RSFA03 Stunning Alaska - Rail & Fly Tour from Fairbanks

RSFA03 Stunning Alaska - Rail & Fly Tour from Fairbanks

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Alaska has two most popular National Parks – Denali and Glacier Bay and this tour combines these two into one fun filled rail & fly tour. This tour starts in Fairbanks where you'll board the last full-service railroad in North America. Choose between the “Adventure Class” seating in the one-storey railway car or the “Deluxe Dome Railcar” on board the Alaska Railroad or with one of the privately operated trains. All train cars feature large panorama windows ensuring unobstructed views around every bend of the majestic beauty of the glaciers, mountains and Alaskan wildlife. Discover famous Denali National Park nestling in the shadows of towering 20.320 ft. Mt. Denali. Denali National Park mesmerizes every one with its pristine beauty amazing hikes and great wildlife spotting. The leisure train ride to Anchorage provides many spectacular vistas of the Alaska Range. From Anchorage, you fly to Gustavus and stay at Glacier Bay Lodge. Covering 3.3 million acres of rugged mountains, dynamic glaciers, temperate rainforest, wild coastlines and deep sheltered fjords, Glacier Bay National Park is a highlight of Alaska's Inside Passage and part of a 25-million acre World Heritage Site—one of the world’s largest international protected areas. From sea to summit, Glacier Bay offers limitless opportunities for adventure and inspiration. Today, glaciers still cover 27 percent of the Park. There are more than 50 named glaciers of which seven are active tidewater glaciers that calve icebergs into the sea. Two of them, Johns Hopkins and Margerie Glaciers, are advancing. Encircling the park to the west is the Fairweather Range, the highest coastal mountains in the world at 15,000 feet. Experience Glacier Bay from the comfort of the catamaran during a Glacier Bay Cruise. The bay is rich with marine life, including the endangered humpback whale, orcas, threatened Stellar sea lion, harbor seals, sea otters and porpoises. In addition Glacier Bay is home to a large bear population, both brown and black, as well as the blue glacier bear, a rare color phase of the black. Sitka blacktail deer and mountain goats thrive in the park. Fly to Juneau and join the Tracy Arm Fjords Glacier Cruise. This tour is perfectly suited for the adventurous travelers. On request, this trip can be customized and can be organized in reverse order..

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Fairbanks ( Overnight: Fairbanks )

Welcome to Fairbanks, the "Golden Heart City" - tucked into miles of unexplored wilderness only 120 miles from the Arctic Circle and enjoying almost 24 hours of daylight during summer. You are invited to explore the local gold rush history, its vibrant traditional native cultures as well as fantastic scenery. You may visit the renown Alaska University Museum featuring Alaska's natural history best collection or take an authentic sternwheeler on a scenic cruise down the Chena and Tanana Rivers. Guided van tour along the Dalton Highway or flightseeing tour to the Arctic Circle is super 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.

Fairbanks – Denali National Park | Rail Tour ( Overnight: Denali Village )

Enjoy the scenic ride onboard the Alaska Railroad to Denali National Park. 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. The train passes through the small community of Nenana, known for the Nenana Ice Classic Lottery. Just north of the Denali park, the train winds along Healy Canyon, following the curves of the Nenana River below. Arrive at Denali Village at noon. Transfer to your hotel and check into your room. Once you settled take a stroll through Denali Village, join a flightseeing tour, wildwater rafting trip or visit Jeff King’s Husky Homestead Kennel for a personal tour with four-time Iditarod champion Jeff King and his sled dogs.

Denali National Park ( Overnight: Denali Village )

Denali National Park offers excellent wildlife viewing and spectacular sceneries. Pick up your tickets, board the bus and watch out for grizzly bears, moose, caribou, wolf and fox moving along the ridges and river beds. Your driver informs about the history of Denali National Park, its diverse wildlife and flora. Once an animal has been spotted the bus will stop that everyone can watch and take pictures. The bus turns around at Eielson Visitor Center - 66 miles one way/8 hours round trip. You can get off the bus anytime to go for a hike. Return to the Denali Park entrance anytime during the day. Optional: We can extend the transit bus tour to Wonder Lake or exchange to the Tundra Wilderness Tour, Kantishna Wilderness Trails or Backcountry Lodge Tour. Included: Denali Transit Bus to Eielson Center

Denali National Park – Anchorage | Rail Tour ( Overnight: Anchorage )

Board the Alaska Railroad and relax in your comfortable reclining seats, have a delicious lunch onboard or listen to the commentaries from an onboard interpreter. Just south of Denali you'll enter Broad Pass, offering majestic views of the Alaska Range in all directions. Your rail tour continues via Wasilla and crosses the Knik River with the Chugach Mountains as a backdrop before arriving in Anchorage, Alaska's largest city. Nestled along the Chugach Mountains, the coastal city is brimming with activities for the outdoorsy and adventurous, as well as the more relaxed. Visit the Log Cabin Visitor Center and its Crossroad, Ship Creek Viewpoint overlooking Cook Inlet and the Resolution Park with its Captain Cook Monument. Try out one of the popular seafood restaurants this evening.

Anchorage - Flight to Gustavus via Juneau (Overnight: Juneau )

Scenic flight from Anchorage to Gustavus with a stopover in Juneau (around 4 hrs). Upon arrival in Gustavus, you will be transferred to Glacier Bay Lodge where you can check into your room. Glacier Bay National Park - with its high mountain peaks, ice-sculptured fjords, an abundance of marine wildlife and massive tidewater glaciers - is one of Alaska's most spectacular National Parks. When Captain George Vancouver sailed through the ice-choked waters of Icy Strait in 1794, Glacier Bay was little more than a dent in a mountain of ice. Encircling the park to the west is the Fairweather Range, the highest coastal mountains in the world at 15,000 feet. Spend the remaining day to stroll the beach at Bartlett Cove or join the Park Ranger for a walk through the rainforest that surround the lodge.

Gustavus / Glacier Bay Lodge ( Overnight: Gustavus )

Morning departure at 7:30 AM for a scenic catamaran cruise into Glacier Bay. Watch glaciers with giant towers of ice 'calve' into the water. Throughout the cruise, watch for the Park's resident wildlife: humpback, orca and minke whales; harbor seals and sea lions: bears, mountain goats and moose; and more than 200 species of birds. The "Baranof Wind", a spacious, comfortable catamaran, was designed for maximum viewing enjoyment with open top-deck viewing, interior seating and large picture windows. Throughout the cruise, a National Park Service Ranger explains wildlife behavior as well as the geologic features and cultural history of the Park. Lunch is included and served on board with complimentary hot cocoa, tea and coffee. After the cruise, return to Bartlett Cove. Included: Glacier Bay Cruise

Gustavus / Glacier Bay Lodge - Flight to Juneau ( Overnight: Juneau )

Every year, thousands of humpback whales migrate more than 3000 miles from Hawaii to Alaska. They spend winter in tropical waters and then make the long voyage to temperate and polar waters in Alaska during the summer to feed and rebuild their blubber supply. Point Adolphus near Gustavus is a popular feeding area for the Alaska humpback and a popular place for travelers to get a glimpse of these enormous mammals. You have the option this morning to join the whale watching cruise to this feeding ground. Their unique feeding techniques, acrobatics, and vocalizations make every tour unique. This afternoon, board the plane for a scenic flight to Juneau. Transfer to your hotel in downtown Juneau - the capital of Alaska.

Juneau ( Overnight: Juneau )

Journey through one of the most dramatic sites in the world - Tracy Arm Fjord. This narrow fjord twists and turns for over 30 miles, culminating in a spectacular view of the twin tidewater Sawyer Glaciers. Your captain will navigate as close as the ice floe allows, stopping for an extended stay at the face of the glacier. Watch for seals relaxing on the icebergs and bald eagles soaring above the cliffs. Learn about the natural history of the fjord, glaciers and the wildlife from our onboard naturalist. Overcast days will not dampen your enjoyment as clouds and mist only heighten the drama of the fjord and intensify the glacial blue color. Included: Tracy Arm Fjord Glacier Cruise

Juneau

Spend the morning relaxing or doing your favourite outdoor activities. Sample the city’s local fare is a big part of any vacation and a visit to Juneau delivers tastes that delight the senses. From Alaska salmon, halibut and crab to sourdough bagels, homemade fudge, and award-winning coffee and beer, Juneau can satisfy even the most discriminating palate. One of the local favourites is Tracy's King Crab Shack in downtown Juneau. Transfer to Juneau Airport for your flight home.

Rates in US $ / per Person
Comfort Hotel Category Single Double Triple Quad Child
May 18 - May 31 $4108 $2766 $2374 $2181 $1296
June 1 - August 31 $4171 $2829 $2437 $2244 $1321
September 1 - September 13 $4108 $2766 $2374 $2181 $1296
First Class Hotel Category Single Double Triple Quad Child
May 18 - May 31 $4764 $3226 $2782 $2567 $1436
June 1 - August 31 $4846 $3308 $2864 $2649 $1458
September 1 - September 13 $4764 $3226 $2782 $2567 $1436

What’s included

8 Nights Comfort OR First-Class Accommodation

Hotel and State Taxes

Denali Transit Bus Ticket to Eielson Visitor Center

Flight from Anchorage to Gustavus

Flight from Gustavus to Juneau

Full Day Glacier Bay Cruise including lunch

Glacier Bay National Park Fee

Tracy Arm Fjord & Glacier Explorer Cruise

Transfers in Gustavus

Juneau, Denali & Fairbanks Railroad Station and Airport Transfers

Tour Documentation

Sightseeing Information

Railroad Transportation Fairbanks - Denali National Park

Railroad Transportation Denali National Park – Anchorage

Comfort Hotel Category includes Reserved Seats in Standard Adventure Class Train
( upgrade to Dome Car Train is available for $280.00 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

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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Fairbanks: Riverboat Discovery Sternwheeler Cruise

If you've ever read Mark Twain you know of his days as a riverboat captain. Did you know that Jack London was a riverboat pilot as well? Here's your chance to experience the adventure these renowned writers enjoyed as you cruise aboard the authentic sternwheeler riverboat Discovery II, rated the number one boat tour in North America. Enjoy a lively narration as you view a trapper's cabin, log homes, and a bush pilot performance. Visit the home of four time Iditarod champion Susan Butcher, as you pass Trail Breaker Kennels along the Chena River. Learn first hand about kennel life and the challenges that go into making a champion dogsled team. You'll make a stop at the historic site of a Chena Indian village to see native crafters in action and to learn abut Native Alaskan hunting and fishing at an Athabascan Fish Camp.

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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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Denali: Exchange Transit Bus Tour to Kantishna Wilderness Trails Tour

The Kantishna Wilderness Trails tour is the premier Denali Park wilderness bus excursion. Spend the entire day in Denali National Park and discover a piece of Alaska's gold rush history and warm hospitality at the historic Kantishna Roadhouse, located just past Wonder Lake on the banks of Moose Creek. Your 12 to 13-hour fully-narrated excursion to Kantishna travels via a custom motorcoach through 95 miles of Denali National Park's prime wildlife habitat. The last 30 miles allow for full viewing of Mt. Denali, weather permitting. The wilderness backcountry of Denali Park provides diverse habitats which support big-game species such as black bear, grizzly, moose, caribou, Dall sheep, wolf, and wolverine. Hot beverages and refreshments are included en route to the Kantishna Roadhouse. After a hearty deli style lunch in the dining room at the Roadhouse, relax and visit the Historical Recorder's Cabin and enjoy a dog sled demonstration or gold panning. Guests cannot switch buses throughout the day (only the Denali Transit Bus allows this).

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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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Juneau: Pack Creek Bear Viewing Tour to Admiralty Island

The Pack Creek Bear Sanctuary on Admiralty Island is one of Alaska’s most accessible, and yet most wild, bear viewing areas. After the scenic floatplane flight from Juneau, walk on the same ground as the bears. Human visitation is limited, allowing us to enjoy a wilderness bear viewing experience. Pack Creek is ideal habitat for Alaska’s massive coastal brown bears (grizzlies). Starting in the spring, brown bears come to the meadows to feed and also to pursue mates. This makes it one of the best places to see bears during May and early June. While some Pack Creek bears head into the nearby mountains in mid-June, following fresh green vegetation, some stick around. By the end of June, bears are congregating at the creek, waiting for the first pacific salmon to arrive. From July through early-September, bears can be seen feeding on salmon. This tour is a premium guided and fully-outfitted package. Explore some of the most prime bear country on earth and to observe these amazing animals in the protected Kootznoowoo Wilderness on Admiralty Island. While July and August are the peak of bear activity related to salmon, Pack Creek is an excellent place to see bear activity in May, June and September as well.

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Matthew, Florida: We had a great time exploring Alaska during our rail tour to Anchorage. Exploring the Inside Passage was another great highlight. Our package deal included a stay at Glacier Bay lodge and the glacier bay boat tour. Definitely the place to get away from it all. Be careful of wildlife that can be in the park. Bears were nearby when we were there. Definitely add it to any trip you plan in Alaska. Engaging and helpful staff. Would do it again in the heartbeat.