Friday, November 6, 2015

Alaska Trip 10 day itinerary - May 2015

This post is on-request from a bunch of friends who are planning to go to Alaska and asked us for our expert-advise ;) So I am making it available for everyone who wants to visit the heaven on earth! This is just the copy-paste from the google doc that we make for all our trips. If you need any more details, please feel free to post a comment and I will get back to you.

Although the following itinerary looks exhaustive in first look it is quite do-able as we were able to do everything on this list. Days are very long in May and Alaska provides you a very different energy level that you cant stop exploring it more and more. The last two days were slowed down for us because we got busy in the scavenger hunt for our lost baggage :) So, I have listed a few additional things that you can do for the extra time you may have during your 10 day trip.

Note: It is a very good idea to buy the Tour saver coupon book - http://www.toursaver.com/ and it costs you around 100$ but is totally worth every single penny. We booked most of our trip using this book as it provides lots of good buy 1 get 2 offers.

Below list gives you a good idea about route that we took, where to stay, where to eat along the route. We had with us a Jain couple with lots of food limitations and they had plenty of pizza, burger, sandwiches, salad options along the way. Food was not at all a problem. 

DateActivityComments/ Links
Day 15/16/2015Anchorage
sat12:00 PMCar Rental; Almo - Full Size Car - Dodge Journey SUVCostco reservation
45-59 Partly cloudy4:00 PMRed Tram Downtown Tour
5:00 PMAnchorage Downtown Shopping
7:00 PMWalmart AnchorageGetting ready for the trip! Buy snacks etc
12:00 AMOvernight StayAleyaska Resort (http://www.toursaver.com/alyeska-resort/)
Day 25/17/2015Seward
sun9:30 AMTram ride
43-55 + Showers12:00 PMNo time for going for Lunch Had thepla and clam chowder at cruise reservation office restaurant
1.30 PMPortage Glacier Cruisehttp://www.toursaver.com/portage-glacier-cruises-alaska/
4:00 PMAlaska Wildlife Conservation Centerhttp://www.toursaver.com/alaska-wildlife-conservation-center
7 PM - 11 PMExit Glacier Hike - 2 hrhttp://www.alaska.org/detail/exit-glacier-hike
8:00 PMDinner Ressurection Roadhousehttp://www.sewardwindsong.com/lodge/resurrection-roadhouse/
10:00 PMOvernight Stay at Van Glider Sewardhttp://www.toursaver.com/van-gilder-hotel-seward/
OptionalSealife centerhttp://www.toursaver.com/alaska-sealife-center-seward/
Day 35/18/2015Seward-McKinley
mon7-10.30 AMKayakinghttp://www.toursaver.com/kayak-tour-seward-alaska/
44-59 Partly cloudy11:30-5:30 PMKenai Fjords National Park Cruisehttp://www.kenaifjords.com/day-cruises/national-park-tour/
6:00 PMStart Driving to McKinley Princess LodgeOn the way went to walmart for picking up camping stuff
Dinner: Subwayon the way!
1:00 AMOvernight at McKinley Princess Lodge - checkin at 1amhttp://www.toursaver.com/mckinley-princess-lodge-alaska/
Day 45/19/2015McKinley6.5Hours ScenicDrive
tue10:00 AMAurora Borealis & Bear Show in McKinley Princess Lodge
45-74 Sunny1:00 PMLunch at Grizzly Bar - McKinley Princess Lodge
3:00 PMFlight seeing & Glacier Landinghttp://www.flyk2.com/denali-flightseeing/mckinley-experience.html
5:00 PMRoam around Talkeetna - Local shops - restaurant hunt - Blueberry icecream
6:00 PMDinner at Payo Thai
8:00 PMPrepare for Camping & planning next day
Overnight at McKinley Princess Lodgehttp://www.toursaver.com/mckinley-princess-lodge-alaska/
Day 55/20/2015Denalihttp://www.denaliparkvillage.com
wed9:00 AM - 3:00PMDenali Bus Shuttle- 9 AMhttp://www.reservedenali.com/play/shuttle-buses/toklat.aspx
48-67 SunnyLunch at Local Thai to go restaurant/ Prospectors pizza at Denali commercial center
Rent camping tent & sleeping padshttp://denalimountainworks.com/
Camping in Denalihttp://www.nps.gov/dena/planyourvisit/campground-riley.htm
Day 65/21/2015Denali-Fairbanks
thurswake up early at 6:30 am
37-55 sunny11:00 AMDog Sledge Showhttp://www.nps.gov/dena/planyourvisit/things2do.htm
12:30 PMLunch @ Morino Grill at Denali Vistor Park
1:00 PMDenali Visitor Center - Museum
2:00 PMDenali Horse Shoe Trail & Beaver Dam Hike
4:00 PMDenali - Fairbank Train Ride 4pm - 8pm $56http://www.toursaver.com/alaska-railroad-fairbanks-denali-national-park/
7:00 PMDinner in Train - Salmon Chowder & Chicken
8.30 PMDrive to Chena Hot Spring Resort - reached at 10:30 pm
10:00 PMOvernight Stay at Chena Hot Spring Resorthttp://www.chenahotsprings.com/reservations/
Day 75/22/2015Fairbanks
fri7:00 AMChena Hot Springshttp://www.chenahotsprings.com/chena-pool-house/
49-76 Sunny10:00 AMBreakfast at Chena Hot Sprint Restaurant
11:00 AMChena Ice Museum
1:45 PMGold Panning at Fairbankshttp://www.toursaver.com/fairbanks-gold-panning/
5:00 PMDinner at Pita Stop
10:00 PMOvernight StayHotel in Fairbanks - BEST WESTERN PLUS
Day 85/23/2015Fairbanks to Talkeetna4 Hours Drive
sat8:00 AM - 12:00 PMFairbank- Denali Train Ride - AAhttp://www.toursaver.com/alaska-railroad-fairbanks-denali-national-park/
50-75 Partly cloudy12PM - 9PMLost luggage scavenger hunt 
9:30 AMLife saved by a shuttle driver at Denali Bluffs hotel! Yeppiee!!!
10:00 PMDinner and drinks at Denali Priness Lodge! Celebration Time!
Overnight Stay @ Denali Princess LodgeHotel in Denali - Princess Lodge
Day 95/24/2015Talkeetna-Anchorage
sun9:00 AMTour Denali Princess Lodge Resort
47-68 Partly cloudy11:00 AMMeet Driver & Railroad guy for finding lost luggage
2:00 PMMeet Rakesh & Harika at Mile 200 between Denali and Talkeetna
4:00 PMLunch @ H&H Lodge
7:00 PMUlu factory, downtown shopping, earthquake park, air craft drive
10:00 PMDinnerGinger REstaurent
11:00 PMOvernight StayJewel Lake Bed & Breakfast - Anchorage
Day 10
50-66 sunny
5/25/2015Fly back to SEA


More things to do :

DroppedLinkReason
Hurricane turn train - 6Hrs round triphttp://www.toursaver.com/alaska-railroad-talkeetna-to-hurricane/Cancelled due to lost luggage
Anchorage-Denali 6 day triphttp://www.graylinealaska.com/packagetours.cfm/mode/detail/product_id/3699Cant do
Campinghttp://www.toursaver.com/miller-s-landing-tent-site-rental/
Seward Anchorage Coastal Train Ride 6pm - 10pm $93http://www.alaskarailroad.com/travel/Transit/RailSearch/RailSearchResults/tabid/364/Default.aspx
Jeep Safarihttp://www.groupon.com/deals/alaska-travel-adventures-inc-1-1Not Available
Anchorage Hotelhttp://www.toursaver.com/inlet-tower-hotel-suites/
Denali Heli-Hikehttp://www.toursaver.com/era-helicopters-denali-helicopter-flightseeing/Skip
Kenai River Floathttp://www.toursaver.com/kenai-river-rafting-alaska/Not available before 22nd may
Denali Bus Tourhttp://www.alaskatravel.com/denali-park/kantishna-bus-tour.htmlNot available before june
Matanuska Float Triphttp://www.toursaver.com/susitna-rafitng-float-trip/Cancelled due to lost luggage
Talkeetna River Raftinghttp://www.toursaver.com/talkeetna-chulitna-river-rafting/
Fairbanks Artic Circle Visithttp://www.toursaver.com/1st-alaska-outdoor-school/Too far
Denali River Raftinghttp://www.toursaver.com/denali-alaska-raft-adventures/
Things to do in Denali /Fairbankshttps://www.travelalaska.com/Destinations/Regions/Interior/Services.aspx?cat=Things_To_Do
Denali Guided Hikehttp://www.toursaver.com/denali-park-village-guided-hiking/This is round trip 4 mile hike. Estimated duration 3-31/2 hour.
ATVhttp://www.denaliatv.com/atvtypes
http://www.nps.gov/dena/planyourvisit/walks-and-hikes.htmhttp://www.nps.gov/dena/planyourvisit/dayhiking.htm
Santa Clause Househttp://www.santaclaushouse.com/Cancelled as everyone was tired

Things to carry:

Toursaver booklet
All reservation details/printouts(Airline, Anchorage, Denali and Fairbanks accommodation, cruise booking)
toothpaste/toothbrush/mouthwash
sunglasses
Towel - take small towels
Personal Items
Deo
advil etc
First aid kit - antiseptic and band-aids - headache stomach ache ki dawai
socks extra pair
Sun screen
Hats/caps
bagpacks
Camping
Sleeping pads
propel powder/gatorade powder
Tent
flashlights
water proof matches/lighter
Water(hydration pack/bladder/bottles)
Sleeping bag
plates,cups,bowls,forks and spoons
Towels
Water 24 Pack
mosquito repellant cream or Spray
xtra chargers/batteries for phones/gps - phone, gopro, camera, portable
Car chargers
phone chargers/portable chargers
Warm Jackets
Thermal inner wear
hand warmers/toe warmers
gloves
shoes
Flip flops
soap/bodywash/facescrub
plastic bags dry bags/ziplocks
ponchos
maps
Tissues, paper towels, cleaning wipes, hand sanitizer and a roll of toilet paper
Playlist in your phones
Playing cards
Camera + charger + Go pro + chargers + Tripod
GPS
swim suit
Hope you find it useful!

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