Arrival in Anchorage
Arrive in Anchorage and the rest of the day is at your leisure to enjoy Alaska’s largest city. Overnight in Anchorage.
Do it all on this tremendous winter tour in Alaska with two nights in Anchorage, glacier hiking on Matanuska Glacier, and two nights at Chena Hot Springs for the ultimate prize: northern lights viewing! You’ll start out exploring Anchorage, Alaska’s largest city. The town is nestled between the Chugach Mountains and Cook Inlet and offers abundant shopping and many restaurants. Then, take a scenic trip north to the massive Matanuska Glacier, where an experienced glacier guide will walk over ancient blue ice while you look for towering ice spires and stunning ice caves. Next, continue your winter journey north to Fairbanks aboard the Alaska Railroad. Your final destination is Chena Hot Springs Resort, known for its natural mineral hot springs and a prime location for viewing the northern lights (aurora borealis). In addition to world-class aurora viewing, this Alaska resort near Fairbanks offers guests lots of outdoor fun, including cross-country skiing, dog sledding tours, snowmobiling, and more. Guests can relax and rejuvenate in the resort’s hot springs and warm pools or enjoy a professional massage. With various Alaska winter activities, this “Glacier, Hot Springs and Northern Lights” adventure tour provides travelers a highly memorable Alaska reward
Meals, optional excursions and gratuity.
Today’s adventures begin with a pick up from your Anchorage hotel. Your Glacier Guide will narrate points of interest during the scenic 100-mile drive north through the Matanuska-Susitna Valley on your way to the mighty Matanuska Glacier. Photo stops will be made along the way so that you can capture the stunning valley and mountain peaks. Once you have arrived at Matanuska Glacier, your experienced Glacier Guide will outfit each person with ice cleats, walking sticks, and helmets for their safety. This fully guided glacier experience on foot will allow you to meander along the surface of ancient blue ice while you explore towering ice spires and gorgeous ice caves. Your time on the glacier will be from 2 to 3 hours. The glacier walk is considered a moderate activity with an elevation gain of approx. 140 ft (2 flights of stairs). A lunch is included either before or after your glacier hike. Overnight in Anchorage.
NOTE: Additional warm supplemental winter outerwear can be requested at the time of booking.
In the morning, you’ll take the hotel courtesy shuttle to the Anchorage train station. Here you will board the famous Alaska Railroad and travel through beautiful Alaska’s winter landscape to Fairbanks. During the train ride, enjoy spectacular views of the Alaska Range and possibly even the mountain of Denali (weather permitting). You will arrive in Fairbanks in the evening and transfer to the hotel via hotel courtesy shuttle. Overnight in Fairbanks.
Sleep in this morning, then, around mid-day, you will be picked up from your hotel and transferred to rustic Chena Hot Springs Resort, 90 minutes east of Fairbanks. While the facilities of the resort can be considered rustic and may not be up to date, the location of the resort offers great possibilities for northern lights viewing. Chena Hot Springs hosts mineral spring-fed hot tubs and a warm indoor swimming pool, providing guests with total relaxation. Combined with numerous outdoor activities, Chena Hot Springs offers a great Alaskan winter experience. This evening, enjoy a 4-hour Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights) Expedition tour. The aurora tour takes place on a tracked, military style Small Unit Support Vehicle*. Overnight at Chena Hot Springs Resort.
The day is at your leisure to enjoy all the resort has to offer. Optional activities include dog sled rides, snow machine tours, or cross country skiing, and professional massages. Winter gear can be rented at the resort for a fee. Don’t miss visiting the Aurora Ice Museum at Chena Hot Springs. Overnight at Chena Hot Springs Resort.
* Please note that during the tour you will be sitting in a small confined space with other people.
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.
Thank you for your interest in this tour! At this time, it is not currently available to book online. Please feel free to continue to peruse our website for more Alaska travel ideas. If you would like options and information from our team of Alaska experts, please call 1-866-317-3325 or fill out the form below.
We had a fabulous time in Alaska on our life quest to get to all the National Parks! I cannot rave about our trip enough!!!
Irene | Trip Advisor
Duration: 9 days
Starting at: $2709 / pp
Enjoy the vivid fall colors of Alaska both on the ground and in the sky! Begin your journey in Anchorage with a glacier day cruise through Prince William Sound. With an eye out for wildlife, you will travel... Browse itinerary
Duration: 5 days
Starting at: $1459 / pp
Just outside of Fairbanks, Borealis Basecamp offers a new and unique way to see the Northern Lights. The fiberglass domes at Borealis Basecamp have clear, curved windows that stretch 16 feet across each dome roof, allowing you to... Browse itinerary
Duration: 7 days
Starting at: $2139 / pp
Start your adventure with a glacier trek from Anchorage, then continue your journey north to Fairbanks with the Alaska Railroad. Finally, conclude your trip with a stay at the exclusive Borealis Basecamp, where you can watch for the... Browse itinerary
Duration: 4 days
Starting at: $869 / pp
Spend three nights in Fairbanks exploring the history and culture of this modern northern city, including the opportunity to view the spectacular northern lights, a sight the area is known for around the world. The day starts with... Browse itinerary
Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use. For more info, read our Privacy Policy