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Alaska Circle Tour Rail & Car

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You are viewing the 2024 itinerary. Select your departure year
20242025
8 days From $3,440 $3,340 per person
4.2 stars(8 reviews)
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Travel aboard the Alaska Railroad through interesting towns and incredible wildlife habitats and take your vacation by the reins with a legendary road trip through Alaska’s most scenic areas on this round-trip expedition through America’s Last Frontier.

Travel on your own following a well-planned itinerary
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Offer ends March 28th: Save $200 per booking on independent Alaska Vacations.

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2024 Tour code: WC-ACTR-24

About the tour

Wild landscapes and iconic sites - including the tallest mountain peak in the United States - lie ahead on this rail and drive vacation through Alaska. Your journey begins in Anchorage, where you can explore the city's historical museums and gorgeous gardens and parks. Departing the city aboard the Alaska Railroad's Denali Star, enjoy a scenic route to Denali National Park. A National Park bus tour unlocks the beauty of the park and offers opportunities to see some of the animals that roam within Denali: bears, moose, mountain goats, wolves and eagles. Your adventure continues by train to Fairbanks, from which you depart on the driving part of your journey. Your route takes you along the scenic Richardson Highway on your way to Valdez, known as "Little Switzerland." Here, enjoy a glacier cruise on Prince William Sound before kicking off your road trip back to the cultural epicenter that is Anchorage. Whether you crave excursions in nature or laid-back explorations of Alaskan cities, there is something for everyone on this circular adventure.

Highlights

What’s included

Itinerary

Day 1 - Anchorage Arrival

Arrive in Anchorage on your own and check-in at the hotel. Spend the rest of the day getting acquainted with the offerings of the city. Explore Anchorage's museums, gardens and parks or explore the brewery and restaurants to get a taste of the local scene. There's so much to see and do from Alaska's largest city. Overnight in Anchorage.

Day 2 - Anchorage to Denali

Embark on a journey aboard the Alaska Railroad's Denali Star, traveling on a northerly route from Anchorage to Denali National Park. Relax and enjoy the scenery as you pass through colorful fields of spruce and fireweed, sparkling salmon streams and towering mountains. Keep an eye out for wildlife on this full day scenic journey. Transfer to your hotel and enjoy a free evening. Or if you'd like to take in Denali from above, add an evening helicopter tour of Denali with glacier landing. Overnight in Denali.

Day 3 - Denali National Park/Fairbanks by Train

Take in Denali National Park's alpine tundra and snowy mountains on a half day bus tour of the park, learning about the land and its history along the way. Keep your eyes peeled for the wildlife that inhabits the park, such as bears and moose, and look on the mountainsides for glimpses at Dall sheep. As you travel further into the park, soak in the sheer majesty of Mount Denali, North America's tallest peak. In the afternoon, your journey continues by rail, as you board the Denali Star once more for a ride to Fairbanks. Known as "Alaska's Golden Heart City," Fairbanks is beloved for its energy and warmth, as well as its beautiful displays of northern lights during the winter months. Overnight in Fairbanks.

Day 4 - Fairbanks at Leisure

Pick up your rental car in Fairbanks today and take the day to explore on your own. Opt to visit the Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum, the Museum of the North, the Morris Thompson Cultural Center, Pioneer Park or the Trans-Alaska Pipeline. Or get out into nature on one of Fairbanks' hiking trails. Overnight Fairbanks.

Day 5 - Fairbanks to Valdez

The driving portion of your Alaska adventure begins today, as you drive past the town of North Pole and the Wrangell-St. Elias Mountains taking the scenic Richardson Highway from Fairbanks to Valdez. Immense glaciers, countless waterfalls including the stunning Bridal Veil Falls, and dramatic mountain ranges come into view as you travel along the picturesque byway. The highway has two 100-mile sections designated as State Scenic Byways, so there are plenty of opportunities to pull over for photos during your drive. Soak in the journey. Overnight in Valdez.

Day 6 - Valdez at Leisure

Surrounded by the Chugach Mountains and home to five glaciers, Valdez is known as "Little Switzerland"; in fact, this town is known to be one of the prettiest places in all of Alaska. You can enjoy the scenery at your own pace today. Perhaps embark on a glacier and wildlife cruise or kayaking tour. Hiking is popular in Valdez, as well, and there are many lovely trails, including one to Bridal Veil Falls. During the colder months when there is snow on the ground, snowboarding and skiing are also popular. This destination is one of Alaska's best places to spot orca whales and harbor seals, as well as brown bears and seabirds. Overnight in Valdez.

Day 7 - Valdez to Anchorage

Depart Valdez this morning and begin the spectacular drive to Anchorage. Following the Richardson and Glenn Highways, find yourself surrounded by the tremendous natural beauty of Alaska as you travel west. Travel through the town of Glennallen before coming upon Matanuska Glacier. Stop at a the scenic view point or opt to get out and stretch your legs on this gigantic glacier accessible from the road. Your drive follows along stunning rivers and past waterfalls. Soak in scenes of the towering mountains and verdant rural scapes. Opt to stop at the Alaska Native village of Eklutna before continuing to Anchorage. Overnight in Anchorage.

Day 8 - Tour Conclusion

Your rail and drive tour of Alaska concludes this morning. Not ready for the adventure to end? Add a 3 day extension to head south to explore the Kenai Penninsula and the coastal town of Seward.

Additional information

Seward Extension

Day 8 - Drive to Seward

Rise and travel along the beautiful Turnagain Arm as you continue on the Seward Highway before arriving to the Kenai Peninsula. Make stops along the way to take in the beauty of this route. Opt to add a stop en route to visit Exit Glacier in Kenai National Park. Get up close to the only part of the National Park accessible by car. Visit Exit Glacier Nature Center or break a sweat on the Harding Icefield Trail. This evening, explore the town of Seward. Overnight in Seward.

Day 9 - Free Day in Seward

Enjoy a free day in the quaint town of Seward. Explore on your own, or add a signtseeing experience like Kenai Fjord National Park Cruise with or without dinner Dinner on Fox Island, Bear Glacier Iceberg Kayaking with transport by Jetboat, Summer Helicopter Glacier Dogsledding Tour, or a day tour of Seward. Overnight Seward.

Day 10 - Return to Anchorage

Today is yours to explore and do any last minute sightseeing on your own or by excursion. Perhaps stop in the town of Girdwood or at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center on your way north. When you're ready, make your way back to Anchorage for your final night. Overnight Anchorage.

Day 11 - End of Tour

Depending on your departure flight, you may have time to visit the Anchorage Museum or the Alaska Native Heritage Center. Return your car in time to meet your departure flight.

Pricing Plans

Accommodations

Hotels include Sheraton Hotel, Anchorage; Grande Denali Lodge, Denali; Pike's Waterfront Hotel, Fairbanks; Totem Hotel & Suites, Valdez; Courtyard by Marriott Anchorage Airport, or similar pending availability. Train accommodations are in GoldStar Class. GoldStar Class is a premium class of service offering passengers an exceptional way to travel across Alaska. Glass-dome ceilings allow for panoramic views as Alaska unfolds along the tracks, and an outdoor, upper-level viewing platform -- the only of its kind in the world -- offers fresh air and an excellent vantage point for photos. On the lower level of GoldStar railcars, passengers enjoy a full-service dining room; GoldStar tickets include meals, all soft beverages and two complimentary adult beverages per trip for passengers over 21.

Please note

Mid-size vehicle rental is included. Other vehicle options are available, contact your rail specialist for details.

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.

Mobility information

Due to the nature of our tours they are generally unsuitable for those with restricted mobility. If you’d like to discuss any particular vacation with us in this respect, then please don’t hesitate to call us.

Hotels

Sheraton Anchorage Hotel

Sheraton Anchorage Hotel, Anchorage

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Grande Denali Lodge, Denali National Park

Grande Denali Lodge, Denali National Park

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Pike’s Waterfront Lodge

Pike’s Waterfront Lodge, Fairbanks

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Totem Hotel & Suites - Valdez

Totem Hotel & Suites - Valdez

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Courtyard Marriot Anchorage Airport, Anchorage

Courtyard Marriot Anchorage Airport, Anchorage

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Train

Alaska Railroad

Reviews

4.2 stars4.2 / 5 · 8 reviews

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

JAMES CAMPIDONICA

3 stars

Submitted 20 Sep 2023

Late connections and poor hotel room pretty much shot the trip for us.

Collected by Trustpilot

MICHAEL EUGENE HELBERT

5 stars

Submitted 12 Aug 2023

I was a little anxious but they had everything covered no problem.

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DANIEL SHASSERRE

4 stars

Submitted 22 Sep 2022

Trip was as advertised.

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CBlack

5 stars

Submitted 07 Aug 2022

Thanks for helping coordinate and plan this trip. This made it easier to decide what all to do for somewhere we’d never been before. Thanks!

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cheryl

3 stars

Submitted 31 Jul 2022

The highlight of this trip was by far the two days spent on the Alaska Railroad and their Gold Star Service. Make sure to bring your camera and step out to the viewing platform! Service was excellent but food served could be improved. We especially enjoyed the coffee and drinks served in the car. We were unable to take the bus tour into Denali due to scheduling issues but that was OK, not only OK it turned out to be excellent! Our intrepid tour advisor Tiffany was able to secure us a flight tour on Denali Air. Our pilot Dan took us on an epic experience! I highly recommend this experience, either on your own or through a tour company. Those were the highlights, but there were some lowlights along the way. When buying a ‘Superior’ package (as labeled by the tour company) one expects superior accommodations. This was not the case. We were disappointed in all of our hotels, they were in fact subpar (with the exception of our final night in Anchorage which was fine). There are no choices, you get what you get and are not notified until your packet shows up approximately 2 weeks prior to travel. If you do book with this or any other tour company be sure to review all travel documents and confirm all dates and services. We also had an issue with the rental car. Rental cars in Alaska are seriously impacted by the pandemic and I knew this going in as I had tried to rent a car on my own for other explorations. The tour company put our group of four in one car rather than 2 cars as initially booked. The issue was 4 people and all our luggage in one car- we were told it would be an SUV but at the rental counter it was a Hyundai Sonata! Not going to work! So we were were saved by Hannah at Avis who put us in a large SUV for an additional cost which was worth every penny. Travel is complicated in these times so be prepared for bumps along the way. Would I book with this particular tour company again?-probably not. Would I recommend the stunning state of Alaska?-100% yes.

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Stephen

5 stars

Submitted 02 Sep 2021

Our trip was originally scheduled for 2020, but due to Covid, had to be postponed. Vacations By Rail worked with us so that no funds were lost. When the trip came around in 2021, some of the suppliers had made changes. Once again, Vacations by Rail came thru. Our rep worked especially diligently to keep us informed. The actual trip was fantastic, and all arrangements went very smoothly. We would definitely recommend Vacations by Rail.

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