My Summer in Alaska Itinerary

I traveled to Alaska in summer 2015 and this was my original Alaska Itinerary. I have included links to the places in Alaska I did make it to.

With only weeks until I land in Anchorage, I have been busy studying my Lonely Planet and travel blogs to map out a route for my six-week summer in Alaska Itinerary. I have also been squealing with excitement and jumping up and down – in private of course.

So for this long-anticipated trip, it would be very easy for me to give in to my control freak planning ways and to create a very detailed summer in Alaska itinerary, but I really wanted to keep things completely open and only book my accommodation and transport a few days in advance.

That would probably have been fine if I was going in late August and September like I had originally planned but now that I will be traveling to Alaska in July, this just isn’t feasible as July is the peak tourist season in the State.

Summer is the best time to visit Alaska after all – unless you are into really cold weather.

So my inner planning demon is happy that it has been let loose yet again and I have been gleefully working on my summer in Alaska itinerary. Luckily I can still change things as I go as most hostels allow free cancellation up to a few days before arrival so I do have some flexibility.

If I could afford to get a car, an epic Alaska Road Trip would be on the cards as there are so many places that I would love to add to my Alaska Itinerary that are remote and hard to access, but due to timing, money and the fact that I am not comfortable traveling to some of these places by myself, they will have to wait until my next trip there sometime in the future. 

I am mainly sticking to the coast on this trip, as well as spending a few days exploring Denali National Park in the interior. I have put together an itinerary with the first two weeks booked in and the rest of it as yet un-booked and vaguer.

Here’s my summer in Alaska Itinerary so far:

My Summer in Alaska Itinerary

Anchorage

Alaska’s biggest city and the first stop on my summer in Alaska Itinerary, I am looking forward to hiking Flattop Mountain, eating King crab at Humpy’s, and maybe biking the Tony Knowles Coastal trail during my time in Anchorage.

Seward

I want to head to this small Alaskan city for the beautiful surroundings and to explore Kenai Fjords National Park. I will be hiking the Harding Icefield Trail and taking a long day trip deep into the fjords while I’m in Seward.

Denali National Park

It wouldn’t be a summer in Alaska for an avid hiker like me without time in Denali National Park, so despite my nervousness of hiking among ALOT of bears, I am going to go anyway.

My nerves/common sense have stopped me from wanting to do any backcountry camping solo but I want to do some hiking around the entrance area of the park, and I will do a day trip on the park coach further into the park. This is the only way to get in there as private vehicles aren’t allowed past the 15-mile mark.

I am also really hoping to get to the 49th State Brewing Company, located 10 miles north of the park in Healy, which has a replica of the bus that Chris McCandless died in, and that was used in the filming of the movie ‘Into the Wild’. 

Talkeetna

A small village with a view of Denali and popular with climbers, I wanted to spend a couple of nights in Talkeetna to stay in the iconic Talkeetna Roadhouse, explore the tiny historic town center and just chill out.

After Talkeetna, I will probably fly over to Juneau from Anchorage using my Qantas miles, maybe with a couple more days in Anchorage first if I feel the need. From here it becomes vaguer and I’m not sure in what order exactly I will be visiting each place in South East Alaska.

Juneau

I suspect I will be visiting Juneau on probably two or three different occasions as a few of the places I want to visit can only be reached by ferry from Juneau meaning I will need to cross back through to then carry on to my next destination. That’s fine with me because it sounds like an amazing city.

While there I want to hike the Mt Roberts Trail and catch the Mt Roberts Tramway back down,  visit the Mendenhall Glacier, and hopefully enter the ice caves there.

Skagway

As there is no hostel in Skagway I would have to camp so whether I visit or not will be weather dependent.

If I do visit I want to find out more about the Yukon Gold Rush at the museums and attractions in town and I would love to take the Gold Rush era White Pass and Yukon Route railroad that takes passengers on a small but very scenic section of the original railroad used to reach Whitehorse in the Yukon.

Haines

I will probably be spending a couple of weeks in Haines, as this is where I have a Help X placement set up with a local lady who loves hosting travelers and asks for a few chores around her small farm in return.

I am confirming dates closer to the time but I am hoping to arrive to coincide with the South East Alaska State Fair that runs from July 30th – August 2nd. I will have use of a vehicle so during my time off I want to do some hiking.

Gustavus (Glacier Bay)

Kayaking with glaciers calving off and crashing into the sea around me (at a safe distance), that’s what I want from my time in Glacier Bay. Maybe some whales too.

Sitka

Sitka first appeared on my radar when I watched the movie ‘The Proposal’ a few years ago. Although the film is actually filmed in Rockport, MA, it was made to look like Sitka and I thought it looked incredible. Photos I have seen of the real Sitka since have only made me want to go there more.

I am looking forward to checking out the Russian heritage of the city that is still seen in a lot of buildings that have remained, as well as doing lots of hiking as there are heaps of scenic trails close to town.

Ketchikan

If I have time I would like to visit the rainy city of Ketchikan and the nearby Misty Fjords National Monument. Hiking (of course), checking out the totem poles, and maybe bear-watching would all be on the cards.

From Ketchikan, I will be taking a ferry to Prince Rupert in British Columbia where I will spend a night or two before my overnight ferry to Haida Gwaii for my Help X placement there.

I am so unbelievably excited to get up to this amazing state!

If you are traveling to Alaska but only have ten days, check out this Alaska Itinerary that covers all the best stops in Alaska by land and sea.

If you liked this post, check out some of my other Alaska content:

• Ultimate 7 Day Alaska Itinerary For Winter To See the Aurora Borealis
• Fun Things To Do in Anchorage in Winter and Summer
• The Ultimate Denali National Park Guide for the Budget Traveler
• Sitka Hiking: Scrambling to the Summit of Mount Verstovia
• The Best Things To Do in Juneau When it Rains
• Fun Things To Do in Talkeetna, Alaska
• Denali Flightseeing: The Best Way To Get Close To Denali
• Wild Alaskan Terrain Along the Mount Healy Overlook Trail
• What To Expect Hiking the Harding Icefield Trail in Alaska
• An Aquatic Safari Through Kenai Fjords National Park in Alaska
• Fun Things To Do in Seward AK This Summer
• The Best Day Trip From Anchorage: Hiking Flattop Mountain
• Best Things To Do in Sitka AK