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Go behind the scenes and beyond the crowds in Alaska

Connect with the people, wildlife and natural wonders of Alaska on this 10-day Intrepid Premium adventure. Discover vast wilderness areas from the convenience of your perfectly located hotels, with an expert local leader to show you all the best spots to spot animals. Travel to the top of Mount Alyeska, sample local beers on a private brewery tour and take the Wilderness Express Deluxe Dome cars to Denali National Park for the very best viewing experience from the train. You’ll go behind the scenes and venture beyond the crowds in Alaska's most famous landscapes.

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Terms & Conditions
Start
Fairbanks, United States
Finish
Anchorage, United States
Destination
United States
Style
Premium
Theme
Explorer
Code
SAPA
Physical rating
Ages
Min 15
Group size
Min 3, Max 10

Why you'll love this trip

premium accommodation

Our best accommodation and highest level of service.

premium experiences

Unusual, exceptional and authentic on-trip experiences.

premium knowledge

Led by our most experienced and highest rated local leaders.

  • Experience the rugged landscapes and breath-taking beauty of Alaska with a perfectly sized group. Leave the big tour buses behind and head off the beaten path with your group of 10 passengers - giving you the best chances at seeing wildlife and experiencing nature.

  • Get to know the people who call Alaska home through Premium Exclusive Experiences. Visit the Alaska Aviation Museum where you’ll chat with a local pilot, stop by the Talkeetna Ranger station to explore the town's rich climbing history and visit the Alaska Native History Center to understand more about Alaska’s Indigenous People, traditional custodians of this land.

  • Tour the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center and discover how it preserves Alaska’s wildlife through research and takes in injured animals to rehabilitate them and return them to the wild.

  • Enjoy the amazing landscapes of Alaska from all angles - traveling by private vehicle, scenic train, iconic school bus, and glacier cruise, you'll have countless opportunities to take in Alaska's most famous landscapes and spot its iconic wildlife.

  • Taste classic Alaska specialties, from your salmon bake welcome dinner, to a stop at Denali Brewing Company for a taste of one of the US's most remote brews, to testing out Talkeetna's favorite sweet treat - birch syrup.

Is this trip right for you?

  • This trip is new to our range this year. And while we have thoroughly researched every detail of the logistics, new destinations and working with new partners can sometimes throw us some unexpected surprises. More often than not, it’ll be a great surprise. But every now and again there might be a hiccup. We like to think that’s what puts the ‘adventure’ in ‘adventure travel’.

  • This part of Alaska has 5 star scenery but mostly 3 star hotels. You’ll be staying in the best available hotels but the accommodation on this tour is more rustic than our other Premium itineraries.

  • Denali Park Road in Denali National Park is only open to mile 43 for summers 2022, 2023 and 2024 because of a land slide. This means the Tundra Wilderness Tour that typically goes for 7-8 hours will only last for 4-5 hours until the road is fully open again.

Dome train ride from Fairbanks to Denali, Alaska, USA
Caribou in Denali National Park, Alaska, USA
Denali National Park holds the highest peak in North America, located in Alaska, USA
Wildlife Cruise around Resurrection Bay from Seward, Alaska, USA
Spencer Glacier and icebergs of Alaska, USA
Grand Denali Lodge, Alaska, USA

Itinerary
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Welcome to Fairbanks! Enjoy a complimentary private transfer from the airport to your hotel and settle into your room before your Welcome Meeting. Tonight, you’ll get to know your group during an included welcome dinner at a great local restaurant where fresh salmon is the order of the day.
Accommodation
  • Pike’s Waterfront Lodge or Similar (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Fairbanks - Welcome Dinner
Meals Included
  • Dinner
Special Information
The arrival transfer is only valid if arriving on Day 1 or if you have booked pre-trip accommodation through us. Please provide your flight details at the time of booking, or at a minimum 14 days prior to travel, as we may not be able to confirm a request made within 14 days of travel.

It’s very important that you are at the hotel by 4pm so you can attend the welcome meeting as we will be collecting insurance details and next of kin information at this time. If you are going to be late please let your travel agent or hotel reception know. Ask reception or look for a note in the lobby for more information on where the meeting will take place.

It’s an early start to board one of Alaska’s most famous train trips. Take a private transfer to the Fairbanks Rail Depot where you will board your Deluxe Dome rail cars for the scenic journey south to the town of Denali, gateway to Denali National Park. Eat breakfast on the train as you settle back and enjoy the scenery along the way. Once you arrive, enjoy an included lunch at a local restaurant then check into your Feature Stay hotel. Like all hotels in this part of Alaska, your accommodation is low-key rather than luxurious but the view will knock your socks off! This afternoon, take some time to experience Denali your way. Zoom above the trees on an optional ziplining tour, or simply enjoy the spectacular scenery from your room. Your leader can help with suggestions for things to see and do.
Accommodation
  • Grande Denali Lodge (Feature Stay) or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Fairbanks - Scenic Train to Denali
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
Special Information
Today’s travel time is approximately 4 hours.

After breakfast at your hotel, set off on a Tundra Wilderness Tour inside Denali National Park. This classic tour at Denali comes with an expert local driver and guide who will share stories about the park and its flora and fauna while looking for wildlife such as grizzly bears, caribou, moose, wolves and more - all from the comfort of a school bus-style ride. Today you’ll also have time to visit the Denali Visitor Center and join park ranger demonstrations and walks, and optional tours. This evening, you may like to join your group for a drink or dinner in downtown Denali.
Accommodation
  • Grande Denali Lodge (Feature Stay) or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Denali - Tundra Wilderness Tour
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
Special Information
Note: The Denali Park Road is open to mile 43 through 2024 due to a land slide.

After breakfast, travel south along the Parks Highway to the town of Talkeetna. Once a busy mining hub, Talkeetna is now the base for all climbing activities on Denali, North Americas tallest mountain. Stop at the Kahiltna Birchworks to learn about the area’s most famous sweet treat, Birch syrup, which is similar to maple syrup. Afterwards, drop into the Denali Brewing Company for beer tasting at one of the most successful brewing companies in the state, located in this remote town. From here, travel into the town of Talkeetna for an orientation tour then visit the Talkeetna Ranger Station to learn about the town’s rich climbing history.
Accommodation
  • Talkeetna Alaska Lodge or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Talkeetna - Kahiltna Birchworks Visit
  • Talkeetna - Denali Brewing Company Beer Tasting
  • Talkeetna - Orientation Walk
  • Talkeetna - Ranger Station Visit
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
Special Information
Today's drive time is 2.5 hours.

The Brewery Tour is only available for guests aged 21+.

After breakfast, spend the day at your leisure. Talk to your Trip Leader about optional activities, including a jet boat ride up one of Talkeetna’s braided rivers. Listen as your expert jet boat guide shares stories about the local area and Indigenous populations who have called this place home for thousands of years. Keep an eye out for eagles, bears, wolves, and other wildlife as you take in the stunning natural surroundings on your way up the river. Or, enjoy the day your way. Relax at the hotel, explore the town or perhaps book an optional tour like a scenic flight. Your expert leader will be able to help with recommendations and arrangements.
Accommodation
  • Talkeetna Alaska Lodge or similar (1 night)
Meals Included
  • Breakfast

After an early breakfast, depart your hotel and travel south to the resort town of Girdwood. You’ll have time to enjoy an included lunch together before boarding your whistle stop train to Alaska’s backcountry and the Spencer Glacier’s terminal moraine, the point where the glacier stops (but only for now, as it is still advancing). Here your group will enjoy an easy guided hike around a section of Spencer Lake to a spectacular lookout offering unobstructed views of the glacier. Learn more about the surrounding glaciers and see the large pieces of ice that have calved off the main glacier. After this, board the train once more for the journey to Portage where you’ll take a private transfer to the coastal town of Seward.
Accommodation
  • Windsong Lodge or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Girdwood - Whistle Stop Train
  • Spencer Glacier - Guided Hike
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
Special Information
Today’s total driving time is approximately 5 hours.

After breakfast at your hotel, travel to a small boat harbor and set sail for a six-hour glacier and wildlife cruise around Resurrection Bay with an expert local guide. Enjoy lunch onboard while you keep an eye out for whales, seals, otters, eagles and other wildlife. Getting up close to a calving glacier is a cruise highlight! Once back on shore, you may like to take a stroll around the town of Seward or enjoy a relaxing afternoon at your hotel.
Accommodation
  • Windsong Lodge or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Seward - Glacier and Wildlife Cruise
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch

After breakfast, travel north towards Alaska’s largest city, Anchorage, with some interesting stops along the way. First we’ll drop into the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center which is dedicated to preserving Alaska’s wildlife through conservation and research and takes in injured animals to rehabilitate them and return them to the wild. An expert local guide will join you to explain the important conversation work at the centre. From here, you’ll travel a little further to Girdwood where you’ll board the Alyeska Tram for a trip to the top of Mount Alyeska. If the weather is clear, you’ll be able to see the Pacific Ocean and glaciers from the top. There will be time to buy lunch before the final drive to Anchorage. Tonight, settle into your hotel and enjoy a relaxing night in or perhaps head out for a bite to eat with your group.
Accommodation
  • Sheraton Anchorage Hotel or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Anchorage - Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center Tour
  • Anchorage - Alyeska Tram
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
Special Information
Today’s total driving time is approximately 2.5 hours.

After breakfast, join your leader for a tour of Anchorage and some of its best museums. Your first stop is the Alaska Native History Center to learn about Alaska’s native populations and how they survived for thousands of years in such a harsh climate. Afterwards, visit Lake Hood and the Alaska Aviation Museum where you’ll get to chat with a local pilot and learn about what it’s like to fly bush planes in this remote part of the word. Afterwards, join your group for a wonderful farewell dinner at a local restaurant to celebrate the final night of your Alaska adventure.
Accommodation
  • Sheraton Anchorage Hotel or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Anchorage - Alaska Native History Center
  • Anchorage - Lake Hood Visit
  • Anchorage - Alaska Aviation Museum Private Pilot Talk
  • Anchorage - Farewell Dinner
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Dinner

After breakfast, your Alaska adventure comes to an end. If you would like to spend more time in Anchorage, we would be happy to organise additional accommodation for you (subject to availability).
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
Want to tailor this itinerary?

Meals

9 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 2 dinners

Transport

Private Van, Boat, Train

Accommodation

Comfortable hotel (7 nights), Feature Stay (2 nights)

Included activities

  • Fairbanks - Welcome Dinner
  • Fairbanks - Scenic Train to Denali
  • Denali - Tundra Wilderness Tour
  • Talkeetna - Kahiltna Birchworks Visit
  • Talkeetna - Denali Brewing Company Beer Tasting
  • Talkeetna - Orientation Walk
  • Talkeetna - Ranger Station Visit
  • Girdwood - Whistle Stop Train
  • Spencer Glacier - Guided Hike
  • Seward - Glacier and Wildlife Cruise
  • Anchorage - Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center Tour
  • Anchorage - Alyeska Tram
  • Anchorage - Alaska Native History Center
  • Anchorage - Lake Hood Visit
  • Anchorage - Alaska Aviation Museum Private Pilot Talk
  • Anchorage - Farewell Dinner

Premium Inclusions

  • Arrival airport transfer
  • Tipping for accommodation, activities and transport
  • Luggage transfer
  • Daily breakfast and signature local meal experiences
  • 24/7 on-ground support

Dates & availability

Trip departures are unavailable.

There are currently no scheduled departures on our Premium Alaska trip. If you are interested in other trips in the region visit one of the links below.

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Important notes

1. A complimentary airport arrival transfer is included; valid if you are arriving on Day 1 or if you have booked pre-tour accommodation through us. You must provide your flight details to your booking agent at least 14 days prior to travel.
2. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement applies to all nights of your trip and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
3.Please note this trip requires a minimum number of booked customers to guarantee the departure. If minimum numbers are not met, you will be advised no later than 56 days out from departure (prior to full payment due). Your Booking Agent will advise at time of booking if the departure has met minimum numbers and is guaranteed to depart. We recommend arranging flights and related travel services only once your Booking Agent has confirmed your departure is guaranteed. In the event that your departure is cancelled due to minimum numbers not being met, a full refund will be provided of monies paid.

Essential trip information

Want an in-depth insight into this trip? Essential Trip Information provides a detailed itinerary, visa info, how to get to your hotel, what's included - pretty much everything you need to know about this adventure and more.

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