Alaska Railroad · Rail vacation package

Alaska By Daylight

Ten-day Alaska Railroad circuit linking Anchorage, Seward, Denali and Fairbanks by rail

Alaska Railroad puts together this ten-day rail vacation that starts and ends in Anchorage, tracing a loop through Southcentral and Interior Alaska. Travelers ride three named trains, the Coastal Classic to Seward, the Denali Star to Talkeetna, Denali National Park and Fairbanks, and the Glacier Discovery to Whittier. Days mix free time with included excursions: day 2 pairs a scenic ride along Turnagain Arm with a Resurrection Bay cruise in search of glaciers and whales, day 4 adds a jetboat safari across three rivers from Talkeetna, and day 6 spends five hours on the Tundra Wilderness Tour into Denali National Park. Fairbanks brings a Riverboat Discovery tour and a city tour of the University of Alaska Museum of the North, before a flight back to Anchorage and a final rail trip to Whittier for a glacier cruise in Prince William Sound. The pace suits travelers who want a full sampling of Alaska's trains, glaciers and wildlife without planning each excursion themselves.

What to know before you look closer

  • The evidence names only one hotel for this ten-night trip, the Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge on day 4; accommodation for the other overnight stops is not specified.
  • Day 9 ends with a flight from Fairbanks to Anchorage rather than a train, the only non-rail transfer in an otherwise all-rail itinerary.

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: Anchorage

    Arrive in Anchorage, Alaska's largest city. Book an excursion, or explore shops, museums and restaurants at your leisure.

  2. Day 2railovernight: Seward

    Board the Coastal Classic Train for a breathtaking ride along Turnagain Arm and through scenic Grandview. Upon arrival in Seward, embark on a cruise of Resurrection Bay in search of glaciers, whales, sea lions and more. The Captain ensures you'll stay informed and entertained.

  3. Day 3railovernight: Anchorage

    Today, explore the charming port community of Seward, Alaska. The Real Alaska Tour promises authentic adventures, including a dog sled ride, lunch at an Alaska roadhouse and a tour to Exit Glacier. That afternoon, depart for Anchorage on the Coastal Classic Train.

  4. Day 4railovernight: Talkeetna (Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge)

    Depart for Talkeetna aboard the Denali Star Train. In Talkeetna, experience a thrilling 3.5-hour guided jetboat safari traversing three different rivers.

  5. Day 5railovernight: Denali

    Journey to Denali National Park aboard the Denali Star Train. Enjoy an evening of rip-roarin' entertainment and a hearty meal at a local dinner theater.

  6. Day 6overnight: Denali

    Embark on the Tundra Wilderness Tour, a 5-hour bus tour of the first 43 miles of the famed Denali Park Road. Wildlife sightings are common, so keep your camera handy.

  7. Day 7railovernight: Fairbanks

    The morning is yours to explore Denali. Later, take the Denali Star Train to Fairbanks, known as the Golden Heart City.

  8. Day 8overnight: Fairbanks

    Take a tour on the Riverboat Discovery, a historic sternwheeler, for a glimpse of life in Interior Alaska. See dog sledding, an Alaska Native village and much more.

  9. Day 9overnight: Anchorage

    A historical Fairbanks City Tour treats you to the University of Alaska Museum of the North, the trans-Alaska pipeline, and more. Later, fly to Anchorage.

  10. Day 10railovernight: Anchorage

    Depart for Whittier and Prince William Sound aboard the Glacier Discovery Train. Enjoy the Glacier Quest Cruise and see immense tidewater glaciers. Wildlife sightings are common. Return to Anchorage and overnight.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 2The Coastal Classic Train travels along Turnagain Arm and through Grandview on the way to Seward, followed by a Resurrection Bay cruise in search of glaciers, whales and sea lions.
  • Day 4The Denali Star Train carries travellers to Talkeetna for a 3.5-hour guided jetboat safari across three different rivers.
  • Day 6The Tundra Wilderness Tour is a 5-hour bus ride into the first 43 miles of Denali Park Road, with wildlife sightings common along the way.
  • Day 10The Glacier Discovery Train runs to Whittier for the Glacier Quest Cruise, with views of immense tidewater glaciers in Prince William Sound.

Questions travellers ask

Is train travel included?
Yes. The trip rides the Coastal Classic, Denali Star and Glacier Discovery Trains between Anchorage, Seward, Talkeetna, Denali National Park, Fairbanks and Whittier.
Which trains does it use?
The Coastal Classic Train, the Denali Star Train and the Glacier Discovery Train.
Is it escorted or independent?
The evidence does not describe a tour director. The daily plan bundles rail, hotels and named excursions, with day 1 in Anchorage and the morning of day 7 in Denali left free to explore.
What is included besides the trains?
A Kenai Fjords glacier and wildlife cruise, the Real Alaska Tour in Seward (dog sled ride, Exit Glacier), a Talkeetna jetboat safari, the Tundra Wilderness Tour in Denali, a Riverboat Discovery tour in Fairbanks and a Prince William Sound glacier cruise from Whittier.
How much does it cost?
Adventure Class starts at 4,965 USD per person; GoldStar Service starts at 5,815 USD.
What hotels are used?
Only the Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge is named in the evidence, for one night in Talkeetna; other hotels are not specified.

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