Here's my personal opinion on paying to see bears. Don't. I attract bears and can turn them up in Alaska even going out to get the mail. Caribou are a long way off your chosen path. Alaska is BIG! The bus tours leave on their route through Denali very early in the morning and take a very long day to do. You can ride the hop on hop off buses, but you need to know what you are doing. The drive from Anchorage to Denali can be darn slow during tourist season. All it takes is a couple slow motor homes and you have to cool your heels.

Frankly I think you are trying to do too much. You won't enjoy all that running around.
Read your MILEPOST and take it seriously.

www.milepost.com