Alaska Railroad · Rail vacation package

Alaska Wildlife Safari

Seven-day Alaska Railroad wildlife safari from Fairbanks to Redoubt Bay

Alaska Railroad's Alaska Wildlife Safari is a seven-day rail vacation built around wildlife viewing across Fairbanks, Denali National Park, Anchorage, Girdwood, Seward and Redoubt Bay. The trip rides the Denali Star, Glacier Discovery and Coastal Classic Trains, with day 1 in Fairbanks and the morning of day 4 in Denali left free to explore on your own. Day 3 spends five hours on the Tundra Wilderness Tour into Denali National Park, day 5 stops at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center before an afternoon of rafting among icebergs at Spencer Glacier, and day 6 cruises Kenai Fjords National Park for whales, sea lions and otters. The trip closes on day 7 with a float plane flight from Lake Hood to Redoubt Bay for a day of bear viewing led by an experienced naturalist guide. This suits travellers whose main interest in Alaska is wildlife, bears, whales and marine mammals, rather than city sightseeing or history.

What to know before you look closer

  • No hotels are named anywhere in the evidence for this seven-night trip; accommodation for the Fairbanks, Denali and Anchorage stops is not specified.
  • Day 7, the final excursion, travels by float plane rather than train, the one non-rail day in the itinerary.

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: Fairbanks

    Arrive in Fairbanks. Book an excursion, or explore shops, museums and restaurants at your leisure.

  2. Day 2railovernight: Denali

    Travel south on the Denali Star Train to Denali National Park. Enjoy an evening of entertainment and a hearty meal.

  3. Day 3overnight: 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.

  4. Day 4railovernight: Anchorage

    The morning is yours to explore in Denali. That afternoon, take the Denali Star Train south to Anchorage.

  5. Day 5railovernight: Anchorage

    Ride the Glacier Discovery Train along scenic Turnagain Arm to Girdwood, where you'll disembark to visit the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center. Reboard the train and continue on to the Spencer Glacier, where you'll enjoy an adventurous afternoon of rafting amid glacial icebergs.

  6. Day 6railovernight: Anchorage

    Board the Coastal Classic Train for Seward, gateway to Kenai Fjords National Park. Spend the day cruising the fjords, watching for humpback and orca whales, sea lions, otters and more. Return by rail to Anchorage and overnight.

  7. Day 7

    Depart from Lake Hood, the world's busiest float plane airport, to Redoubt Bay, home to one of the most concentrated and viewable bear populations in Alaska. Enjoy a day of bear viewing with your experienced naturalist guide before returning to Anchorage.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 3The Tundra Wilderness Tour spends 5 hours touring the first 43 miles of Denali Park Road by bus, with wildlife sightings common along the way.
  • Day 5The Glacier Discovery Train stops at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center in Girdwood, then continues to Spencer Glacier for an afternoon of rafting among glacial icebergs.
  • Day 6The Coastal Classic Train reaches Seward for a full day cruising Kenai Fjords National Park, watching for humpback and orca whales, sea lions and otters.
  • Day 7A float plane from Lake Hood, the world's busiest float plane airport, carries travellers to Redoubt Bay for a day of bear viewing with an experienced naturalist guide.

Questions travellers ask

Is train travel included?
Yes, the trip rides the Denali Star, Glacier Discovery and Coastal Classic Trains between Fairbanks, Denali National Park, Anchorage, Girdwood and Seward.
What wildlife viewing is included?
A naturalist-guided fly-in bear viewing day at Redoubt Bay, a visit to the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center in Girdwood, and a Kenai Fjords glacier cruise with whales, sea lions and otters.
Is it escorted or independent?
The evidence does not mention a tour director; day 1 in Fairbanks and the morning of day 4 in Denali are left free to explore on your own, with excursions optional.
How much does it cost?
Adventure Class starts at 4,379 USD per person; GoldStar Service starts at 5,195 USD.
What hotels are used?
The evidence does not name any hotels for this trip.
How does the bear viewing work?
On day 7, an experienced naturalist guide leads a fly-in bear viewing day at Redoubt Bay, reached by float plane from Lake Hood.

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