Prudhoe Bay Excursion Map

 

Prudhoe Bay is the most northerly tip of the US to which a motorcycle can be ridden, thus making it a top entry on the bucket list of many adventure riders. Riding the Dalton Highway is a very unique experience for which riders should have a fair amount of gravel riding experience in potentially adverse weather and road conditions.

As we ride along the Dalton Highway, we’ll cross the Yukon River and the Arctic Circle, ride over the famous Atigun Pass and ride alongside the Alyeska pipeline that spans from Prudhoe Bay to Valdez.

Once we arrive in Prudhoe Bay, we will stay in Deadhorse for the night. The following morning, we will take a guided bus tour around the area since private vehicles are not permitted in many parts of the working area. On the tour, we will stop at the Arctic Ocean, where we will have the opportunity to swim in its icy waters.

As we travel south towards Anchorage, we will ride on the Parks Highway, with opportunities to pause and admire various breathtaking viewpoints, including Mt. McKinley, which is the highest mountain in North America. We’ll stop in the small town of Denali, the perfect place to do some last-minute shopping at the charming boutique gift and souvenir shops.
Throughout this tour it is likely that we will see a wide range of wildlife, such as caribou, musk ox, bears, Dall sheep, and other various animals.

CAUTION! – The Prudhoe Bay Excursion is an EXTREME Adventure and should only be undertaken by riders with experience on unpaved roads in a variety of adverse weather conditions. The trip includes riding several hundred miles on unpaved roads which are sometimes slick due to rain, sleet and occasionally snow.

Highlights of this adventure include:

  • Crossing the Yukon River and the Arctic Circle
  • Riding the full length of the Dalton Highway
  • Viewing North America’s highest mountain, Mt. Mckinley, and Alaska’s incredible wildlife.
  • Enjoying the small, rustic towns along the way.

Our Alaska and Canada schedule has been designed to permit riders wishing to experience this unique ride to the edge of the North American continent to do so immediately after our Alaska and Yukon Adventure. For riders who combine the Prudhoe Bay Excursion with our Alaska and Yukon Adventure, we’ll include the cost of lodging for the days between the trips. For riders wishing to rent a motorcycle for the intervening days, we’ll provide recommendations for exciting day rides for the free days between tours.

AT A GLANCE YOUR PRUDHOE BAY EXCURSION

DAY 1: ARRIVE ANCHORAGE

Prudhoe Bay Excursion, Motorcycle Tour in North America, Day 1

You will be greeted by our tour leaders upon your arrival at the airport, who will then take you to the hotel. You can choose to spend the day at your leisure, either by relaxing or exploring the city of Anchorage.
In the late afternoon we will meet for the motorcycle handover followed by a brief kickoff meeting. After that, we will head to a wonderful local restaurant to enjoy our first dinner together.

DAY 2: ANCHORAGE TO COPPER CENTER, ~195 MILES

Prudhoe Bay Excursion, Motorcycle Tour in North America, Day 2

Our first day of riding will be along the stunning Palmer Highway, one of Alaska’s most scenic highways, taking us to Copper Center. Along the way we will stop to view the breathtaking Matanuska Glacier. This will be an easy, but beautiful first riding day.

DAY 3: COPPER CENTER TO FAIRBANKS, ~260 MILES

Prudhoe Bay Excursion, Motorcycle Tour in North America, Day 3

We will enjoy a full and very pleasant day of riding, heading northward towards Fairbanks. Along the way, we may have the opportunity to view some wildlife. Prior to reaching Fairbanks, we will make a quick stop at the ‘North Pole’.

DAY 4: FAIRBANKS TO COLDFOOT, ~250 MILES

Prudhoe Bay Excursion, Motorcycle Tour in North America, Day 4

Today’s ride will start on the twisty and paved Elliott Highway, which leads to the beginning of the Dalton Highway. From there, we will encounter a combination of gravel and paved sections of the highway as we make our way to Coldfoot. Once we reach the Dalton Highway, be prepared to view beautiful scenery and a variety of wildlife, including grizzly bears, moose, caribou, Dall sheep, musk oxen, and various bird species. At the Arctic Circle turnout, we will stop for a group photo.

DAY 5: COLDFOOT TO DEADHORSE, ~260 MILES

Prudhoe Bay Excursion, Motorcycle Tour in North America, Day 5

Experience the stunning scenery along the Dalton Highway while enjoying the excitement of riding to Prudhoe Bay. We’ll stop at the top of Atigun Pass (4,800 feet) in the Brooks Range for a photo opportunity. The Atigun Pass is the highest highway pass in Alaska and is located on the Continental Divide. The Endicott Mountains are to the west, the Philip Smith Mountains to the east, and the James Dalton Mountains ahead and to the left.

In the area of Atigun Pass we will likely see Dall sheep, which are the only wild white sheep in the world.

Deadhorse, with a population of about 25 people, is located 500 miles north of Fairbanks, Alaska. Situated on the Beaufort Sea Coast in Prudhoe Bay, the town overlooks the Arctic Ocean.

DAY 6: DEADHORSE TO COLDFOOT, ~260 MILES

Prudhoe Bay Excursion, Motorcycle Tour in North America, Day 6

Following breakfast, we’ll explore Prudhoe Bay via a bus tour since private vehicles are prohibited throughout the town and its working oil fields. During the tour we’ll stop at the Arctic Ocean, where brave riders can either dip their toe or take a swim in the frigid Arctic waters.

DAY 7: COLDFOOT TO FAIRBANKS, ~250 MILES

Prudhoe Bay Excursion, Motorcycle Tour in North America, Day 7

As we head south, we will stop at a few of the interesting sites that we missed on our way north. We’ll arrive in Fairbanks with enough time to further explore the city. Due to the considerable distance to Anchorage, we will have an early start tomorrow morning.

DAY 8: FAIRBANKS TO ANCHORAGE, ~350 MILES

Prudhoe Bay Excursion, Motorcycle Tour in North America, Day 8

The ride along the Parks Highway from Fairbanks to Anchorage is absolutely stunning with beautiful Alaskan landscapes all along the way. Depending on the weather, we may have the opportunity to capture some great photos of Mt. McKinley. We’ll have our farewell dinner at a local Anchorage restaurant.

DAY 9: DEPARTURE FROM ANCHORAGE

Prudhoe Bay Excursion, Motorcycle Tour in North America, Day 9

After a relaxing breakfast, the tour leaders will arrange for your transfer to the airport for your flight home.

Total ~1,825 miles

Road conditions on this tour range from  very easy, good high-speed paved roads to challenging, slippery gravel roads with the chance of rain and/or snow. To fully enjoy the tour, riders should have experience riding on gravel in adverse conditions.


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30%

50%

Please contact us about low frame and/or low seat options for our bikes.

  • Deduct $150 for a Suzuki V-Strom650
  • Includes BMW F750GS
  • Additional charge of $150 for a BMW F850GS
  • Additional charge of $450 for a BMW R1250GS
  • Personal motorcycle: deduct $1,000 from the rider price.
Standard Inclusions
  • Late model, low mileage motorcycle
  • Upscale accommodations
  • A’ la carte dining
  • Two Ayres Adventures professional tour leaders
  • Airport arrival/departure transfers
  • Luggage handling
  • Comfortable support vehicle for non-riding companions
  • Comprehensive pre-trip planning and assistance
  • Customized trip booklet with day-by-day itinerary and attractions
  • Commemorative shirt
  • Adventurer Club travel award credit
Meals
  • All breakfasts
  • All dinners
  • 2 lunches 
Special Inclusions
  • Guided tour of Prudhoe Bay to the Arctic Ocean

Deposit per person: $800

Single room supplement – $950.

2024 Schedule
Date2024 AdventuresLengthRider
Price
(USD)
Co-Rider
Price
(USD)
Notes
July 20 - 28Prudhoe Bay Excursion9 days$7,500$5,700
2025 Schedule
Date2025 AdventuresLengthRider
Price
(USD)
Co-Rider
Price
(USD)
Notes
July 19 - 27Prudhoe Bay Excursion9 days$7,500$5,700
Cancellation fee and refunds
FROM DATE OF
SCHEDULED COMMENCEMENT
AMOUNT FORFEITED
More than 60 days50% of deposit
60 days or fewer but more than 45 days100% of deposit
45 days or fewer but more than 30 days50% of full tour payment
30 days or fewer100% of full tour payment

Getting a photo at the Arctic Circle sign and completing the Haul Road all the way to Deadhorse has been on my wish-list for some time

A hearty thank-you to you, and to your team, for all your efforts during the inaugural Prudhoe Bay Excursion. It was the most challenging ride I have ever been on.


Getting a photo at the Arctic Circle sign and completing the Haul Road all the way to Deadhorse has been on my wish-list for some time. Thanks to your professional and customer focused organization I was able to complete that goal.


I hope to see you, John, and Nuno on another one of your tours. Next time on a different continent. Best wishes to you as you travel the world.

Jack's Adventures include:
Prudhoe Bay Excursion

Jack Campbell
Littleton, Colorado

We have NO complaints

Thanks for a great trip. We really enjoyed ourselves and we have NO complaints.

There is not much we could suggest that would have improved the experience for us.

Nick and Jool's Adventures include:
Africa Iron Butt Tour
Prudhoe Bay Excursion (Alaska)
Heart of Africa

Nick Robbins and Jools Hamilton
Cheltenham, United Kingdom

It's the BEST TRIP we've done so far!

The hotels were excellent overall, the meals were great and had plenty of variation, and the wine! Well, say no more.

It's the BEST TRIP we've done so far. We look forward to traveling with your company again soon.

John Cameron's Adventures include:
Machu Picchu Excursion
Prudhoe Bay Excursion

John Cameron and the Kiwi Boys
Te Puke, New Zealand

The sixteen tours we were on with Ayres Adventures are the best we have ever been on!

“We have taken more than 20 motorcycle tours; sixteen of the last seventeen were with Ayres Adventures.

The sixteen tours that we have taken with Ayres Adventures were the best trips we have ever been on.”

Denny and Alice's Adventures include:
Call of the Wild
Best of Brazil
Southern Cross
Diamonds, Desert and Dunes (Africa)
South American Five Flags
South American Four Flags
Mediterranean Odyssey
Escape to Ushuaia
Swiss Alps and Italian Dolomites
Swiss, French and Italian Alps
Adventure Center Holiday (USA)
Escape to Colorado (USA)
Rocky Mountain Holiday (USA)
National Parks Tour (USA)
Prudhoe Bay Excursion
Best of Alaska and Canada
Portugal, Spain and Morocco

Denny and Alice Sanford
Anchorage, Alaska

Exceptional Road Support and Tour Leadership

While searching on-line for motorcycle travel I came across the Ayres Adventures website. The site was far and away better than any other so I called Ron, took a chance, signed up for the South America 5 Flags Tour and never looked back. The trip was well run and well planned, offered reliable road support, experienced tour leaders and attracted fun, adventurous people.

The next trip I took was an Ayres Adventure to Africa and this past summer I rode with Ayres in Alaska and Yukon Territory. By now I knew I could count on Ayres for exceptional road support and tour leadership and I was not disappointed. The Alaska challenge for me was riding the Dalton Highway to Prudhoe Bay and our leaders, John and Ed, aside from the expected road support, offered moral support and encouragement. I couldn't have done that ride without them.

My challenge now will be deciding which Ayres Adventure to sign up for next.

Marilyn's Adventures include:
Prudhoe Bay Excursion
Alaska/Yukon Adventure
Southern Cross
Call of the Wild
South America 5 Flags
The Epic Journey - Moscow to Hong Kong
Antarctica Adventure

Marilyn Makepiece
Santa Barbara, California

START CITY: Anchorage

  • Nearest international airport: Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport
  • Airport code: ANC
  • Approximate distance from city centre: 4 miles/7 kms

END CITY: Anchorage

  • Nearest international airport: Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport
  • Airport code: ANC
  • Approximate distance from city centre: 4 miles/7 kms
Private Tour Inquiry

We are happy to book any of our motorcycle tour as a private tour. For most tours, we require a minimum of 8 bikes, or 12 participants (riders plus co-riders). We can provide a private motorcycle tour for smaller groups, but a surcharge may apply. We can also customize any of our regular tours for a private group.

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