Relax Alaska

Travel at a leisurely pace and enjoy guided sightseeing, wildlife and glaciers.

Tour Code: 112CTA

Tour Overview

On this classic Alaska itinerary, visit all of Alaska’s top destinations by bus and railroad, including Anchorage, Seward, Kenai Fjords National Park, Denali National Park, Talkeetna, and Fairbanks at a relaxed pace. Sit back and enjoy the scenery as you travel by bus and by the Alaska Railroad. Upon your arrival in each location along your Alaska route, enjoy city tours, visit Exit Glacier, and cruise Kenai Fjords to view glaciers and whales with river tours in Talkeetna and by classic sternwheeler in Fairbanks. Enjoy these attractions without rushing and have time to capture Alaska’s natural beauty along the way.

What's Included
  • Ten nights of accommodations
  • 2.5-hour Anchorage city sightseeing tour
  • 2.5-hour guided Exit Glacier Nature Walk/Hike from Seward
  • 6-hour glacier and wildlife cruise into Kenai Fjords National Park from Seward with lunch
  • Train from Anchorage to Seward, Talkeetna to Denali, and Denali to Fairbanks
  • Scheduled motor coach transportation from Seward to Talkeetna
  • 2-hour jetboat tour in Talkeetna
  • 4-6 hour bus tour into Denali National Park (depending on weather and road conditions)
  • Half-day sightseeing tour of Fairbanks
  • 3-hour sternwheeler riverboat tour
  • Scheduled flight from Fairbanks to Anchorage (coach class)
  • All taxes and fees
What's Not Included

Transfers in Anchorage (for standard program, courtesy hotel shuttle may be used), meals, optional excursions, and gratuities.

 

Tour Itinerary

Sit back and enjoy the scenery as you travel between destinations in the comfort of the Alaska Railroad rail cars and deluxe motor coaches.

Day 1
Anchorage Arrival

Anchorage is Alaska’s largest city and is nestled between the Chugach Mountains and Cook Inlet. Offering an abundance of shopping, cultural attractions, and gourmet restaurants, Anchorage provides an excellent start to your vacation. Overnight in Anchorage.

Day 2
Anchorage

Located in Southcentral Alaska on the shores of Cook Inlet, Anchorage stands as a sophisticated metropolis in the midst of rugged wilderness. Anchorage is the largest city in Alaska and is where half of the state’s residents live. Moose can often be seen in Anchorage’s urban parks and the city is home to North America’s largest floatplane base, Lake Hood. Today’s 2.5 hour sightseeing tour of the city takes you around Anchorage. Stops during the tour include the historic downtown area, the Ship Creek fish ladder, and Lake Hood. The afternoon is free to explore a variety of shops and restaurants. Overnight in Anchorage.

Day 3
Anchorage to Seward

Very early in the morning, board the Alaska Railroad to Seward. Sit back and relax as the four hour journey takes you along scenic Cook Inlet and into the glacier filled Kenai Mountains. In the afternoon, visit Exit Glacier, one of the most accessible glaciers in Alaska. During the 2.5 hour guided tour, you will take a scenic hike up to the glacier. Wear your hiking shoes and don’t forget your camera! The rest of the day is yours to explore Seward. Consider the Alaska SeaLife Center, a research and rehabilitation facility that focuses on marine mammals, seabirds, and fish species of the North Pacific. Other options include a visit to a sled-dog kennel. Overnight in Seward.

Day 4
Seward

Today, board a sightseeing vessel to cruise through the wildlife-rich and glacier-filled waters of Kenai Fjords National Park. Common wildlife encounters includes sea otters, sea lions, harbor seals, and many marine birds such as puffins and cormorants. With some luck, you may even see orcas or humpback whales. This 6-hour journey will also take you to the face of a tidewater glacier where you may see large chunks of ice ‘calving’ into the sea below. Keep your eyes and ears open – the sound of the ice cracking and falling is as incredible as watching it fall. Lunch is included. The rest of the day is at your leisure. Overnight in Seward.

Day 5
Seward to Talkeetna

Enjoy a transfer by scheduled motorcoach to Talkeetna. The Seward Highway showcases the natural beauty of Southcentral Alaska. Relax and enjoy the scenery. A stop can be made in Anchorage before you travel to Talkeetna on the Parks Highway. The town of Talkeetna is located approximately 115 road miles north of Anchorage, about 14 miles off the Parks Highway at the end of the Talkeetna Spur Road. This small, distinctive community of less than 500 is often said to be the inspiration behind the television series “Northern Exposure”. The town is also the main staging area for climbers waiting to start their ascents of Denali, and the Talkeetna area is probably the best location on the highway or rail system to view “the Mountain”. Overnight in Talkeetna.

Day 6
Talkeetna to Denali

In the morning, take a two hour Jetboat Adventure Tour from Talkeetna. As you travel 20 miles upriver, your naturalist guide will provide information on the rivers in the area as well as Denali. You may have opportunities to view the mountain of Denali, nesting bald eagles, and beaver activity. Upon arriving at an adventure site you will take a 1/4 mile leisurely nature walk where you will see a replicated Dena’ina Athabascan encampment. After your jet boat tour you will travel aboard the Alaska Railroad from Talkeetna to Denali National Park. With a size of over 6 million acres, Denali National Park is one of the world’s greatest wild animal preserves. The park is protected from hunting and the animals roam freely in a region dominated by North America’s tallest mountain. Most visitor facilities are grouped near the park entrance. This afternoon you have a chance for optional activities or you may relax and enjoy some leisure time. Overnight near the Denali park entrance.

Day 7
Denali National Park

Today, depart on a narrated bus tour into Denali National Park.  As you travel through the pristine wilderness, look for wildlife, such as bears, caribou, and moose, as well as views of the Mountain. Your experienced driver/guide will provide commentary.  The tour is approximately 3-6 hours long and takes you approximately 30 – 43 miles into the park, depending on weather and road conditions. The rest of the day is free for optional tours, such as river rafting and flightseeing tours (see Tour Add-Ons). Overnight near the Denali park entrance.

Day 8
Denali to Fairbanks

This morning you have time to participate in optional tours before a courtesy shuttle takes you to the Denali rail depot. You will board the Alaska Railroad for the journey north to Fairbanks. Known as the “Gateway to the Arctic”, Fairbanks is located in the heart of Alaska’s Interior and serves as a transportation hub for the North Slope oil fields and Arctic villages. Upon arrival into Fairbanks, transfer to your hotel by courtesy shuttle. Overnight in Fairbanks.

Day 9
Fairbanks

Today, enjoy a narrated sightseeing tour, bringing you to the highlights of Fairbanks. Immerse yourself in life-sized exhibits of traditional Alaska Native culture at the Morris Thompson Cultural Center. Then stop at a viewpoint for the Trans-Alaska Pipeline where your guide will explain the astonishing engineering of the 800-mile pipeline and Alaska’s oil industry. Next, explore the University of Alaska Museum of the North with exhibit galleries on Alaska’s wildlife, art and natural history (on days when the museum is closed you will visit the Antique Auto Museum instead). It’s Christmas year-round in the nearby town of North Pole where you will visit the Santa Claus House and may even get to meet Santa and his reindeer. Additionally, you will embark on a sternwheeler cruise on the Chena River. Along the route you will watch a bush plane take off, see a champion line of sled dogs, and learn about Native Athabascan culture at Chena Village. Overnight in Fairbanks.

Day 10
Fairbanks to Anchorage

You will transfer via hotel courtesy shuttle to the Fairbanks International Airport for a scheduled flight to Anchorage.  The flight is in the afternoon/evening. Flight time is approximately 55 minutes. Transfer in Anchorage on own or via courtesy shuttle. Overnight in Anchorage.

Day 11
Anchorage Departure

Depending on your departure time, you may have free time for some souvenir shopping or additional excursions. Transfer on your own to the airport. Depart or start an additional program.

Tour Map

 

Dates & Rates

To complete this reservation we will need for each person: Full name including middle name(s) as listed on identification, gender and date of birth.


*Child prices are valid for children 11 years and younger, sharing a room with at least 2 full paying adults with the existing bedding. Maximum of 4 people per room.

Our Standard Program Includes:

2 and 3 star hotel accommodations.

The program will include a combination of hotels or motels that are considered moderate to standard tourist class. Please be aware not all hotels have shuttle services.

Standard train car seating on all rail services (reserved seats).

If you would like to book the standard program but with upgraded rail seating, the option and surcharge will be listed when you save to your cart.

Our Upgraded Program Includes:

* 3 and 4 star hotels (best available) wherever possible.

The program will include standard rooms at this category of hotel where possible. Alaska has very limited hotel choices in remote areas and small towns. The properties will typically offer a wider range of services such as a full-service restaurant, room service and perhaps a pool or spa facilities. Please be aware the upgraded accommodations in downtown Anchorage do not have hotel shuttle services. Many of the upgraded hotels also offer guaranteed view rooms for additional cost. If you would like a specific room type, in addition to the upgraded program, please ask us about availability and cost difference.

Deluxe dome train car seating between Anchorage, Denali and Fairbanks, or Anchorage and Seward.

All journeys between Anchorage and Whittier are in standard seating as deluxe dome cars are not available on that route.

 

Tour Add-ons

Browsing optional excursions for the Relax Alaska:

Cabin Nite Dinner Theater

Enjoy old-time Alaska as you enjoy a popular dinner theater performance in Denali National Park set in an authentic Alaska log-paneled roadhouse. Join heroine Fannie Quigley and an unforgettable cast of characters in this true-to-life Alaska Gold Rush tale of […]... Browse itinerary

Great experience working with Alaska Tours! They made planning so easy. Great suggestions, extremely helpful in arranging all our priority items plus options for our unscheduled time. Clear and timely communication was appreciated. I would definitely contact them again for future trips to Alaska.... Read more  

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