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Vacations By Rail · Independent rail vacation

Alaska Northern Lights & Aurora Train

Seven-day Alaskan winter rail journey chasing northern lights from Fairbanks to Anchorage

Illustration of Alaska Northern Lights & Aurora Train

Vacations By Rail's Alaska Northern Lights & Aurora Train is a 7-day independent winter vacation starting in Fairbanks and concluding near Anchorage. You will spend three nights in Fairbanks chasing the northern lights over two evenings, first at Chena Hot Springs Resort where you can soak in mineral water while watching the sky, then from a backcountry yurt outside the city. Between aurora-viewing sessions, you have days free to explore Fairbanks' museums and the Reindeer Ranch or pursue outdoor activities like snowmobiling and ice fishing. On Day 4, you board the Alaska Railroad's Aurora Winter Train for an all-day journey south through snow-covered landscape to Anchorage, with onboard dining. Your final days in the Anchorage area include a full-day dog-sledding excursion in Talkeetna with views of Denali, and a guided two-hour hike onto the Matanuska Glacier, the largest glacier accessible by car in the United States, with lunch overlooking the ice. This itinerary suits independent travellers who want a mix of structured excursions and unguided exploration, and who prioritize northern lights viewing and Alaska's winter wilderness over a heavily guided pace.

What to know before you look closer

  • Flights to and from Alaska and airport transfers are not included in the from-price; confirm the final cost with Vacations By Rail.
  • This is an independent tour, not guided. You arrange your own transportation on Day 1 to the hotel and navigate Fairbanks at leisure on Days 2 and 3.
  • Only one meal is included (lunch on Day 6). Breakfasts and dinners are your responsibility except those tied to excursions.

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: Fairbanks

    Fairbanks

    Arrive in Fairbanks and transfer on your own to your hotel. Fairbanks is the largest city in Alaska's interior, under the auroral oval.

  2. Day 2overnight: Fairbanks

    Fairbanks at Leisure/Chena Hot Springs Northern Lights Viewing

    A day at leisure to explore Fairbanks' museums and the Reindeer Ranch. This evening, an aurora viewing experience at Chena Hot Springs Resort, with mineral water baths and the Aurora Ice Museum.

  3. Day 3overnight: Fairbanks

    At Leisure in Fairbanks/Aurora Borealis Viewing

    A day at leisure in Fairbanks for outdoor adventures like snowmobiling, ice fishing or cross-country skiing. Tonight, another northern lights viewing experience at an Aurora Viewing Yurt outside Fairbanks.

  4. Day 4railovernight: Anchorage

    Aurora Winter Train to Anchorage

    Join the Alaska Railroad's Aurora Winter Train for an all-day journey from Fairbanks to Anchorage through snow-clad landscapes, with onboard dining options.

  5. Day 5overnight: Anchorage

    Dog Sledding Excursion in Talkeetna

    Take the scenic highway from Anchorage to Talkeetna, with views of Denali, for a full-day dog-sledding excursion at a local kennel with a driver-guide. Return to Anchorage for the evening.

  6. Day 6overnight: Anchorage

    Matanuska Glacier Tour

    A guided excursion onto the Matanuska Glacier, the largest glacier in the US accessible by car, with proper hiking gear provided, exploring meltwater pools and ice formations, followed by lunch overlooking the glacier.

    Meals: Lunch

  7. Day 7

    Tour Conclusion

    After a week of quintessential wintertime activities in Alaska, your auroral adventure concludes this morning as you check out of your hotel.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 2Evening aurora viewing at Chena Hot Springs Resort while soaking in mineral water baths.
  • Day 3Northern lights viewing from a backcountry aurora yurt outside Fairbanks.
  • Day 4All-day journey on the Alaska Railroad's Aurora Winter Train from Fairbanks to Anchorage through snow-clad landscapes.
  • Day 5Full-day dog-sledding excursion at a local kennel in Talkeetna with views of Denali.
  • Day 6Two-hour guided hike across the Matanuska Glacier, the largest glacier in the US accessible by car, with lunch overlooking the ice.

Included

  • Hotel accommodations for 6 nights
  • Rail travel on Alaska Railroad's Aurora Winter Train
  • 1 lunch
  • Two evening aurora viewing excursions
  • Dog-sledding excursion in Talkeetna
  • Matanuska Glacier guided excursion with lunch

Not included

  • Cancellation & Travel Insurance is not included in the price of the tour but can be arranged
  • Flights and Airport transfers not included

Questions travellers ask

Is train travel included?
Yes. The Alaska Railroad's Aurora Winter Train from Fairbanks to Anchorage on Day 4 is included. Flights to Alaska are not.
Is this escorted or independent?
Independent. Vacations By Rail provides a planned itinerary, but you travel on your own. Specific excursions like dog sledding and glacier touring are guided.
What is included in the price?
Six nights of hotel accommodations, the Aurora Winter Train, two northern lights viewing excursions, dog sledding in Talkeetna, a guided Matanuska Glacier hike with lunch, and one lunch.
When does this trip run?
January, February, and March.
What is the physical difficulty?
Moderate. The trip includes dog sledding and a two-hour guided hike on a glacier. Days in Fairbanks and Anchorage are at leisure and allow a slower pace.
Can I see the northern lights?
Yes. The itinerary includes two dedicated evening viewing experiences: one at Chena Hot Springs Resort with hot spring access, and one from a backcountry yurt near Fairbanks.

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