Anchorage & Talkeetna Northern Lights Getaway

Anchorage, Alaska's largest city and a gorgeous destination at the cusp of the Knik and Turnagain Arms, welcomes you to America's Last Frontier. As you arrive today, transfer independently to your hotel, and then take the day to get acquainted with your new surroundings.

Downtown is awash with shops, art galleries and restaurants, and there are plenty of microbreweries to explore, as well. Of course, you could also stay at the hotel and unwind, and a trip highlight awaits tonight.

A coach picks you up from your hotel tonight and takes you into the wilderness surrounding Anchorage in search of the Northern Lights. Alongside a professional photographer guide, look up over snow-capped mountain peaks to see red, violet and green hues as they dance across the sky until the wee hours of the morning. In addition to taking you to some of the best spots to see the elusive natural wonder, you will also learn photography techniques to best capture them. Overnight Anchorage.

With a full free day spanning ahead of you, you are free to enjoy Anchorage as you please. You may wish to sleep in and linger over coffee and breakfast at a local restaurant or explore the area's attractions.

Anchorage has a number of art galleries, and the Alaska Native Heritage Center is a fantastic place to learn about the region's indigenous roots. The state's largest museum, the Anchorage Museum, weaves together elements of art, history and anthropology to tell the story of this corner of the world.

For a more structured day, you could join an optional flightseeing tour over the glaciers, valleys and mountains of the Anchorage region, available at a supplement.

In the evening, you might like to seek out fresh Alaskan seafood in one of the many restaurants. Overnight Anchorage.

Make your way to Anchorage's railway station this morning for your early departure to Talkeetna on the Alaska Railroad's Aurora Winter Train. The train journey weaves through the Alaskan backcountry, crossing the Knik River and continuing through snowy expanses with the Chugach Mountains in the backdrop. After approximately three hours, Denali comes into view, and the train pulls into Talkeetna.

Your hotel, the Susitna River Lodge, is just a five-minute walk from the station, and after checking in, you are free to spend the rest of the day getting to know the charming gateway to Denali.

Downtown is filled with early 20th-century buildings and is a National Historic Site. Just beyond its bounds, nature awaits your exploration. On an optional flightseeing tour, you can see its most remarkable feature and the highest peak in the U.S., Denali.

Because Talkeetna is so remote, it is an exceptional place to experience the Northern Lights. Instead of exploring this afternoon, you may instead choose to rest up and set out on your own this evening in search of the colors. Overnight Talkeetna.

Immerse yourself in an Alaskan winter by participating in its national sport, dog sledding, this morning on an excursion to the homestead of five-time Iditarod Champ Dallas Seavey. After arriving by a coach transfer, learn about the sport, its hardships and its great adventures, and meet grown sled dogs and puppies.

You will also learn all the lingo you need to mush on your own before the second part of this excursion allows you to take to the trails on your own dog sledding experience. Led by a guide and with two people to a sled, venture along a six-mile path through the pristine wilderness - truly an unforgettable experience. Venture back to the homestead for a tour of its grounds before grabbing lunch at a local hotspot in Talkeetna.

Your day wraps up with an included coach transfer to Anchorage, where your tour concludes this evening. Make your way to Anchorage's international airport for your return flight home, or speak to a Rail Specialist about booking a post-night stay in Anchorage to continue your Alaskan winter adventure.

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