Includes cheap flight hacks, the best time to visit, aurora hunting, cheapest accommodation ideas, and much more! Keep Reading!!
Alaska was the 50th State on my list. Because whenever I was planning a trip to Alaska the first thing that came to my mind was “Wow! That’s expensive!”
So after hours and hours of research, I have come up with a sweet and simple 4 days 5 nights Alaska trip plan, that I promise would be the cheapest and most convenient plan within the budget!
For this 10-minute read, I have spent nearly 8 hours doing research, 1000$ cash, and 5 days for the trip! So you can trust my takes out of that trip.
What is included in this plan?
Night 1: Flying to Alaska
Day 1: Exploring Fairbanks
Night 2: Aurora Borealis/ Northern Lights sighting
Day 2: Denali National Park exploration
Night 3: Stay in Anchorage
Day 3: Cruising in Resurrection Bay / Kenai Fjords National Park exploration
Night 4: Exploring Anchorage Downtown
Day 4: Arctic Circle Trip
Night 5: Flying Back
When to go?
Two things to keep in mind when you are planning an Alaska trip. Weather and Aurora!
For both, it is best to go from the last week of August to the first week of September.
Alaska is the only state in the USA where you will find the “Midnight Sun”, which is a long day, and a short brighter night. If the night sky is not dark you cannot see the Aurora. Also, if you go earlier then there would be a lot of tourists and if you go later than that the weather would be too cold to handle.
How long ago should I plan? How much do the Flights Cost?
At least 6 months to get the cheapest airfare. From wherever you are booking the flights it should cost from 400$ to 600$ based on the location. But yes of course you have to book a minimum of 6 months ahead of your trip time. Otherwise, the same tickets can cost 1100$ to 1400$!
Haque’s Eye:
Fairbanks flights are 200$ to 300$ cheaper than Anchorage. Always!!
Rent A Car in Alaska?
My answer would be yes.
It is the most costly portion of the trip plan, but yeah you have to rent a car if you want to make the most out of your trip.
There are very few highways and fewer public transportation in Alaska. The only other alternative is the Alaska Railway, which is costlier than the rental itself.
Where to stay?
Alaska is expensive. One good hotel room can cost 200$-350$/night.
But hey don’t worry I have done my research! If you are traveling alone to Fairbanks, you have three to four options to choose from. All of those are shared rooms with bunk beds.
BILLIES BACKPACKERS HOSTEL alaskahostel.com 35$-39$/person/night
Sven’s Basecamp Hostel svenshostel.com 40$/person/night
Gay Ellen’s Place in AirBnB 25$-30$/person/night
Which one did I choose? The third one. It was good if you think about the money. At least you have a bed, a warm room, and a blanket. What else do you need?
On the 2nd night, I did something very foolish. I have tried to do camping. All of those hostels above have an option where you can choose between a shared room or a camping site. I have chosen a campsite.
Is camping a good idea in Alaska during this time of the year?
The answer is “NOT FOR the US!”, who are not used to this severe weather.
In the middle of the night, I had to run to my car, turn on the heater and sleep there. After that, I came up with an idea to save a little more and be very flexible with my plan.
I have turned my car into my hotel room, lol! I have paid 900$ for that car alone, so why not make some use of it?
Bought a blanket from goodwill for 10$, a pillow for 3$, and a throw from Walmart for 2$!!
Wallah!!
But if you are traveling with friends or family, you might want to look for” The Extended Stay” hotel in Fairbanks. This is the cheapest option in that area. One double room can cost you 120$-200$.
If you want to stay near Denali National Park, then Denali Hostel & Cabins is your best bet. It can cost you 45$ to 65$/night. They have private cabins which can be an option for you, cost varies from 145$-280$.
Anchorage is better in this matter, they have hotel rooms from 70$-120$/night. Log Cabin Wilderness Lodge and Homer Cottonwood Cabin are a few cheaper options in this area.
Day 1: Exploring Fairbanks
Fairbanks is the second-largest city in Alaska. And if you are looking for the cheapest flying options, then Fairbanks is a more suitable place to start your journey.
There are several places to see in Fairbanks. But the top 3 would be
Moose Antler Arch
Pioneer Museum
Ice Museum
What is Moose Antler Arch?
This Arch is living proof of thousands of hunting stories.
This is made of more than 100 antlers of Moose and caribous collected from all parts of Alaska. It is the gateway to downtown Fairbanks. As the intro board says, - “Knitted and Knotted together here are memories of campfires, pack boards, meat cutting tables, and warm kitchens shared with family and friends.”
Do not miss this cool place!
It is a free attraction!
What to do at Pioneer Museum?
This is a city park located near downtown Fairbanks. In this 44-acre park, you can easily spend 2 to 3 hours exploring Alaska’s native history and culture. The major attractions are-
Visit SS Nenana, which is a 247-foot wooden boat built in 1932.
Kitty Hensley House, the house of an early day pioneer homemaker.
Harding Car is the car used by President Warren G. Harding who was the first President to visit Alaska.
Pioneer Air Museum, which displays aircraft used in Alaska from 1913 to 1948. There is a small fee to enter. 5$ per person or 10$ for a group of up to 4 people.
Pioneer Museum gives an essence of early life in the north. Collections include farming, transportation, native cultural display, mining, etc.
Tanana Valley Railroad Museum displays the oldest operating steam locomotive in Alaska and the Yukon Territory.
Wickersham House Museum is the first house of its kind built in Fairbanks.
Expect one, all the attractions are free for the visitors. Also, check the website for frequently occurring events.
What to do at Fairbanks Ice Museum?
There are two ice museums in this area. One is “Fairbanks Ice Museum” and another is “Aurora Ice Museum”. The first one is near downtown Fairbanks, for the second one is about a 1 hour 30 minutes drive from there.
As I was exploring the downtown area, so I picked “Fairbanks Ice Museum”, and it didn’t disappoint me. To learn in detail see this article.
Haque’s EYE:
If you have limited time then go to “Fairbanks Ice Museum.”
If you want to take a tour of Chena Hot Springs for Aurora Watch, then visit “Aurora Ice Museum”, as it has a larger scale of displays with the same cost.
After visiting “Fairbanks Ice Museum” grab something local!
Night 2: Aurora Borealis/ Northern Lights sighting
Alaska is famous for so many things but Aurora Borealis would be top on the list. There are very few places on earth where you can experience this magnificent natural phenomenon.
I got lucky enough to experience this beauty!
There are so many things to consider to plan for Aurora Hunting if you want to do it by yourself, free, without spending hundreds of dollars on tour packages. I have a detailed article just for you, which includes when to plan, where to go, and how to even take pictures with your smartphone! See for yourself. Thank me later!
Day 2: Denali National Park exploration
As one of the largest National Park in the world, Denali has a lot to offer. I have spent 2 days only here. Still, I feel I need to go again!
See this article for details.
On night 3, I stayed inside my car but as I mentioned before, Anchorage or Denali Hostels & Cabin can be your best options.
Day 3: Cruising in Resurrection Bay / Kenai Fjords National Park exploration
Sea life represents the real Alaska!
So to have a complete experience of Alaska, I went to explore Kenai Fjords National Park. So far it has become one of the most beautiful national parks that I have ever visited! To explore the park the most efficient way is to take a half-day wildlife cruise in Resurrection Bay. Must do it in Alaska!
For details check both of the articles.
Night 4: Exploring Anchorage
Anchorage is the largest metropolitan in Alaska. I was surprised to see how big and crowded it was! The best thing to do in Anchorage are-
Chugach State Park
Alaska Native Heritage Center
Downtown Trolley Tour
Chugach State Park
I am not a big fan of city tours if I have other options. In anchorage, there is a beautiful state park named Chugach State Park, which has 700 square miles of area, almost a size of a national park.
There are lots of vista points along the Seward Highway, in the Turnagain Arm area. There are several trails but the easiest one is The Glen Alps Trailhead. If you have some extra time, this can be a refreshing option for you.
Trust me, a picture cannot do justice!
Alaska Native Heritage Center
It has the flavor of the Pioneer Museum in Fairbanks. The visit will take you on a ride through 10,000 years of Alaska Native history and culture. They offer summer programming including daily guided tours and talks, performances, Native Games, Native Arts, and so on. For the most updated schedule visit the official website. The admission cost is $29 per adult.
Anchorage Trolley Tours
In a short time, the best way to explore the downtown area is to take a 1 hour Anchorage Trolley tour. You can have a glimpse of seaplanes on Lake Hood, scenic viewpoints with mountains and sea views, and an interesting place named Earthquake Park. The 1964 Great Alaska Earthquake with a magnitude of 9.2, buckled and reshaped the landscape of Anchorage. That was the largest quake ever recorded in North America. And this park is a living witness of this event.
Haque’s EYE:
Every ticket of Anchorage Trolley Tours comes with a complimentary coupon book that can save you some money!
Day 4: Arctic Circle Trip
There are a few places in the world where you can actually cross the arctic circle, and guess what in the USA, Alaska is the only place where you can do that!
I have done my research before I went there. But unfortunately, no one tells you about a very important thing that you cannot drive by yourself with your rental car to visit this place.
As I had no idea about that, so I had to purchase an overpriced tour ticket! To learn detail about this trip you can read my other articles on Alaska Trips!
Haque’s EYE:
Book a tour ticket ahead of time, you cannot go there on your own.
It is a rigorous long trip of 12-14 hours. Be mentally prepared for that!
Night 5: Flying Back
I almost missed the plane to refuel the rental car. So allow you at least 1 hour to spare before your flight.
See you in some other corner of the world. Till then HAPPY TRAVELLING!!!
Comentarios