Alaska Railroad Tours
With Popular Vacation Packages

Alaska Railroad tours let you customize your vacation plans by adding day tours, optional excursions, or even book an entire vacation package with just one call to them.



By teaming up with many different local businesses who provide additional services, it has become one of the most outstanding providers of great vacation ideas and packages.

Also, this Alaska train has basic transport services which are quite handy if you just want to get from one place to another, or if you want to ship something.

Following are a few of my favorite Alaska railroad tour vacation packages. These may change over time but there will always be more, newer or better packages available, so check with them on the current services available.

Alaska Railroad Tours - VACATION PACKAGES:

The following Alaska Railroad tour packages are listed from shortest to longest tour, and each one also offers the special Alaska Railroad Gold Star Service. They provide all needed transportation between different tour activities, all hotel stays and many meals are included. Be sure to bring your camera and binoculars, no matter which tour you take! There is so much to see and photograph, you won't want to miss any of it!

All fares for Alaska Railroad tours are based on time periods, type of service and vacation package being purchased, as shown below. Be sure you book far in advance, to get the best deals.

Peak Fare Period: June 1 - August 31 (higher prices)

Value Fare Periods: May 15 to May 31 and September 1 to September 15 (lower prices)

Alaska Railroad Tours - Summer Packages: Available mid-May to mid-September.

• Denali and Spencer Glacier Tour - 5 Days/4 Nights: Your first night is a stay at a fine Anchorage hotel. On day #2, you head north on the Denali Star train to Denali Park, enjoy a dinner show and overnight in Denali. On day #3 you'll enjoy the 7-hour, guided Wilderness Tundra Tour. Afterward, a flight around Mt. Mckinley ends with a landing in the quaint town of Talkeetna where you'll stay the night. Day #4 is a tour through Denali State Park and into Devil's Gorge - a thriller!

Afterward there's a return train ride to Anchorage and overnight stay. Day #5 is a ride on the Glacier Discovery train south along scenic Cook Inlet to Spencer Glacier, where you'll take a float tour among icebergs! Then a short train ride back to Portage where you'll take a motorcoach back to Anchorage in the evening.

• Glacier Cruise and Interior Alaska - 6 days/5 nights: This Alaska Railroad tour package starts with a stay at a fine Anchorage Hotel. On Day #2, the Glacier Discovery Train takes you along scenic Cook Inlet, then through a mountain tunnel to the Port of Whittier. From there, you'll take a boat cruise of 26 glaciers in the fjords of Prince William Sound. Then a return train ride to Anchorage overnight stay.

On Day #3, you'll take the Denali Star train north to Denali Park and stay overnight at a local hotel. Day #4 starts with an early morning Tundra Wilderness Tour in Denali, followed by continuation of your train trip north to Fairbanks and overnight stay. On Day #5, you can take a morning or afternoon cruise on the Riverboat "Discovery" from downtown Fairbanks. Then take an evening tour to the Arctic Circle and learn about the Arctic. It will still be daylight when you return so you'll be able to see! You'll overnight in Fairbanks, then fly to Anchorage on an Alaska Airlines flight. Reference package code ADV-GI.

• Deluxe Alaska Sampler - 7 Days/7 Nights: The first night is a stay at a fine Anchorage hotel on this Alaska Railroad tour. Day #2 is a train ride along scenic Cook Inlet, then inland to Seward, where you'll then take a cruise in Kenai Fjords National Park. You'll see plenty of sealife, glaciers and other wildlife, then overnight in Seward. Day #3 is a tour of the Sea Life Center, a dog sled ride, lunch at an Alaskan Roadhouse and finally a close-up, walking tour at Exit Glacier.

Then a train ride to Girdwood and overnight stay at the luxurious Alyeska Ski Resort Hotel. On Day #4 the train takes you to Spencer Glacier, where you'll float amongst icebergs, then down the Placer River. A short train ride returns you to Portage with a motorcoach ride to Anchorage for an overnight stay. Day #5 is the famous train ride to , with a dinner show and overnight stay.

Day #6 is your "day in Denali", with the best tour available. It is a bus ride all the way to Kantishna, the gold mining ghost town, with lots of wildlife viewing on the way - an 11-hour tour. On Day #7, you have the opportunity to drive a 4-wheel drive Jeep into Denali's backwoods yourself and view some gorgeous scenery. Then a return train ride and your last night at a fine hotel in Anchorage.

• Alaska by Daylight - 10 Days/10 Nights: This Alaska railroad tour package gives you a taste of everything Alaskan! Starting in Anchorage, you'll learn about the Alaskan Native Cultures at their Heritage Center, cruise with the sealife in Resurrection Bay at Seward and experience a dog sled ride. That includes two overnight hotel stays in Anchorage and one in Seward.

A train ride to Talkeetna and you'll be on a wilderness jetboat safari there. Not included in the package, but you can even schedule a flightseeing tour of Mt. Mckinley while you're in Talkeetna—the base camp for mountain climbers. Then on to Denali National Park where you will have a dinner show and stay overnight. Then take the Wilderness Tundra Tour next day.

Continue the train ride north and stay two nights in Fairbanks. While there, take a tour of the Chena River on an authentic paddlewheeler, visit a gold mine, do some gold panning. Next day you explore Fairbanks with a historical tour, visit to the University Museum, see a Musk Ox farm and other Fairbanks attractions. A flight on Alaska Airlines to Anchorage and two nights stay in a fine hotel there, with a full day cruising amongst glaciers from the Port of Whittier in between.

• Arctic Circle to Glacier Bay - 11 Days/10 Nights: If you want to try almost everything Alaskan, this is the Alaska Railroad tour package for you. For this package, arrange your initial flight to Alaska so you arrive in Fairbanks, with a return flight home from Juneau.

The package includes: Two overnight stays in Fairbanks with one day for a ride on a "Discovery" Chena Riverboat and a short flight to the Arctic Circle. The next morning you board the Denali Star Train for Denali Park and spend the afternoon on a tour deep in the Park. You'll spend two nights at Denali Backcountry Lodge with all meals included and one full day on your choice of outdoor Park activities. The next morning you do some wildlife viewing on your way back to the train station.

Continue south to Talkeetna on the Denali Star Train and stay at the Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge overnight and have a leisurely morning. Spend the afternoon on a mild rafting tour then board the train for Anchorage where you will stay overnight. EARLY next morning you board the Coastal Classic Train to Seward and spend the day on a Cruise of Kenai Fjords National Park. Overnight in Seward and spend the day on a dog-sled ride, Alaskan Roadhouse luncheon and tour Exit Glacier.

The finale of this Alaska Railroad tour package: That evening, you return on the Coastal Classic to Anchorage and overnight there. Next day you fly on Alaska Airlines to Southeastern Alaska. Stay two nights at Glacier Bay lodge and spend one day on a boat tour of Glacier Bay (lunch and free beverages included) narrated by a Park Ranger. After a full day, you fly to Juneau late in the afternoon, where you take your own flight back home. Reference package code ADV-GB

Alaska Railroad Tours - Winter Packages: Be sure to watch for the Alaska Northern Lights anytime you are out at night. They are seen frequently on cold, clear nights in Anchorage but more often in Fairbanks.

• The Holiday Train - A great vacation for children! At the beginning of December, a train heads for Seward, all decked out for the Holiday Season and includes many Holiday activities. In Seward you can take part in a Holiday Festival, visit the Sea Life Center or take a cruise on Resurrection Bay.

• Arctic Circle Adventure - 5 nights: If you're the hardy adventurer, this Alaska Railroad tour is for you. In Anchorage on Friday, you can engage in various activities from museum tours to hiking or skiing on a coastal trail. You'll overnight in Anchorage, then on Saturday, take the Aurora Winter Train to Fairbanks and overnight in Fairbanks. On Sunday and Monday, you'll be on an Arctic Tour, where you'll spend two nights in the Brooks Range for spectacular views of the Northern Lights. You'll also cross the Yukon River and have good views of the Alaska Pipeline on your return trip. Then another overnight stay in Fairbanks before you return to Anchorage Tuesday, with Alaska Airlines. (One flightseeing tour is included, meals are not.)

Call the Alaska Railroad for pricing on any of the above packages, at 800-544-0552

DAY TOURS - Special Alaska Railroad Tours: Many of these are part of the combination packages above, but can also be purchased individually. Here are just a few of the more interesting ones:

• Whistle Stop at Spencer Glacier - Take the train south from Anchorage to Spencer Glacier, then go on a 2.6 mile round-trip hike with a Forest Ranger. It's an easy gravel path and you'll get close-up views of the Glacier. You can also explore on your own with a longer hike to the face of the glacier. There is also the option of camping overnight and returning the following day. Just be sure you are at the Whistle stop by 4:30 PM or you'll have to wait another full day to catch a train. The return train drops you off at Portage where you'll return to Anchorage on a motorcoach.

• Glacier Explorer - Take the train south from Anchorage to Spencer Glacier. Then take a tour on iceberg-filled Spencer Lake to the face of the Glacier, in an Alaskan Native canoe. Then a short hike to the glacier. A deli-style lunch and rain-gear are included. Return on the train to Portage, then a motorcoach ride back to Anchorage.

• River Rafting Odyssey: This is a great family trip. Take the Alaska Railroad Denali Star train north from Anchorage to Talkeetna, then take a gentle rafting ride on the Susitna River, for great scenery and wildlife viewing. Return to Talkeetna, then take the train back to Anchorage.

• Prince William Sound Glacier Adventure Cruise - Here's another one for those with children. A great afternoon cruise out of Whittier Port into the mild waters of these fjords, where you'll view many tidewater glaciers. You'll travel amongst icebergs, view great scenery, seabirds and other sealife. Fun marine science experiments for the kids makes the trip an adventure, while the captain, a certified naturalist, is narrating the trip. A lunch of Alaskan king crab cakes served on board, is included, as well as the round trip train ride from Anchorage.

• Fox Island Resurrection Bay Lunch Cruise - This is a great 5 hour afternoon cruise of Resurrection Bay. You'll see whales, sea lions, otters, puffins and other seabird colonies, as well as Bear Glacier. Then a stop at Fox Island for a great salmon bake lunch at an Alaskan Native owned lodge. It also includes a presentation by a National Park Ranger. Includes the round trip train ride from Anchorage to Seward.

OPTIONAL EXCURSIONS can be purchased separately or with Alaska Railroad tours: Here are some I particularly like.

• Seward Sailing Tour - If you like to sail, here's your chance! Sail on a classic gaff-rigged schooner where you can assist the captain with the sails and helm or just enjoy the ride. This 2 hour sailing cruise starts at noon or at 3:00 PM and makes a great tour of Resurrection Bay where you can see the myriad sealife prevalent in Alaska. It includes a light snack and hot beverages.

• Bear Viewing Tour - Take a short flight across Cook Inlet on a float plane, going southwest from Anchorage and land next to a wilderness lodge. This remote area has great opportunities for bear viewing which you'll do by boat with an experienced guide. Includes lunch at the lodge.

• Chugach Express Glacier Dog Sled Tour - Try this unique adventure! From Girdwood, an Iditarod trail veteran is your host for this dog sled ride on glacial snowfields. You'll get there by helicopter, then have the opportunity to drive the dogsled yourself or ride in the sleigh and enjoy the scenery.

The above Alaska Railroad tour vacation packages, day tours and extra excursions are just a small sampling of what the Alaska Railroad has to offer the vacationer. There are many others you can choose from, to fill your special wishes.

Contact Information: 1-800-544-0552 for Alaska railroad tours information and reservations. If you are in Alaska the number is 265-2494. Or you can check their current Alaska Railroad fares and schedules.

Alaska Railroad tours cover a lot of territory and can give you a wonderful vacation with all of its great ideas and extra excursions. But it has a specific route from Seward to Fairbanks, so that leaves lots of room for other types of vacation plans. Now, If you're a person who really loves the water, you might want to try the Alaska Marine Highway....

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