Arctic Circle Experience with Kantishna

Upon arrival in Fairbanks, transfer to your centrally located hotel on your own. After settling in, you will have the remainder of the day to sightsee and explore independently. Overnight Fairbanks.

Spend the morning further acquainting yourself with Fairbanks. There are museums to choose from, including the Fairbanks Ice Museum and the University of Alaska Museum of the North, as well as interesting sites that combine history with culture, such as Chena Indian Village and Pioneer Park. This afternoon, you will transfer to the airport for an excursion to remember: a flight over the Arctic Circle. Your plane will depart from Fairbanks and fly over abandoned mining areas dating back to the Alaskan Gold Rush; across the backcountry, where you will catch glimpses of the Trans Alaska Pipeline; and over the mighty Yukon River Valley. Your pilot will note as the plane crosses the Arctic Circle, and once the plane completes its ceremonial landing, you will receive a certificate noting your travels. Now in the Brooks Mountain Range, a coach will take you to the rural town of Joy to an iconic Arctic Circle stop: the Arctic Circle Trading Post. This is a popular stop of travelers, with its wide-range of souvenirs, free coffee and friendly ownership. You will have some time to wander around and to get an up-close look at the Arctic Tundra before returning to Fairbanks. Overnight Fairbanks.

*Please Note: You will arrive back at your hotel around 1-2am. Your train on day 3 departs at 8:20am. Should you want an additional night in Fairbanks, please speak to a rail specialist.

This morning, make your way to the Fairbanks train station to board the Alaska Railroad's Denali Star bound for Denali. As the train pulls out of the station, you will see some of the historic gold mining towns that surround Fairbanks. A little further south, the train will cross the Tanana River on one of the largest single-span bridges in the world - measuring 702 feet in length. Moving along, you follow the course of the Nenana River to Healy and then through the scenic Nenana River Canyon Gorge, a popular destination for whitewater rafters, before arriving in Denali. In all, the route spans approximately 122 miles and takes nearly 4 hours to complete.

As you arrive in Denali, set out for an exciting guided tour of Denali National Park. You will traverse the only road in the park and travel it to its entirety, 92 miles. Along the way, low valleys and high mountain peaks come into view. Wildlife can be seen roaming about in its natural habitat, and you will be in awe of the untouched beauty of Alaska. The road leads to the wilderness retreat that you will call home for the next 2 nights. As you arrive, check into your room and enjoy dinner at the lodge. Your stay is all inclusive and offers exciting activities, opportunities for excursions, meals and comfortable accommodations. Overnight Kantishna.

*Due to a landslide in Denali National Park, buses have not been able to travel past Mile 42 of the 92-mile long Denali Park Road. Lodge accommodation inside Denali National Park is suspended at this time, and will instead be provided at a hotel close to the park entrance. This tour will now include a 3-8 hour bus tour into accessible areas of the park on Day 4.

• Dinner

As you awake, enjoy breakfast surrounded by stunning views of the mountains. Your options for the day are limitless: set out for a hike through the wilderness, go rafting on the Nenana River, set out on a Jeep or ATV adventure or simply take a leisurely walk to enjoy and photograph the scenery. There are a number of excursions offered through the wilderness retreat if you need some direction for your adventures, and sack lunches are available. Return to the lodge for dinner and perhaps a viewing of the evening slide shows. Overnight Kantishna.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

This morning you depart the lodge for your journey back through Denali National Park's interior. Keep your eyes peeled for bears, moose, deer, elk and sheep as you make your way to the rail station. If it is a clear day, you may even catch a glimpse of Mt. Denali! You once again board the Denali Star - this time bound for Anchorage. Covering 233 miles, this train route takes you through McKinley Village, across Broad Pass (the lowest pass in the Alaska Range) and to Summit Lake (the highest point on the Alaska Railroad). As you move through the wide-open wilderness to Hurricane Gulch and into Talkeetna. You will have some of the best opportunities to view Mt. Denali just outside Talkeetna. The train passes through the Matanuska Valley, Willow and Wasilla before crossing several beautiful bridges, entering an expansive game range, passing the colorful village of Eklutna and arriving in Anchorage. Your conductor will make announcements of upcoming points of interest so you can take them all in from the panoramic windows of the train cars. As the train pulls into the station in Anchorage, transfer to your hotel with the remainder of the evening at leisure. Overnight Anchorage.

• Dinner

The day is yours to enjoy all the best things Anchorage has to offer. Whether you desire natural sites or city offerings, there is something for everyone. For hiking, biking, mountain climbing and plenty of other outdoor activities, visit Chugach State Park. Portage Glacier, and its sparkling glacier-fed lake, are great scenic destinations. The Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center offers an up-close look at Alaska's mighty animals. Staying in the city, Anchorage Museum is ever-popular, with its vast collection of artifacts and interesting exhibits, and the Alaska Native Heritage Center provides information about the indigenous way of life in Alaska. There is a zoo and a wonderful aviation museum in Anchorage, as well as many other shops, galleries and eateries to explore. There are optional excursions you can set out on, including flightseeing, bear spotting and fishing, and guided tours that take you around Anchorage or to Prince William Sound. Overnight Anchorage.

Your tour comes to an end as you transfer to Anchorage's International Airport.