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Alaska Railroad · Rail & air package

The Great One

Three-day Alaska package combining a Chena Hot Springs stay and rail

Illustration of The Great One

Alaska Railroad's The Great One is a 3-day winter package linking Anchorage, Fairbanks and Chena Hot Springs, priced from $895. Day 1 starts with a Ravn Alaska flight from Anchorage to Fairbanks, then travels on to Chena Hot Springs Resort for a tour of the Aurora Ice Museum and an evening relaxing in the natural hot springs. Day 2 returns to Fairbanks, with time to explore the city or visit the University of Alaska's Museum of the North. Only on day 3 does the trip use rail: the Aurora Winter Train carries travelers from Fairbanks back to Anchorage, with onboard dining and views of wildlife and Denali. With a different hotel each of the three nights, and only one leg covered by train, this suits travelers drawn mainly to Chena Hot Springs and the aurora rather than those looking for a rail-heavy Alaska itinerary.

Price history

Across 5 checks, this price has held at US$895 every time.

US$8954 Jul12 Sep

Each point is a day we checked this operator's own page, not a weekly average, and the line holds flat between checks rather than guessing at movement we did not see. 2 of 5 points are a live read of the operator's page. Hollow points are values shown when the trip was first listed here and never confirmed with the operator.

What to know before you look closer

  • Despite being described as a rail vacation, the outbound leg from Anchorage to Fairbanks is by air on Ravn Alaska; only the return trip on day 3 is by the Aurora Winter Train.
  • Dog sled rides, ice skating, snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, flightseeing, sleigh rides, snow coach tours and the Museum of the North visit are optional add-ons, not included in the $895 price.
  • Specific hotel names for the Fairbanks and Anchorage nights are not given in the evidence; only Chena Hot Springs Resort is named.

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: Chena Hot Springs Resort

    Anchorage to Chena Hot Springs

    Fly into Fairbanks from Anchorage on an early morning flight and travel to Chena Hot Springs Resort. Visit the Aurora Ice Museum and consider the variety of tours available for purchase - dog sled rides, ice skating, snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, flightseeing, sleigh rides or snow coach tours. Overnight at Chena and relax in a natural hot springs.

  2. Day 2overnight: Fairbanks

    Fairbanks

    Return to Fairbanks to explore the northern city. Choose to visit the University of Alaska's Museum of the North or explore your dining and shopping options.

  3. Day 3railovernight: Anchorage

    Fairbanks to Anchorage

    Ride the Aurora Winter Train from Fairbanks to Anchorage. Dining is available onboard; watch for wildlife and views of Denali.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 1Fly from Anchorage to Fairbanks, then travel to Chena Hot Springs Resort to visit the Aurora Ice Museum and relax in the natural hot springs.
  • Day 2Return to Fairbanks to explore the city, with the option to visit the University of Alaska's Museum of the North.
  • Day 3The Aurora Winter Train carries travelers from Fairbanks back to Anchorage, with onboard dining and views of wildlife and Denali along the way.

Included

  • Ravn Alaska flight from Anchorage to Fairbanks
  • One night's accommodations at Chena Hot Springs Resort and transfers
  • Two meal vouchers at Chena Hot Springs
  • Tour of the Aurora Ice Museum
  • Hot springs pass
  • One night's accommodations in Fairbanks
  • Rail from Fairbanks to Anchorage
  • One night's accommodations in Anchorage

Questions travellers ask

How much does it cost?
From $895 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $895 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.
Is this trip mostly by train?
Not the outbound leg. Travelers fly from Anchorage to Fairbanks on Ravn Alaska on day 1. Only the return trip on day 3, from Fairbanks to Anchorage, is aboard the Aurora Winter Train.
Where do I stay?
One night each at Chena Hot Springs Resort, in Fairbanks, and in Anchorage; only Chena Hot Springs Resort is named specifically.
Will I see the northern lights?
The trip highlights aurora borealis viewing, with a stay at Chena Hot Springs, home to the Aurora Ice Museum.

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