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RAI 03 Alaska Highlights Railroad Tour

Anchorage Railroad Tour to FairbanksExplore Alaska by rail! Board the train in Seward or Anchorage and travel towards Denali National Park for a two night stay. Tickets are waiting for the wildlife bus tour into Denali National Park. The park is well known for the 20,320 ft. tall Mt. McKinley, its diverse wildlife and is home to one of the last intact ecosystems of the world.

Day 1: Anchorage (Arrival Day)

Arrive in Anchorage during the day. Transfer to your hotel in downtown. Spend the remaining afternoon to visit the sights of the Alaskan city or enjoy a stroll along the Coastal Trail with views of Mt. McKinley and the "Sleeping Lady". Upon request we arrange for you a guided city sightseeing tour. Overnight Anchorage.

Optional: From Seward:
Board the Alaska Railroad at 6:00 pm for a scenic journey to Anchorage. Arrive in Anchorage at 10:15 pm. Transfer to your hotel. Or: Take the motorcoach at 10:00 am to Anchorage.

Day 2: Anchorage to Denali National Park

Early morning transfer to the railroad station. Board the Alaska Railroad for the departure at 8:00 am. Enjoy the scenery as the train whisks you through the Matanuska Valley towards the Alaska Range and Mt. McKinley. Guaranteed wrap-around Dome Car Seats are available on request. Onboard services feature a restaurant, gift shop and snack bar. Arrive at Denali Village at 3:45 pm where you are picked up and transferred to your hotel. Once you settled take a stroll through Denali Village, take a flightseeing tour or a wildwater rafting trip (on request).

Day 3: Denali National Park Wildlife Tour

Wildlife Tour Today experience the wildlife and wonderful sceneries of the Denali National Park. Morning transfer to the Visitor Center where your wildlife tour begins. Pick up your pre-reserved tickets and explore the center if time allows. Board the bus, sit back, enjoy the scenery and look out for wildlife. Your driver informs you about the history of Denali National Park, its diverse wildlife and flora. Once a bear, caribou or another animal has been spotted the bus will stop that everyone can watch and take pictures. Your tour runs all the way to Eielson Visitor Center, a four hour drive or to Wonder Lake - on special request. You can get off the bus anytime you wish and take a stroll, go hiking and enjoy the landscape. By hand signal the next available bus will stop for you to get on.

Day 4: Denali National Park - Fairbanks

In the morning you have time to take a short hike, watch a sled dog demonstration presented by the park rangers, enjoy a helicopter flightseeing tour or visit the shops of Denali Village for a last souvenir. Transfer to the Denali Railroad station where you board the train for a scenic ride to Fairbanks. Arrive at 8:00 pm at the railroad station in Fairbanks and transfer to the hotel. Overnight Fairbanks

Day 5: Fairbanks

Explore the "golden heart" city, take a riverboat cruise on the Chena River or visit a goldmine where you can pan for gold. Please contact us if you wish an additional night hotel accommodation in Fairbanks.

RAI 04 Deluxe Backcountry Rail Package

Deluxe Alaska Train PackageHighlight of this railroad package is the 3 night stay at a backcountry lodge located deep in Denali National Park. During your stay hike with your naturalist guide to remote alpine valleys and ridges to observe wildlife and learn more about Denali.

Day 1: Anchorage (Arrival Day)

Arrive in Anchorage during the day. Transfer to your hotel in downtown. Spend the remaining afternoon to visit the sights of the Alaskan city or enjoy a stroll along the Coastal Trail with views of Mt. McKinley and the "Sleeping Lady". Upon request we arrange for you a guided city sightseeing tour. Overnight Anchorage.

Day 2: Anchorage to Denali National Park

Early morning transfer to the railroad station. Board the Alaska Railroad for the departure at 8:00 am. Enjoy the scenery as the train whisks you through the Matanuska Valley towards the Alaska Range and Mt. McKinley. Guaranteed wrap-around Dome Car Seats are available on request. Onboard services feature a restaurant, gift shop and snack bar. Arrive at Denali Village at 3:45 pm where you are picked up and transferred to your hotel. Once you settled take a stroll through Denali Village, take a flightseeing tour or a wildwater rafting trip (on request).

Day 3: Denali Nat'l Park - Camp Denali/North Face Lodge

Spend the free morning at Denali Village and transfer to the Denali Park rail station. Meet your driver/guide and board the bus for the departure to Camp Denali or North Face Lodge at 1:30 pm. Enjoy the wonderful sceneries of the Denali National Park during the 7 hour journey. Your driver informs you about the history of Denali National Park, its diverse wildlife and flora. Once a bear, caribou or another animal has been spotted the bus will stop that everyone can watch and take pictures. Arrive at the lodge at about 8:00 pm.

Day 4 + 5: Camp Denali/North Face Lodge

Spend the next 2 days exploring Denali Park. Hike with our naturalist guides to remote alpine valleys and tundra-covered ridges where you can observe, and not just spot, wildlife. Your guide is highly trained and practiced in interpreting biology, botany, sub-arctic ecology, geology, bird life and Alaska history. If you wish to explore the park on your own, we supply you with trail and topographic maps, interpretive booklets, canoes and bikes. You can lend walking sticks, daypacks, raingear and fishing gear. In the evening relax in the living room, containing an extensive library of Alaska. We also arrange flightseeing tours to Mt. McKinley from the lodge. Evening programs are presented by staff naturalists to further your appreciation of the Far North.

Day 6: Denali Park - Anchorage

Get up early in the morning for the departure at 6:45 am. Enjoy for a last time the wonderful scenery of Denali National Park as you return by bus to the park entrance. You'll arrive at Denali Station at around 11:15 am, in time to catch the Alaska Railroad to Anchorage. Enjoy again a seat in the wrap-around dome car. Arrive back in Anchorage at 8:00 pm. Transfer to your hotel in the downtown area.

Day 7: Anchorage

Morning transfer to the airport or individual tour extension.

Camp Denali Lodge

Camp Denali Lodge and Cabins - Denali National Park

About Camp Denali Lodge

Within majestic views of Mt. McKinley you will find Camp Denali situated on 67 acres of rising terrain. The original hand-hewn lodge was founded in 1954, centered on a pond that reflects the major peaks of the Alaska Range. Guest cabins are set along an ascending ridgeline to take best advantage of the surrounding views. Only a few steps from the cabins you will find the new dining hall, a modern shower and bathroom facility and a natural and cultural history exhibit space. <br /> The rustic guest cabins, each with a unique view of Mt. McKinley feature propane lights, a propane hot plate for heating water, a small woodstove for heat, and a private, well-maintained outhouse. The comfortable beds are decorated with hand-crafted quilts that reflects the abiding attention to details. The modern shower facility with private shower rooms is located nearby. Each cabin sleeps from two to six people. There’s no TV and no bar available, just the quiet of surrounding wilderness and simple, sustainable amenities for around 38 guests that have remained true to the founders’ conviction to maintain a light touch on the land.

Activities at Camp Denali Lodge

After a hearty breakfast your day is filled with activities. Discuss with your guide each morning available tours requiring different levels of physical activity. Join the naturalist guides to explore different areas of the park from remote alpine valleys to tundra-covered ridges and experience a variety of geologic formations, wildlife habitat and scenery. The guides are highly trained and practiced in interpreting biology, botany, sub-arctic ecology, geology, bird life and Alaska’s history. If you prefer exploring Denali on your own, the lodge has mountain bikes, canoes at Wonder Lake and fishing gear available for your use. Evening programs further acquaint you with the natural and cultural heritage of the Far North. During some sessions, nationally respected academics and other experts join the programs.

Meals at Camp Denali Lodge

Meals at Camp Denali play an important role. All meals are carefully prepared with fresh ingredients and creatively served. Despite challenging logistics, fresh halibut, antibiotic-free meats, and locally grown, organic produce, including that raised in an on-site greenhouse, contribute to the lodge’s artisan cuisine. Breads, pastries and desserts are baked freshly on premises. At dinner, fine cuisine enhances the camaraderie of recounting the day’s activities.

How to get to Camp Denali Lodge

Board the private bus at the train station in Denali Village and enjoy the 6 hr scenic ride alongside the park road. Board the bus, sit back, enjoy the scenery, look out for wildlife and towering Mt. McKinley. Your driver, an experienced naturalist guide interprets the geology, ecology and history of the park as you travel through it. The bus stops to enjoy scenery and wildlife sightings including caribou, Golden Eagle, or a grizzly bear. A hearty, picnic-style dinner is served at the midpoint of the drive alongside the East Fork river as your evening meal.

Schedule

01:30 PM Depart Denali Park Depot, Check in time: 12:30 PM
04:00 PM Picnic Dinner enroute
08:30 PM Arrive at North Face Lodge
06:45 AM Depart North Face Lodge
11:30 AM Arrive Denali Park Depot

Services Included