While amidst the vast wilderness and with the northern lights
dancing overhead, experience the best of an Alaskan winter
Powder-capped mountains and vast, frosty landscapes beckon in
America's winter wonderland, Alaska. Here, the days are short, the
nights are long, and snow covers the cities to create storybook
scenery. See how these elements come together to create the perfect
backdrop for wintertime adventures, including northern lights
chasing and dog sled mushing, on this four-day getaway. Split your
time between two incredible Alaskan destinations and venture
between them on the storied rails of the Alaska Railroad. With
plenty of time to explore on your own and exciting excursions that
showcase the season's hallmarks, you too will fall in love with
Alaska this winter.
This tour operates in January, February, March, and
April.
Unforgettable Experiences
Northern Lights
Watch the night sky burst into a kaleidoscope of colors while exploring the vast wilderness surrounding Anchorage, moving between locales as needed for the best viewing experience.
Anchorage
Spend your days exploring Anchorage and Talkeetna at leisure with the opportunity to soak in their sites while sightseeing independently or to see them from above on optional flightseeing or helicopter excursions.
The Denali Star
Your journey from Anchorage to Talkeetna takes place aboard the Alaska Railroad’s Aurora Winter Train, a route that follows the same scenic course as the line’s flagship train, the Denali Star.
Dog Sledding
Experience the world of dog sledding while meeting sled dogs and puppies in training at the homestead of five-time Iditarod champ Dallas Seavy and mushing through the wilderness at the helm of your own dog sled.
What’s included on the tour?
Transportation
Rail travel on Alaska Railroad's 'Aurora Winter Train'
Accommodation
Hotel accommodations for 3 nights
Food & Drink
1 lunch
Not Included
Cancellation & Travel Insurance is not included in the price of the tour but can be arranged
Flights and Airport transfers
Itinerary
Anchorage
Arrive in Anchorage today, surrounded by incredible Cook Inlet
and the Chugach Mountain Range views. As Alaska's largest city,
this destination is rich in local culture and brimming with
adventure. Head to your hotel for check-in, then spend the evening
resting ahead of tonight's adventure. You will be picked up from
your hotel tonight and taken into the wilderness surrounding
Anchorage in search of the northern lights. Alongside a
professional photographer guide, look up over snow-capped mountain
peaks, look over the red, violet, and green hues as they dance
across the sky until the wee hours of the morning. Overnight
Anchorage.
Please note: There is limited access to traditional restrooms on
this tour.
At Leisure in Anchorage
The day is yours to enjoy Anchorage as you please. You may wish
to sleep in and linger over coffee and breakfast at a local eatery
or explore the region by daylight. The city has several
attractions, including a number of art galleries, the Anchorage
Museum and the Alaska Native Heritage Center. Alternatively, you
could join an optional excursion, such as a flightseeing tour over
the glaciers, valleys, and mountains of the Anchorage region, or a
helicopter tour over Knik Glacier, including an optional glacier
landing. In the evening, seek out fresh Alaskan seafood or grab a
beer at one of the many local breweries. Overnight Anchorage.
Alaska Railroad to Talkeetna
Rise early this morning to make your way to Anchorage's railway
station for your early departure on the Aurora Winter Train. Your
destination is Talkeetna, the gateway to Denali. The train journey
weaves through the Alaskan backcountry, beginning with crossing the
Knik River and continuing through the snowy expanses with the
frosted Chugach Mountains in the backdrop. After approximately
three hours, Mount Denali comes into view, and the train pulls into
the station in Talkeetna. Your hotel, the Susitna River Lodge, is
just a five-minute walk or even shorter transfer from the station.
and Take the remainder of the day to explore the quaint town on
your own.
Downtown is filled with historic early 20th-century buildings
and is a National Historic Site. Just beyond its bounds, bountiful
nature awaits your exploration. On an optional flightseeing tour,
you can see its most remarkable feature, Mt. Denali. Because
Talkeetna is so remote and has little light pollution, it is an
exceptional place to experience the northern lights. Instead of
exploring this afternoon, you may instead rest up for a nocturnal
adventure on your own tonight, seeking out the spectacular show
that is the aurora borealis. Overnight Talkeetna.
Dog Sledding in Talkeetna/Anchorage
What better way to immerse yourself in an Alaskan winter than by
participating in its national sport, dog sledding? Your adventure
begins as you arrive at the homestead of five-time Iditarod Champ
Dallas Seavy, where you learn about the sport, its hardships, and
its great adventures. Meet grown sled dogs and puppies, and learn
what makes these incredible athletes tick. You will also learn all
the lingo you need to mush on your own - a good thing, as the
second part of this excursion allows you to take to the trails on
your own mini mushing experience! Led by a guide and with two
people to a sled, venture along a six-mile path through the forest.
The adrenaline of the race, paired with the pristine wilderness,
makes this a truly 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 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.
Departure times vary based on selected rail vacation. This
information will be provided in your final documents. For more
information please speak with your rail specialist.
Traversing 656 miles of Alaskan wilderness and connecting
destinations that would otherwise remain unreachable, the Alaska
Railroad is as essential as it is scenic. The railway was completed
in 1923 and today offers five rail lines that follow varying
courses between the cities of Seward and Fairbanks. In addition to
presenting expanses of wide-open wilderness and rugged mountain
peaks during its routes, passengers can soak in vistas of Alaska's
most scenic delights, including Resurrection Bay and Denali, from
the train's window-lined carriages.
Even though it was cloudy the entire time and we didn't get to see the lights we still had a good time, I highly recommend the dog sledding. My first time on a train and enjoyed it very much.
Collected by Trustpilot
JILL METCALFE
Submitted 26 Mar 2024
I enjoyed having an itinerary, but not having somewhere to be every minute. We couldn't have picked better tours on our own, and VBR made sure transfers and schedules were perfect.
The trip was perfect. The northern lights were spectacular. The train ride was fun and the view of the mountains along the way was amazing. Dog sledding was very exciting and fun.
I will go back again.
Collected by Trustpilot
Sharon Bartrom
Submitted 29 Feb 2024
A little bit high priced. All in all, we had a great time. We didn't get to see northern lights...Too cloudy. Lodging was wonderful. Train ride was great. Everyone was SO nice. Dog sledding was a blast. The communication could have been better. GREAT trip!!