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Anchorage & Talkeetna Northern Lights Getaway

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4 days From $1,584 per person
4.4 stars(7 reviews)
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While amidst the vast wilderness and with the northern lights dancing overhead, experience the best of an Alaskan winter.

Travel on your own following a well-planned itinerary

2025 Tour code: WC-ATLR-25

About the tour

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.

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Unforgettable Experiences

Northern Lights
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
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
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
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

Itinerary

Day 1 - 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, though there is plenty of tree coverage in a pinch.

Day 2 - 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.

Day 3 - 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.

Day 4 - 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.

Includes
  • Lunch

Additional information

Departure times

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.

Trains

Alaska Railroad
Alaska Railroad's Aurora Winter Train

Reviews

4.4 stars4.4 / 5 · 7 reviews

  1. 5 stars
    (6)
  2. 4 stars
    (0)
  3. 3 stars
    (0)
  4. 2 stars
    (0)
  5. 1 star
    (1)

JAMES ANTHONY HORN

5 stars

Submitted 5/Apr

The staff was very professional and knowledgeable about the northern lights. We gathered a lot of information from them. Great staff.

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JAMES ANTHONY HORN
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pizzasec

5 stars

Submitted 1/Apr

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.

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PRIYA SAMBASIVAM

1 stars

Submitted 31/Mar

Northern lights was a scam!

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JILL METCALFE

5 stars

Submitted 26/Mar

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.

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JILL METCALFE
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RICHARD FROM SLC,UT

5 stars

Submitted 23/Mar

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.

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Sharon Bartrom

5 stars

Submitted 29/Feb

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!!

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Sharon Bartrom
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