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RAAN06 Alaska Wild Holiday by Rail – Alaska Railroad Tour

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Experience Alaska from coast to interior on this 9-day Alaska Railroad vacation from Anchorage to Fairbanks. This scenic rail journey combines the spectacular Kenai Fjords of the Kenai Peninsula with Talkeetna and Denali National Park, ending in Fairbanks, Alaska's Golden Heart City. Travel aboard the Alaska Railroad from Anchorage to Seward along Turnagain Arm, where glaciers, mountains and coastal scenery provide a spectacular introduction to Alaska. In Seward, enjoy a guided sightseeing tour, a wilderness dog sled ride and a full-day Kenai Fjords Glacier & Wildlife Cruise. Continue north by rail to Talkeetna, with a Denali flightseeing tour included, before traveling onward to Denali National Park. Explore the park by included transit bus and look for grizzly bears, moose, caribou, Dall sheep and wolves. Your journey concludes with a scenic Alaska Railroad ride from Denali to Fairbanks. This Alaska rail vacation is ideal for travelers who want to experience Alaska's major natural highlights without driving. The itinerary combines scenic train journeys, wildlife viewing, glaciers, Denali National Park and some of Alaska's most memorable excursions in one carefully planned vacation. Visit our complete Alaska Guide for helpful travel information and tips. We’re happy to customize this itinerary to suit your needs.

  • Itinerary

  • Prices & Dates

  • Attractions & Add-ons

  • Accommodation

  • Map

  • Reviews

Downtown Anchorage Signpole

Anchorage ( Overnight: Anchorage )

Arrive in Anchorage during the day and check in to your downtown hotel. Surrounded by the Chugach Mountains, Anchorage is Alaska's largest city and an ideal starting point for your journey into the state's spectacular wilderness. Depending on your arrival time, take some time to explore the city. Anchorage offers a variety of attractions within easy reach of downtown, including the Anchorage Museum, Alaska Native Heritage Center (complimentary shuttle) and the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail. A walk along the waterfront or through downtown is a pleasant way to get your first impression of Alaska. In the evening, enjoy dinner at one of the city's restaurants, many of which feature fresh Alaskan seafood and other regional specialties.
Seward Rail Tour in fall

Anchorage – Seward ( Overnight: Seward )

Board the Alaska Railroad early morning for your departure to Seward. The train ride offers incomparable vista of fjords, glaciers and mountains as you follow the Cook Inlet/Turnagain Arm. Arrive in Seward at 11 am. You will be greeted by the tour guide for your Seward area Sightseeing Tour. Heading out to Exit Glacier, take a short walk to the face of the glacial ice. Watch for mountain goats, moose or bear on the mountainside. During the salmon runs, see salmon swimming upstream to spawn. A hearty lunch will be served at a local restaurant before you travel to the Seavey homestead and experience "IditaRide" 1.5 hour Wilderness Dog Sled Ride and Tour. In the evening enjoy a seafood dinner at the boat harbor. Included: Seward Area Sightseeing Tour
Hiking at Seward Exit Glacier

Seward ( Overnight: Seward )

This morning board the comfortable tour boat for a spectacular cruise deep into Kenai Fjords National Park with actively calving glaciers and magnificent scenery. Covering 110-miles, the trip is narrated by the experienced captain, who is highly adept at spotting wildlife and pointing out the many sights. Kenai Fjords showcase the best of Alaska’s marine world in a compact package. Sea otters float belly-up eating mussels while Harbor seals haul out on icebergs off Aialik and Northwestern Glacier. Look out for Steller sea lions on Chiswell Island as well as Humpback and killer whales. After reaching the tidewater glacier, guests witness "glacier calving" a process by which glaciers shed giant slabs of ancient ice. Included: Kenai Fjords Glacier & Wildlife Cruise

Kenai Fjords Glacier Cruise watching calving

Seward - Anchorage ( Overnight: Anchorage )

Spend some time in the morning at the Alaska SeaLife Center – the world's largest and first cold water marine research institute with wildlife rehabilitation and public education facilities, try some outstanding halibut or salmon fishing within Resurrection Bay or book a kayaking tour at Lowell Point or to Fox Island. This trip uses a water taxi to take you to the eastern coastline near Fox Island, and you'll spend the heart of the day kayaking that area. Board the Alaska Railroad in Seward at 6:00 pm for a very scenic rail tour through the Kenai Mountains and along Turnagain Arm to Anchorage.  
Talkeetna wandering Moose

Anchorage - Talkeetna ( Overnight: Talkeetna )

Morning transfer to the railroad station where you'll board the train to Talkeetna. Choose between the standard rail car or the glass-dome compartments with large panorama windows ensuring unobstructed views of snowcapped mountain ranges, pristine scenery and abundant wildlife. Enjoy the comfortable ride as the train takes you via the Matanuska Valley towards the Alaska Range. Arrive in Talkeetna and transfer to your downtown hotel or to a beautiful mountain lodge with breathtaking views of Mt. Denali. Take a flightseeing tour from Talkeetna, flying within six miles of Denali's 20,310-foot summit. Enjoy spectacular views of the Kahiltna and Ruth Glaciers, the Great Gorge and the surrounding Alaska Range. Add an adventurous glacier landing on Ruth Glacier. Included: Mt. Denali Flightseeing Tour
Denali Hiking trails

Talkeetna - Denali National Park ( Overnight: Denali Village )

This morning you have the option to join a jet boat safari on the Susitna, Talkeetna and Chulitna Rivers. Transfer to the Talkeetna Train Station where you will board the train to Denali. North of Talkeetna, the tracks veer away from the road system and into the backcountry Hurricane area; this region offers views of the snaking Indian River and the occasional remote cabin. Have your camera ready as the train crosses Hurricane Gulch Bridge, 300 feet above the creek. Arrive at Denali Village late afternoon. Transfer to your hotel and check into your room. Once you’ve settled in, take a stroll through Denali Village or choose from a variety of optional activities like a flightseeing tour, a whitewater rafting trip, or a visit to a sled dog kennel for an up-close experience with Alaskan sled dogs.
Denali Wilderness Access Center

Denali National Park ( Overnight: Denali Village )

Today is dedicated to exploring Denali National Park and its spectacular wilderness. Board your included Denali Transit Bus and travel into the park along the Denali Park Road. Watch for grizzly bears, moose, caribou, Dall sheep, and wolves. Your driver provides information about the park's landscape, wildlife, and history, with opportunities to stop for wildlife viewing and photography. The included transit bus journey takes you toward Eielson Visitor Center. The flexible transit bus service also allows you to get off along the route for hiking and exploring, then continue later on another bus. Optional upgrades and additional excursions are available for travelers who would like to explore farther into the park or enjoy a more guided experience Included: Denali Transit Bus to Eielson
Denali Kennel Tour

Denali National Park – Fairbanks ( Overnight: Fairbanks )

Join the sled dog demonstration hosted by Denali Park Rangers this morning or hike around the Denali Visitor Center. Board the Alaska Railroad this afternoon for a scenic ride to Fairbanks. Just north of Denali National Park, the train winds along Healy Canyon, following the curves of the Nenana River below. The train passes through the small community of Nenana, known for the Nenana Ice Classic Lottery. It is a fundraising event in which individuals attempt to guess the exact time the Tanana River ice will break up. Arrive in Fairbanks, the largest city in the Interior and gateway to Alaska's Arctic region. The city enjoys almost 24 hours of daylight during summer. In the evening, enjoy dinner at the Pump House on the banks of the Chena River.
Chena Hot Springs Resort Pool

Fairbanks

You are invited to explore Fairbanks gold rush history, its vibrant traditional native cultures as well as abundant wildlife and fantastic scenery. This morning you may visit the renowned Alaska University Museum featuring Alaska's natural history best collection, Alaskaland or join the authentic sternwheeler "Riverboat Discovery" on a scenic 20-mile roundtrip cruise down the Chena and Tanana Rivers. A guided van tour along the Dalton Highway or a flightseeing tour to the Arctic Circle is a popular choice for experiencing the Arctic Circle and Yukon River. Enjoy a flightseeing trip to Fort Yukon to understand as well as experience how the Gwich'in Athabascan Natives live in "Bush" Alaska. Transfer to the airport.

Rates in US $ / per Person
Comfort Hotel Category Single Double Triple Quad Child
May 18 - May 31 $4855 $3191 $2714 $2472 $1116
June 1 - August 31 $4869 $3216 $2733 $2488 $1116
September 1 - September 13 $4772 $3148 $2683 $2447 $1089
First Class Hotel Category Single Double Triple Quad Child
May 18 - May 31 $6106 $4197 $3634 $3352 $1529
June 1 - August 31 $6565 $4483 $3834 $3510 $1529
September 1 - September 13 $6106 $4197 $3634 $3352 $1529

What’s included

8 Nights Comfort OR First-Class Accommodation

Hotel and State Taxes

Seward Area Sightseeing Tour & Sled Dog Ride

Kenai Fjords Glacier & Wildlife Cruise including Lunch

Seward Harbor Tax

Mt. Denali Flightseeing Tour (1 hour)

Denali Transit Bus Ticket to Eielson Visitor Center

Seward, Talkeetna, Denali & Fairbanks Railroad Station and Airport Transfers

Tour Documentation

Sightseeing Information

Railroad Transportation Anchorage – Seward

Railroad Transportation Seward - Anchorage

Railroad Transportation Anchorage - Talkeetna

Railroad Transportation Talkeetna - Denali National Park

Railroad Transportation Denali National Park – Fairbanks

Comfort Hotel Category includes Reserved Seats in Standard Adventure Class Train
( upgrade to Dome Car Train is available for $650.00 per person )

First Class Hotel Category includes Reserved Seats in Upper Level Panorama Dome Car Train,
Priority Check-in & Boarding, Use of Private Outdoor Viewing Platform,
Priority Dining Room Seating, Enhanced Reclining Seats

Tour Departures

Daily  from  May  18th  –  September  13th

Seward: Extend Kenai Fjords Cruise to Northwestern Fjords Cruise

The premium 8 1/2 hrs Kenai Fjords Cruise covers magnificent Northwestern Fjord - the home to three amazing tidewater glacier, hanging alpine glacier, abundant wildlife such as Orca Whales, Steller Sea Lions, playful Sea Otters, Bald Eagles, Puffins and of course the magnificent scenery. On this tour we travel futher into Kenai Fjords National Park than most other daily cruise tour operators. In addition we visit the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge and Chiswell Island's seabird rookeries within Resurrection Bay. Make sure you bring your camera to photograph the abundant marine and coastal wildlife, many types of sea birds and the untouched beauty of Alaska's shorelines. Tour includes a light breakfast and hot lunch. Total 150 miles round trip.

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Kenai Fjords tour boat cruising below snowy mountains

Talkeetna: Denali Flightseeing Tour with optional Glacier Landing

The 1 hr Denali flightseeing tour takes you within six miles of Mt. Denali's summit. As your flight departs Talkeetna, you begin to notice how the last ice age has shaped the land. Moments later you enter a world of rugged high mountain peaks and wide glacier filled valleys. See the Sheldon Amphitheater, beautiful Ruth Glacier, and the Great Gorge (the world's deepest - almost 2 miles from top to bottom). Add a glacier landing to your flightseeing tour for a one-of-a-kind expedition. Passengers land usually at the 5600 foot level of the Ruth Glacier, located in the Sheldon Amphitheater. Other popular landing spots are the Kahiltna, the Pika, or the Eldridge glaciers. A glacier landing takes an additional 30 minutes (15 minutes of time exploring on foot and 15 minutes for landing and takeoff).

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Snow-covered Denali seen from a flightseeing plane

Denali: Exchange Transit Bus Tour to Denali Tundra Wilderness Tour

The fully narrated 62-mile Tundra Wilderness Tour into Denali National Park is led by a certified naturalist driver/guide who will also provide historical and geographical background of the area. The tour will last approximately eight to nine hours and includes ample photo and rest stops. When your tour driver is able, he/she will take video footage of animals along Park Road and project these images onto drop-down video screens, featured only our specially designed tour buses. This way you can get a close-up look at the roadside action. At the end of the tour, you’ll have the opportunity to purchase a “Tundra Wilderness Tour” DVD, which will feature some of the video footage shot from your tour! Guests cannot switch buses throughout the day (only the Denali Transit Bus allows this).

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Visitors boarding tour buses in Denali National Park

Denali: Exchange Transit Bus Tour to Denali Backcountry Adventure Bus Tour

The Denali Backcountry Adventure Tour is another premier Denali Park Wildlife bus excursion. This full-day, 13-hour tour travels 95 miles in each direction to the Denali Backcountry Lodge in Kantishna. You'll travel by private bus with a trained naturalist driver/guide giving interpretation along the way helping you search for bear, moose, caribou and other wildlife while pointing out the biology and geology of the region. Several photo and rest stops will be made. Snacks, drinks and lunch are provided. Lunch is served at the exclusive Denali Backcountry Lodge in Kantishna. Lunch consists of a sandwich bar, soups, fruits, snacks, fresh baked goods and non-alcoholic drinks. After lunch try your luck at gold panning near the lodge or take a guided nature walk before returning to the Park entrance.

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Hiker photographing Denali from the fall tundra

Fairbanks: Guided Arctic Circle Van Tour

On this tour you will travel from Fairbanks along the Dalton Highway to the Arctic Circle in the Brooks Mountain Range. Enjoy the first-hand experience of the Earth’s northernmost circle of latitude in one of our climate-controlled vans. Here, in the summer, the sky is completely light for 24 hours a day! Travel along the famous Dalton Highway and spot wildlife (no guarantee) as you cross the Yukon River. When you arrive, learn about the area’s indigenous culture, take a walk with your guide, snap photos of the arctic landscape, and enjoy lunch amidst the incredible surroundings. You’ll take home an official Arctic Circle certificate to commemorate this amazing Alaska experience.

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Arctic Circle sign along the Dalton Highway

Fairbanks: Guided Arctic Circle Fly/Drive to Coldfoot & the Yukon River

Cross the Arctic Circle on this one day guided roundtrip journey by air and land. This tour takes visitors deep into the Arctic tundra within Alaska’s Far North region. The adventure begins with a scenic flightseeing tour from Fairbanks. Gain a birds-eye view of the Gates of the Arctic National Park and the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge on your way to the mining community of Coldfoot, a remote pipeline camp nestled in the Brooks Mountain Range. Your journey continues on the return drive to Fairbanks via the Dalton Highway, a roadway made famous during the construction of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline. Experience the grand Yukon River and learn about its storied past and visit the Arctic Circle Trading Post in Joy, Alaska where you will receive an official certificate for crossing the Arctic Circle!

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Snow-capped mountain above autumn tundra along the Dalton Highway

Fairbanks: Arctic Circle Flightseeing Tour to Fort Yukon & the Yukon River

Experience a breathtaking tour of Fort Yukon by plane. Enjoy the 50 minute flight to For Yukon. Fly north over the Yukon River, across the Arctic Circle, thru the Brooks Mountain Range, and over the Gates of the Arctic National Park. Upon landing you will meet a local host who will take you around Fort Yukon by bus and share their home with you enlighten with facts about the area. The tour does make a stop at the Yukon River for a chance to get out and take pictures. Once the tour is over, you will have a return flight to Fairbanks where you'll receive an official certificate for crossing the Arctic Circle!

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Brown bear walking below the Trans-Alaska Pipeline
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Sarah, Michigan: My husband is a train buff, and we wanted to make the Alaska Railroad part of our bucket-list trip to Alaska. We're so glad we did. We splurged on the dome car service from Anchorage via Seward, Denali to Fairbanks. Very much worth the extra cost. The dome cars are very comfortable and the views are unsurpassed. The way the seats are set up and the meal service engender friendly discussion among the passengers. The entire crew was friendly and efficient. The bartenders make a great Bloody Mary, too!

Marcus, LA: Incredible bucket list adventure thanks to Andrea and Alaska Active! Traveled to Seward and Denali National Park and saw all wildlife, glaciers and mountains as I hoped for. All aspects from planning thru execution went unbelievably smoothly. All venues, each very unique, were outstanding and all the people we dealt with...Great!

Lisa, Austin: Thanks for organizing a great vacation for our family. We enjoyed the bears, whales & glaciers driving tour and we saw a lot of wildlife. The hotels were great, as well as the rental car. We can strongly recommend Alaska Active Travel !

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this tour, and where does it start and end?

The tour includes 8 nights. It starts in Anchorage and ends in Fairbanks.

Where do I stay overnight on this tour?

According to the itinerary: Anchorage (1 night), Seward (2 nights), Anchorage (1 night), Talkeetna (1 night), Denali Village (2 nights), Fairbanks (1 night).

What is included in this tour?

The tour price includes:

  • 8 Nights Comfort OR First-Class Accommodation
  • Hotel and State Taxes
  • Seward Area Sightseeing Tour & Sled Dog Ride
  • Kenai Fjords Glacier & Wildlife Cruise including Lunch
  • Seward Harbor Tax
  • Mt. Denali Flightseeing Tour (1 hour)
  • Denali Transit Bus Ticket to Eielson Visitor Center
  • Seward, Talkeetna, Denali & Fairbanks Railroad Station and Airport Transfers
  • Tour Documentation
  • Sightseeing Information
  • Railroad Transportation Anchorage – Seward
  • Railroad Transportation Seward - Anchorage
  • Railroad Transportation Anchorage - Talkeetna
  • Railroad Transportation Talkeetna - Denali National Park
  • Railroad Transportation Denali National Park – Fairbanks
When does this tour depart?

Tour departures: Daily from May 18 to September 13.

What is the difference between the Comfort and First-Class options?

Comfort Hotel Category includes Reserved Seats in Standard Adventure Class Train.

First Class Hotel Category includes Reserved Seats in Upper Level Panorama Dome Car Train, Priority Check-in & Boarding, Use of Private Outdoor Viewing Platform, Priority Dining Room Seating, Enhanced Reclining Seats.