Welcome to the Yukon Territory! Your tour guide will pick you up at the airport and take you to your hotel. Here you will meet the rest of your group and have a short orientation.

After breakfast, we'll have some time to explore the Yukon's capital before beginning our journey south to Skagway, Alaska. Our route takes us past the world's smallest desert, the extraordinary colors of the emerald-green Emerald Lake, and on to Carcross, a colorful little village at the northern end of Lake Bennett. After a short coffee break with mountain views, we'll continue over White Pass and then descend through the Coast Mountains to the Pacific coast and Skagway. This small town still retains its historic charm, and fortunately, we'll have some time to explore the area on foot before setting up our first camp.

Skagway became known as the gateway to the Klondike during the famous Klondike Gold Rush of 1898, and its historical character has been carefully preserved ever since. In the morning, after breaking camp, there will be time for another visit to the town before taking the ferry to our next destination, Haines, Alaska. The ferry will take us through Lynn Canal, where, with a bit of luck, we might spot seals, whales, and bald eagles. Haines is an important center for the Tlingit peoples of the Northwest Coast and is surrounded by high mountains at the mouth of the Chilkat River. In late summer, thousands of migrating salmon are often seen here, accompanied by flocks of bald eagles, creating a spectacular spectacle. From Haines, we continue our journey across the coastal mountains and along the Dalton North Trail. This was one of the few overland routes to the Klondike and an ancient trade route for the Tlingit coastal peoples. On our way to Haines Junction and Kluane National Park in the Yukon Territory, we will cross the international border again at Dalton Cache. This drive is simply breathtakingly spectacular!

Haines Junction is the gateway to Kluane National Park, which stretches across 220,000 square kilometers of the northern Coast Range. A full-day hike on one of the many trails leading to Sheep Mountain offers magnificent views of the 80-kilometer-long Kluane Lake and a wonderful glimpse into the vast landscape hidden behind the Front Mountains. If time and weather permit, we also have the option of taking a scenic flight over the park's interior to witness the incredible scale of Canada's highest mountain and the world's largest non-polar icefields.

In the morning, we set off from our camp and embark on another short hike in Kluane National Park. Afterward, we have a two-hour drive to Whitehorse, following the famous Alaska Highway eastward. Once back in the capital, we continue along the Klondike Highway and stop in a scenic area for our overnight camp. Here, on our way to our destination for the next day, we pitch our tents and enjoy another peaceful night around the campfire.

Today we'll travel north on the Klondike Highway to the start of the Dempster Highway, then continue 75 km on a gravel road to reach the spectacular Tombstone Territorial Park. This gravel road is 730 km long and is Canada's only road connection to the Arctic Ocean. Tombstone Territorial Park lies at the edge of the vast Arctic tundra and is dominated by the dramatic syenite peaks that give the park its name. Tonight we'll spend the night in this remote and beautiful area of the park.

After packing up our tents, we'll embark on a day hike along the ridge. Here, we'll be rewarded with a magnificent view of the vast tundra landscape, where large herds of caribou migrate hundreds of miles each year. Afterward, we'll head to Dawson City, the famous Gold Rush town. In this legendary town, situated at the confluence of the Klondike and Yukon Rivers, gold is still mined today. Walking through the streets of this unique historic town feels almost like stepping back in time.

Dawson City is a vibrant, fun-filled little town steeped in history, so we'll spend a full day here. A highlight will be the drive to the Bonanza and Eldorado streams, where you'll have the chance to visit an active gold mine. Later, we'll drive up Midnight Dome, the mountain overlooking Dawson and the surrounding wilderness. You'll also have time to simply wander around this unique Gold Rush town. After all, it was once the largest town west of Winnipeg and north of Seattle. Many of the original decoy facades, historic sites, and exhibits are still preserved and easily accessible on foot.

Today we're taking the Top of the World Highway to Alaska. This gravel road winds across a high plateau through the tundra – one of the most beautiful and spectacular high-altitude highways in North America. This is another enchanting drive, so don't forget your cameras ready! Also of interest are the quirky and charming northern towns like Chicken and Action Wade Camp, which we'll pass before reaching the edge of Denali National Park.

Today's journey takes you west along the Denali Highway. This is one of the most remote roads in the state and is particularly special because it was built on glacial terrain along the boundary of Denali National Park. There are many opportunities for short exploratory hikes along the way. Weather permitting, an optional scenic flight over Denali, the highest peak in North America at 6,193 meters, can be booked for this day.

Today we have the opportunity to travel by bus provided by the national park to one of the most scenic corners of North America, or to explore it on foot. In good weather, the road into the park offers spectacular views of Denali and the chance to see wolves, Dall sheep, moose, caribou, and grizzly bears, as well as the many foxes, coyotes, and eagles. Here you will encounter classic Alaska: the vast land at its most beautiful. Denali is world-famous for very good reason. Today you will understand why.

We'll travel along the George Parks Highway through the Alaskan interior, south to Anchorage, where we'll join the Seward Highway and follow the spectacular Turnagain Arm. Captain Cook named the bay after another unsuccessful attempt to find the Northwest Passage. Here, the tides, some of the highest in the world, attract beluga whales. Before heading to the Kenai Peninsula and the town of Seward, we'll make a detour to Portage.

In the morning, we'll have a hike in the immediate vicinity of Seward. There are plenty of great options here, as this coastal area is incredibly beautiful! Perhaps we'll even choose another hike for the afternoon, or you can experience one of the main attractions of Kenai Fjords National Park: an optional six-hour boat trip through the fjords for marine wildlife viewing. The area teems with seals, sea lions, sea otters, as well as orcas and humpback whales. With a bit of luck, you might also spot moose and black bears roaming along the coastline. Another highlight is watching the calving ice from Bear Glacier plunge into the ocean, creating massive waves.

Today we'll head back up Turnagain Arm towards Anchorage. The rest of the day is yours to explore Alaska's largest city at your leisure. Consider visiting Hood and Spenard Lakes, where up to 800 seaplanes take off and land daily. The Aviation Museum is also nearby, offering a fascinating glimpse into Alaskan history. In downtown Anchorage, you'll find the Museum of History and Art, and of course, the large American shopping malls. A visit to some of the bars and craft breweries, offering a fantastic selection of locally brewed beers, is highly recommended. Sadly, tonight is our last evening together, so it's a wonderful opportunity to enjoy a lovely dinner together.

Our tour ends in Anchorage. Ruby Range offers transfers to the airport or your onward travel arrangements. (End of tour services) (Due to the nature of this tour, last-minute changes to the itinerary are possible and at the discretion of the tour leader.)