Forests, lakes, winding rivers and Gold! 

The Yukon is rich with the history of the Klondike Gold Rush and visiting Dawson City is like stepping back in time. Most of the Yukon is covered with vast forests, , emerald green lakes and winding rivers; it also has Canada’s tallest mountains and the world’s largest non-polar ice fields.

The Silver Trail – 10 night self Drive Itinerary Whitehorse Roundtrip

Tour highlights

Explore the heartland of the Yukon including the Silver Trail Highway to Mayo and Keno
Visit the Klondike area to relive the stampede days in Dawson City
Drive the Top of the World Highway
Visit Kluane National Park  - home to vast ice fields and Mount Logan, Canada’s highest peak

Itinerary

Day 1 
Arrive Whitehorse and transfer (not included) to the Westmark Hotel for a two night stay.

Day 2 
Explore Whitehorse, capital of the Yukon. Points of interest include the SS Klondike, one of the few remaining paddlewheel ships that used to travel the river to Dawson City, stores of Main Street and the MacBride Museum.

Day 3 
Pick up your rental vehicle for the drive north on the Alaska Highway to Mayo (472kms).  The drive follows, in part, the Yukon River Valley and through several small communities. A ‘must stop’ is at the overlook of the Five Finger Rapids. Overnight at the Bedrock Motel for a two night stay.

Day 4
A free day to explore Mayo and Keno. The community of Keno has a long history of mining and there is a great museum in the town. Be sure to climb to the historic sign post that has been left by visitors and miners to the area on Keno Hill. This area has been explored by fortune seekers for more than 140 years and has a rich mix of First Nations history, fur traders and miners.

Day 5 
Enjoy a leisurely drive to Dawson City (290kms) which is home to one of the greatest gold rushes that has ever occurred. The city has been a draw to visitors for over 100 years and today retains much of its history with unpaved streets, wooden boardwalks and original buildings.  Overnight at Westmark Inn for a three night stay.

Days 6 & 7 
Two free days to explore the city and surrounding areas. Walking the city is the best way to get a feel for the history and culture of the Gold Rush and the First Nations of the area. Walk along Front Street and be sure to visit the Commissioners Residence and, on the same street, visit the Tr’ondek Hwech’in First Nation Culture centre. A trip out to the gold fields is also well worth the experience and you can view the great gold dredge located at Discovery Claim #4, close to the first location when gold was found by three weary travellers in 1896. You can also visit an active mine and pan for gold. Highly recommended is to go to  Diamond Tooth Gerties one night and try your hand at blackjack and enjoy the Can-Can floorshow.

Day 8 
Today you will drive along the Top of the World Highway that traverses mountain tops and ridges and enters Alaska before meeting with the Alaska Highway to continue the drive to Beaver Creek (493kms). The scenery today  is stunning and offers a good opportunity to view wildlife including caribou, eagles, mountain sheep and goats. Overnight Westmark Inn.

Day 9 
Another day of scenic driving to Haines Junction (295kms). As you drive south you will pass a number of small communities on the edge of Kluane Lake which is the largest in the Yukon at over 70kms in length. To the west is Kluane National Park which, together with Wrangell-St. Elias Park in Alaska is the largest protected area in the world. Kluane contains 14 of the 17 highest mountains in North America and the largest non-polar ice fields in the world. At the Sheep Mountain Interpretative Centre, take a break and have a look for the Dalls Sheep (all-white) that graze the steep grassy slopes in summer. Overnight at the Raven Hotel for a two night stay.

Day 10  
A free day to explore the area and the best place to start is the National Park Visitors Centre just follow the signs or the smell of the wonderful bakery across the road.  Haines Junction is located at the foot of Kluane National Park and offers a magnificent view of the rugged Kluane Range. Visit Kathleen Lake or book a fantastic flight seeing tour of the area – the views are truly awe-inspiring. There is also good hiking and canoeing which you can do as a guided excursion or independently.

Day 11 
A short drive today (160kms) to Whitehorse so take your time leaving Haines Junction. On arrival at Whitehorse drop your rental car at the airport in time for your onward flight.

Tour Includes:

Air Canada flights from/to London Heathrow (economy class)

10 night’s accommodation as detailed

Mid size vehicle rental for 9 days rental to include unlimited mileage, loss damage waiver, all taxes and airport fees

Price per person based on sharing a twin room is £2,345.00 based ib 1st June 2011 departure.

We do have other tours and self drive itineraries including Aurora Borealis viewing.

Telephone 01502 567222 for more information on this or any other tour or holiday to the Yukon.