Day 1 Anchorage | Arrival
Arrive in Anchorage and transfer independently to your hotel. The rest of the day is free to enjoy Alaska’s largest city, set between Cook Inlet and the Chugach Mountains. Walk part of the coastal trail, explore downtown restaurants and local galleries, or settle in with mountain views as your Alaska vacation begins.
Day 2 Prince William Sound 26 Glacier Cruise | Coach | Alaska Railroad
Travel from Anchorage toward Whittier, following the scenic Turnagain Arm corridor where mountains, tidal flats and coastal water create one of Southcentral Alaska’s classic journeys. Board the Prince William Sound 26 Glacier Cruise and enter a sheltered marine world of fjords, waterfalls, floating ice and tidewater glaciers. As the vessel travels deeper into the sound, watch for sea otters, seals, whales, seabirds, bears and mountain goats, with glacier faces and icefields rising from the surrounding mountains. After returning to Whittier, board Alaska Railroad’s Glacier Discovery train for the scenic evening rail journey back toward Anchorage. (Lunch is included onboard today.)
Day 3 Anchorage | Freedom of Choice - Choose 1 of 10 Excursions
Today, personalize your day by choosing the experience that best matches your travel style.
Option 1. Turnagain Arm Wildlife Tour with Alyeska Tram
Travel south from Anchorage along Turnagain Arm, one of Alaska’s most dramatic coastal corridors, where the Chugach Mountains rise directly from the water. Ride the Alyeska Aerial Tram for sweeping mountain and inlet views, enjoy lunch in Girdwood, and visit the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, where moose, bears, wolves, musk oxen, reindeer and other Alaska wildlife can be seen in a natural setting.
Option 2. Hatcher Pass Hike and History Tour
Join a local guide for an afternoon excursion into the Talkeetna Mountains. Travel along the Knik Arm before climbing into the alpine scenery of Hatcher Pass. Visit Independence Mine State Historical Park, try gold panning, and enjoy an easy interpretive walk along the Mill Loop Trail, where mountain views and mining history come together.
Option 3. Anchorage Flightseeing Safari
See Anchorage from above on a 30-minute introductory flight from Lake Hood, one of the world’s busiest seaplane bases. Depending on conditions, your route may include views of Anchorage, the Chugach Mountains, Turnagain Arm or Cook Inlet, with opportunities to watch for wildlife from the air. Wheeled aircraft may be used early and late in the season.
Option 4. Sunset Photo Safari
Chase Alaska’s long summer evening light with a guided photography excursion around Anchorage and Chugach State Park. Your route is flexible, allowing time for scenic stops and possible wildlife photography along the way. Your Alaska Photo Treks guide provides creative and technical support to help capture the best images of the day.
Option 5. Anchorage Scenic City Tour
Explore Anchorage with a guided city tour covering local history, Dena’ina heritage, Ship Creek, Earthquake Park and Lake Hood. Learn about the city’s origins, watch for salmon at the urban fishery, and enjoy panoramic views from Anchorage’s Hillside area, where moose and eagles are sometimes seen.
Option 6. Anchorage Walking Tour - Downtown Food and History
Stroll through downtown Anchorage on a guided food and history tour. Sample local favourites such as fresh seafood, reindeer sausage and handmade desserts while hearing stories from Alaska’s past. This is an ideal choice for travellers who want to combine local flavour with cultural context.
Option 7. Upgrade Option: Alaska Bear Viewing Tour
Fly southwest of Anchorage by floatplane for a guided bear viewing experience. Depending on the season and bear activity, your destination may be Lake Clark National Park, Redoubt Bay or Chinitna Bay. Watch for Alaska’s brown bears in their natural habitat, with viewing locations selected according to where bears are most active.
Option 8. Upgrade Option: Fly-in Guided Fishing Excursion
Travel by seaplane from Anchorage to remote Alaska fishing waters for a guided salmon or trout fishing adventure. Suitable for both experienced and novice anglers, this full-day wilderness experience combines scenic flying with the chance to fish in a remote backcountry setting.
Option 9. Upgrade Option: Helicopter & Glacier Dogsled Excursion
Begin with a scenic helicopter flight over glaciers, icefields and mountain terrain, with chances to spot wildlife such as moose, black bears, Dall sheep and mountain goats. Land high on a glacier snowfield to meet Alaskan sled dogs and their mushers before taking a dogsled ride through real snow.
Option 10. Upgrade Option: Proenneke’s Cabin and Lake Clark Tour
Fly by floatplane from Anchorage to remote Lake Clark National Park and land on Twin Lakes. Visit the hand-built cabin of Dick Proenneke, the legendary naturalist who lived alone in the Alaska wilderness for nearly 30 years. Along the way, watch for wilderness scenery and possible wildlife from the air.
Day 4 Anchorage to Denali National Park Entrance | Alaska Railroad
This morning, board Alaska Railroad’s Denali Star in GoldStar Service for a full-day rail journey from Anchorage to Denali National Park. From your glass-dome seat or the private outdoor viewing deck, watch the route leave the city and open toward Knik Arm, forests, wetlands and river country. Cross the Eklutna, Knik and Matanuska river areas, with the Chugach Mountains behind you and the Talkeetna Mountains rising to the north, then continue through the broad Matanuska-Susitna Valley. On clear days, look for Mt. Susitna, known locally as Sleeping Lady, and possible views of Denali near the Susitna River before the train travels beyond Talkeetna into wilder backcountry and toward the Alaska Range. Arrive at Denali National Park Entrance this afternoon, with the rest of the day free to enjoy the mountain setting. (Breakfast and lunch are included onboard the train today.)
Day 5 Denali National Park | Freedom of Choice - Choose 1 of 4 Excursions
Today, enjoy a full day in the Denali region and choose the experience that best matches your travel style. Travel the legendary Denali Highway, journey into Denali National Park by coach, or upgrade to flightseeing over the Alaska Range or a helicopter glacier landing.
Option 1. Denali Highway Jeep Excursion | Self-Drive Guided 4x4 Excursion
Ranked #2 in “Drives of a Lifetime” by National Geographic Traveler magazine, experience the natural wonders of Alaska’s Denali Highway - this time by Jeep. This 4-hour guided excursion travels along a 217 km/135 mi gravel road and takes you off the beaten path in a 4x4 to enjoy sweeping views of Denali, the Alaska Range, glaciers, tundra and possible wildlife.
Option 2. Tundra Wilderness Tour | Coach Tour
Travel into Denali National Park on a narrated coach tour along the park road, where the landscape opens into tundra, braided rivers, mountain valleys and wildlife habitat. Watch for moose, caribou, Dall sheep, bears and other wildlife while learning about the park’s geology, ecology and wilderness character.
Option 3. Upgrade Option: Denali Summit Flightseeing | Small Aircraft
Fly toward Denali and the surrounding Alaska Range for a dramatic view of snow-covered peaks, glacier-filled valleys and rugged ridgelines. From the window seat of a small aircraft, this upgrade gives you a powerful sense of the scale of North America’s tallest mountain.
Option 4. Upgrade Option: Denali Glacier Landing | Helicopter
Fly by helicopter across the Denali region toward the Yanert Glacier, passing tundra, mountain terrain and glacier-carved valleys along the way. Land on the glacier for a spectacular high-alpine Alaska experience.
Day 6 Denali National Park Entrance to Fairbanks | Alaska Railroad
Enjoy a relaxed morning near Denali before boarding Alaska Railroad’s Denali Star for the final rail journey north to Fairbanks. The scenery changes again as the train leaves the mountains around Denali and travels into Interior Alaska, where broad river valleys, boreal forest, open sky and northern light give the landscape a quieter, more expansive feel. Settle into the GoldStar dome car, step onto the outdoor viewing deck and watch the route unfold through river country, small communities and remote forest before arriving in Fairbanks this evening. (Dinner is included onboard the train today.)
Day 7 Fairbanks | Arctic Circle Air Adventure Tour
Fly north from Fairbanks into the vast wilderness of Alaska’s Arctic, crossing the Yukon River Valley and travelling over landscapes shaped by rivers, mountains, tundra and long northern light. The route passes near the Brooks Range and south of Gates of the Arctic National Park, offering a powerful sense of the scale and remoteness of Alaska’s Far North. Land at a wilderness community on the Middle Fork Koyukuk River, cross the Arctic Circle and receive an official Arctic Circle Adventure Certificate before returning to Fairbanks under the long daylight of the northern summer.
Day 8 Fairbanks | Departure
After check-out, your Alaska vacation comes to an end. Depart Fairbanks with memories of Denali country, Interior Alaska and the wilderness landscapes experienced along the way.
Day 1 Fairbanks | Arrival
Arrive in Fairbanks and transfer independently to your hotel. The rest of the day is free to settle into Alaska’s Golden Heart City, a northern community shaped by river history, frontier character and its gateway location to Alaska’s vast Interior and Arctic regions.
Day 2 Fairbanks | Arctic Circle Air Adventure Tour
Fly north from Fairbanks into the vast wilderness of Alaska’s Arctic, crossing the Yukon River Valley and travelling over landscapes shaped by rivers, mountains, tundra and long northern light. The route passes near the Brooks Range and south of Gates of the Arctic National Park, offering a powerful sense of the scale and remoteness of Alaska’s Far North. Land at a wilderness community on the Middle Fork Koyukuk River, cross the Arctic Circle and receive an official Arctic Circle Adventure Certificate before returning to Fairbanks under the long daylight of the northern summer.
Day 3 Fairbanks to Denali National Park | Alaska Railroad
Board Alaska Railroad’s Denali Star in Fairbanks and travel south into the changing landscapes of Interior Alaska. From your GoldStar dome seat or private outdoor viewing deck, the route moves through river valleys, boreal forest, broad northern sky and small Interior communities as the Alaska Range begins to draw closer. Arrive at Denali National Park Entrance later this morning, where the rest of the day is free to enjoy the mountain setting or choose an optional activity. (Breakfast is included onboard the train today.)
Day 4 Denali National Park | Freedom of Choice - Choose 1 of 4 Excursions
Today, enjoy a full day in the Denali region and choose the experience that best matches your travel style. Travel the legendary Denali Highway, journey into Denali National Park by coach, or upgrade to flightseeing over the Alaska Range or a helicopter glacier landing.
Option 1. Denali Highway Jeep Excursion | Self-Drive Guided 4x4 Excursion
Ranked #2 in “Drives of a Lifetime” by National Geographic Traveler magazine, experience the natural wonders of Alaska’s Denali Highway - this time by Jeep. This 4-hour guided excursion travels along a 217 km/135 mi gravel road and takes you off the beaten path in a 4x4 to enjoy sweeping views of Denali, the Alaska Range, glaciers, tundra and possible wildlife.
Option 2. Tundra Wilderness Tour | Coach Tour
Travel into Denali National Park on a narrated coach tour along the park road, where the landscape opens into tundra, braided rivers, mountain valleys and wildlife habitat. Watch for moose, caribou, Dall sheep, bears and other wildlife while learning about the park’s geology, ecology and wilderness character.
Option 3. Upgrade Option: Denali Summit Flightseeing | Small Aircraft
Fly toward Denali and the surrounding Alaska Range for a dramatic view of snow-covered peaks, glacier-filled valleys and rugged ridgelines. From the window seat of a small aircraft, this upgrade gives you a powerful sense of the scale of North America’s tallest mountain.
Option 4. Upgrade Option: Denali Glacier Landing | Helicopter
Fly by helicopter across the Denali region toward the Yanert Glacier, passing tundra, mountain terrain and glacier-carved valleys along the way. Land on the glacier for a spectacular high-alpine Alaska experience.
Day 5 Denali National Park to Anchorage | Alaska Railroad
This morning is open for optional Denali-area activities before you board Alaska Railroad’s Denali Star in GoldStar Service for the southbound journey to Anchorage. Travel from the Alaska Range into remote backcountry, river corridors and forested valleys, passing through the Talkeetna area and the broad Matanuska-Susitna Valley. On clear days, watch for views of Denali near the Susitna River, then continue past braided waterways, wetlands, Knik Arm and mountain backdrops as the train approaches Anchorage. It is a long and scenic rail day, with changing Alaska landscapes visible from the dome car and outdoor viewing platform. (Lunch and dinner are included onboard the train today.)
Day 6 Prince William Sound 26 Glacier Cruise | Coach | Alaska Railroad
Travel from Anchorage toward Whittier, following the scenic Turnagain Arm corridor where mountains, tidal flats and coastal water create one of Southcentral Alaska’s classic journeys. Board the Prince William Sound 26 Glacier Cruise and enter a sheltered marine world of fjords, waterfalls, floating ice and tidewater glaciers. As the vessel travels deeper into the sound, watch for sea otters, seals, whales, seabirds, bears and mountain goats, with glacier faces and icefields rising from the surrounding mountains. After returning to Whittier, board Alaska Railroad’s Glacier Discovery train for the scenic evening rail journey back toward Anchorage. (Lunch is included onboard today.)
Day 7 Anchorage | Freedom of Choice - Choose 1 of 10 Excursions
Today, personalize your day by choosing the experience that best matches your travel style.
Option 1. Turnagain Arm Wildlife Tour with Alyeska Tram
Travel south from Anchorage along Turnagain Arm, one of Alaska’s most dramatic coastal corridors, where the Chugach Mountains rise directly from the water. Ride the Alyeska Aerial Tram for sweeping mountain and inlet views, enjoy lunch in Girdwood, and visit the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, where moose, bears, wolves, musk oxen, reindeer and other Alaska wildlife can be seen in a natural setting.
Option 2. Hatcher Pass Hike and History Tour
Join a local guide for an afternoon excursion into the Talkeetna Mountains. Travel along the Knik Arm before climbing into the alpine scenery of Hatcher Pass. Visit Independence Mine State Historical Park, try gold panning, and enjoy an easy interpretive walk along the Mill Loop Trail, where mountain views and mining history come together.
Option 3. Anchorage Flightseeing Safari
See Anchorage from above on a 30-minute introductory flight from Lake Hood, one of the world’s busiest seaplane bases. Depending on conditions, your route may include views of Anchorage, the Chugach Mountains, Turnagain Arm or Cook Inlet, with opportunities to watch for wildlife from the air. Wheeled aircraft may be used early and late in the season.
Option 4. Sunset Photo Safari
Chase Alaska’s long summer evening light with a guided photography excursion around Anchorage and Chugach State Park. Your route is flexible, allowing time for scenic stops and possible wildlife photography along the way. Your Alaska Photo Treks guide provides creative and technical support to help capture the best images of the day.
Option 5. Anchorage Scenic City Tour
Explore Anchorage with a guided city tour covering local history, Dena’ina heritage, Ship Creek, Earthquake Park and Lake Hood. Learn about the city’s origins, watch for salmon at the urban fishery, and enjoy panoramic views from Anchorage’s Hillside area, where moose and eagles are sometimes seen.
Option 6. Anchorage Walking Tour - Downtown Food and History
Stroll through downtown Anchorage on a guided food and history tour. Sample local favourites such as fresh seafood, reindeer sausage and handmade desserts while hearing stories from Alaska’s past. This is an ideal choice for travellers who want to combine local flavour with cultural context.
Option 7. Upgrade Option: Alaska Bear Viewing Tour
Fly southwest of Anchorage by floatplane for a guided bear viewing experience. Depending on the season and bear activity, your destination may be Lake Clark National Park, Redoubt Bay or Chinitna Bay. Watch for Alaska’s brown bears in their natural habitat, with viewing locations selected according to where bears are most active.
Option 8. Upgrade Option: Fly-in Guided Fishing Excursion
Travel by seaplane from Anchorage to remote Alaska fishing waters for a guided salmon or trout fishing adventure. Suitable for both experienced and novice anglers, this full-day wilderness experience combines scenic flying with the chance to fish in a remote backcountry setting.
Option 9. Upgrade Option: Helicopter & Glacier Dogsled Excursion
Begin with a scenic helicopter flight over glaciers, icefields and mountain terrain, with chances to spot wildlife such as moose, black bears, Dall sheep and mountain goats. Land high on a glacier snowfield to meet Alaskan sled dogs and their mushers before taking a dogsled ride through real snow.
Option 10. Upgrade Option: Proenneke’s Cabin and Lake Clark Tour
Fly by floatplane from Anchorage to remote Lake Clark National Park and land on Twin Lakes. Visit the hand-built cabin of Dick Proenneke, the legendary naturalist who lived alone in the Alaska wilderness for nearly 30 years. Along the way, watch for wilderness scenery and possible wildlife from the air.
Day 8 Anchorage | Departure
After check-out, your Alaska vacation comes to an end. Depart Anchorage with memories of glaciers, mountain horizons, rail journeys and the wide-open landscapes that make the Great Land so unforgettable.
