ALASKAN HIGHWAY MOTORHOME CONVOY TOUR
The Alaskan Highway convoy tour operates in May and August of each year. This tour can only be purchased from Harvey World Travel Menai on 02 95411244 or menai@harveyworld.com.au.
For more information on the tours, itineraries and inclusions please click here.
OUR ALASKAN HIGHWAY MOTORHOME CONVOY TOUR AUGUST 2008
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An Australian RV group has just returned from a magnificent Motor Home convoy from Seattle to Anchorage via the Canadian Rockies and the Alaskan Highway. This group of RV’s followed in the footprints of the explorers to as far north as Barrow, the most northerly point on the American peninsula. The total distance covered was 5800km and took 22 days to complete.
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Harvey World Travel Menai has been conducting Motor Home convoy tours for the past five years and has now developed a featured itinerary, giving participants every opportunity to gain a full appreciation of this engineered highway in company with the magnificent scenery of the Canadian Rockies.. The Alaskan Highway has many features, however can be best described as having a great diversity in scenery and wildlife.
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The tour group departed Sydney on the 3rd of May flying to Seattle with Air Canada. On arrival in Seattle the group toured the Boeing aircraft factory prior to attending a sponsored dinner. The next morning the adventure begins with a briefing on convoy procedures, security, driving instructions, maintenance, navigation and places to obtain supplies. Participants were then directed to their particular Motor Home for an individual briefing and signing of the contract. Motor Homes on offer were 24ft and 30ft Sunseeker using the Ford 350 and Ford 450 chassis. |
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Harvey World Travel Motor Home tours do not travel in strict convoys, however you are free to travel at will during the day and meet the group for a general discussion in the evening.
The motor homes come fully equipped with shower and toilet, kitchen, dining area, double beds, personal kits including linen, blankets and towels. The RV’s have propane heating and electric air conditioning, microwave ovens, water heaters and water pumps. The units can operate without hookups for several days. |
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Day two of the convoy takes us to Kimberley in the lower portion of the Canadian Rockies. Kimberley a Bavarian town gave us excellent evening dining facilities. Travelling further north on day three to Radium Hot Springs we stayed at Canyon RV enjoying a dip in the springs.
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The group travelled further north to Golden, Kicking Horse Mountain Resort, the Spirals, Lake Louise and then for an overnight Tunnel Mountain Resort in Banff. The very next morning we found our Motor Homes buried in half a metre of snow. For some, this was the highlight of the entire tour. The snow caused some hazard to driving and consideration was given to delaying our departure for twenty four hours.
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The ice field parkway to Jasper is rated as one of the world best drives, and I must agree. Participants enjoyed a walk on the Athabasca Glacier prior to an overnight in Jasper. The convoy then continued to McBride where we were treated to a Canadian BBQ and wonderful hosts.
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The group then proceeded to Prince George and Dawson Creek, the beginning of the Alaskan Highway. This Highway was built during the second world war by the US and Canadian Government. It runs for fifteen hundred miles to Delta Junction in Alaska. The highway has been modernized and shortened over the years. It is now fully sealed allowing for quick transportation.
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We continued up the Alaska Highway, for the next three days, stopping at Fort Nelson, Leard Hot Springs and Watson Lake. At Watson Lake the group was treated to a display on the Northern Lights at the Northern Lights Centre.
On arrival in Whitehorse we had the second sponsored dinner turning into a very enjoyable night. We were treated to entertainment by our resident entertainer, allowing all members to express their opinions on the tour so far. Whitehorse offers tours of the city and a Miles Canyon by a river cruise. |
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Heading North to Alaska we stopped at Burwash Landing (a traditional Yukon Roadhouse), a great night was had by all. The next day we crossed the border into Alaska eventually arriving at Tok, were we were treated to an evening of Alaskan Country music.
On arrival in Fairbanks the group participated in a flight to Barrow, an Arctic Circle flight, a gold mine tour and a river cruise. Fairbanks is a University and Military town, a modern and friendly city. |
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Turning to a south westerly direction we had overnights at Denali, Talkeetna and eventually Anchorage our destination. At Denali we enjoyed a tour of the national park sighting many wildlife species. The day concluded with a dinner at Cabin nite theatre restaurant. It was an excellent review of the Alaskan past. One of the highlights of the entire tour was a flight over the southern portion of Mt McKinley. This mountain is 20,300ft, the highest point on the North American continent.
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On arrival in Anchorage we returned our Motor Homes and transferred to a local hotel.
The next morning participants arrived at the Anchorage Railway station for a four hour rail trip to Seward. Group members experienced snow capped mountains, rivers and lakes, eventually arriving at Seward for a five and a half cruise to a glacier face and many islands of wildlife. Kenai Fjords National Park abounds with marine sea life and is a must for those interested in Alaska glaciers, whale watching, bird watching, and wildlife viewing. The return to Anchorage was by coach. |
The very next day the group transferred to Whittier for a seven night cruise on Carnival Spirit terminating at Vancouver and a flight home. The cruise had port calls at Sitka, Skagway, Juneau and Ketchikan. The tour group participated on many shore excursions including the White Pass rail excursion from Skagway. The White Pass was one of the routes taken by the miners during the Yukon Gold rush.
