Alaska Railroad Adventure

Aptly named Denali Star and Glacier Discovery, these trains make a great touring combination.

Tour Code: 151CTA

Tour Overview

In just seven days, you will travel most of the Alaska Railroad system on this classic rail adventure to and from Anchorage, America’s 49th state. You’ll experience Alaska’s scenic glaciers and shoreline, view wildlife in Denali National Park, and take a trip on a classic sternwheeler paddleboat on the Chena and Tanana Rivers in Fairbanks. And after traveling to Whittier, you’ll also enjoy a Glacier Cruise in Prince William Sound while on the route. Traveling aboard the Alaska Railroad will allow you to hop on and off the train to discover local highlights in each Alaska town you visit.

What's Included
  • 6 nights hotel accommodation
  • Roundtrip train from Anchorage to Whittier
  • Prince William Sound 26 Glacier cruise with lunch
  • Train from Anchorage to Denali National Park and from the train from Denali to Fairbanks
  • 4-6 hour bus tour into Denali National Park (depending on weather and road conditions)
  • 3.5-hour Sternwheeler riverboat cruise in Fairbanks
  • Scheduled flight from Fairbanks to Anchorage
  • All taxes and fees
What's Not Included

Transfers in Anchorage, meals, optional excursions, and gratuities.

 

Tour Itinerary

Day 1
Anchorage Arrival

Arrive into Anchorage on your own. Transfer to your hotel by shuttle or on your own. Anchorage is Alaska’s largest city, nestled between the Chugach Mountains and Cook Inlet. Offering shopping, cultural attractions, and gourmet restaurants, Anchorage provides an excellent start to your vacation. Overnight in Anchorage.

Day 2
Anchorage Day Trip to Prince William Sound

Transfer to the rail station by hotel courtesy shuttle or on your own. At 9:45 am, depart on a scenic train ride past Beluga Point and along Turnagain Arm to Whittier. On arrival in Whittier at around 12:15pm, walk across the street to board a high-speed catamaran for your cruise through Prince William Sound. Watch for sea otters, and birds as you travel through the glacier-filled fjords. This tour provides an excellent opportunity to witness glacier calving, where ice falls off into the ocean. Lunch is included on board your 5-hour Alaska cruise. Following the cruise, depart on the train to Anchorage at 6:45 pm. Upon arrival in Anchorage at approximately 9:00 pm, transfer back to your hotel by courtesy shuttle or on your own. Overnight in Anchorage.

Day 3
Anchorage to Denali National Park

This morning transfer to the Anchorage train station by hotel courtesy shuttle or on your own. At 8:15 am, you will travel from Anchorage to Denali National Park aboard the Alaska Railroad. Upon arrival in Denali at 3:45 pm, transfer to your hotel by courtesy shuttle. With a size of over 6 million acres, Denali National Park is one of the world’s greatest wild animal preserves. Here, protected from hunting, the animals roam freely in a region dominated by the continent’s tallest mountain. Most visitor facilities are grouped near the park entrance. Your evening is free for optional activities, enjoy a fun dinner show  (see Tour Add-Ons), or just relax and enjoy some leisure time. Overnight near the Denali park entrance.

Day 4
Denali National Park

Today, depart on a narrated bus tour into Denali National Park. As you travel through the pristine wilderness, look for wildlife, such as bears, caribou, and moose, as well as views of the Mountain. Your experienced driver/guide will provide commentary. The tour is approximately 4-6 hours long and takes you approximately 30 – 43 miles into the park, depending on weather and road conditions. The rest of the day is free for optional tours, such as river rafting and flightseeing tours (see Tour Add-Ons). Overnight near the Denali park entrance. Rest of day is at leisure. Overnight near the Denali park entrance.

Day 5
Denali National Park to Fairbanks

The morning is free for optional tours in Denali, such as river rafting or flightseeing (see Tour Add-Ons). You also have time to tour the National Park Visitor Center and watch the Park Rangers’ sled dog demonstration. This afternoon, transfer to the train station via hotel courtesy shuttle. At 3:45 pm, depart on the Alaska Railroad to Fairbanks. The landscape changes as you descend from the mountains into a broad land of rivers and rolling hills. Upon arrival in Fairbanks at 8 pm, transfer to your hotel via courtesy shuttle or on your own. Overnight in Fairbanks.

Day 6
Fairbanks to Anchorage

This morning at 8:45 am, depart on a 3.5-hour cruise of the Chena and Tanana Rivers aboard the only authentic sternwheeler riverboat operating in Alaska. This narrated tour provides background on the area’s natural history and the Athabascan culture. You will see a trapper’s cabin, log homes, bush pilot performance and a championship sled dog team. A stop will be made at the historic site of Chena Village to learn about Alaska Native hunting and fishing techniques. This tour departs from the Riverboat Discovery Dock, so transfer is on your own. In the evening (around 5:30pm), depart Fairbanks for Anchorage on a scheduled one-hour flight. On arrival in Anchorage, transfer to hotel via courtesy shuttle or taxi. Overnight in Anchorage.

Day 7
Anchorage Departure

Depending on your departure time, you might have free time for some souvenir shopping or additional excursions. Transfer by shuttle or on your own to the airport. Depart or start an additional program.

Tour Map

 

Dates & Rates

To complete this reservation we will need for each person: Full name including middle name(s), gender and date of birth.


*Child prices are valid for children 11 years and younger, sharing a room with at least 2 full paying adults with the existing bedding. Maximum of 4 people per room.

Our Standard Program Includes:

2 and 3 star hotel accommodations.

The program will include a combination of hotels or motels that are considered moderate to standard tourist class. Please be aware not all hotels have shuttle services.

Standard train car seating on all rail services (reserved seats).

If you would like to book the standard program but with upgraded rail seating, the option and surcharge will be listed when you save to your cart.

Our Upgraded Program Includes:

* 3 and 4 star hotels (best available) wherever possible.

The program will include standard rooms at this category of hotel where possible. Alaska has very limited hotel choices in remote areas and small towns. The properties will typically offer a wider range of services such as a full-service restaurant, room service and perhaps a pool or spa facilities. Please be aware the upgraded accommodations in downtown Anchorage do not have hotel shuttle services. Many of the upgraded hotels also offer guaranteed view rooms for additional cost. If you would like a specific room type, in addition to the upgraded program, please ask us about availability and cost difference.

Deluxe dome train car seating between Anchorage, Denali and Fairbanks, or Anchorage and Seward.

All journeys between Anchorage and Whittier are in standard seating as deluxe dome cars are not available on that route.

 

Tour Add-ons

Browsing optional excursions for the Alaska Railroad Adventure:

Cabin Nite Dinner Theater

Enjoy old-time Alaska as you enjoy a popular dinner theater performance in Denali National Park set in an authentic Alaska log-paneled roadhouse. Join heroine Fannie Quigley and an unforgettable cast of characters in this true-to-life Alaska Gold Rush tale of […]... Browse itinerary

Alaska is phenomenal!  The scenery is breathtaking and the people are incredibly friendly and helpful. Your arrangements worked out absolutely great. The detailed itinerary had many very good suggestions and lots of good information.  Each tour, event, or ferry passage you arranged had our names and tickets ready. Next time we make... Read more  

Bobby & Janie | Georgia