Northern Coast Mountains: Self-Launched Whitehorse to Anchorage Adventure
7 days · Yukon & Alaska, North America
Ruby Range Adventure charges £2,450
No-markup version: ~£1,150 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched 7-day road-and-ferry journey from Whitehorse to Anchorage following the Alaska Highway and the Richardson Highway through the northern Coast Mountains. You'll do it independently using the Alaska/Yukon backpacker buses, local shuttles and the Alaska Marine Highway ferry across Prince William Sound — hitting the SS Klondike sternwheeler, Kluane National Park, Sheep Mountain, Wrangell-St. Elias, Thompson Pass, Portage and Byron Glacier, Turnagain Arm and Kenai Fjords. Costs are budget-backpacker estimates in GBP and assume you book transport and hostels yourself.
Day-by-day
Arrive Whitehorse — Yukon River & SS Klondike
Whitehorse, Yukon
Fly into Whitehorse International Airport and take the YAT (Yukon Airport Shuttle) or a local bus into downtown (~£12). Check into a central hostel or budget hotel. Spend the afternoon walking the Yukon River waterfront, visiting the restored SS Klondike sternwheeler (free entry, donation-based) and the MacBride Museum. Pick up any last groceries and a Parks Canada Discovery Pass if you plan multiple national park stops.
🚌Local airport shuttle (~£12) plus walking
🛏Hostel or budget hotel in downtown Whitehorse (e.g. a dorm bed or private budget room, ~£30-50/night)
- →Walk the Yukon River waterfront
- →Visit the SS Klondike sternwheeler
- →Explore Whitehorse downtown and MacBride Museum
Whitehorse to Haines Junction — Kluane National Park
Haines Junction, Yukon
Take the early Alaska/Yukon scheduled bus (e.g. the Yukon/Alaska Highway shuttle services run by local operators) from Whitehorse to Haines Junction, roughly 150km along the Alaska Highway (~£35-45, book ahead). Afternoon: self-guided walk on the Auriol Trail or the easier Spruce Beetle Trail in Kluane National Park — no guide needed, trailheads are well marked from the visitor centre. Optional splurge: a bush plane flight over the glaciers of Kluane (book direct with local operators, ~£180-250). Overnight in Haines Junction.
🚌Scheduled Alaska Highway bus from Whitehorse to Haines Junction (~£40)
🛏Hostel or budget guesthouse in Haines Junction (~£40-60/night)
- →Self-guided hike in Kluane National Park (Auriol or Spruce Beetle Trail)
- →Visit the Kluane National Park visitor centre
- →Optional: bush plane flight over the glaciers (~£180-250)
Haines Junction to Tok — Kluane Lake & Sheep Mountain
Tok, Alaska
Continue north on the Alaska Highway across the Alaska-Canada border at Beaver Creek. Stop at the Sheep Mountain Visitor Center (Dal sheep often visible on the slopes) and at Soldier Summit for the wide mountain views over Kluane Lake. Note the time zone change when crossing into Alaska. Overnight in Tok, a small highway town with motels and a hostel or two. This is the most remote stretch — stock up on snacks and water.
🚌Scheduled Alaska Highway bus, Haines Junction to Tok (~£70-90)
🛏Budget motel or hostel in Tok (~£50-70/night)
- →Stop at Sheep Mountain Visitor Center
- →View Kluane Lake from the highway
- →Cross the Alaska-Canada border at Beaver Creek
Tok to Valdez — Wrangell-St. Elias & Thompson Pass
Valdez, Alaska
Travel the Richardson Highway south from Tok to Valdez (~400km). The road skirts the edge of Wrangell-St. Elias National Park — you'll pass the Trans Alaska Pipeline viewpoint and climb over Thompson Pass, one of the snowiest places in Alaska with waterfalls and glacier views. In Valdez, walk the harbour and check out the Valdez Museum and the site of the old town. Book a shared shuttle or the local scheduled service for this leg in advance as departures are limited.
🚌Richardson Highway shuttle or scheduled bus, Tok to Valdez (~£80-100)
🛏Hostel or budget hotel in Valdez (~£45-70/night)
- →Drive over Thompson Pass
- →See the Trans Alaska Pipeline viewpoint
- →Wrangell-St. Elias National Park viewpoints
- →Valdez harbour walk and Valdez Museum
Valdez to Seward — Prince William Sound Ferry & Portage Glacier
Seward, Alaska
Take the Alaska Marine Highway ferry from Valdez across Prince William Sound to Whittier (~£90-120, book well ahead — this is the highlight of the trip). From Whittier, catch the Alaska Railroad or a local shuttle south to Portage and Seward. En route visit the Portage Glacier Visitor Center and take the short self-guided walk to Byron Glacier (free, well-maintained trail). Arrive Seward in the evening.
🚌Alaska Marine Highway ferry Valdez–Whittier (~£100) plus Alaska Railroad or shuttle Whittier–Seward (~£35-50)
🛏Hostel or budget guesthouse in Seward (~£45-70/night)
- →Prince William Sound ferry crossing
- →Portage Glacier Visitor Center
- →Self-guided Byron Glacier walk
Seward to Anchorage — Kenai Fjords & Turnagain Arm
Anchorage, Alaska
Morning: optional motorboat wildlife cruise into Kenai Fjords National Park (book direct with local operators, ~£120-160 for a half-day trip) or a cheaper self-guided hike to Exit Glacier. Then take the Alaska Railroad or Park Connection bus north along Turnagain Arm to Anchorage (~£35-60), watching for beluga whales and Dall sheep from the windows. Evening: wander Lakes Hood and Spenard, visit the Alaska Aviation Museum, and finish with a group-style meal at a downtown brewpub.
🚌Alaska Railroad or Park Connection bus Seward–Anchorage (~£45)
🛏Hostel or budget hotel in downtown Anchorage (~£50-80/night)
- →Optional Kenai Fjords motorboat cruise (~£140)
- →Self-guided Exit Glacier walk
- →Scenic Turnagain Arm drive
- →Anchorage aviation museum and Lakes Hood/Spenard
Anchorage — Departure
Anchorage, Alaska
Final morning in Anchorage — visit the Anchorage Museum or do a last walk along the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail. Take the People Mover bus or a shared shuttle to Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport for your flight home. If you have time, the Alaska Zoo or the Saturday Market (seasonal) are good low-cost ways to fill the day.
🚌People Mover bus or airport shuttle to Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (~£5-15)
🛏None (departure day)
- →Anchorage Museum (optional)
- →Tony Knowles Coastal Trail walk
- →Airport transfer
Self-launched vs. Ruby Range Adventure
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Ruby Range Adventure | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£1,150 | £2,450 |
| Duration | 7 days | 7 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,300 per person (53%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Ruby Range Adventure-style trips? Check them out here.~£1,150
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Northern Coast Mountains: Self-Launched Whitehorse to Anchorage Adventure cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £1,150 per person for 7 days in Yukon & Alaska, North America. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with Ruby Range Adventure?+
Yes — Ruby Range Adventure charges around £2,450 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £1,150 — a saving of roughly £1,300 (53%) per person.
How long is the Yukon & Alaska, North America trip?+
This itinerary runs 7 days, covering 7 day-by-day stops through Yukon & Alaska, North America.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a adventure, culture, hiking trip through Yukon & Alaska, North America, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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