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Alaska by rail and road

Alaska Summer: Denali & Kenai Fjords: 12 Days

The Alaska Railroad to Talkeetna and Denali, the Tundra Wilderness Tour, Homer and the Kenai Fjords, with well-rated hotels. Denali flightseeing, a Gull Island cruise and the Alyeska tram are optional add-ons.

  • 12 days / 11 nights
  • Starts and ends at Anchorage (ANC)
  • Train + rental car (booked)
  • 3-star hotels and lodges
The road through a forested valley below the snowy Alaska Range near Denali

Attractions

What you will see as you travel the route, day by day, and how to make the most of each stop.

8sights on the route
2national parks
3Alaska Railroad journeys
1Kenai Fjords cruise
AnchorageTalkeetnaDenaliHomerSewardGirdwoodAnchorage
2Day 2

Train to Talkeetna

North by train to Talkeetna.

Denali Star train

Why it is worth itThe Alaska Railroad’s summer train between Anchorage and Denali, with big windows and an open-air viewing platform. The route follows rivers and valleys through the backcountry, with a stop in Talkeetna.

Insider tipStep out to the open-air viewing platform for photos without window glare.

Optional add-on

Denali Flightseeing from Talkeetna

About an hour in a small plane from Talkeetna around Denali, past glaciers and icefalls of the Alaska Range. Weather permitting.

$535 per person

Optional. Not included in the trip price.

3Day 3

On to Denali

Meet the park’s working sled dogs.

Denali sled dog kennels

Why it is worth itDenali is the only U.S. national park with working sled dogs, which patrol the park in winter. At the kennels near the park entrance you can meet the dogs and watch a ranger demonstration in summer.

Insider tipCheck the demonstration times when you arrive.

4Day 4

Into Denali National Park

Deep into the park by bus.

Denali National Park

Why it is worth itSix million acres of tundra, rivers and mountains, crossed by a single park road. On a bus tour with a naturalist you look out for grizzly bears, moose, caribou and Dall sheep.

Insider tipBring binoculars. The bus stops when someone spots wildlife.

6Day 6

Road trip to Homer

South along the water.

Turnagain Arm

Why it is worth itA long arm of Cook Inlet lined by steep mountains, followed by the Seward Highway south of Anchorage. Beluga Point is a favorite stop, and the tides here are among the largest in North America.

Insider tipStay off the mudflats. The mud and fast tides here are dangerous.

7Day 7

A Homer day, or Gull Island

A free day on Kachemak Bay.

Optional add-on

Gull Island and Seldovia Wildlife Cruise

A full-day cruise across Kachemak Bay past the Gull Island seabird colony, with sea otters, then time in the fishing village of Seldovia.

$160 per person

Optional. Not included in the trip price.

8Day 8

Drive to Seward

The Spit, then a glacier you can walk to.

Homer Spit

Why it is worth itA narrow strip of land that reaches about 4.5 miles into Kachemak Bay, lined with boardwalk shops, cafes and a busy harbor. The views across the bay take in mountains and glaciers.

Insider tipWalk the harbor boardwalks and watch the fishing boats come in.

Exit Glacier

Why it is worth itThe one part of Kenai Fjords National Park you can reach by road, a short drive from Seward. Trails lead through the forest toward the glacier, with signs marking how far the ice has retreated over the years.

Insider tipStay behind the barriers near the ice. Glacier fronts can collapse without warning.

9Day 9

Kenai Fjords National Park

Glaciers and wildlife by boat.

Kenai Fjords National Park

Why it is worth itGlaciers flow down from the Harding Icefield into deep fjords along the coast south of Seward. On a cruise from Seward you can watch tidewater glaciers calve, and look out for whales, sea otters, puffins and sea lions.

Insider tipIf you get seasick, take something before you go. The open water can be rough.

10Day 10

Girdwood

A mountain town on Turnagain Arm.

Optional add-on

Alyeska Aerial Tram Ride

The tram climbs about 2,300 feet up Mount Alyeska in Girdwood, with hanging glaciers and Turnagain Arm below.

$80 per person

Optional. Not included in the trip price.

11Day 11

Portage and the wildlife center

Rescued wildlife on the way back.

Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center

Why it is worth itA sanctuary near Portage for orphaned and injured animals, set in a valley at the end of Turnagain Arm. You can see brown and black bears, moose, musk ox, wood bison and more in large enclosures.

Insider tipYou can drive the loop road and stop at each enclosure.

The order of stops can shift with the weather, and access to some sites can change with the season or local conditions. See Day by day for the full plan.

Why this trip

The classic Alaska summer route: Denali by train, the Kenai Peninsula by car, and the glaciers and whales of the Kenai Fjords. The Alaska Railroad takes you to Talkeetna and Denali, and the Tundra Wilderness Tour goes deep into the park. Then a rental car for the Kenai Peninsula: two nights in Homer, a day on the water in Kenai Fjords National Park, and Girdwood. A flight around Denali, a wildlife cruise past Gull Island and the Alyeska tram are optional add-ons. Safe, well-rated hotels, and the trains, tours and car are booked for you.

  • Denali by trainThe Alaska Railroad to Talkeetna and Denali and the Tundra Wilderness Tour (both booked). A flight around Denali is an optional add-on.
  • Homer and Kachemak BayTwo nights on Kachemak Bay, with a full-day wildlife cruise to Gull Island and Seldovia as an optional add-on.
  • Glaciers and whalesA Kenai Fjords National Park cruise from Seward (booked), then Girdwood, where you can add the Alyeska Aerial Tram.

Trip at a glance

Length
12 days / 11 nights
Starts / ends
Anchorage Airport (ANC), round trip
Getting around
Alaska Railroad Adventure Class for days 2 to 5, then a rental car for days 6 to 12
Pace
Active: 6 hotels, drives of 1 to 4 hours with stops
Best time to go
Late May to mid August, when the trains and cruises all run
Great for
Couples, friends and families who are happy to drive
Accommodations
Comfort Plus (3-star hotels and lodges)
Flights
Not included. You book; timing tips in your pre-trip guide
Travel style
Adventure, Nature, Road Trip

Day by day

Day 1 and day 12 are travel days. The weather can shift the order of the days.

Day 1Welcome to Anchorage
The free hotel shuttle from Anchorage Airport to the Courtyard, about 5 minutes. An easy first evening.
Stay: Courtyard by Marriott Anchorage, with breakfast in summer and a free airport shuttle (night 1 of 11).
Day 2Train to Talkeetna
The Alaska Railroad Denali Star from Anchorage to Talkeetna, about 2 hours 45 minutes, in Adventure Class (booked). In the afternoon, you can add a K2 Aviation flight around Denali (optional add-on, weather permitting).
Stay: Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge, main lodge room (night 2 of 11).
Day 3On to Denali
Back on the Denali Star to Denali Park, about 4 hours 30 minutes (booked), with a free afternoon at the park visitor center and the sled dog kennels.
Stay: Denali Bluffs Hotel, near the park entrance (night 3 of 11).
Day 4Into Denali National Park
The Tundra Wilderness Tour, about 5 hours on the park road, for grizzlies, moose, caribou and Dall sheep (booked).
Stay: Denali Bluffs Hotel, near the park entrance (night 4 of 11).
Day 5The train back to Anchorage
The Denali Star back to Anchorage, about 7 hours 30 minutes through the Alaska Range and the Susitna valley (booked).
Stay: Courtyard by Marriott Anchorage, with breakfast in summer and a free airport shuttle (night 5 of 11).
Day 6Road trip to Homer
Pick up your car in Anchorage (booked). Drive the Seward and Sterling highways along Turnagain Arm and the Kenai River to Homer, about 4 hours 30 minutes with stops.
Stay: Homer Aspen Hotel, in Homer (night 6 of 11).
Day 7A Homer day, or Gull Island
A free day in Homer: the Spit, the harbor and the galleries. Or add a full-day cruise across Kachemak Bay past the seabird colony on Gull Island, with sea otters and seals, and time in the fishing village of Seldovia (optional add-on).
Stay: Homer Aspen Hotel, in Homer (night 7 of 11).
Day 8Drive to Seward
A slow morning on the Homer Spit, then drive to Seward, about 3 hours 30 minutes, with a stop at Exit Glacier on the way into town.
Stay: Harbor 360 Hotel, on the small boat harbor in Seward (night 8 of 11).
Day 9Kenai Fjords National Park
A Kenai Fjords National Park cruise, about 6 hours, to a tidewater glacier, with humpback whales, puffins and sea lions on the way (booked).
Stay: Harbor 360 Hotel, on the small boat harbor in Seward (night 9 of 11).
Day 10Girdwood
Drive to Girdwood, about 2 hours, for lunch and a walk, or add the Alyeska Aerial Tram to the mountaintop (optional add-on), then on to Anchorage, about 45 minutes.
Stay: Courtyard by Marriott Anchorage, with breakfast in summer and a free airport shuttle (night 10 of 11).
Day 11Portage and the wildlife center
A short drive back down Turnagain Arm to the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center (tickets booked) and the Portage Glacier valley, then back to Anchorage.
Stay: Courtyard by Marriott Anchorage, with breakfast in summer and a free airport shuttle (night 11 of 11).
Day 12Home
Drive to Anchorage Airport and return your car there, timed to your flight.

Map

Your route at a glance.

Expand map
By roadTrain / Boat
  1. 1Anchorage
  2. 2Talkeetna
  3. 3Denali
  4. 4Homer
  5. 5Seldovia (optional add-on)
  6. 6Exit Glacier
  7. 7Seward
  8. 8Girdwood
  9. 9Wildlife center & Portage

What’s included

Included

  • 11 nights in 5 hotels: Courtyard by Marriott Anchorage (4 nights, breakfast in summer), Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge, Denali Bluffs Hotel (2), Homer Aspen Hotel (2) and Harbor 360 Hotel in Seward (2), with taxes
  • The Alaska Railroad in Adventure Class: Anchorage to Talkeetna, Talkeetna to Denali and Denali to Anchorage
  • A rental car for days 6 to 12, with taxes and fees and an allowance for fuel
  • The Tundra Wilderness Tour in Denali National Park
  • A Kenai Fjords National Park cruise
  • Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center tickets
  • A day-by-day plan with every drive mapped, and one point of contact from booking to landing

Not included

  • Flights to and from Anchorage
  • Travel insurance
  • Meals and drinks, except breakfast in Anchorage
  • Extra car insurance and a second driver
  • Tips for your guides, and for a pilot if you add the flight
  • Personal spending

Optional add-ons: Denali Flightseeing from Talkeetna ($535 per person), Gull Island and Seldovia Wildlife Cruise ($160 per person), Alyeska Aerial Tram Ride ($80 per person). Add them in the booking box or in Attractions.

Getting around: the Alaska Railroad for the first half, then your own car for the Kenai Peninsula, where the roads are paved and well signed. Your day-by-day plan maps every drive.

Which accommodations? Comfort Plus hotels are 3-star or better: nice, clean and comfortable. Superior hotels are 4-star and 5-star, or the finest in the area, and a few days change (see Day by day). See the difference

Choose your accommodations

The same trip at two accommodation levels. Superior adds better hotels and a few special days; the price changes with it.

AccommodationsComfort PlusFrom$12,689per person, 2 sharingSuperiorFrom$20,639per person, 2 sharing
Where you stay3-star or better: nice, clean and comfortable4-star and 5-star, or the finest in the area
Hotels11 nights in 5 hotels: Courtyard by Marriott Anchorage (4 nights, breakfast in summer), Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge, Denali Bluffs Hotel (2), Homer Aspen Hotel (2) and Harbor 360 Hotel in Seward (2), with taxes11 nights in 7 hotels and lodges: Hotel Captain Cook (3 nights), Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge, Grande Denali Lodge (2), Land’s End Resort (2), Seward Windsong Lodge (2) and Alyeska Resort, with taxes
Getting aroundAlaska Railroad Adventure Class for days 2 to 5, then a rental car for days 6 to 12Alaska Railroad GoldStar class for days 2 to 5, then a rental SUV for days 6 to 12, plus small-plane flights
HighlightsDenali by train; Homer and Kachemak Bay; Glaciers and whalesDenali from the air and the ground; Katmai brown bears; Glaciers and whales
PaceActive: 6 hotels, drives of 1 to 4 hours with stopsActive: 7 hotels and lodges, drives of 1 to 4 hours with stops
Choose Comfort PlusChoose Superior

Questions

What’s the difference between Comfort Plus and Superior?
Where you stay, and a few days of the trip. Comfort Plus hotels are 3-star or better: nice, clean and comfortable, but not luxury. Superior hotels are always 4-star or 5-star, or the finest in the area. Superior also changes a few days: GoldStar dome cars on the train, a glacier landing on the Denali flight, a small-plane day from Homer to watch brown bears in Katmai instead of the Gull Island cruise, the longer Northwestern Fjord cruise, a private driver from the airport and a last night at Alyeska Resort with a Nordic Spa massage. Choose either one under Accommodations in the booking box; the price, the day-by-day plan and the inclusions update right away.
What if I need to cancel?
Plans change. If you need to cancel, you'll receive trip credit toward another itsTripEasy trip: within 24 hours of payment, 100% trip credit, so you can swap to a different destination; 90 or more days before your trip start date, 100% trip credit; less than 90 days before, no trip credit, unless you added Flexible Cancellation: with it, you get 100% trip credit if you cancel at least 10 days before your trip start date, for a trip you take within 12 months. Other trip credits never expire. To cancel or change your dates, use the cancellation request form. For a date change, choose the reason "I'd like to change my dates".
How many people can share a room?
Rooms on this trip hold 1 to 4 people (most have 2 queen beds). The booking box offers own room, 2, 3 or 4 per room. The booking box shows the price per person for your group. For a larger group, use Plan My Trip.
What if the Denali flight is cancelled for weather?
Small planes fly only in safe weather. If the flight cannot go on day 2, it can often move to the next morning before the train, or it is refunded by the operator.
What is the driving like?
You drive on days 6 to 12 only, on paved highways. The longest day is Anchorage to Homer, about 4 hours 30 minutes with stops. You need a full driving license.
Do I need a car?
Only for days 6 to 12. The train covers Anchorage, Talkeetna and Denali, and you pick up the car in Anchorage on day 6 and return it at the airport on day 12.
Are flights included?
Flights to Anchorage are up to you, and your pre-trip guide includes timing tips. On day 12 you can be at Anchorage Airport by 11 AM.
Can the trip be customized?
Yes, right in the booking box: add up to 3 extra nights at the start or end of your trip, pick your hotels (Comfort Plus or Superior), and choose how many travelers share each room. You can also add optional extras like Denali Flightseeing from Talkeetna, the Gull Island and Seldovia Wildlife Cruise or the Alyeska Aerial Tram Ride.

Good to know

  • Weather and nature. Weather, road, ferry and natural conditions are outside anyone’s control and can change quickly. They may change the plan, close roads, delay or cancel ferries, or delay, shorten or cancel tours and activities, and the order of days may shift.
  • Your choices. You are responsible for your own decisions, safety and choices while traveling, including which activities you take part in, and following local guidance, posted warnings and your guides’ instructions.
  • Photos. Photos on this page are for inspiration. They may not show the exact location, hotel, season or conditions of your trip.
  • Not included. Flights aren’t included; you book those yourself.
$25,378
2 travelers · 12 days / 11 nights
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