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Cox & Kings · Tailor-Made Journey

Best of Alaska by Rail

Alaska rail loop from Anchorage to Fairbanks in GoldStar dome cars with glaciers.

Illustration of Best of Alaska by Rail

Cox & Kings' Best of Alaska by Rail is an 11-day journey from Anchorage to Fairbanks, combining three of Alaska's signature train routes with glacier hikes, wildlife cruises, and wilderness excursions. You travel in GoldStar Service dome cars, where glass ceilings and open-air platforms frame the coast, mountains, and tundra. Days follow a rhythm of rail journeys, day-long guided adventures, and free time: hike to Exit Glacier on Day 2, cruise into Northwestern Fjord to spot whales and calving ice, fly by floatplane for a bear-viewing safari, and drive the Denali Highway across glacial valleys. The package suits first-time rail travellers seeking curated experiences and repeat visitors drawn to Alaska's three marquee trains, photographers chasing varied wilderness light, and wildlife enthusiasts willing to explore by multiple means of transport.

What to know before you look closer

  • The itinerary balances train journeys with coach, cruise, and floatplane segments; rail accounts for roughly 40 percent of travel days.
  • Some optional activities (rafting, helicopter tours) are noted as alternatives but cost additional fees beyond the tour price.
  • The final hotel in Fairbanks is only one night before departure; the journey is structured heavily around the middle days (Seward, Denali).

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: Anchorage (Hotel Captain Cook)

    Arrive Anchorage

    Touch down in Anchorage, where rugged highlands rise beyond a mosaic of waterways and urban streets. After a taxi ride to your downtown hotel, the day is yours to spend at your own pace. For a gentle introduction to Alaskan flavours this evening, consider dining on freshly caught seafood at a nearby restaurant.

  2. Day 2railovernight: Seward (Seward Windsong Lodge)

    Arrive Seward

    Board the Coastal Classic Train and settle into the GoldStar Railcar with its glass-domed ceilings and open-air viewing platforms. With breakfast included on board, follow the coastline of Cook Inlet before climbing into the glacier-carved valleys of the Chugach Mountains. Arrive in Seward and join an included guided hike to Exit Glacier, where trails wind through alder thickets and rocky slopes to a sweep of ice descending from the Harding Icefield. A naturalist guide offers insight into the region's glacial landscapes and ecology.

  3. Day 3overnight: Seward (Seward Windsong Lodge)

    Seward

    Today brings an included full-day cruise into the remote reaches of Kenai Fjords National Park. Travelling deeper than most routes, this expedition ventures to the dramatic Northwestern Fjord, home to three tidewater glaciers. Keep watch for humpback and orca whales, sea otters and colonies of Steller sea lions that gather on rocky outcrops. An included continental breakfast and deli-style lunch are served on board.

  4. Day 4overnight: Anchorage (Hotel Captain Cook)

    Arrive Anchorage

    Join an included Seward to Anchorage day tour that begins with a peaceful walk offering a last view of Exit Glacier. Next, en route to Anchorage, stop at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center for the chance to observe moose, caribou, bears and muskox in spacious, natural enclosures. Lunch is provided, followed by a ride on the aerial tram to the summit of Alyeska Mountain, where views of hanging glaciers and the Chugach peaks await. You arrive in Anchorage by late afternoon.

  5. Day 5railovernight: Anchorage (Hotel Captain Cook)

    Anchorage

    Depart Anchorage by coach for the included 26 Glacier Cruise, covering over 140 miles through the fjords of Prince William Sound. Watch for sea otters, harbour seals, kittiwakes, whales, bears and mountain goats as you approach a variety of glaciers, including tidewater, alpine and piedmont. Listen for the crack of calving ice as it breaks away and drops into the sea. Disembark in the city of Whittier, where you reboard the Glacier Discovery train, arriving back in Anchorage by evening.

  6. Day 6overnight: Anchorage (Hotel Captain Cook)

    Anchorage

    Today offers an included Bear Viewing Safari allowing you to observe Alaska's bears in their natural surroundings. Depart Anchorage by float plane for a flight southwest to one of several remote bear habitats – selected according to the bears seasonal activity. On arrival, watch black or brown bears as they forage or fish along riverbanks.

  7. Day 7railovernight: Talkeetna (Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge)

    Arrive Talkeetna

    Set off early aboard the Denali Star Train, with breakfast included as you follow a scenic route north to Talkeetna, the base camp for climbers bound for Mount Denali. On arrival, you can spend time at leisure. This afternoon, a more high-octane experience awaits – a flightseeing tour providing striking aerial views of river valleys, glaciers and the surrounding Alaskan wilderness.

  8. Day 8railovernight: Denali National Park (The Grande Denali Lodge)

    Arrive Denali National Park

    This morning, rejoin the Denali Star Train for the next leg of your rail journey. With lunch included on board, pass through a shifting panorama of rivers, spruce forest and open tundra as you arrive at Denali National Park. The afternoon is free to spend how you choose. Our local expert suggests whitewater rafting on the Nenana River, hiking, or a helicopter flight-seeing tour.

  9. Day 9overnight: Denali National Park (The Grande Denali Lodge)

    Denali National Park

    Today brings a remarkable adventure, hailed by National Geographic Traveler as one of the world's great drives. During your included Denali Highway Guided Self Drive Jeep Excursion, you'll traverse a gravel road that stretches for miles through untouched wilderness, where snow-draped summits, glacial valleys and wide-open tundra extend to the horizon. Alternative excursions are also available today.

  10. Day 10railovernight: Fairbanks (Pike's Waterfront Lodge)

    Arrive Fairbanks

    This morning is yours to spend as you wish. Perhaps set out on a hike, take to the water for rafting on the Nenana River, or enjoy a helicopter flight. By early afternoon, return to the Denali Star Train for the journey north to the city of Fairbanks – gateway to Alaska's interior. With dinner included on board, settle in and watch the scenery morph from dense forest to wide river flats and the open reaches of Alaska's far north.

  11. Day 11

    Fly home

    Today your Alaska adventure comes to a close. Check out of your hotel and take a shuttle to the airport to prepare for your overnight flight home.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 2Ride the Coastal Classic Train through Cook Inlet and Chugach Mountains to Seward, then hike to Exit Glacier through alder thickets.
  • Day 3Cruise into Northwestern Fjord in Kenai Fjords National Park, watching for calving glaciers and marine wildlife including humpback whales.
  • Day 6Depart Anchorage by floatplane for a bear-viewing safari in a remote habitat, observing black or brown bears along riverbanks.
  • Day 9Traverse the Denali Highway on a self-drive Jeep excursion across untouched wilderness with glacial valleys and wide-open tundra.
  • Day 10Board the Denali Star Train northbound to Fairbanks with dinner included, watching forest morph to river flats and open landscape.

Included

  • Scheduled international flights
  • Standard accommodation
  • Alaska Railroad journeys in Goldstar Service with dome car seating
  • Exit Glacier Hike from Seward
  • Northwestern Fjord Cruise from Seward
  • Day Tour from Seward to Anchorage with lunch & inclusions
  • Prince William Sound 26 Glacier Cruise from Anchorage
  • Bear Viewing Safari from Anchorage
  • Denali Flightseeing with Glacier Landing
  • Denali Highway Jeep Excursion

Questions travellers ask

What trains are included?
Cox & Kings includes the Coastal Classic Train (Anchorage to Seward), Glacier Discovery Train (Whittier to Anchorage), and Denali Star Train (Talkeetna to Denali National Park to Fairbanks), all in GoldStar Service with dome cars.
Is this an escorted or independent trip?
It is a tailor-made journey with included guided excursions (Exit Glacier hike, fjord cruise, bear safari, Denali Highway jeep excursion) and some free time to explore at leisure.
What is the starting price and when does it run?
From GBP 8,535 (USD 11,399) in May and September; from GBP 8,895 in June-August. The trip operates across the May-September season.
What meals are included?
Breakfast is included on the Coastal Classic and Denali Star trains. The Kenai Fjords cruise includes continental breakfast and deli lunch. A Seward-to-Anchorage day tour includes lunch. Dinner is included on the final evening train journey to Fairbanks.
How much walking and activity is involved?
Activity level is moderate. Days include a hike to Exit Glacier, guided walks, and optional rafting or helicopter excursions. Some days allow you to choose your own activities or rest.
Are international flights included?
Yes; scheduled international flights are included in the package price.

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