As we leave Homer, it marks the start of our journey northwards. We spend the day on the Kenai once more as we make our way to Girdwood and to our lovely hotel on the mountain overlooking the serene waters of the bay. From Girdwood we pass Anchorage and head up over the stunning Hatcher Pass which brings us into the tiny town of Talkeetna, where we enjoy an evening at the brewing company sampling local beers and ciders.

We say goodbye to Talkeetna and head to Fairbanks, known locally as ‘The Gateway to the North’ for another 2 night stay, where a ridout option includes a section of the mighty Dalton Highway, arguably one of the most notorious roads in the world. From here we make our way through some truly stunning mountain scenery to arrive in Paxon and the next day we awake with the opportunity of riding yet another iconic road in the shape of the Denali Highway. A gorgeous 135 mile off road section through the mountains awaits or for those who don’t fancy offroading you can rent some kayaks and explore the local lake.

Seward, Homer and the Kenai peninsula: The Kenai is known for being the most accessible of Alaska's wildernesses with its mountains and glaciers surrounded by the waters of the Gulf of Alaska and Prince William Sound. The small fishing town of Homer is located right at the end of the Peninsula, near the most westerly road in the continental USA and is a haven for eco tourism and wildlife tours.

Talkeetna: A quaint hippie town with traditional lodging and a great brewery. It was also the filming location for the fictional town of Cicely in the TV series Northern Exposure.

The Hatcher Pass: Known by the locals as Alaska’s best kept secret, this stunning scenic drive loops north over Anchorage with an easy off road section through unspoilt landscapes of mountains, valleys, lakes and abandoned mining settlements.

Thompson pass: An alpine pass through the Chugach Mountain between Glennallen and Valdez in the south of Alaska. This is the snowiest place in the state and at 2600ft it offers stunning views in every direction that rival anything in the Alps or Rockies.

Glaciers and wildlife: We stop off a numerous glaciers along this tour, one of which you can even walk on and daily wildlife spotting is almost guaranteed. Last year we spotted amongst others; Bears, Moose, Elk, Deer, Eagles, Sea Otters and even a few Whales…

Anchorage and Fairbanks: These two population centres are as varied as they are far apart from one another but each one gives you a real indication of the lives the locals lead year round in this wonderful region of the world.