Day 1 Whitehorse | Arrival
Welcome to the “Land of the Midnight Sun”. Whitehorse is the capital of the Yukon Territory and at 22,000 people is the largest city in Canada’s North. Everything about the Yukon is big, even the log skyscraper in town. After checking in to your hotel, take some time to explore the city and get a feel of what’s in store.
Day 2 Whitehorse | Yukon Wildlife Preserve
Time to explore the region and take advantage of all that Whitehorse has to offer. Visit the Yukon Wildlife Preserve (included), a unique wildlife viewing property featuring 10 species of northern Canadian mammals in their natural environment. Encompassing over 700 acres with various natural habitats, the Yukon Wildlife Preserve offers unparalleled wildlife viewing and photo opportunities.
Day 3 Whitehorse to Haines Junction | 154 km/96 mi
Depart Whitehorse today for an easy two hour drive along the historic Alaska Highway to Haines Junction. This town is the only thing not huge in Kluane country with a population of 800 residents, which is fewer than the number of grizzly bears in Kluane National Park. The park is home to Canada’s highest peak and the world’s largest non-polar Icefields that lie behind the façade of mountains that provide the town’s spectacular backdrop. For a truly unforgettable experience, take an air tour over the park. From above some of the planet’s largest glaciers, you’ll get a true sense of the scale and magnificence created by nature.
Day 4 Kluane National Park | 250 km/155 mi
Travel along the Haines Highway as the road climbs from the Chilkat River Valley to the windswept Chilkat Pass. You skirt the boundaries of both Tatshenshini-Alsek Provincial Park in British Columbia and Kluane National Park in the Yukon, part of one of the largest contiguous protected wilderness areas on earth and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Day 5 Haines Junction to Tok | 467 km/290 mi
Leave Haines Junction and continue northwest along the Alaska Highway, travelling through one of the Yukon’s most dramatic wilderness corridors. The road follows the edge of Kluane National Park and Reserve, with sweeping views of mountains, glacial valleys, boreal forest and the vast waters of Kluane Lake. Continue past remote northern communities and wide-open landscapes toward the Alaska border, where the journey takes on a true frontier feel. Cross into the United States and continue through forested valleys and open country back to Tok, a classic Alaska crossroads town.
Day 6 Tok to Dawson City | 297 km/185 mi
The Top of the World Highway (please note this is a partly gravel road) brings you through spectacular backcountry and gold mining areas. When the highway reaches its highest elevation incredible views into far-reaching countryside open up. Before you reach Dawson City, you’ll cross the Yukon River by the government-run ferry. With your arrival in Dawson City you might feel you just landed in a different century. Experience the old Klondike in its well-kept color and fame.
Day 7 Dawson City | Historic Town & Cultural Heritage
Spend the day discovering Dawson City’s remarkable Klondike heritage and enduring northern character. Walk the wooden boardwalks past colourful false-front buildings and historic landmarks that preserve the atmosphere of the gold-rush era. Visit the Dänojà Zho Cultural Centre to learn about the history and living culture of the Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in, then explore the Dawson City Museum, Jack London Museum & Cabin and, subject to seasonal opening schedules, sites such as the S.S. Keno, Palace Grand Theatre and Robert Service Cabin. This evening, consider visiting Diamond Tooth Gerties for casino games and lively can-can entertainment.
Day 8 Dawson City | Klondike Goldfields & Midnight Dome
Venture beyond Dawson City into the legendary Klondike goldfields, following Bonanza Creek toward the site where the 1896 discovery helped ignite one of history’s greatest gold rushes. Visit Discovery Claim and Dredge No. 4 to learn how prospecting and large-scale placer mining transformed the region, then try panning for gold at Free Claim No. 6. Depending on seasonal schedules, you may also explore the historic Bear Creek mining complex. Later, drive to the summit of Midnight Dome for sweeping views over Dawson City, the Yukon and Klondike Rivers, the Ogilvie Mountains and the surrounding goldfields.
Day 9 Dawson City to Whitehorse | 532 km/333 mi
Going south, enjoy the raw beauty of the surrounding landscape. Stopover at the Five Finger Rapids and hike down to the shore of the Yukon River. In late afternoon you will reach Yukon’s capital city, Whitehorse - a city with a unique combination of pioneer values and urban sophistication.
Day 10 Whitehorse | Departure
After check-out of your hotel your Yukon Self Drive adventure comes to an end.
