Inspiration for your own tailor-made trip
Canada - Yukon - United States - 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 break, board your second flight to Whitehorse (around two-and-a-half hours).
On arrival, collect your hire car and check in to a cosy hotel in downtown Whitehorse. The town is named after the Yukon River rapids, which early adventurers likened to the flowing manes of white horses. It’s also at the crossroads of the Alaska and Klondike highways, so it’s 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 seeing the town, where you’ll find markets, museums, and stores for stocking up on supplies.
Today you 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 half-day canoe trip. Led by an experienced local guide, immerse yourself in the spectacular scenery as you paddle a picturesque route along just a short stretch of this vast river.
This afternoon, visit the ancient landscape of Miles Canyon, which was formed almost nine million years ago. By boat or on foot, marvel at the ribbon of turquoise that unfurls between craggy cliffs just a few minutes from downtown Whitehorse.
Other options for your first day include a soothing soak in the Takhini Hot Springs, a trip to the Yukon Wildlife Preserve to spot caribou, bison, lynx and mountain goats, or fishing on the aptly-named Fish Lake.
Wave goodbye to Whitehorse this morning to head north on the historic Gold Rush road. This winding route crosses through stunning subarctic landscapes that are the star of the show in the Yukon. Driving for around five-and-a-half hours, your destination is the small mining town of Keno. Here, long-abandoned Gold Rush-era houses sit alongside a smattering of stores, and your hotel for night. Your accommodation will be cosy and comfortable, if a little rustic, as shared bathrooms are common here.
Keno is on Highway 11, also known as the Silver Trail (a nod to the area’s silver mining heritage). See remnants of this history as you take a scenic drive along this off-the-beaten-track route. The Silver Trail also passes through prime moose habitat, so keep your eyes peeled for these local giants. There are hiking and biking trails too, if you’d like to explore at your own (car-free) pace.
Today, head north-west to Dawson City along the aforementioned Silver Trail, travelling for around three-and-a-half hours. Along the way, take the Dempster Highway, crossing the tundra-covered Tombstone mountain range which is home to a variety of wildlife.
Arriving in Dawson City, settle in to your characterful downtown hotel, which retains some of the faded grandeur of the Gold Rush era. This is your base for the next two nights, so unpack, then head out to get your bearings, before ending the day with a hearty meal at a local inn.
Take time today to explore Dawson City at your leisure. On the banks of the Yukon River, nestled among towering trees and mountains, Dawson City epitomises the Gold Rush era that put it on the map. The former capital of Yukon Territory and once called ‘the Paris of the north’, today the town is charmingly rustic (think period houses and wooden boardwalks). Dawson City also has its fair share of bars, where blackjack plays on and chorus dancers perform as though the Gold Rush never ended.
Discover the town’s history at the Dawson City Museum or learn more about the life and writing of a famous former resident at the Jack London Museum. Alternatively, a river cruise is a picturesque way to pass the time, or you could head out on a hike to drink in more of the Yukon’s dramatic landscapes.
Departing Dawson City, take Yukon Highway 9 (more poetically known as Top of the World Highway) to the remote village of Tok in Alaska’s Tanana Valley. This snaking road, which is only passable in the summer, stretches for 187 miles and connects the Yukon River Valley to the Tanana River Valley in spectacularly scenic style. After five to six hours on the road, arrive at your B&B in Tok, where your comfortable room offers a warm welcome. Tok is at the intersection of the roads to Fairbanks, the Canadian border and Anchorage, so it’s a popular pit stop for adventurous road trippers like you. Settle down for a cosy night’s sleep ahead of another busy day tomorrow.
Onwards today along the Alaska Highway, which you’ll follow for just under 300 miles (a journey of around six hours) through alluvial plains and glacial valleys. After another long but spectacular day of driving, arrive in the small mountain village of Haines Junction. Here, you’ll spend two nights in a charming cottage near Kathleen Lake, on the edge of the Kluane National Park, which is where tomorrow’s adventures will take you.
Today is all about the great outdoors – and ‘great’ might be an understatement in Kluane National Park. This is a land of rugged, towering mountains, vast icefields and lush valleys, and it’s also home to Mount Logan, Canada’s highest peak. It’s a nature-lover’s dream, and probably the kind of once-in-a-lifetime landscape you pictured when you imagined this trip.
Get to know your spectacular surroundings with a half-day trek accompanied by a local guide. See just a small snapshot of the icefields, glaciers, forests, and lakes, while keeping your eyes peeled for wildlife like caribou, moose, wolves, and grizzly bears. The hike highlight comes at King’s Throne peak, which offers incredible views back over Kathleen Lake.
The optional activity for today is a flight over the park in a bush plane, giving you a bird’s-eye view of its vast glaciers (there are more than 2,000 here).
After a hearty breakfast, pack up your hire car for the three-and-a-half-hour drive to Haines. Heading south-east, cross the border into Alaska and see snowy peaks give way to forests, and glaciers lead to lakes, all the way to the magnificent Mud Bay fjords.
Haines sits on the shores of the Lynn Canal, which is one of the world’s deepest fjords and a beautiful backdrop for your one-night stay. While you’re here, visit Fort William H. Seward; built in 1902 for the U.S. Army, it now houses an impressive display of Alaska Indian art. Haines is also home to a thriving population of bald eagles, with thousands more arriving each autumn to form the largest gathering of bald eagles in the world. Visit the Alaska Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve to see hundreds of these majestic creatures in person and capture some winning wildlife photography for your travel scrapbook.
The best way to admire the beauty of the magnificent Lynn Canal is from the water, so today take a 45-minute ferry crossing from Haines to Skagway. Glide through the glacial water of the fjord, bordered by steep, forested banks and tumbling waterfalls (another opportunity to fill your camera roll with photos). Arriving in Skagway, check in to your cosy hotel, which still has echoes of the Gold Rush era that first brought so many intrepid travellers to this region. This is your home for two nights, so 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 and its wooden buildings, station and saloons are a throwback to this period of prosperity. Skagway is now the gateway to the Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park, where today you’ll hike in the footsteps of the prospectors of the past.
Starting from the town of Dyea, the Chilkoot Trail runs for 33 miles to Lake Bennett in British Columbia; a route traversed by thousands of families seeking their fortune during the Gold Rush. Trail access is limited to just 50 hikers a day, preserving this important path and paying peaceful tribute to the many people who lost their lives along this route. Explore a section of the trail at your own pace, either on a self-guided walk or in the company of a local guide who can share stories of the historic clamour for gold.
The Alaskan leg of your adventure ends today as you set off to the Yukon River Valley near Whitehorse, just over two-hours’ drive from Skagway. This time you’ll be staying south of the town, spending three nights in a cosy cabin close to the Yukon River; a suitably serene spot to spend the end of your holiday.
Whether you want to fill your final days in the Yukon with hiking and mountain biking on local trails or venturing further afield to explore the Southern Lakes region and Carcross Desert (the smallest in the world), there’s plenty to see and do. And after a busy day immersed in nature, return to your warm and welcoming lodgings to toast a trip well-spent.
All good adventures must come to an end, so today you begin your journey back to the UK with a 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 your long journey to reminisce about your trip (and begin planning the 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
