2025 Alaska by Rail

Arrive in Fairbanks and get settled at the hotel. We will provide shuttles on this day from the Fairbanks airport to the hotel.

Those who arrive early can explore downtown Fairbanks, the Chena River walk, and the Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitor’s center, all within walking distance from the hotel.

In the afternoon we will visit the Alaskan Pipeline en route to our dinner at the Alaskan Salmon Bake at Pioneer Park. Get acquainted with our Trains Magazine special guest and your fellow tour guests while we will enjoy dinner together.

We depart early and enjoy breakfast on the train as we begin our rail journey southward into Denali National Park. We’ll arrive in the heart of the park around noon and transfer to our hotel, where we’ll settle in for a 2-night stay.

This evening we’ll head to the Alaska Cabin Nite Dinner Theater, which houses a night of fun, festivity and food! We will join their heroine Fannie Quigley and an unforgettable cast of characters in this true-to-life Gold Rush tale of adventure in early 1900s Alaska. It’s a great mix of colorful storytelling, spirited music and humor, brought to life by talented performers.

With a full day in the park, we take a chartered Tundra Wilderness Tour, to learn about the history and wildlife of this grand national park, which houses the country’s tallest mountain and over 6 million acres of protected wilderness.

In the early afternoon we continue south by rail to Talkeetna, which was formed in 1916 as a headquarters for the Alaska Railroad. Here, we’ll settle in for a 2-night stay at the Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge.

Today we spend the afternoon on the Hurricane Turn Train, one of the last in nation to provide flagstop service.

Locals have long loved the Hurricane for access to remote cabins, hunting and fishing, while visitors consider this train the Alaska Railroad’s best-kept secret for a truly authentic Alaskan experience – not to mention the panoramic views at the train’s turnaround point, Hurricane Gulch. On a clear day, Denali towers over the braided Susitna River.

Enjoy some free time in Talkeetna. Guests can use the hotel’s shuttle to visit the historic town at their leisure and explore the many shops and restaurants.

In the late afternoon we will head to the Alaska Railroad depot and board the train to Anchorage. Dinner will be served on the train, and though we’ll arrive to Anchorage by 8:00PM, here in the Arctic it will still be in time for sunset.

Today we will journey by rail to Whittier, to travel through the combined vehicle-railroad tunnel in North America. We will return to Anchorage by bus to give guests time to enjoy the historic city.

Our last full day takes us on an adventure down Kenai Penninsula to Seward. Breakfast will be served as we view sunrise around the Turnagain Arm.

Upon arrival in Seward, we’ll enjoy a 6 hour cruise through the Kenai Fjords National Park. This cruise explores the world of whales, wildlife, and glaciers found in the fjords. Our experienced captains will fully narrate your journey and will

point out the spectacular sights while providing information on the area’s wildlife, history, and geology.

A private farewell dinner will be served on our return train to Anchorage. As the sunsets on Alaska we’ll say our goodbyes to the land and our fellow guests.

Guests are in for a special experience, with a tour of the Alaska Railroad’s engine shops.

After free time for lunch we will head to the Anchorage Museum, has state of the art exhibits covering the science, history, art and culture of Alaska.

Guests will then have some free time to prepare for their flights home before our Farewell dinner.

Breakfast is included at the hotel. Continue on with our Whittier extension or depart on your travels home.