In Blue
2015 - Southcentral & Interior Alaska:
Anchorage - Fairbanks - Glennallen - McCarthy - Valdez - Kenai
2016 - Yukon & South East Alaska:
Whitehorse - Dawson City - Arctic Circle - Tok - Kluane - Haines - Atlin
In Red
Our main highlights (again, this is very subjective as there are no such things as well defined highlights in this part of the world)
YUKON & SOUTH EAST ALASKA 2016 IN A FEW NUMBERS:
2015 - Southcentral & Interior Alaska:
Anchorage - Fairbanks - Glennallen - McCarthy - Valdez - Kenai
2016 - Yukon & South East Alaska:
Whitehorse - Dawson City - Arctic Circle - Tok - Kluane - Haines - Atlin
In Red
Our main highlights (again, this is very subjective as there are no such things as well defined highlights in this part of the world)
YUKON & SOUTH EAST ALASKA 2016 IN A FEW NUMBERS:
- Trip duration: 15 days
- Flight time: ~13 hours with lay over in Vancouver (Air Canada)
- Total distance: 3,800 KM
- Avg. speed on Dempster Highway 50 km/h, 80 km/h otherwise.
- Weather in August (end of the season): sunny most of the day (8) one/two showers (4 days), rainy (3)
- Max temp: 27 C (ironically, in Arctic Circle).
- Min temp: 9 C (Skagway).
- Average temp: 17-18 C during the day.
- Notable wildlife: Grizzli bears, Bald Eagles, Porcupine, Ptarmigan. Similar to last year, there's been hardly any mosquitoes (snow melted pretty quickly this year followed by a dry season)
- Some recommended activities: cycling (Inn on the Lake provides bicycles), rafting (Dominika and I did an entire day ie. 8 hours raft on the Tatshenshini river) or canoeing, hiking (over 60 kms for us this time mainly in Kluane and Tombstone areas).
Alaska or Yukon? The short answer is, both.
Alaska remains in our opinion the state with the most spectacular landscapes (the variety is definitely a factor since Yukon does not have access to the Gulf of Alaska (south coast). However, the Yukon Territory is even less crowded with a density of 0.1 person per km sq. (vs 0.5 person per km sq. in Alaska) and much wilder. Yukon is roughly twice the size of the United Kingdom for a total of 37,000 inhabitants (two thirds of which live in one city!). Yukon is traveler-friendly. Towns, however small, are equipped with great information centers despite the fact that hardly anyone visits them (eg. Haines Junction). Ferries are free of charge, guided hikes provided by First Nations (even for two or four travelers that end up being there on a given day) in very remote areas are paid by the local authorities. It's difficult to see how this could economically make sense but we loved it :)
Infrastructure in the Yukon
Whilst travelling in the Yukon is exceptional, be prepared. You won't find much infrastructure. Two days after we left the Dempster Highway the road was washed out and people had to be rescued by helicopter a couple of days later (with the nearest food/gas station hundreds of kms away). That said, Tombstone / the Arctic Circle are definitely worth the risk of venturing north.
Book BnBs months in advance (especially if you want to experience some luxury in the middle of nowhere - we provide some useful links below). Note, that you can always cancel up to a week before travelling. For hikes and rafting it's worth getting in touch with the organizers (if any) weeks ahead given that you really only find one or two service providers in the region.
Renting a car is not a click away. We would recommend Driving Force but you need to call them and book months in advance. Most cars are not available at Whitehorse airport.
What to avoid
Reportedly, there are some 1.5m tourists coming to Alaska each year. After taking the mandatory ferry from Haines to Skagway (no land connection) we now have a better idea where you can find them (or rather how to avoid them). Ferries loaded with thousands of people are a no-go if you're looking for the real Alaskan/Yukon wilderness as is part of the Denali Park that is quickly becoming another Yellowstone/Grand Canyon destination (mentioned in last year's blog posts). Thankfully, outside of those areas most of the land remains unspoiled.
Gastronomy
Closer to Whitehorse, you can treat yourself to some great local cuisine including the Tagish Restaurant with probably the best halibut burgers in North America, exceptional dinners at the Inn on the Lake Lodge (Kate and William - avid readers of this blog will also be staying here in October) or imaginative breakfasts at the Hidden Valley BnB.
BUDGETING A TRIP TO THE YUKON/SE ALASKAWhilst travelling in the Yukon is exceptional, be prepared. You won't find much infrastructure. Two days after we left the Dempster Highway the road was washed out and people had to be rescued by helicopter a couple of days later (with the nearest food/gas station hundreds of kms away). That said, Tombstone / the Arctic Circle are definitely worth the risk of venturing north.
Book BnBs months in advance (especially if you want to experience some luxury in the middle of nowhere - we provide some useful links below). Note, that you can always cancel up to a week before travelling. For hikes and rafting it's worth getting in touch with the organizers (if any) weeks ahead given that you really only find one or two service providers in the region.
Renting a car is not a click away. We would recommend Driving Force but you need to call them and book months in advance. Most cars are not available at Whitehorse airport.
What to avoid
Reportedly, there are some 1.5m tourists coming to Alaska each year. After taking the mandatory ferry from Haines to Skagway (no land connection) we now have a better idea where you can find them (or rather how to avoid them). Ferries loaded with thousands of people are a no-go if you're looking for the real Alaskan/Yukon wilderness as is part of the Denali Park that is quickly becoming another Yellowstone/Grand Canyon destination (mentioned in last year's blog posts). Thankfully, outside of those areas most of the land remains unspoiled.
Gastronomy
Closer to Whitehorse, you can treat yourself to some great local cuisine including the Tagish Restaurant with probably the best halibut burgers in North America, exceptional dinners at the Inn on the Lake Lodge (Kate and William - avid readers of this blog will also be staying here in October) or imaginative breakfasts at the Hidden Valley BnB.
- FX assumptions (1 CAD = 0.56 GBP as at Aug 2016, 1 USD = 0.76 GBP).
- Avg accommodation cost: BnB / Lodge - 120 CAD per night.
- Avg fuel cost: Canada: Unleaded 87 - 1.25 CAD / L. Alaska: 2.75 USD / Gallon
- Toll roads: none. Haines to Skagway ferry costs 110 USD (book in advance)
- Mealprice range: 15-30 CAD.
- Flight cost: 1150 GBP per person
- SUV rental price (GMC Terrain): 1,950 CAD for 15 days with Driving Force. Fully insured (200 km daily threshold - breached! 0.2 CAD per km afterwards). Worth noting that this is the only company that covers the Dempster Highway.
Recommended BnBs:
Around Whitehorse: Inn on the Lake, Hidden Valley
Dawson City: Peggy's Bombay
Kluane: Mount Logan Lodge
Click here for our 2015 Southcentral & Interior Alaska summary post.
Around Whitehorse: Inn on the Lake, Hidden Valley
Dawson City: Peggy's Bombay
Kluane: Mount Logan Lodge
Click here for our 2015 Southcentral & Interior Alaska summary post.
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