8 Days from $6,790 USD / person
Alaska Rail Adventure: From Anchorage to Fairbanks
Sample Itinerary
Day 1 – 2
Welcome to Anchorage!
You will be transferred from Anchorage airport to your hotel in a private vehicle
1 Night
Anchorage
Anchorage is Alaska’s largest city nestled on the shores of Cook Inlet. Sandwiched between rugged peaks and tranquil water, this urban sprawl is home to nearly half of the state’s population. Don’t be surprised to see bears and moose sauntering across private yards or public parks – it’s a way of life here! The Alaska Native Heritage Center is your one-stop source for all things cultural with its traditional craft displays and dance performances. Top it off with a trip to the local museum for your fill of the region’s history. Kayaking, canoeing, and whale watching tours let you explore the area by water, while scenic flight tours are a great way of discovering glaciers. Dog sledding remains a favorite pastime of visitors, followed closely by gold panning at the local mines. Back in town, dining experiences turn into gourmet feasts with fresh seafood and local produce dominating the culinary scene.
Hotel options
Copper Whale Inn – Opt 1
Room
Standard room w/private bathroom
Meals
Room Only
Style
Guest house
Hotel Captain Cook – Opt 2
Room
Deluxe Room
Meals
Room Ony
Style
International
Day 2 – 3
You will be transferred from your hotel to Anchorage train station in a private vehicle
Board your train from Anchorage to Talkeetna (Duration: 3 hrs)
1 Night
Talkeetna
Talkeetna is all that you would expect in a typical Alaskan small town. Tucked into the Mat-Su Valley, this picturesque town with its colorful old buildings gives off an artsy vibe. Nestled at the foothills of majestic Denali, North America’s tallest mountain, it is a convenient base camp for climbing expeditions to major peaks. Log cabins and clapboard storefronts testify to its past as a gold mining center. The small museum in town chronicling the adventures of early climbers is worth a visit. Flightseeing tours offer panoramic views of the mountains and can even include glacier landings. Riverboat and jet boat tours enable you to explore the waterways and navigate deep into the canyons. Fishing and horseback riding are some of the activities that let you soak in the scenic beauty of the region. Sampling the local specialties at cozy cafes and browsing local galleries are excellent ways of unwinding after a busy day of outdoor fun.
Hotel options
Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge – Opt 1
Room
Main Lodge Room w/ Forest View
Meals
Room Only
Style
Lodge
Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge – Opt 2
Room
Mountainside Room
Meals
Room Only
Style
Lodge
Day 3 – 6
Board your train from Talkeetna to Denali National Park (Duration: 4.5 hrs)
You will be transferred from the Denali train station to your hotel in a shared vehicle
3 Nights
Denali National Park
Denali National Park and Preserve, with its primeval landscape and untamed wilderness, promises a one-of-a-kind adventure. Located in the Interior Alaska region, it is home to Denali, the tallest peak in North America. This nature lover’s paradise offers an endless sequence of breathtaking vistas all around. Free-roaming moose, grizzly bears, caribou, and wolves make for excellent wildlife viewing. Hiking along marked trails or going off the beaten path top the list of activities for visitors to Denali. Bicycling and bus tours are other ways of exploring the major attractions of this sprawling reserve. Entertaining sled dog demonstrations provide a peek into the life of park rangers and their canine partners. For a rush of adrenaline, go whitewater rafting over the rapids in the many rivers across the park. Aerial tours are also available to give you a bird’s eye view of the spectacular landscape with its mountains and glaciers.
Hotel options
Denali Park Village – Opt 1
Room
Village Lodge Riverview Room
Meals
Room Only
Style
Resort
Denali Bluffs Hotel – Opt 2
Room
Deluxe Room
Meals
Room Only
Style
Lodge
Day 6 – 8
Board your train from Denali National Park to Fairbanks (Duration: 4 hrs)
You will be transferred from Fairbanks train station to your hotel in a private vehicle
2 Nights
Fairbanks
Fairbanks is the second largest city in the state of Alaska with all the charms of small town life. It is a favored base camp with adventure-seekers and explorers en route to the Alaskan Interior or the Arctic region. An excellent year-round destination, there is plenty to keep you busy come summer or winter! Rafting and kayaking down the Chena River appeal to adventure lovers while golfing and fishing are for those who prefer a relaxed pace. Pioneer Park stands as testimony to the city’s historic past of gold mining, and art galleries are filled with exquisite displays of local handicrafts for you to browse. The onset of winter brings with it dog sledding, snowmobiling, and cross-country skiing expeditions. Meanwhile, the hot springs are perfect for rejuvenating with a leisurely soak after every exciting adventure. Fairbanks makes for an especially unique destination during the Fall and Winter months, with the Northern Lights shining through the darkness!
Hotel options
Pike’s Waterfront Lodge – Opt 1
Room
Aurora Cabin
Meals
Room Only
Style
Lodge
SpringHill Suites by Marriott – Opt 2
Room
Double room bed Suite
Meals
Room Only
Style
Apartment
You will be transferred from your hotel to Fairbanks airport in a private vehicle
International Departure
Price & Inclusions
Prices are in USD and exclude international flights. This trip price is based on low season rates for accommodation and other applicable services, and may change depending on availability, currency fluctuations and number of people traveling together. For high season prices, please contact us with your exact travel dates and preferences.
Price Includes
- Accommodation & meals as specified in the itinerary
- Activities & excursions as specified in the itinerary
- Transportation services as specified in the itinerary
- Your Trip Coordination Team: Dedicated support throughout your journey, with a primary, personal point of contact. Plus, in case of emergencies while you’re traveling, our trip coordination team are available 24/7 by phone
Not Included
- Entrance fees & meals, unless mentioned in the itinerary description
- Tips & personal expenses
- Visa & tourism fees
- Travel, health and cancellation insurance
- International airfare
What Our Guests Say
“We had an amazing trip with Katie and Kenny helping us plan our 50th Anniversay trip to Alaska to see the Northern Lights. The trip was fabulous and we were always able to get help when we needed it. I would definitely recommend using Enchanting Travels and Katie and Kenny to plan your next trip they were so helpful in the planning process as well as during our travels.”
January 2025 Rating 5/5
“Katie and Kenny did a fantastic job in both the planning stages and the actual implementation. We are so glad we had them help us with our 50th Anniversary trip.”
January 2025 Rating 5/5
“I have used ET 3 times now for trips to Africa Iceland and Alaska and am considering trips to South America and Antarctica with them. The ET team had been terrific to work with. Informed experienced accessible and responsive. I could not pick a better travel consultant team”
August 2023 Rating 5/5
“Enchanting Travels helped us plan, down to every detail, exactly what we wanted in our trip. In the early stages there was constant contact to fine-tune our trip to what our interests were. During the trip we had the confidence that our Trip Coordinator had our back.”
July 2023 Rating 4/5
“We would highly recommend using Enchanting Travels for an Alaskan vacation. They curated the experiences that we most wanted including lots of opportunities to see the beauty of the landscape, do wildlife tours for animal sighting, and gain understanding of the Native culture. We trusted the specific tours that they arranged in terms of safety (plane flights, etc). They were very supportive throughout our trip; daily check ins to ensure that the reservations for tours and hotels would all go smoothly. We were very impressed by the individual attention and support of our coordinator, Heike.”
July 2023 Rating 5/5
“Enchanting Travels makes planning your next adventure so easy. I would recommend them to everyone. We will certainly be using their services again.”
July 2023 Rating 5/5
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