Alaska Guided Tour Caravan

We went with Fantasy back in '01. I thought it was expensive at $100/day but some of the tours we went on would have cost us in excess of that. So, overall, if you are afraid of going by yourself, sign up with a company. You will find that they will stay somewhere a little to long and not stay long enough somewhere else.

You could get the brochure from a travel company and then do the trip on your own time following their itinerary.

The roads are something else. This year the road will be real good, next year not so. They are continually working on the roads so you don't know from one year to the next which one will be torn up

Buy and study a copy of the Alaska Highway Milepost. It has all you need to know in it. We made the trip 8 years ago all by ourselves. Stopped when we wanted to and left when we wanted to do. No problems finding a place to park when we wanted to park either. Save your money for something else.

It is absolutely not difficult to go on your own...and you won't be alone. Thousands are going to the same places you are. You meet up with folks time after time in the campgrounds or other places. Canadians and Alaskans are great folks and will willingly help you in any way. They are proud of their areas and love to talk about places to see and go.

Have you driven construction areas this summer near your home? Alaska has only a short time to do their road repairs and summer it is. It's no different than the lower 48 although some of the areas will be longer in length. The key is to drive slow on the gravel areas. If you have the summer you have plenty of time to get there. Don't be in a rush. As soon as you cross the Canadian border there will be awesome things to see in Canada and the Yukon. Don't just make a beeline for Alaska.

There is a particular section of highway after you leave Tok, Alaska that is noted for it's frost heaves. Go over one and you'll know how to spot them from a distance - the road will be a little wavy. The highway department tries to put a cone or marker at these spots but doesn't catch every one. That's when you'll be taking it slow. Basically, about the only other major gravel area will be around Destruction Bay (rightly named). It is constantly under repair because of the permafrost under the highway. It will never be a smooth paved highway. You just go slow.

We didn't have one repair issues or windshield damage to our 40' motorhome towing the Jeep on our all-summer trip. People that do are either overloaded or drive too fast.

All you need to purchase online, is the Milepost book which is great for history and maps. We had it open every day as we drove and read to each other the history of the areas. Don't rely on it for campgrounds. They are paid advertisements.

Instead, purchase online Mike and Terri Church's book 'Alaskan Camping' which includes Canada and the Yukon. It will be all you need for finding RV parks, public campgrounds and great boondocking areas right along the highway in scenic areas. They lived in Fairbanks and traveled back and forth many years in their RV so they really have great descriptions and GPS coordinates/maps for all camping spots. The Provincial parks in Canada and the Yukon are great - similar to our state parks.

The last thing to purchase is the TourSaver 2/1 coupon book - again, online. Buy one admittance and get the other free. One glacier tour will pay for the book and you'll want to do at least one.

Some of the horror stories you hear are passed down over the years. The majority of driving will be on good paved roads. Don't hesitate to go on your own.

With a caravan you will be on a schedule. What if you loved an area and wanted to spend more days or hated it and didn't want to even spend the night? People say caravans reserve your campsite and arrange for your tours. That's a very simple thing for anyone to do. They're reserving for a large group that's why they need to reserve. Going alone you don't need reservations for the majority of places. Pull in early afternoon and you'll get a site.

The only reservation we had for the summer was the July 4 weekend and for staying 5 nights in Denali Nat'l Park's farthest campground you can drive - Teklanika. For those we made reservations 2 or 3 weeks prior when we could better judge when we'd be there. As it turned out for Denali, we were in the area early so on a whim we boondocked along the highway in a beautiful spot the previous night and drove into the park the next morning. We easily got 5 additional nights in Denali's front campground, Riley Creek. There was plenty for us to do in 10 nights and we saw 'THE' mountain 7 of 10 days (many never see it) and every large animal that resides in the park.

Yes, go on your own! Have fun planning and as you do, come back as ask detailed questions.

Also...go on this site to the Alaska/Canada forum - lots of good information there. Each year there is a specific post for those going that year. There is already one started for Alaska 2017. Follow it throughout the winter months - there will be lots of excited chatter!

If you are a Veteran, join SMART (smartrving.org). We have enjoyed six caravans with SMART, including one to Alaska and enjoyed every one. The social side is better than the scenery.

Our 3 month trip to Alaska in 2010 was exactly as 2gypsies described. We traveled with 2 other couples and the only reservation was for Denali right after July 4. We had 3 sites together in Riley Creek and were fortunate to see the mountain 3 days.

Many folks like the caravans but we like the freedom of coming and going at will.

We went a couple times. The first time was in 2007 with a Winnebago caravan. The second time was in 2013 on our own. We plan to go back again next year on our own.

Like you we were a bit hesitant taking our first extended trip on our own, especially in a place so far from home. We decided to go with the Winnebago group because they had done it many times in the past and were familiar with both the things to do and see and where to make accommodations. We put on a little over 12,000 miles and were on the road about 90 days.

We weren't disappointed. We met dozens of fellow RV'ers with the same goal in mind. The trip was well laid out with dozens of sights to see, guided tours, and evening entertainment. There were many group meals included, as well as free days to explore on your own or run errands.

It was particularly nice to have all the campgrounds reserved, and a site available when we showed up. It was a wonderful experience, and we still get together with some of the people who participated in that caravan.

Since then we've gone on 3 other caravans to the Atlantic Canada Provinces, down the Great River Road, and to the canyons in the southwestern US. Many of the participants from our first caravan have joined us on the later ones.

These caravans are typically about 1/3 less than those from other organizations. The main reason being that the hosts and tail enders are volunteers not paid staff. All are experienced with many years of guiding caravans throughout North America.

If you own a product built by Winnebago Industries you can join the Winnebago Outdoor Adventurers organization (formerly WIT Winnebago Itasca Travelers):
http://witclub.com/

Here's a link to some of the caravans and rallies scheduled for this year:
http://wgoadventures.com/

While the Alaska caravans are already underway for this year I'm sure there are openings for next year.

I went on one organized caravan years ago and found it not to my liking. Too much socializing with people I otherwise cared nothing about. I paid for admissions to some attractions and events that I cared nothing about. Some things I wanted to see or do were not included in the tour and I was not able to experience them. I was on their schedule, not mine. I did Alaska last year solo. Best trip I ever took. 12,000 miles in almost 4 months. Not the first issue. On that trip I stopped at a campground where an Alaska tour company had stopped also. I walked through the campground and their reserved area. I overheard the group discussing the next day's travel. Awful. All the sheep following their beloved leader.

NO THANK YOU!

We have been to Alaska/Yukon 6 times now and I agree with all the advice given by 2Gypsies. It is a great trip and you will meet many other adventurers in your travels.
You will see the same people in various campgrounds as most will travel roughly the same distance as you every day - makes for friendly conversation in the evenings.
Travel on the upper half of your gas tank. Stock up on supplies in the major centers.
Relax and enjoy the journey - it is awesome. Should you have a problem along the road, don't fret. Someone will always stop and offer to help - it is the way of the North.

My dog and I went alone last year and enjoyed it thoroughly. I would not have been happy traveling with a group but some people prefer it. There are so many free places to camp in AK--even for larger RVs--that it seems silly to pay so much for accommodations.

Go by yourself. We first went up in 2006. Trip of a lifetime. Yeah, sure. Went back in 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015 and are planning for 2017. We spend the whole summer, from May thru September. It's only a long trip, and help is available anywhere along the way. We wander and only use CG reservations if there is a particular event we need to attend like July 4 anywhere, Denali, Women's Salmon Derby in Valdez, etc. If you are concerned, call a day or 2 ahead and space WILL be available. Take your time, move when you want and stay as long as you want to. LOTS of things to do and places to see. Get a Milepost, and do your planning as to what you want to see, and then modify as you need. Enjoy, and if you fish, you'll think you're in Heaven.