North to South Alaska Explorer - Tour 161
Raft, ride, and fly through the most popular places in Alaska.
North to South Alaska Explorer - Tour 161
Raft, ride, and fly through the most popular places in Alaska.
North to South Alaska Explorer - Tour 161
Raft, ride, and fly through the most popular places in Alaska.
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- North to South Alaska Explorer - Tour 161
Trip Overview
Over six days, this Alaska vacation package takes visitors to some of the state's most popular destinations and on some of its most loved tours. The route starts in Fairbanks, a city big by Alaska standards, with an international airport and a fascinating gold rush history. The itinerary runs one way from here, winding south to Denali National Park for two nights and Talkeetna for another, before wrapping up in Anchorage. Activities at each stop are handpicked to provide the broadest experience of Alaska, ranging from Alaskan heritage and history to wildlife viewing and a touch of outdoor adventure. Travel is completed by rail and motorcoach.
Trip Highlights
- Experience the living history of Fairbanks, from bush planes to Alaska Native cultures, aboard a classic sternwheeler riverboat.
- Raft a scenic section of the Nenana River near Denali Park.
- Travel by railroad and motorcoach through landscapes that shift from open tundra to glacial plains, spruce forests, and sweeping mountain valleys.
- Land by ski plane on a glacier thousands of feet high in the Alaska Range.
- Travel along the solitary road into Denali National Park on a guided wildlife bus tour.
Why Pick This Trip
This efficient itinerary runs one way from Fairbanks to Anchorage, maximizing your vacation time by eliminating the need to backtrack. The package works especially well as a pre-cruise land tour for cruisers departing out of Whittier or Seward.
What's Included
Here is everything that is included. Remember, we can easily add or remove services so this vacation package is the perfect fit for your party.
Fairbanks | 2 Nights
Relax in a private riverfront or garden cottage in this quaint property. The resort, which offers a free shuttle service to the Fairbanks airport and depot, is located on the banks of the Chena River. Learn More >
Fairbanks | Depart 2:00 PM | 3 Hours
Ride on a historic sternwheeler on this fully narrated three-hour tour featuring floatplane and sled dog demonstrations and an Athabascan village walk. Learn More >
Depart 8:20 AM | Arrive Denali Park 12:10 PM
Make the trip from Fairbanks to Denali on this comfortable train offering reserved seating in both Adventure Class and GoldStar Dome cars. Learn More >
Denali Park
Float down the Nenana River on mild water excursion with Denali's longest-running rafting company. Learn More >
Denali Park | 2 Nights
Minutes away from the Denali National Park entrance, this mountaintop property offers standard guest rooms and premium rooms with a view as well as fine dining at the Alpenglow Restaurant and Peak Spirit Lounge. Learn More >
Denali Park | Depart 6:00 AM | 5.5 Hours
Fully narrated bus tour with a turnaround point at the historic Murie Cabin deep inside Denali National Park. Learn More >
Denali Park | Depart 7:40 AM | 3 Hours
Offering active exploration of the unique natural setting of the Denali Park area, guests return from this three-hour walking tour both energized and educated. Learn More >
Depart 12:30 PM | Arrive Talkeetna 5:05 PM
Connect from the Denali Park area to the funky town of Talkeetna along a section of train track boasting big river and mountain views. Learn More >
Talkeetna | 1 Night
When the mountain is "out" Denali is unmissable from this ridge-top property. The lodge comprises two full-service restaurants, a coffee shop, bar, and comfortable guest rooms with either forest or mountain views. Learn More >
Talkeetna | Depart 11:00 AM | 1.5 Hours
Land on a glacier deep within the Alaska Range on this unforgettable flightseeing trip out of Talkeetna. Learn More >
Depart 5:45 PM | Arrive Anchorage 8:30 PM
Return to Anchorage by the early afternoon or late evening on this versatile motorcoach transfer route out of Talkeetna. Learn More >
Anchorage | 1 Night
Just minutes from the Anchorage airport and lively Lake Hood Seaplane Base, this comfortable hotel offers recently renovated rooms, three restaurants, and a spacious waterfront deck. Learn More >
Itinerary
Read on for a day-by-day breakdown of this tour package. Click on an item to get started, and be sure to contact us if you have any questions.
Fly into Fairbanks and transfer to your hotel. Overnight Fairbanks.
Ease into your Alaska vacation with a mellow morning, enjoying your hotel's riverside location. This afternoon you'll head onto the river aboard a classic sternwheeler. The paddlewheel boat heads down the Chena River, pausing for narrated bush plane, sled dog, and Alaska Native culture demos. Overnight Fairbanks.
Transfer to the Fairbanks Depot for your morning ride on the train to Denali National Park. The rolling tundra landscape is dotted by spindly spruce trees and laced with rivers, several of which the train traverses on the way south.
This afternoon you'll trade the relaxing railroad ride for a scenic raft trip down the Nenana River. Overnight Denali.
Today you'll head deep into Denali National Park. There's only one road into the six-million-acre park, and your guided bus tour traverses much of it. Overnight Denali
Having hopefully seen an abundance of big Alaskan wildlife yesterday, this morning's guided hike is a good chance to take in the park's smaller creatures. Birds, Arctic squirrels, marmots, and even beavers are sometimes seen from the trail.
You'll return to the Denali Depot around noon to catch the southbound Denali Star train to Talkeetna. Overnight Talkeetna.
The final tour of your Alaska vacation takes you to the high mountains you've until now only admired from a distance. With the weather on your side, you'll land by ski plane on one of the glaciers amongst the massive granite peaks flanking Denali.
You'll travel the final leg of your trip via the Park Connection Motorcoach, arriving into Anchorage late evening. Final overnight Anchorage.
Map
Check out the map below for a visual overview of this specific tour package. You can see a larger version of the map here, or try our an interactive tour map by using the link below.
Rates & Dates
The prices below will give you an idea of approximately how much this trip will cost. Keep in mind your actual price will likely vary based on your departure date, availability, and any modifications you make. You can use one of the links below to request an exact quote for your party, or price the trip yourself if you prefer using our My Trip feature. You can often save money by traveling in the value season, typically May and September.
| Single | Double | Triple | Quad | Child | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tour Price | Single: $3,917 | Double: $2,582 | Triple: $2,195 | Quad: $2,002 | Child: $817 |
| Taxes & Fees | Single: $295 | Double: $178 | Triple: $144 | Quad: $126 | Child: $32 |
| Total | Single: $4,212 | Double: $2,760 | Triple: $2,339 | Quad: $2,128 | Child: $849 |
| The columns above represent room occupancy. For example, "Double" means two adults sharing one room. The "Child" rate shown is based on an 11 year old sharing a room with two adults. | |||||
| Single | Double | Triple | Quad | Child | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tour Price | Single: $3,867 | Double: $2,557 | Triple: $2,179 | Quad: $1,990 | Child: $818 |
| Taxes & Fees | Single: $292 | Double: $176 | Triple: $142 | Quad: $125 | Child: $32 |
| Total | Single: $4,159 | Double: $2,733 | Triple: $2,321 | Quad: $2,115 | Child: $850 |
| The columns above represent room occupancy. For example, "Double" means two adults sharing one room. The "Child" rate shown is based on an 11 year old sharing a room with two adults. | |||||
Options and Add-Ons
This is one of our most popular tour packages between Fairbanks and Anchorage, but you can make it even better! We can add or remove services to make it a perfect match for your party. If you're booked on a cruise after this Alaskan land tour, you can also add transportation from Anchorage to cruise terminals in either Whittier or Seward. The choices are endless, and just a few suggestions are listed below.
You can make these changes at check out and your final package price will be updated to reflect just the services you choose. Give us a call or request a quote for more specifics.
Depart 8:20 AM | Arrive Denali Park 12:10 PM
Ride south to Denali National Park aboard this privately owned and operated dome car. Service features a la cart breakfast and comfortable reserved seats in the car’s upper deck. Learn More >
Depart 3:00 PM | Arrive Whittier 5:00 PM
Easily connect to cruise ships leaving out of Whittier on this two-hour Park Connection motorcoach route out of Anchorage. Learn More >
Denali Park | Depart 7:45 AM | 3 Hours
Join this popular tour for a three-hour thrill ride through the treetops and tundra just outside Denali National Park. Learn More >
Package Detail
- Tour ID 161
- Price From $2,557 + Tax
- Duration 7 Days / 6 Nights
- Start / End Fairbanks / Anchorage
- Departure Dates Daily from 6/3/2025 to 8/26/2025
- Travel By Train, Motorcoach
- Tour Type Self Guided
- Destinations Fairbanks, Denali Park, Talkeetna, Anchorage
Next Steps
Select an option to book or get more details. Questions? Give us a CALL or CONTACT US online.
