Day 1 Anchorage to Denali National Park Entrance | Alaska Railroad
Board Alaska Railroad’s Denali Star and travel north from Anchorage toward Denali National Park Entrance. The journey begins with the wide landscapes of Southcentral Alaska, passing Knik Arm, river country, wetlands and the Matanuska-Susitna Valley before continuing toward the Alaska Range. From the dome car or outdoor viewing platform, watch the scenery build from forest and braided rivers to mountain horizons, with possible clear-day views of Denali along the way. (Breakfast and lunch are included onboard the train today.)
Day 2 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 3 Denali National Park Entrance to Fairbanks | Alaska Railroad
Board Alaska Railroad’s Denali Star for the journey north into Interior Alaska. The scenery changes as the train leaves the mountains around Denali and travels through broad river valleys, boreal forest, open sky and small northern communities. Settle into the dome car, step onto the outdoor viewing deck and watch the landscape grow quieter and more expansive before arriving in Fairbanks. (Dinner is included onboard the train today.)
Day 4 Fairbanks to Valdez | 584 km/363 mi
Set out on one of Alaska’s great long driving days, travelling south from Fairbanks through the wide river valleys of Interior Alaska. Follow the Richardson Highway toward Delta Junction and the Copper River region, with broad views, boreal forest and distant mountain ranges shaping the route. As you continue toward Valdez, the scenery becomes increasingly dramatic, with the Chugach Mountains, Thompson Pass, Worthington Glacier and Keystone Canyon creating a powerful finale before the road descends toward Prince William Sound.
Day 5 Valdez | Prince William Sound Columbia Glacier Cruise with lunch
Today, cruise from Valdez into Prince William Sound on a full-day Columbia Glacier cruise. Travel past the Trans Alaska Pipeline Terminal and into Columbia Bay, where floating ice, mountain scenery and the vast face of Columbia Glacier create a powerful coastal Alaska experience. Watch for sea otters, sea lions, puffins, porpoises, whales and other marine wildlife along the way, with sightings depending on season and conditions. (Lunch is included onboard today.)
Day 6 Valdez to Sheep Mountain Lodge | 309 km/192 mi
Leave Valdez and drive north through Keystone Canyon and Thompson Pass, one of Alaska’s most dramatic mountain corridors. Stop at Worthington Glacier, where the ice can be viewed from the Richardson Highway area, then continue through the Chugach Mountains toward the Copper River region. Visit historic Copper Center, once an important roadhouse and supply point, and watch for river views, salmon activity and bald eagles near the Gulkana River. Continue toward Sheep Mountain Lodge, where broad valleys, colorful slopes and glacier-carved terrain create a memorable overnight setting.
Day 7 Sheep Mountain Lodge to Seward | 373 km/232 mi
Depart Sheep Mountain Lodge and follow the Glenn Highway west through a landscape shaped by ancient glaciers, broad valleys and the Matanuska River. Stop for views of Matanuska Glacier before continuing through Palmer and Anchorage toward Turnagain Arm. The final stretch follows the Seward Highway through coastal water, mountain slopes, lakes and forest before arriving in Seward, gateway to Kenai Fjords National Park.
Day 8 Seward | Freedom of Choice - Choose 1 of 12 Excursions
Today, enjoy a full day in Seward and choose the experience that best matches your travel style. Explore Kenai Fjords by boat, paddle the protected waters around Resurrection Bay, hike near Exit Glacier, meet sled dogs at a summer training camp, or upgrade to a glacier flightseeing, dogsledding or iceberg kayaking adventure.
Option 1. Kenai Fjords National Park Cruise
Cruise from Seward into Kenai Fjords National Park, where tidewater glaciers, steep coastal cliffs, remote islands and rich marine habitat create one of Alaska’s classic coastal wilderness experiences. Watch for seals, whales, puffins, sea otters and other wildlife as expert narration brings the park’s glaciers, fjords and natural history to life.
Option 2. Tonsina Point Resurrection Bay Kayaking Adventure
Paddle the protected waters of Resurrection Bay, surrounded by snow-capped mountains, forested shoreline and the wild coastal scenery that makes Seward so memorable. This active sea-kayaking adventure offers a close-to-nature way to experience the bay, with opportunities to explore shoreline areas near Tonsina Point.
Option 3. Bear Lake Kayak | Canoe Trip
Kayak or canoe on calm Bear Lake, located just outside Seward. With local guides, visit the salmon weir, learn about the salmon life cycle, and watch for eagles, loons and other wildlife in a peaceful mountain setting.
Option 4. Wilderness Dog Sled Ride Tour
Visit the Seavey family homestead and meet the Iditarod athletes at their summer training camp. Feel the excitement as the dogs are harnessed, then ride through the scenic rainforest on a comfortable summer sled.
Option 5. Resurrection Bay Wildlife Cruise
Cruise the blue waters of Resurrection Bay, where mountains, glaciers and rugged cliffs create a spectacular coastal setting. Watch for whales, puffins, otters and other marine wildlife, then enjoy lunch on Fox Island during this memorable Kenai Fjords experience.
Option 6. Exit Glacier Hike
Explore the Resurrection River Valley on a guided hike to Exit Glacier, where blue ice descends from the Harding Icefield. This is one of the most accessible glacier experiences in Alaska and a strong choice for travellers who want to feel close to the landscape.
Option 7. Upgrade Option: Guided Walking Salmon Fishing | Seward Area
Walk scenic rivers and streams near Seward with an expert guide and try your hand at salmon fishing in a classic Alaska setting. This is an ideal upgrade for travellers who want a more hands-on outdoor experience.
Option 8. Upgrade Option: Bear Glacier Iceberg Kayaking Adventure
Kayak among the floating icebergs of Bear Glacier Lagoon, where ice breaks from the largest glacier in the Harding Icefield. Paddle through a changing maze of blue and white ice, with possible sightings of harbour seals, black bears and coastal wildlife.
Option 9. Upgrade Option: Helicopter Kenai Fjords National Park Tour with Landing
Fly above Alaska’s spectacular wilderness on an unforgettable helicopter adventure, taking in glaciers, mountain valleys and remote landscapes. Land on or beside ancient ice, explore the dramatic surroundings and experience the scale and beauty of Alaska from a remarkable perspective.
Option 10. Upgrade Option: Helicopter & Glacier Dogsled
Take a scenic helicopter flight over mountains and glaciers before landing on a glacier snowfield for a true Alaska dogsledding experience. Meet an Alaskan sled-dog team and mush across real snow in summer.
Option 11. Upgrade Option: Helicopter & Glacier Dogsled with Kenai Fjords National Park Tour
Fly above Alaska’s spectacular wilderness on a scenic helicopter journey, taking in glaciers, mountain valleys and remote landscapes before landing at a glacier dogsled camp. Meet the huskies, learn from experienced mushers and drive a dog team across ancient ice.
Option 12. Upgrade Option: Helicopter Bear Glacier Iceberg Kayaking Adventure
Begin with a scenic helicopter flight over mountains and glaciers, then kayak through Bear Glacier Lagoon among monumental icebergs. This is one of Seward’s most dramatic adventure upgrades, combining flightseeing, kayaking and remote glacier scenery.
Day 9 Seward to Anchorage | 204 km/127 mi | Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center
Depart Seward and follow the Seward Highway north through the mountain scenery of the Kenai Peninsula. Before leaving the area, we recommend a stop at Exit Glacier, where a short walk offers views of one of Alaska’s most accessible glacier landscapes. Continue through forested valleys, alpine lakes and Turnagain Pass before arriving at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, where admission is included. This spacious sanctuary cares for injured and orphaned Alaska wildlife, with opportunities to see animals such as bears, moose, caribou, muskox, bison and wolves in a natural setting. From here, follow Turnagain Arm back toward Anchorage, with the Chugach Mountains, waterfalls, tidal flats and possible Dall sheep or beluga whale sightings along the way. Arrive in Anchorage, where your Alaska vacation comes to an end.
