To me, Alaska was a place on the map that I studied about in my geography class when in school. I remember learning about how Alaska is close to the Arctic circle, has these magnificent glaciers and breathtaking Northern Lights. So you can tell that it was more of a distant dream for me to visit Alaska and that dream came true in 2022 when my husband and I planned a trip here with our friends. We planned for 5 days in Alaska during the fall season and those 5 days were the most unforgettable ones for me!
Because Alaska has a vast landscape, it will take at least a week to explore everything. But we could only plan Alaska for 5 days over the week before the Labor day weekend and that was also enough for us to cover most of the key spots. There is a lot to do if you’re visiting as a tourist such as Glacier landing, hiking, helicopter rides, wildlife watching, cruise and scenic drives. But if you plan well, you can do all of this in 5 days. So in this blog, I will be sharing our itinerary for spending the best 5 days in Alaska that will help you plan a smooth trip.
But before I jump into the itinerary, here are some important travel tips to keep in mind if it’s your first time here.
How long do you need to visit Alaska?
In terms of the length of time needed to visit Alaska, as I mentioned, plan for at least a week if you can. If not, then with perfect planning you can do a lot in less than a week as well. Everyone travels differently so the things that we wanted to do may not necessarily be on your list. So depending on what you want out of this trip, you can always adjust the length of time.
What is the best time to visit?
The best time to visit really depends on what you want to do here. Alaska has four seasons and each season has a lot to offer. If you visit in the summer, you will get warm and nice weather to do more outdoor activities. In Autumn, you get to see the beautiful fall colors and the tundra turning red and yellow. While in the shoulder season i.e. anytime after the first week of September, you will be able to see the Northern Lights. In the winter season, you will also be able to enjoy all the winter activities like skiing, dog sledding, snowshoeing etc. We visited in the last week of August and we were lucky enough to get the best of both i.e. fall colors and Northern Lights. The weather was cold but not cold enough to stop us from doing things.
What to pack?
Because Alaska weather is very unpredictable and changes rapidly, I suggest packing layers no matter what weather you go in. Pack all your warm clothes such as trench coats, parka jackets, puffer jackets, snow boots, caps, gloves, socks, thermals etc. Also ensure to pack hiking boots, poles if you need, comfortable pairs of active wear, a backpack and rain gear like umbrellas and rain jackets. Keep bug spray and bear spray as well.
How much does it cost?
In terms of the cost, since we visited after the pandemic we had to pay more for everything from flights to hotels as the costs have gone up significantly. However, we took connecting flights and our flights from Atlanta to Fairbanks with one layover cost us $500 per person. As for the stay, because we were a group of four we decided to do Airbnbs everywhere because that was more comfortable and economical. Here’s the link to our beautiful airbnb in Anchorage and here’s the link for the one in Fairbanks. We had a great experience in both and it was affordable.
How to get around?
We took a car rental for the entire length of our trip to go around because that gave us much more flexibility and comfort. There’s public transport available as well but I’d recommend a car rental, even though it can be expensive. We had Seward, Anchorage, Denali and Fairbanks on our list so having a car was important. Driving around Alaska is fairly easy as the traffic is not that bad, even in the peak seasons.
What advance bookings do you need to make?
This will depend on what season you go in. Regardless, you will want to book your flights, hotels and car rentals a couple of months ahead to get cheaper deals, especially if you plan to go in the peak season. If Denali National Park is on your list, then you should also book the bus tour a couple of months in advance because this is a very popular tourist activity. We took the Tundra wilderness tour but there are a couple of other options as well to suit your needs. The Seward cruise, Matanuska Glacier Hike, Glacier Landing and the Anchorage Trolley Tour were a few other things we booked in advance. And if Northern Lights is also on your list and you prefer doing a tour rather than going on your own, then you may want to book this in advance as well.
And now, let me jump straight into our 5-day itinerary. This itinerary covers a bunch of interesting activities such as hikes, glacier landing, helicopter tour, scenic drive, cruise, wildlife watching and Northern Lights. But you can always tweak it to your liking.
DAY 1 – EXPLORE ANCHORAGE
Breakfast at Black Cup Coffee
We started our Day 1 with a delicious coffee and breakfast at the Black Cup Coffee. I absolutely loved their ambience and the coffee was so good.
Flattop Mountain Trail
Our first stop was the Flattop Mountain Trail and this trail opens up to stunning panoramic views of the mountains. It’s a difficult trail and has some steep inclines so be prepared and take hiking poles with you if you need. The weather here changes rapidly so make sure to dress in layers because as you reach the top you will feel warmer. It takes roughly around 3-4 hours round trip, including stops in between and at the top. You will get beautiful views throughout the hike, but once you reach the top you will be amazed at the breathtaking views of Denali, the Aleutian Islands and Mount Mckinley so I’d totally recommend adding this to your itinerary if you have the time.
Beluga Point Site
This point is known for spotting white whales swimming close to the shore. Although we weren’t able to see the whales, we were still able to enjoy the beautiful views. This point is on the Seward Highway and you will see a signboard on the right side of the road. They say that it’s a great spot to visit when there’s a high tide because the whales come closer to the shore and there’s a high chance of seeing them.
Virgin Creek Falls
This is on the Seward highway and is a fairly easy and short hike. So we took a quick stop here, walked a couple of minutes and reached the beautiful waterfall. The trail is rocky and can be slippery so make sure you wear sturdy shoes. Also, you’re in the rainforest so carry a rain jacket. Virgin Creek Falls is a great stop on the Seward Highway if you have the time.
Byron Glacier Trail
We continued to drive on the Seward Highway in the Turnagain Arm region to reach the Byron Glacier. The drive itself was very scenic and beautiful. Once we reached the Byron Glacier Trail site, we made our way to the trailhead which is a few hundred meters from the Begich Boggs Visitor Center. The trail opens up to amazing views of the Byron Glacier. It takes about 30 minutes one way and is worth a visit if you have the time.
Point Woronzof Park
After the Byron Glacier Trail, we made our way back to the town of Anchorage. We had plans to explore the downtown and take the trolley bus tour but before that we decided to stop at the Point Woronzof Park. It’s a great place to watch the sunset and wildlife.
Anchorage Trolley Tour
The Anchorage Trolley Deluxe city tour is a great way to explore Anchorage and learn more about its history. It’s a 90-minute guided tour that stops at the iconic locations like Earthquake Park, Lake Hood and Westchester Lagoon. We were also able to see an aircraft cross the road right in front of us. And we also learnt a lot about Alaska’s rich history. There are different types of tours so you can check the official website for more details.
Anchorage Market
Our last stop for the day was the famous Anchorage market. It’s a popular thing to do and is located at the Diamond Center Mall on 88th Avenue. It runs from mid-May to mid-September and is open from Friday through Sunday. And it’s free to get in so I’d definitely recommend checking this quirky market out.
Dinner at 49th State Brewing
We ended our first day with an amazing craft beer and delicious food at 49th State Brewing.
DAY 2 – SEWARD CRUISE AND AERIAL TRAM
Seward Cruise
We planned the first half of our second day for a cruise of the Kenai Fjords National Park. This is one of the top tourist activities because it takes you up and close to the glaciers and you can actually see the glaciers calving right in front of your eyes. We took the 8-hour cruise option and booked it through Viator. And if you’re lucky, you’ll also get to see the sea animals. However, since this is going be a long ride, here’s a few tips to help you plan this better,
- If you have sea sickness then be sure to take a pill before you hop on the cruise. However, on the cruise they will show you the best places to avoid sea sickness and they usually also offer ginger ale or candy to help you feel better but always be prepared.
- You can pack some food or snacks for the cruise if you’d like. Although you will get a lunch buffet on the cruise that will be included in your package, if you’d prefer to carry your own food just in case then feel free to do that. Especially, if you’re a vegetarian as that might limit your options. Be sure to submit your lunch selection in advance.
- Dress in layers because it will be a bit chilly on the cruise throughout the day. So be sure to wear a parka jacket or trench coat, gloves, cap, a thermal inside and boots. Also carry a rain jacket.
- Make sure you go on a sunny day and not when it’s raining or cloudy. The beautiful colors of the water and the glacier views are best when it’s sunny and bright.
This cruise is an amazing way to witness the beautiful green blue color of the water, sea animals like Orcas and the stunning glaciers. And the nice part was that it actually stops for 20 minutes in front of the Holgate Glacier to give you ample time to soak in the view and take pictures. So I would highly recommend adding this 7.5 hours tour to your itinerary.
Alyeska Aerial Tram
The second half of our day was planned for the Alyeska Aerial Tram which is a great scenic ride to the top of Mt Alyeska. It’s a 4-7 minute ride up to the top. We were treated to the most amazing views of the surrounding glaciers and the Turnagain Arm. There are a couple of hikes from here that can take you to more breathtaking views and we did a mini hike to get better views of the glaciers. The entire trip will take you around 1-2 hours if you plan to take a shorter hike and hang out at the top.
Since we had an early morning and a super long day, we decided to not pack the day with a lot of things to do and ended it early with a nice dinner back in the Anchorage downtown.
DAY 3 – MATANUSKA AND KNIK GLACIERS
Matanuska Glacier hike
Day 3 was the most exciting day for me because it was all about glacier exploration. The first stop for the day was the very famous Matanuska Glacier. Matanuska is Alaska’s largest road-accessible glacier and is located about two hours north of Anchorage. We decided to hike this glacier which was the best way to experience it up and close. But because it was our first time hiking a glacier, we decided to take a guided tour. We booked our tour through here and it was a great experience.
And here’s a few tips to help you plan this day better,
- As with other days, you need to dress in layers on this day as well and this day is mostly going to be very cold since you’ll be walking on the glacier. So make sure to really dress appropriately to be able to embrace the cold. Also check the weather before you go, for a chance of rain.
- Make sure to wear snow boots with a strong grip. Although you will be getting microspikes, helmets and poles from the tour guide, it’s important to wear comfortable and sturdy shoes or boots that are also waterproof. I got my snow boots from Timberland and wore them literally every day. They have a thermal padding inside and are waterproof so worth the investment.
- This tour doesn’t provide food so make sure to carry your own food or snacks and some water.
- Take an empty water bottle to fill water from the glacier. Glacier water is so pure and refreshing.
- Take an extra pair of socks because your feet can get wet while hiking on the glacier so plan accordingly.
- Stay with your tour guide and your group and don’t try to wander off on your own.
- Also, there are a lot of small water pools on the glacier so be mindful to not step into them as they can run very deep.
This hike was one of the most unique and beautiful experiences for me because I haven’t experienced a glacier from so close before. I was able to see small meltwater pools, ice caves and beautiful ice formations. This is a must-do activity in Alaska so it has to be on your itinerary.
Knik Glacier Landing
One of the most exciting experiences you can get in Alaska is Flightseeing. This experience is not just about sightseeing but also about access. There are some glaciers in Alaska, including the Knik Glacier, that are not accessible by land. So we took a helicopter to land on the Knik Glacier, which was one of our best experiences. We booked our ride for the morning and the helicopter ride was around 30 minutes. We flew over the Knik river and the mountains and it was a beautiful site. Even though I am scared of heights, I totally forgot about my fear because the views were just so incredible. Once we got closer to the glacier, we saw pieces of ice floating in the river – such an amazing view!
The aerial view of the glacier was just stunning. Once we landed we were able to walk around on the glacier and we got around 30 minutes to spend on the glacier. Follow the same tips as for Matanuska Glacier to get the most out of this experience.
One of the most beautiful things we saw when we were here was the melt pools. Melt pools are basically glacial ice that has liquified in the sunlight and warm temperatures. What makes it so beautiful is the pretty blue color of the water. We also explored some glacier formations such as ice caves and ice walls which was equally amazing because we’ve never come across glacier formations before. So, overall it was an experience that I would totally recommend adding to your list.
Hatcher Pass
After having explored two beautiful glaciers, we then made our way to the final stop for the day i.e. Hatcher Pass. This is a stunning scenic route in the Talkeetna Mountains. If you’re driving from Anchorage, just take the Glenn highway and then turn into the Hatcher Pass road, which is a very scenic road leading up to the pass. Once you’re here, one great way to explore the area is through the trails. We took the Gold Cord Lake Trail which is a very easy 1 mile trail that offers amazing views. The hike opens up to a lake and also offers an amazing view of the valley. It’s a great way to explore the pass and if you go during September, you will be able to see the beautiful red and yellow colors of the tundra here.
DAY 4 – DENALI NATIONAL PARK
Denali Bus Tour
Day 4 was all about exploring the Denali National Park. We drove from Anchorage to Denali, and the entire drive was like a beautiful scenery. And because it was the beginning of the fall season, through our drive we saw beautiful fall colors of the tundra. Denali is 6 million acres huge and has the highest mountain peak in North America. Wow!
It’s only open from May-September so it’s a short window to access the park. I would highly recommend planning to visit Alaska when Denali is open because you don’t want to miss it. And if you’re planning to visit, an important thing to note is that only the first 15 miles in the park are open to public cars. After that, you can either hike, bike or take the bus. The shuttle bus is more like a hop-on-hop-off service which stops at a few important points through the park. Its also a guided tour so it was very informative and we learnt a lot about the history of the park. Our driver was also very experienced so he knew exactly the spots where bears frequented through the day. So, because of him we were actually able to spot a grizzly bear, moose and caribou.
The bus ride is typically 5-6 hours and can be more depending on which company you book with. Our ride was around the same time but we had a lot of fun exploring everything at its own pace and enjoying the beautiful landscapes. Each stop was about 15-20 minutes so it gave us ample time to explore and take some pictures. We thoroughly enjoyed our experience and it didn’t feel tiring at all. Here’s the link to book the bus tour experience in Denali.
Mount Healy Hike
The Mount Healy hike is not the easiest one but it is the most rewarding one. The views from the top are breathtaking. More so for us because we went in the fall season. The beautiful shades of yellow, orange and red made it a more beautiful sight as we climbed to the top. The trail is about 2.7 miles one way and takes about 2 hours to get to the top. The initial part of the trail is not as steep and goes through the forest. Almost around the halfway point, it opens to a very nice overlook and some benches. This overlook also offers amazing views so if you’re feeling tired and don’t want to continue, you can head back from here. But if you can push yourself a bit more, I would suggest going to the top because the panoramic views will be so worth it.
It’s this last half part of the trail that gets steep and challenging. When you get to the top, the weather can be very windy and chilly so as always, dress in layers and appropriately. And because you will be passing through the forest in your first half, it’s important to carry bear spray because some parts of the trail are frequented by bears during some specific times of the day. It’s nothing to be scared of as long as you’re in a group or carry a spray, but it’s important to be aware of.
To access this trail, from the Denali Visitor Center hike about half a mile on the Taiga Trail, until you reach a trail junction with the start of the Mount Healy Trail. This trail is one-way, so your return is the way you came. As I said, this is one of the most challenging hikes in Denali but if I had to recommend one hike it would be this one because it has the most amazing views I have ever seen.
DAY 5 – FAIRBANKS
We started our last day in Alaska with a nice breakfast at The Crepery. They have a great menu and everything tasted so well.
Fairbanks Ice Museum
We then made our way to the Fairbanks Ice Museum. As the name says it all, this museum has an exhibition of beautiful ice sculptures so it’s worth a stop. It’s open from May through September so be sure to check the schedule.
Table Top Mountain Hike
If you’re in the mood for a hike, then the Table Top Mountain Hike is an easy 3-mile trail that provides beautiful panoramic views of the White Mountains so you can spend some time here and soak in the landscape. It is also considered one of the most scenic drives in this area.
Chena Hot Springs
This is a very popular activity in Fairbanks and doesn’t matter what weather you go in. It still feels nice to soak into the hot water. Here’s the link to get more details on this activity.
Northern Lights
I am sure that Northern Lights is on your Alaska bucket list if you’re planning a trip here. From my research I had found that the Aurora is only visible between August to April so you would want to plan in these months if you want a chance to see the beautiful Aurora. For more information on real time status, you can visit this link. This tracker was very helpful for us. If the sky is cloudy or rainy, you won’t be able to see the lights. So plan for a night when the sky is clear. Also, Fairbanks is the best place for Aurora viewing. And even if the skies are clear and predicted activity is high, there may still be a chance that you may not be able to see it. So, I would suggest allowing at least 2-3 nights in a row to have a higher chance.
There are many great spots from where you can see the Aurora that are listed here. So depending on where you are on that day, you can decide which spot is the closest and most convenient for you. Since we stayed in Fairbanks on our last day, we went to Murphy Dome around 2am in the night and it was a 40-minute drive for us. Note that the drive from Fairbanks to Murphy Dome is packed with dirt and gravel towards the last few miles. And because you will be driving at night, you want to make sure the car is prepared to handle that so that you don’t have to stop midway.
On the night we went on, the activity wasn’t very high because we got cloudy skies so we weren’t able to see the Northern Lights very clearly. It mostly looked gray to us but surprisingly our phone cameras were able to capture it very well as in the picture below. If you want to get great pictures, you can always download a night photography app to capture the beautiful colors. Also, try to find the darkest place so that the colors get captured perfectly. But I would say, don’t stress too much over the photos because it’s more important to enjoy the experience. Also, allow at least an hour to spot the Aurora. Sometimes, it can even take a few hours to get a really good glimpse. So even though I wasn’t able to see the full spectrum, it was still a memorable experience to take back with me.
And that’s all as far as the itinerary goes. No matter how long you plan for, Alaska will always have so much to offer that you’ll feel like coming back. Every season here is beautiful and its landscapes are just incredible. So I wish you a great trip whenever you plan. And hope this itinerary for spending 5 days in Alaska will be useful in your planning process.
