Yukon Self-Launched: Whitehorse, Kluane & the Klondike
8 days · Yukon, Canada
EPIC NORTH Tour Experiences Inc. charges £2,490
No-markup version: ~£1,345 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A DIY version of EPIC NORTH's "Spirit of the North" loop out of Whitehorse — the same Southern Lakes, Kluane National Park, Fort Selkirk and Dawson City highlights, done independently with a rented car or camper, hostel/guesthouse stays and self-booked First Nation cultural experiences. The Yukon is not cheap (remote fuel, short season, limited beds), but skipping the guided group structure saves a substantial chunk of the advertised price — most of it by sharing a rental car and self-catering.
Day-by-day
Arrive Whitehorse — settle in and meet the town
Whitehorse, Yukon
Fly into Whitehorse International (YXY) — there are direct summer flights from Vancouver with Air North and Air Canada (~£150-220 one way if booked early; Air North often has the better fares). Grab a taxi or the shared shuttle into town (~£12-18) and check into a hostel or downtown guesthouse. Collect your rental car this evening or first thing tomorrow — a compact SUV with unlimited kilometres is the single most important booking for this trip, so book 3-6 months ahead for June-August. Spend the late afternoon walking the riverside Millennium Trail and the old log-cabin downtown, and stock up on groceries at the Superstore or Save-On — self-catering is what makes the Yukon affordable. Eat a cheap dinner in town rather than replicating the tour's welcome dinner.
🚌Flight to YXY, airport shuttle/taxi to town, rental car collection
🛏Whitehorse hostel or downtown guesthouse (e.g. a private room in a hostel or a budget motel), ~£40-55/night
- →Millennium Trail riverside walk
- →SS Klondike sternwheeler (free exterior / small entry fee)
- →Grocery stock-up
Southern Lakes loop — Emerald Lake, Carcross Desert, Carcross
Whitehorse / Carcross
Drive the South Klondike Highway south — the 'Welcome to the Yukon' sign and Emerald Lake viewpoint are roadside stops about 1hr15 from Whitehorse and completely free; Emerald Lake's colour is best in morning light. Continue 10 minutes to the Carcross Desert (a genuine miniature dune field you can walk across, free) and into Carcross village. Book the Carcross Learning Centre / Tagish First Nation cultural experience directly by phone or email a few days ahead (small independent operation, roughly £15-25) — it's the same visit the tour includes. Walk the Carcross waterfront and old train station, then head back. Fuel up in Whitehorse, not at the rural pumps. Drive time is only ~3.5hrs total, leaving the afternoon free — this is the fishing window mentioned by the operator if you want to arrange a half-day guided trip with a local outfitter (~£100-150).
🚌Self-drive rental car, ~250km round trip; fuel ~£25
🛏Same Whitehorse hostel/guesthouse
- →Emerald Lake viewpoint (free)
- →Carcross Desert walk (free)
- →Carcross Learning Centre cultural visit (book direct, ~£20)
- →Optional half-day fishing charter
Haines Junction & Kluane National Park — Southern Tutchone country
Haines Junction / Kathleen Lake
Drive the Alaska Highway west (~1hr45) to Haines Junction, with the St. Elias mountains looming ahead. Stop at the Da Ku Cultural Centre in Haines Junction (£6-8 entry) for the Champagne and Aishihik First Nations exhibits, then continue to Long Ago Peoples Place — an outdoor Southern Tutchone heritage camp run by Harold and Meta. It's a small family operation; phone or email ahead (roughly £15-20) rather than expecting walk-up availability. Afterwards drive 30-40 minutes to Kluane National Park's visitor centre (free) and down to Kathleen Lake for the shoreline stroll or the easy 2km King's Throne trailhead area. Sleep in Haines Junction rather than returning to Whitehorse — it saves two hours of driving tomorrow. Note: no camping gear? Haines Junction has basic motels and a hostel-style lodge, ~£55-75.
🚌Self-drive rental car, ~320km; fuel ~£30
🛏Haines Junction motel or lodge room, ~£60
- →Da Ku Cultural Centre (~£7)
- →Long Ago Peoples Place cultural camp (book direct, ~£18)
- →Kluane NP visitor centre (free)
- →Kathleen Lake shoreline walk (free)
North Klondike Highway to Dawson City
Dawson City
Long driving day: back through Whitehorse and north on the Klondike Highway to Dawson City, roughly 6-7 hours total including stops. Break it at the Five Finger Rapids viewpoint and Braeburn Lodge (famous enormous cinnamon buns) — the scenery is the attraction and it's free. Consider stopping at the Tintina Trench lookout and Moose Creek. The operator's boat excursion to Fort Selkirk is only reachable by river or air; independent travellers can either take a scheduled Yukon River day trip from Dawson (limited operators, book well ahead, ~£130-170) or skip it and spend the money on the Moosehide fish camp instead. Arrive Dawson City, check into a hostel or guesthouse (Dawson's rooms are scarce in peak season — book by March), and do a free evening wander of the boardwalk streets.
🚌Self-drive rental car, ~540km; fuel ~£45
🛏Dawson City hostel or guesthouse, ~£50-65/night
- →Five Finger Rapids viewpoint (free)
- →Braeburn Lodge stop
- →Optional Fort Selkirk river excursion (~£150, book ahead)
- →Evening boardwalk wander
Moosehide & Dawson City at your own pace
Dawson City
Morning boat trip across the Yukon River to Moosehide fish camp, run by the Tr'ondëk Hwëch'in First Nation — arrange directly through the Tr'ondëk Hwëch'in Heritage Department or Dänojà Zho Cultural Centre (the cultural centre entry is ~£10 and worth it on its own; the fish camp is seasonal and by arrangement, budget ~£30-50). Afternoon free for the things the group tour skips: pan for gold at Claim 33, rent a bike, hike the free Crocus Bluff trail above town, or join a short historic walking tour. Grab a beer at the Dawson City Downtown Hotel's Sourdough Saloon. This is also your second fishing window if you booked an outfitter.
🚌On foot plus pedestrian ferry across the Yukon (free) / small boat charter
🛏Dawson City hostel or guesthouse
- →Moosehide fish camp visit (arrange direct, ~£40)
- →Dänojà Zho Cultural Centre (~£10)
- →Crocus Bluff hike (free)
- →Optional gold panning
Klondike Gold Rush history day
Dawson City / Klondike Highway
Everything the guided tour covers is self-bookable. Start with a Parks Canada historic walking tour of Dawson or the free self-guided route past Jack London's and Robert Service's cabins — both are free to view from outside and the Parks Canada interpretive buildings are low-cost (~£7 for the combined pass). Drive 20 minutes out the Klondike Highway to Discovery Claim on Bonanza Creek (free), then a further 10 minutes to Dredge No. 4, where a Parks Canada tour costs about £10. Finish with the drive up Midnight Dome for the panoramic view (free, best in the long evening light).
🚌Self-drive rental car, ~60km short loop; fuel ~£8
🛏Dawson City hostel or guesthouse
- →Parks Canada Dawson walking tour (~£7)
- →Jack London & Robert Service cabins (free)
- →Discovery Claim (free)
- →Dredge No. 4 tour (~£10)
- →Midnight Dome viewpoint (free)
Dawson City back to Whitehorse via Tombstone viewpoints
Whitehorse
Drive south on the Klondike Highway (~6hrs with stops). Break at the Tombstone Territorial Park viewpoints — the park itself is 100km up the Dempster Highway, but if you're willing to add a half-day detour, the North Fork Pass and Grizzly Lake trailhead area are spectacular and free; otherwise the Klondike Highway viewpoints toward Tombstone's peaks still deliver the shot. Stop again at Five Finger Rapids if you missed it. Arrive Whitehorse, return or keep the car depending on your departure flight, and enjoy a final evening at a casual downtown spot — the tour's farewell dinner equivalent costs a fraction when you choose your own restaurant.
🚌Self-drive rental car, ~540km; fuel ~£45
🛏Whitehorse hostel or guesthouse, ~£45-55
- →Tombstone area viewpoints (free)
- →Optional Dempster Highway detour
- →Five Finger Rapids viewpoint
Depart Whitehorse
Whitehorse, Yukon
Return the rental car (check whether a one-way drop was needed — keep it a Whitehorse loop to avoid a hefty one-way fee), then fly out of YXY. If your flight is later in the day, the MacBride Museum (~£10) or the Yukon Beringia Interpretive Centre (~£10) are excellent wet-weather or spare-hour options. Airport shuttle or taxi back to the terminal.
🚌Car return, taxi/shuttle to YXY (~£15), flight out
🛏None (departure day)
- →MacBride Museum or Beringia Centre (optional, ~£10)
Self-launched vs. EPIC NORTH Tour Experiences Inc.
| This itinerary (self-launched) | EPIC NORTH Tour Experiences Inc. | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£1,345 | £2,490 |
| Duration | 8 days | 8 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,145 per person (46%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more EPIC NORTH Tour Experiences Inc.-style trips? Check them out here.~£1,345
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 Yukon Self-Launched: Whitehorse, Kluane & the Klondike cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £1,345 per person for 8 days in Yukon, Canada. 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 EPIC NORTH Tour Experiences Inc.?+
Yes — EPIC NORTH Tour Experiences Inc. charges around £2,490 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £1,345 — a saving of roughly £1,145 (46%) per person.
How long is the Yukon, Canada trip?+
This itinerary runs 8 days, covering 8 day-by-day stops through Yukon, Canada.
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, road-trip trip through Yukon, Canada, 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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