Wild Canada & Alaska: Vancouver to Anchorage

Leave Vancouver behind and head into the dramatic landscapes of British Columbia’s interior. Stop at the Squamish waterfront before travelling through Whistler and along one of the province’s most scenic drives. Snow-capped peaks, turquoise lakes, deep river valleys and winding mountain roads set the tone for the adventure ahead. Stop for a picnic lunch surrounded by alpine scenery, before descending into the dry grasslands and canyon country around Cache Creek, where the landscapes feel completely different from the coast.

Accommodation
Hotel (1 night)
Meals : There are no meals included on this day.

Special information: Your travel time today will be approximately 8 hours.

Continue north along the Stewart-Cassiar Highway through one of the least-visited corners of British Columbia. Pause for a final look at Bear Glacier, where blue ice spills dramatically from the mountains, then continue past glacier-fed lakes and dense forests. As services become few and the distance between communities grow, you’ll gain a real sense of travelling through the heart of the North. Tonight, you’ll camp in the Dease Lake region, surrounded by vast wilderness and some of British Columbia’s most incredible mountain scenery.

Enjoy a quiet morning at Ta Ch’ila, giving you time to take even more advantage of the lake’s clear waters. Then, it’s on to Yukon Territory, where you’ll join the legendary Alaska Highway – one of North America’s great overland routes. If you didn’t think you were in the North before, it’s undeniable now. There’s both a geographic and cultural shift as communities get farther apart and the already-impressive mountains and tundra wilderness become vaster. Head into Watson Lake, where you’ll visit the famous Sign Post Forest – travellers from around the world have left more than 100,000 signs that create this unusual and photogenic landmark.

Continue north today along the Alaska Highway, stopping at Rancheria Falls, where a short boardwalk leads through the forest to a picturesque waterfall. Then drive on through a landscape of spruce forests, sparkling lakes and broad mountain valleys as you travel deeper into the Yukon. Arrive in Whitehorse, the Yukon’s capital, influenced by Gold Rush history and Indigenous culture – and the largest community you’ve encountered in days. Settle in for two nights, giving you a chance to engage with daily life and feel how cultural heritage and modern life co-exist in this distinctively northern town. Spend some time walking around, learning about Gold Rush history and meeting people from some of the most remote Northern Canada communities.

Today, you’ll experience Whitehorse through an Indigenous lens alongside a local Tlingit guide who is a member of Kluane First Nation. As she shares her home with you, you’ll learn about Yukon First Nations history, culture and contemporary life through the stories and places that continue to shape the modern Yukon. This afternoon, have some free time to explore Whitehorse at your own pace. In the evening, you may choose to visit a nearby natural hot spring for a relaxing soak surrounded by northern wilderness.

Travel west today into the spectacular Kluane region, where glacier-fed rivers and some of Canada’s highest peaks dominate the landscape. When you arrive in the early afternoon, head to the property of your Kluane hosts to take part in a hands-on Dan Zhur workshop. Learn how the Donjek berry has traditionally been used for food, medicine and adornment and create your own keepsake, and start to better understand the cultural connections that link Indigenous peoples across the Yukon and Alaska. After setting up camp this evening, enjoy a dinner prepared by a local chef before gathering around the fire with your hosts for an evening of storytelling and cultural exchange on the land.

Today is a milestone in your northern expedition as you leave the Yukon behind and cross into Alaska. You’ll need your passport handy for the border crossing today, but the local wildlife, staggeringly beautiful landscapes and Indigenous cultural connections continue seamlessly across the border between Yukon and Alaska. Continue on the Alaska Highway, passing the shores of Kluane Lake and some of the wildest scenery of the trip. At the border, stop for a photo at the iconic ‘Welcome to Alaska’ sign before continuing to the quirky community of Tok – a classic Alaska road-trip stop with rustic cabins, local businesses and a pioneering spirit.

Travel through the heart of Alaska to the Native Village of Tazlina to meet members of the Ahtna community and bring together a story that’s followed you throughout the trip. You’ve met Indigenous fisherpeople in Witset Canyon and witnessed bears catching salmon in Hyder, all the while travelling the salmon migration routes that sustain communities across Canada and Alaska. Now, in Tazlina, meet members of the Ahtna community and learn about their centuries-old traditions of harvesting salmon from the Copper River, see an active fish wheel, visit a traditional smokehouse and learn how Ahtna stewardship of the Copper River and its waterways has supported community life for generations. Chat with local residents about their culture and daily life, then enjoy a traditional drum and song performance. Later, continue to your campground near Copper Center for a final night beneath the stars, surrounded by Alaska’s vast mountain landscapes.

Travel west through the Chugach Mountains today, bringing your journey along the Cassiar and Alaska Highways through British Columbia, the Yukon and Alaska full circle. What began among the coastal mountains of British Columbia culminates in Anchorage. You’ve followed these legendary roads north through a region connected by far more than an international border. You’ve traced salmon migration routes, met Indigenous communities on both sides of the border and seen how waterways, trade routes and shared traditions have shaped life across the North for generations. Tonight, gather with your group for a farewell dinner and celebrate an incredible journey through some of North America’s wildest landscapes.

Your trip ends at checkout today and there are no further activities scheduled. If you’re hooked on the North and would like to spend more time in Alaska, just speak with your booking agent ahead of time.