Alaska Caravan

sljohnson1938 wrote:

I find it amusing that those who 'would never take a caravan' have never been on one.

I think a person knows whether he likes to travel with others or not and you don't have to take a caravan to find out. We definitely do not. We prefer doing things on our own and enjoy the peacefulness and spontaneity.

Some folks like being around big groups and that's just fine.

I think for the Alaska trip many feel overwhelmed and apprehensive about doing it on their own. For that I say, break it down into small fragments just like you would be going from one state to another. Don't look at it as one big trip that has to be planned out. You don't need reservations except for perhaps July 4 weekend and Denali Nat'l Park. For those you can reserve just a few weeks prior when you have a better idea of when you'll be there. We know of lots of folks who didn't plan extensively. Just go!

The overall trip is not any different than traveling across the lower 48. There are many 'lonely' stretches of highways in the lower 48, also. There will be road construction but you find that anywhere you go. You just go slow. There are campgrounds, fuel stations, restaurants and very helpful Alaskans and Canadians along the way. You're not out there really alone. You'll meet up with the same travelers from place to place. They're all going to the same places. You can't get lost.

If caravans are your thing then definitely do it but I just wanted to stress that it really is an easy trip to do on your own.

sljohnson1938 wrote:
I find it amusing that those who 'would never take a caravan' have never been on one.

The same is true with cruises. We were sure that we'd hate them, but went on one just to be sure. That was 13 cruises ago :)

we took a caravan in 2004 with Creative World Tours, after the death of the owner it was taken over by Fantasy Tours. It was the best vacation we have ever had, and the most expensive. I would take another tour in a heart beat, but they are just too expensive for us now. As for the 'rigid' schedule, that is a bunch of bull. On our tour 3 times we broke away on our own, then rejoined later. Yea things are preplanned. They have to be. But, you will do more, see more than you ever would on your own. As for 'breaking down and left on your own' I just do not believe it. The tail gunner would never do that. Their job is to be the last one out and the last to arrive. If you take off on your own then you are 'on your own' as we did. There must have been some other factor involved.
I find it amusing that those who 'would never take a caravan' have never been on one. We are planning to go back to Alaska next year, 2016, this time on our own, but if I get rich before then we will take a paid caravan.

Moved to the RVing in Alaska forum.

We just completed the Fantasy Alaska Your Way caravan. This trip has fewer planned activities so you decide to do what you want. Much less rigid schedule. The concept is excellent but the execution was poor. If our wagon master is typical then you do not want to do one. I typed up 3 additional pages of issues on our evaluation.

We have some friends that have gone to Alaska twice The first time they went in a Caravan and the second time they went alone. They enjoyed both trips very much. Just depends if you don't mind keeping to a scheduled.

Of course we went to Alaska the year after I retired. We went by ourselves, but pretty much kept to a schedule.

Whatever way you chose, you will have a great time.

We are just returning from Alaska, Let me say this it's hard to get lost there is basically 1 road that goes around in a circle with a couple of spurs that run into the ocean or a dead end in nowhere. We kept running into the same people at various stops because everyone goes to the same stops because that is why you go to Alaska.
Another piece of information while driving in Alaska you are either five minutes early or five minutes late to see wildlife on or near the road.
We're already talking about returning.

Hopefully this will be moved to the Alaska forum where it's been discussed many times.

The Alaska trip is easy to do on your own. You can travel as fast or slow as you want and stay longer if you want or leave sooner. A caravan is really restrictive. Thousands of RVers make the trip on their own every summer. You'll meet the same folks over and over again as you travel. The roads are all paved except for construction areas - just like in the lower 48. Everyone stops at the same attractions. You can't get lost.

Check out www.rvalaska.net they host 2 caravan trips each summer. We just returned from one of their 37 day tours, very well run, educational experience and fun group of 24 other rigs to travel with. They have a mechanic and medical supplies if needed.
Our trip started in Hazelton, BC, and 2500 miles 37 days later we finished in Kenai, AK. We traveled to Dawson City and then to Chicken. Our leader Spike has been doing these trips over 20 years, he knows everything about the areas we traveled. Everyone is given a two way radio to travel with, Spike fills us in on what we are seeing along the way.
Very highly recommend this tour group.

Only experience I had with a caravan was helping out a rig that got abandoned by them. They had issue with rig and was left behind. This was several years ago.
I looked into a caravan many years ago and didn't care fore the concept of having to be here at 8 AM and there at 1 PM. Too rigid for our traveling style.