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North by Northwest - Vancouver
to Alaska
via the Canadian Rockies & The
Inside Passage
Imagine a self-drive itinerary
that combined two of the most
talked about destinations in
North America – Western Canada
and Alaska. A journey packed
full of highlights and where
everyday is different, new
scenery and new experiences.
Vancouver is an impressive
starting
 point
and in between there is the
Okanagan region, Banff, Jasper
and of course the Canadian
Rockies! Alberta’s stunning
mountain scenery is
unforgettable and the National
Parks live up to their
reputations. Along the way you
have time to enjoy the scenery,
hiking or taking numerous side
trips and wildlife tours. Then
comes the Inside Passage from
Prince Rupert to Skagway; a
sheltered waterway where the
Alaska Ferry visits Ketchikan,
Wrangell, Petersburg and Juneau
up the line! After disembarking
in Skagway, the route follows
the old trail of ’98 over the
White Pass summit through
Whitehorse to Dawson City in the
heart of the historic Klondike.
Then it’s on to Alaska where the
highlights are almost as tall as
Mt McKinley and the sun doesn’t
set til late! National Parks are
icons in North America and this
route includes many – one of
biggest is Alaska’s Denali
National Park. Here bears,
moose, caribou and wolves all
roam freely and are often
spotted by visitors. It’s true –
dreams do occasionally come true
and we think this extraordinary
journey helps make them happen.
Daily Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Vancouver
Arrive in Vancouver. Pick up
your car and drive to the hotel.
Rated number one city in the
world to live in, Vancouver
offers fabulous restaurants and
hotels, excellent shopping and
entertainment. The Aquarium,
Stanley Park and Lions Gate
Bridge are just some of the
sights to see. Overnight in
Vancouver
Day 2: Vancouver – Kamloops
(395km)
It is an easy drive today to
allow time for additional
sightseeing en route. Choice of
the fast, Coquihalla Highway
direct or leave early and
explore the charm of the
Okanagan en route via Hwy 3.
Overnight Kamloops (South
Thompson Inn & Guest Ranch)
Option of The Plaza in Kamloops
for a touch of Classic Canadiana.
Day 3: Kamloops – Lake Louise
The Trans-Canada Highway takes
you east through Salmon Arm,
Sicamous and Glacier National
Park to stunningly beautiful
Lake Louise. Golden is an
opportunity for a fun jet boat
ride on the Columbia River.
Other highlights include Rogers
Pass (1327 mtrs) and Yoho
National Park. Good hiking
trails today and more tomorrow.
Overnight
Day 4: Lake Louise & Banff
Enjoy exploring this very scenic
region with a variety of outdoor
activities, top accommodation
options and excellent
restaurants. Both Emerald Lake
Lodge and Chateau Lake Louise
are worth visiting and are
Canadian classics, positioned on
the lake shores against a
mountain backdrop. Overnight in
Banff.
Day 5: Banff National Park
There are lots of active
opportunities in Banff and Banff
National Park. The scenery is
overwhelming in its beauty and
scale. Mountain peaks tempt
hikers, or take a cruise on Lake
Minnewanka or the Sulphur
Mountain gondola. And there is
always river rafting or simply
soaking in the Banff Hot
Springs. Overnight in Banff
Day 6: Banff – Jasper
(292km / 182 miles)
The Icefield Parkaway runs
between Banff and Jasper
National Parks; very scenic and
popular the parkway is a
highlight so get an early start
and plan for a trip on the
SnoMotorcoach at Columbia Icefield.
Hiking? Almost anywhere you will
find trails. Overnight in Jasper
 Day
7: Jasper
Jasper, surrounded by National
Park is a mecca for outdoor
enthusiasts. After an active day
a wide choice of restaurants to
choose from and your hotel is
convenient to everything.
Pyramid Lake offers boat
rentals, horse back riding is
easily arranged and river
rafters will find big water.
Overnight Jasper
Day 8: Jasper – Prince George
(373km/ 233 miles)
Travel the Yellowhead Highway
through Mt Robson Provincial
Park, here the Rockies and
Cariboo Mountains are on either
side. Today you will have a
clear sense of “arriving in the
north”. The scenery is changing
– this is big country – where
rolling hills and forest
landscape dominate. Prince
George, BC’s northern capital is
a major transportation hub,
University town with interesting
attractions and good museum.
Overnight Prince George
Day 9: Prince George –
Smithers (370km/ 231 miles)
Fort St. James National Historic
Site of Canada is an interesting
stop on today’s route. The
open-air museum takes you back
to Western Canada’s pioneering
fur trade days. Smithers
positioned in the Bulkley Valley
has a rural charm and very much
orientated towards outdoor
activities. Skiing, hiking,
fishing top the list. Friendly
people and a welcoming
atmosphere make it a good stop.
Overnight Smithers
Day 10: Smithers – Prince
Rupert (346km / 216 miles)
The Skeena valley is one of the
most scenic parts of the
Yellowhead Highway. The river is
an ancient trading route where
coastal tribes exchanged goods
with the interior people. One of
 the
west’s popular rail routes is
known as The Skeena. Historic
Port Edward is worth a short
side trip. Prince Rupert is one
of BC’s fastest growing port
cities where the Asian shipping
trade is booming. The city has
good hotels, restaurants and an
interesting culture. The museum
is excellent. Return the rental
car this evening. Overnight
Prince Rupert.
Day 11: Prince Rupert –
Alaska’s Inside Passage
Aboard the Alaska Ferry the
cruise through Alaska’s Inside
Passage takes you to: Ketchikan,
Wrangell, Petersburg and Juneau.
The scenic voyage showcases the
landscape, islands and narrow
coastal passages like no other.
A working ferry, the vessel
offers limited yet sufficient
on-board-facilities and
comfortable yet simple overnight
cabins. Overnight in cabin
aboard ferry.
Day 12: Arrival in Skagway
Lying at the head of famous Lynn
Canal, Skagway welcomes you
today. This famous old Goldrush
town still retains much of the
character it did in 1898. Once
thousands of stampeders swarmed
over the coastal mountains
heading to the Klondike in
search of gold – today cruise
ship passengers do much the
same. Just savor the feel of
this tiny town as you walk up
Broadway in the quiet evening,
it’s magical. The National Park
Service offers interesting
guided walks throughout the day.
Overnight Skagway
Day 13: Skagway – Whitehorse
(183km/114 miles)
Pick up rental car this morning.
Drive the White Pass Summit and
cross the border into Canada! A
picturesque route through
Yukon’s Southern Lakes takes you
past the smallest desert in the
world near Carcross. With
arrival in Whitehorse, you are
in Yukon’s capital. Overnight
Whitehorse
 Day
14: Whitehorse – Dawson City
(523 km / 327miles)
Traveling the Klondike Highway
northbound you parallel the
Yukon River. Near Carcross, the
famous Five Finger Rapids are a
good stop, once the most
dangerous rapids the old
steamboats encountered. Dawson
City, the old capital of the
Klondike keeps the spirit of
1898 alive with historic
buildings, wooden sidewalks and
rowdy saloons! It’s fun.
Overnight Dawson City
Day 15: Dawson City
The Klondike gold fields are
nearby and here you can try your
luck at panning for gold. Lots
of interesting history and
several old mining roads allow
you to explore and get off the
beaten track. In town visit the
Parks Canada historic sites and
this evening visit Diamond Tooth
Gerties-Canada’s oldest casino.
Overnight in Dawson City
Day 16: Dawson City – Tok
(300km / 187km)
The Top of the World Highway
takes you back into Alaska where
you cross at ‘Little Gold
Creek’, highest point on the
highway! Views are incredible,
on good days 100 mile visibility
is possible. Some of Alaska’s
oldest gold workings are found
which add a pioneer feel to
today’s drive. Just for fun you
must stop in the tiny community
of Chicken, Alaska! Overnight in
Tok.
Day 17: Tok – Fairbanks
(330km / 206 miles)
Today sees you on the final leg
of the Alaska Highway where
Delta Junction is the offical
end of this epic highway. It’s a
picturesque drive with several
high mountains dominating the
landscape and which depict the
true feel of Alaska’s wilderness
and scale. Overnight in
Fairbanks.
Day 18: Fairbanks – Denali
National Park (194 km / 121
miles)
This morning you have time to
explore Fairbanks and its
surroundings. The sternwheeler
riverboat cruise on the Chena
River is a unique trip in Alaska
and recommended. The afternoon
drive south to Denali National
Park is quick and very
picturesque. Nenana is a good
stop along the way. Overnight
Denali National Park entrance
area.
Day 19: Denali National Park
Denali National Park is perhaps
Alaska’s best known; here North
America’s tallest mountain, Mt.
McKinley reigns supreme. The
park is home to a broad mix of
wildlife who roam freely; bears,
caribou, moose, moutain sheep,
wolves are often seen by
visitors. Access to the park is
restricted to a 6-8-hr bus tour
with a naturalst / driver.
Typically you travel about 53
miles into the park and where
with good weather you may sight
the impressive peak of Mt.
McKinley. A picnic lunch is
included. Overnight Denali.
Day 20: Denali – Anchorage
(379 km / 237 miles)
The Parks Highway is the main
route to Anchorage, largest city
in Alaska. If time allows, take
the side trip to Talkeetna –
it’s worth it. As the launch
base for most international
climbing expeditions – the best
McKinley flightseeing tours
depart from here. Overnight
Anchorage.
Day 21: Anchorage
Explore Anchorage, in an
attractive setting, the city
lies on Cook Inlet, almost
surrounded by rugged mountains.
You might like to add another
day to your vacation and we
highly recommend an excursion to
Seward and Kenai Fjords
National Park. The scenery sums
up Alaska – it’s all here,
whales, mountains, forests and
wildlife. Several cruise boats
depart from Seward on day trips
into the stunning National
marine park of “Kenai Fjords”.
In these water’s sea lions, sea
otters, Orca and Humpback
whales, Puffins and Bald Eagles
thrive. Overnight Anchorage.
Day 22: Departure from
Anchorage
Return rental car and departure.
Email us at:
mytrip@CanadianPacificVacations.com
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