Travel on the Alaska Railroad and visit Anchorage, Denali, Fairbanks and Talkeetna. Begin your Alaska adventure with a cruise into the world renowned Prince William Sound in South Central Alaska with its magnificent glaciers and coastal mountain scenery. Next destination – Denali National Park for a bus tour with the opportunity to see Alaska’s wildlife and view mountain Denali the “Great One”. This all-encompassing Alaska vacation tour continues to Fairbanks with a riverboat cruise and time for an optional trip to cross the Arctic Circle. On your return to Anchorage, stop in the unique small town of Talkeetna, the staging area for climbing expeditions to Denali. This “Alaska Gems” vacation is ideal for the traveler who wants to experience the variety of landscapes that Alaska has to offer.
The tour provides an easy travel pace and includes must-see highlights for any Alaska vacation package such as a glacier cruise, a Denali tour and historic Fairbanks.
Arrival Anchorage
Arrive in Anchorage and transfer to your hotel on your own. Overnight in Anchorage.
Prince William Sound Glacier Cruise
Begin your day with a bus transfer to Whittier to meet your afternoon glacier cruise, which includes lunch. Your comfortable vessel take you on a breath-taking cruise into Prince William Sound to view glaciers and wildlife. You will have the opportunity to see many different glaciers up close, both tidewater flowing into the sea as well as many other nestled in the mountain peaks surrounding you. Overnight in Anchorage.
Anchorage to Denali National Park
Dependent on your travel date, you will depart either in the morning or afternoon from Anchorage on a comfortable motorcoach traveling to Denali National Park. Upon arrival you will be able to enjoy the rest of the time on your own to explore the Denali park entrance area. You may wish to visit the Denali Visitor Center, or enjoy an optional tour such a championship sled dog kennel tour, river rafting or flightseeing. Overnight near the Denali park entrance.
Denali National Park Tour
Today depart on a bus tour of Denali National Park. This tour takes you through the best wildlife viewing portion of the Park Road, approximately 55 miles into the 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 and make stops during your approx. 7-8 hour tour*. Overnight near the Denali park entrance.
Denali National Park to Fairbanks
Your morning is free for optional excursions such as a visit to the Husky Homestead (see Tour Add-ons) or do some hiking in the surrounding area. In the late afternoon you will depart on the Alaska Railroad north to Fairbanks. Along the way enjoy beautiful views of the Nenana River and many scenic tundra lakes. Upon arrival in the evening a transfer to your hotel is provided by a courtesy hotel shuttle. Overnight in Fairbanks.
Fairbanks
In the morning you will travel the Chena and Tanana Rivers for a 3.5 hour float trip on the only authentic sternwheeler riverboat operating in Alaska. This narrated tour provides background on the area's natural history and the Athabascan Native culture. You will see an authentic trapper's cabin, unique log homes, as well as bush plane in action and sled dogs. In the afternoon, use your free time to explore the city on your own; or take an optional flightseeing excursion over part of Alaska's Arctic region (see Tour Add-ons). Overnight in Fairbanks.
Fairbanks to Talkeetna
Today depart Fairbanks and enjoy the day on a scenic ride on the Alaska Railroad to the quaint town of Talkeetna. En route you will pass by Denali and arrive at Talkeetna in the afternoon. This small town has an authentically Alaskan charm, as well as some of the best views of Denali, formerly Mt. McKinley. There is time this evening for an optional excursion such as a guided hike (see Tour Add-ons). Overnight in Talkeetna.
Talkeetna to Anchorage
This morning you will have free time to relax or take an optional whitewater jet boat adventure (see Tour Add-Ons). Depart Talkeetna in the late afternoon on board the Alaska Railroad and arrive in Anchorage in the evening. Upon arrival in Anchorage, transfer to your hotel on own. Overnight in Anchorage.
Depart Anchorage
Transfer on your own to the airport to meet your departure flight, or start an additional program and continue your Alaskan adventure.
Please note in MAY you will be traveling from Anchorage to Denali in the afternoon and not in the morning. You will have free time in Anchorage in the morning. *Please note that in May/September the bus tour into Denali Nat Park may be shorter (only up to 4-5 hours) due to road and weather conditions.
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.
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.
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.
All journeys between Anchorage and Whittier are in standard seating as deluxe dome cars are not available on that route.
Fly north from Fairbanks in a small bush plane and land across the Arctic Circle. Enjoy a walk on Alaska's treeless arctic tundra, which will give you a sense of the vast scale of Alaska's Arctic region. A 2.5-hour ground tour of a rural community is the focus of the tour. Your return provides another opportunity to see the Yukon... Read More
Depart this morning from Talkeetna on your Alaska jet boat tour on the Susitna River, which takes you 130 miles through Denali State Park and into the National Wild River Park of "Devil's Gorge". Navigate through challenging Class IV and V whitewater as you access the remote wilderness. You will visit an authentic trapper's cabin with its rustic furnishings and... Read More
Enjoy a warm welcome and experience Alaska dog sledding and the true Alaskan lifestyle with Iditarod Champion Jeff King on Goose Lake near Denali National Park. This 2.5 hour dog sledding day tour is widely heralded as an authentic look into rural lifestyles based on 36+ years of Alaskan adventures. Be greeted by cuddly sled dog puppies and share an intimate... Read More
On this evening hiking tour from Talkeetna, Alaska explore Talkeetna's best trail with a great naturalist guide. A new scene of beauty unfolds around every turn on this 3-mile moderate hike. Look for loons and kingfishers on the lakes, moose and bears in the woods and Denali on the horizon. This lush old-growth forest is alive with songbirds, wildflowers, berries and... Read More
Call or email us to help plan the perfect Alaskan vacation.
Book the ""Alaska's Gems" Tour", to add these tour add-on's to your reservation.
Designed for rail enthusiasts, this program includes Anchorage to Seward, Talkeetna, Denali and Fairbanks. From the majestic waters of Kenai Fjords National Park to Alaska’s... Read more.
See Anchorage, Denali, Fairbanks, scenic Richardson Highway and Valdez. This tour combines a classic Alaska train trip aboard the Alaska Railroad with an independent tour by car... Read more.
Explore Alaska’s Interior Region, traveling southbound on the Alaska Railroad from Fairbanks to Denali before continuing on to Anchorage. A guided bus trip into Denali... Read more.
Visiting Denali National Park is a top highlight of any Alaska vacation! Tour includes scenic bus and rail travel between Anchorage and Denali and a day inside Denali National Park.... Read more.
Call or email us your tour questions or to customize your Alaskan vacation.
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