Alaska has proven to be such a perfect RV destination (at least during the summer months!) that Fantasy has developed not just one, but five different Alaska tour itineraries in recent years. They’re all different, but each one provides opportunities for truly experiencing the magnificent attractions, the natural beauty, the amazing wildlife and the sometimes quirky characters which make up our 49th state.
For those with more time for this exciting adventure, the Alaska Your Way Tour, which at 62 days is Fantasy’s longest Alaska tour – is the ultimate Midnight Sun adventure at your own pace. Again, all campsites are booked, a few dinners are included and experienced Alaska WagonMasters are along for the trip to provide help and resources. The adventure begins in beautiful Anacortes, Washington, located on the shore of Fidalgo Island. They travel north through British Columbia, with stops in Cache Creek, Prince George, Dawson Creek, Ft. Nelson and Muncho Lake before crossing into Yukon Territory.
There’s a side trip to Haines while driving through the Yukon, and then the group crosses into Alaska, stopping first in Tok. Next, there’s a few days (including a delicious authentic salmon bake) in Fairbanks, the northern most point of the tour. Next stop – Denali National Park for a guided wilderness tundra tour. It’s on to Alaska’s largest city, Anchorage and then to seaside (and great fishing!) spots – Seward, Homer and Kenai where they enjoy an amazing crab feed. They turn inland to Palmer, home of Alaska’s giant vegetables, and travel on to Valdez before returning to Tok.
This trip isn’t over….yet! After crossing back into Yukon Territory, the group detours to Skagway, a popular stop for cruise ships all summer. But while cruise ship passengers only spend a few hours in this charming town, our group stays for three nights. Then it’s back to the Yukon, traveling into British Columbia to Stewart, located on the U.S./Canada border. Nearby is the idiosyncratic town of Hyder, which with 87 local residents, bills itself as “The Friendliest Ghost Town in Alaska”. Hyder is also known for frequent visits from grizzly bears – and there’s a good chance Fantasy guests can view them at their favorite fishing holes. From there, we head to our final destination – Smithers – for a farewell dinner. There’s limited availability on the 2018 tour, departing on June 25, but space is available on the 2019 tour, departing June 24 and on the 2020 tour which leaves on June 22.
For those who want to travel Alaska "Your Way," but do not have the time available to spend a couple of months traveling through Alaska, we've created the brand-new 36-Day Alaska Express Your Way Tour. There are two of these tours to choose from, one departing July 14, 2019 and the other departing July 12, 2020. While the two “Your Way” itineraries are geared for those who want to travel at their own pace and choose their own activities, Fantasy also offers three more Alaska tours created for those who prefer to leave all the planning and arrangements to Fantasy.
The 48-Day Heart of Alaska tour travels the Alcan Highway, beginning at Milepost 0 in Dawson Creek, B.C. They travel along the highway through the Yukon Territory, with visits to a sled dog kennel in White Horse and the famous Diamond Tooth Gertie’s gambling saloon in Dawson City as just some of the included activities. After the ferry crossing into Alaska, they drive the Top of the World Highway to Chicken…..and yes, there’s a fun story on how that town got its name! They head north to spend four nights in Fairbanks, where there are a host of activities planned, including a delicious salmon bake, a riverboat cruise and panning for gold. Then it’s three nights at Denali National Park – with a guided tundra wilderness tour of the park’s six million acres of untouched terrain and roaming wildlife.
After visiting Anchorage, the group turns south to beautiful Homer, camping right on the infamous Homer Spit. There’s plenty of time for fishing here, and also at the next stop, Seward, where the group meets local puffins at the Alaska Sea Life Experience. They visit Palmer, Valdez and Tok before crossing back to the Yukon. From there, they turn west into British Columbia, visiting Dease, Stewart, and Fort Telkwa, ending the tour in Prince George.
There are two Heart of Alaska tours scheduled for 2018, however they are almost full. Reservations for the 2019 tour, departing June 22, and the 2020 tour which leaves on June 27 are now being accepted.
Got more time? You won’t miss much on Fantasy’s 60-Day Premier Alaska tour! Not only does it begin and end in two stunning U.S. towns (Coeur d’Alene and Anacortes), the route also includes travels through the magnificent Rocky Mountains. After two days in Idaho’s famous resort town of Coeur d’Alene, the group travels north into “Wild Rose Country” – Alberta, Canada. With three days in Banff and two days in Jasper, they travel through two national parks – Yoho and Banff, have lunch at Lake Louise, travel by snow coach through the Columbia Icefield and even toast one another with a glass of glacial water on top of the Athabasca Glacier.
Crossing into the Yukon, the group follows the Fantasy itinerary enjoyed by other Fantasy Alaska tours. After a stay in Tok, they head southwest to Alaska’s port town of Valdez, then travel along the coast until they reach Anchorage, with stops in both Seward and Homer – camping on the legendary Homer Spit. After exploring Anchorage, it’s on to Denali National Park for four nights – discovering the park via a Tundra Wilderness Guided bus tour and also challenging the rapids on a Nenana River raft trip.
Next stop is four nights in Fairbanks, and then turning back to the Yukon and through British Columbia, crossing into the United States with two nights in the charming town of Anacortes, Washington, located on Fidalgo Island. On the way, they stop for lunch at Hell’s Gate, along with a ride on the Airtram, a fully suspended tram which travels across the gorge from the Cascade Mountain Range to the Coast Pacific Mountain Range.
The two 2018 Premier Alaska tours depart in June and are almost sold out. The 2019 tour departs on June 18, but due to popular demand – we’ve just added a second 2019 departure date of June 11! In 2020, the tours will depart on June 9 and 16.
Fantasy’s 61-Day Ultimate Alaska tour is nothing short of …well, ultimate! The rendezvous point is also in Coeur d’Alene, but from there the group travels to Calgary and participates in Fantasy’s popular Calgary Stampede Rally – including tickets to the rodeo, the chuckwagon races and the Stampede grounds. After three days at the Rally, they continue on to Banff and Jasper, then up to the Yukon. This group follows similar Fantasy Alaska itineraries, plus all the extras, continuing to Fairbanks, to Denali National Park and to Anchorage. They then head down to Homer and Seward, where they enjoy a luncheon cruise on Prince William Sound, viewing both the Columbia and Mears glaciers. In Skagway, they embark on yet another wildlife viewing cruise and journey on the infamous Yukon Railroad Train. They then head back to the Yukon, head south to British Columbia with the final stop in Prince George. 
Very few spots on the Ultimate Alaska tour remain in 2018, with departures on July 7 and July 10. In 2019, Ultimate Alaska tours are scheduled on July 6 and July 9 and are filling up fast! And in 2020, Ultimate Alaska tours will depart on July 4 and July 7.
Regardless of how much time you have or how you want to do it, Fantasy has an Alaska tour for you. For more information, click here.