Best of Alaska, Trains, Wildlife & Denali - Cruise Connector

Day 1 Seward or Whittier to Anchorage Option 1: Seward Cruise Ship Terminal to Anchorage | Small Group Tour Departing the cruise terminal, you will head to Exit Glacier for striking views of the blue ice flowing from the Harding Icefield. Journey north through the Chugach Mountains to the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, a sanctuary for orphaned and injured animals. Here, you can observe iconic wildlife like brown bears, moose, and muskox in their natural setting. The final leg of your tour travels along the scenic Turnagain Arm, known for its high tides and potential whale sightings, before arriving in Anchorage. (Lunch is included today). Option 2: Whittier Cruise Ship Terminal to Anchorage | Small Group Tour Begin your journey by traveling through the Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel—the longest highway tunnel in North America—leaving the port of Whittier behind. Your tour continues to the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center to safely view and photograph Alaska’s largest land mammals, including wood bison, bears, and elk. The final drive takes you along the winding shoreline of the Turnagain Arm, offering sweeping views of the mountains and inlet before reaching your destination in Anchorage. (Lunch is included today).

Day 2 Anchorage to Denali National Park Entrance | Alaska Railroad Early this morning take the Denali Star, the Alaska Railroad’s flagship train, in the Goldstar Railcar with service to Denali National Park. Watch for views of Denali and keep an eye out for wildlife. Arrive mid-afternoon; the rest of the day is at leisure to enjoy an optional activity. (Breakfast & lunch is included onboard the train today)

Day 3 Denali | Freedom of Choice - Choose 1 of 4 Excursions Option 1. Denali Highway Jeep Excursion | Self-Drive Guided 4x4 Excursion Ranked #2 in Drives of a Lifetime by National Geographic Traveler magazine, experience the natural wonders of Alaska’s Denali Highway — this time by Jeep! This 4-hour guided excursion travels along a 135 mi (217 km) gravel road & takes you off the beaten path in a 4 x 4 to enjoy scenic views of Denali, the Alaska Range, glaciers and wildlife. Option 2. Tundra Wilderness Tour | Coach Tour This half day tour offers incredible scenery, a narrated history of the park road and opportunities to view the park’s wildlife inhabitants. Picturesque highlights include the craggy cliffside of Cathedral Mountain, wildlife rich Sable Pass and braided wash of the East Fork River in Denali National Park. Option 3. Upgrade Option: Denali Summit Flightseeing | Small Aircraft Get a closer look at Alaska’s majestic Denali from the comfortable window seat of a small aircraft. Slip on your provided headset to hear commentary from your guide as you fly over the snow-covered peaks, jagged ridgelines, and glacier carved valleys of Denali National Park, and get within half a mile of the mountain peak. Option 4. Upgrade Option: Denali Glacier Landing | Helicopter Be immersed in the vastness of the Denali National Preserve. On your way to the massive Yanert Glacier, your pilot will serve as your guide through this unique glacially-carved environment. Soar over the rolling tundra, keeping an eye out for local residents – caribou, moose, bear, and Dall sheep. Snow capped peaks and glaciers abound on this journey before you set down on a river of ice.

Day 4 Denali National Park Entrance to Fairbanks | Alaska Railroad This morning is at leisure to enjoy optional activities such as: whitewater rafting down the Nenana River, helicopter flightseeing over the park, landing on a glacier or hiking. By early afternoon, board Alaska Railroad’s Denali Star Train in the Goldstar Railcar to Fairbanks. Enjoy the late afternoon scenery as you travel north to Fairbanks where your incredible Alaskan adventure ends. (Dinner is included on board the train today)

Day 1 Fairbanks to Denali | Alaska Railroad This morning, board the Denali Star, Alaska Railroad’s flagship train, in the Goldstar Railcar for a scenic journey to Denali National Park. Arrive late morning; the rest of the day is at leisure to enjoy an optional activity. (Breakfast included onboard the train today)

Day 2 Denali | Freedom of Choice - Choose 1 of 4 Excursions Option 1. Denali Highway Jeep Excursion | Self-Drive Guided 4x4 Excursion Ranked #2 in Drives of a Lifetime by National Geographic Traveler magazine, experience the natural wonders of Alaska’s Denali Highway — this time by Jeep! This 4-hour guided excursion travels along a 135 mi (217 km) gravel road & takes you off the beaten path in a 4 x 4 to enjoy scenic views of Denali, the Alaska Range, glaciers and wildlife. Option 2. Tundra Wilderness Tour | Coach Tour This half day tour offers incredible scenery, a narrated history of the park road and opportunities to view the park’s wildlife inhabitants. Picturesque highlights include the craggy cliffside of Cathedral Mountain, wildlife rich Sable Pass and braided wash of the East Fork River in Denali National Park. Option 3. Upgrade Option: Denali Summit Flightseeing | Small Aircraft Get a closer look at Alaska’s majestic Denali from the comfortable window seat of a small aircraft. Slip on your provided headset to hear commentary from your guide as you fly over the snow-covered peaks, jagged ridgelines, and glacier carved valleys of Denali National Park, and get within half a mile of the mountain peak. Option 4. Upgrade Option: Denali Glacier Landing | Helicopter Be immersed in the vastness of the Denali National Preserve. On your way to the massive Yanert Glacier, your pilot will serve as your guide through this unique glacially-carved environment. Soar over the rolling tundra, keeping an eye out for local residents – caribou, moose, bear, and Dall sheep. Snow capped peaks and glaciers abound on this journey before you set down on a river of ice.

Day 3 Denali to Anchorage | Alaska Railroad This morning is open for optional activities such as: whitewater rafting down the Nenana River, helicopter flightseeing over the Park, landing on a glacier, or hiking. At midday, board the Alaska Railroad and travel by Goldstar Railcar for the day trip to Anchorage. As you travel along the Susitna River, you may catch a glimpse of the majestic Mount Denali or grizzly bears & moose along the banks of the river. (Lunch & dinner included onboard the train today)

Day 4 Anchorage to Seward or Whittier Option 1: Anchorage to Seward Cruise Ship Terminal | Small Group Tour Travel along the scenic Turnagain Arm, flanked by the towering Chugach Mountains. Your main stop is the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, a sanctuary for orphaned and injured animals. Here, you can safely observe and photograph iconic wildlife like brown bears, moose, elk, and muskox in a natural setting. Continuing south, enjoy striking views of Exit Glacier (time permitting), a massive river of ice flowing from the Harding Icefield. You will then arrive in Seward for a direct transfer to the cruise ship terminal. (Lunch is included today). Option 2: Anchorage to Whittier Cruise Ship Terminal | Small Group Tour Enjoy a spectacular drive along the Turnagain Arm, featuring the glacier-filled Chugach Mountains. We stop at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center to observe and photograph Alaska’s largest land mammals, such as bears, moose, and bison, in their natural environment. The final leg of the journey takes you through the engineering marvel of the Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel—the longest highway tunnel in North America—before arriving in Whittier for your transfer to the cruise ship terminal. (Lunch is included today).