive of the trip with a speedy one-hour journey to Whitehorse. If your playlist is getting a little old, why not check out our very own North America soundtrack?
When you arrive, it’s time to do everything you missed during your first stop in the capital of the Yukon. Start with a visit to the SS Klondike II, which operated as a freighter until the 1950s and is now open to the public. Next, head to the Copperbelt Railway and Mining Museum for a foray into the history of copper mining, or to the Yukon Transportation Museum for an insight into the logistics of the operation.
Fancy one last adventure on foot? Hike (or bike) to Miles Canyon, a spectacular geological site along the Yukon River. For something a little milder, walk by the Whitehorse Dam and Schwatka Lake, where bears, otters, beavers and bald eagles are often spotted.
Tonight, tuck into one last dinner of delicious local delicacies (moose stew, anyone?) before retiring to your hotel for the night to toast to a trip well spent.
All good adventures must come to an end, so today, head back to the airport and begin your journey back to the UK. After returning your hire car, hop aboard your first flight from Whitehorse to a transit city in Canada.
Your second flight from Canada to the UK will touchdown sometime tomorrow, so you’ll have plenty of time during the journey to reminisce about your trip (and begin planning your next one).
Everything in this itinerary is entirely customisable, down to the smallest details. Here are some more suggestions of what could be included
Each of our trips is entirely tailor-made with originality, quality and cultural immersion in mind. Our team of destination specialists will craft itineraries based on your tastes, using their first-hand knowledge and the help of our in-country team of Concierges and guides. All trips are accompanied by a wide range of additional services, including a 24-hour helpline, the Original Travel app, fast-track airport services and much more.
ENQUIRE NOW
Each of our trips is entirely tailor-made with originality, quality and cultural immersion in mind. Our team of destination specialists will craft itineraries based on your tastes, using their first-hand knowledge and the help of our in-country team of Concierges and guides. All trips are accompanied by a wide range of additional services, including a 24-hour helpline, the Original Travel app, fast-track airport services and much more.
ENQUIRE NOW
Our team of destination experts will get to know you and your unique requirements for your holiday
We work with you to build an ultra-personalised holiday itinerary with your choice of accommodation, experiences and activities
All of our holidays include little extras designed to make a big difference to your trip, from fast-tracking you through airport check-in and security to our network of local Concierges
