Cornelius Amann
October 06, 2026
5/5
Alaska by Train: Denali, Seward and the Kenai Fjords
7 days from Anchorage, all by Alaska Railroad: the Denali Star to two nights at Denali National Park, then the Coastal Classic to two nights in Seward for the Kenai Fjords and Exit Glacier.
7 days · Round trip from Anchorage · up to 12 guests
Anchorage and the Chugach Mountains, where the trip starts and ends Photo: Quintin Soloviev, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Anchorage,_Alaska.jpg)
The facts
At a glance
- Length
- 7 days, 6 nights
- Start and end
- Round trip from Anchorage
- Group size
- 7 to 12 guests
- Activity level
Easy
Mostly sitting on trains, a park bus (about eight hours return on the Denali day, with stops) and a boat, with short walks of 1 to 4 km on good trails: the Exit Glacier trails, the Horseshoe Lake loop at Denali and the streets of Seward and Anchorage. Two longer hikes (Mount Healy Overlook at Denali, about 8 km return with 520 m of climb, and the first part of the Harding Icefield Trail at Exit Glacier) are optional, and any walk can be sat out.
- Meals included
- 6 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 4 dinners
- Room of your own
- + CAD 1,065 (estimated price)
- Season
- Mid-May to mid-September
Highlights
Why this trip
- The Denali Star north from Anchorage, past Talkeetna and over Hurricane Gulch, with Denali in view on a clear day
- An early park bus deep into Denali National Park to the Eielson Visitor Center, watching for grizzlies, caribou, moose and Dall sheep
- The park's working sled dogs at the Denali kennels, with a ranger's demonstration
- The Coastal Classic beside Turnagain Arm, then away from the highway through the Placer River valley past Spencer Glacier, a stretch with no road
- A six-hour Kenai Fjords cruise to a tidewater glacier, with lunch on board
- The walk up to Exit Glacier with your guide, and the Alaska SeaLife Center in Seward
- No long drives at all: outside the park bus, no ride in a vehicle is longer than about 25 minutes
What makes this trip different
Free time is part of the plan
Free time and choices are marked on the days they fall.
Solo without the penalty
A room of your own is + CAD 1,065 (estimated price).
Day by day
Itinerary
Tap any stop on the map to open that dayClick any stop on the map to open that day
Arrive in Anchorage
Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport to your hotel downtown
- Welcome dinner
- Stay in Anchorage
- Drive about 18 min
Morning
Fly into Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (ANC), where a driver meets you for the fifteen-minute ride to a central hotel downtown; we choose one close to the Alaska Railroad depot you leave from in the morning.
Afternoon
If you land early, the afternoon is yours: the Anchorage Museum covers Alaska Native cultures, art and the state's history, and the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail starts at the edge of downtown and runs along Cook Inlet, with the Chugach Mountains behind the city and, on a clear day, Denali far to the north.
Evening
In the evening your See Sight Tours guide meets the group for a short briefing: how the trains work, what goes in the day bag, how the bags travel, and what the week's weather looks like. Then we walk to a welcome dinner at a local restaurant, with Alaskan salmon or halibut on the menu in season.
Included
- Pick-up at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (ANC)
- Welcome briefing with your guide
- Welcome dinner in Anchorage
Optional experiences
- Anchorage Museum
- A walk or bike ride on the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail
Free time: Free until the evening briefing
The Denali Star to Denali
Anchorage depot by train via Wasilla, Talkeetna, Hurricane Gulch and Broad Pass to Denali Park
- Breakfast and lunch
- Stay in Denali Park
- By train
Morning
We leave the hotel after an early breakfast for the Denali Star, which pulls out of Anchorage at about 8:20 am. Your bags go in the baggage car, so the day is just you and a window. The line runs north through the Mat-Su valley and past Wasilla, then along the Susitna River to Talkeetna, where climbers start for Denali; the train stops there in late morning, from about 11:05 to 11:20 am. On a clear day the mountain stands up over the river flats; often it is in cloud, and your guide will tell you where to look.
Afternoon
After Talkeetna, lunch comes from the train's cafe, included, eaten at your seat or at the cafe tables. In the afternoon the train climbs into the Alaska Range, crosses the high bridge over Hurricane Gulch and runs through Broad Pass, the high point of the line, with open tundra on both sides. We reach the Denali Park depot at about 3:40 pm, and a short transfer takes us to our hotel near the park entrance for two nights.
Evening
The evening is free.
Included
- The Alaska Railroad Denali Star from Anchorage to Denali, Adventure Class
- Lunch from the train's cafe, included
- Transfer from the Denali depot to the hotel
Optional experiences
- GoldStar dome seating with its dining room, priced at booking
- Flightseeing over Denali from the park area, weather permitting
Free time: Evening free near the park entrance
Activity: About seven and a half hours on the train, with room to walk about and an open-air vestibule for photos.
Deep into Denali National Park
The Denali park road to the Eielson Visitor Center and back
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner
- Stay in Denali Park
An early start, because the first buses see the most animals. Private cars may only drive the first 15 miles of the park road, so we ride a park transit bus, with your guide on board, past Savage River and over Sable Pass and Polychrome Pass to the Eielson Visitor Center at Mile 66, where the mountain fills the view on a clear day. A new bridge over the Pretty Rocks landslide was finished in 2026, and the Park Service plans full bus service again from 2027; if a section is closed in your season, we turn at East Fork (Mile 43) instead. Drivers stop for wildlife: grizzlies on the open slopes, caribou, moose in the willows, Dall sheep on the ridges, sometimes a wolf.
Afternoon
No food is sold beyond the entrance, so we carry a packed lunch and eat it at Eielson.
Evening
The round trip takes about eight hours, so we are back near the entrance by mid-afternoon, with time to rest before dinner together near the hotel.
Included
- Denali National Park entrance fee
- Park transit bus to the Eielson Visitor Center (Mile 66) and back, with your guide
- Packed lunch for the bus
- Dinner with the group
Optional experiences
- Flightseeing over Denali, weather permitting
- Rafting on the Nenana River
Easier option: Ride the free shuttle to Savage River (Mile 15) instead of the long bus and walk the flat Savage River Loop, about 3 km, then rest at the hotel.
More active option: Get off the bus with your guide for an off-trail walk on the tundra, then flag down a later bus back.
Free time: Late afternoon free before dinner
Activity: About eight hours on the park bus, on a gravel road with wildlife and toilet stops. Bring binoculars, layers and water: food is not sold beyond the entrance area.
Horseshoe Lake, the sled dogs, then the train south
Horseshoe Lake and the park kennels, then Denali Park by train to Anchorage
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner
- Stay in Anchorage
- By train
Morning
A slower morning near the park entrance. After breakfast your guide walks the group down to Horseshoe Lake, an oxbow lake below the bluffs where beavers have built a dam and lodge; the loop is about 4 km with one steady descent and climb. Then the free park bus takes us to the kennels at park headquarters for the rangers' sled dog demonstration: the dogs still haul supplies and patrol the park in winter, and you can walk along the kennels to meet them. We check out, the bags go ahead to the depot, and the Denali Star southbound leaves at about 12:30 pm.
Afternoon
This time you see the line in afternoon light and from the other direction: Broad Pass, Hurricane Gulch, then the long run down the Susitna valley, with another chance at Denali if the cloud has lifted.
Evening
Lunch and an early dinner come from the train's cafe, included, so there is nothing to organise on arrival. We reach Anchorage at about 8 pm and transfer a few minutes to a central hotel, chosen close to the depot. The Seward train leaves early tomorrow.
Included
- Guided walk to Horseshoe Lake
- Sled dog kennel demonstration at park headquarters
- The Alaska Railroad Denali Star from Denali to Anchorage, Adventure Class
- Lunch and dinner from the train's cafe, included
- Transfers to the Denali depot and to the hotel in Anchorage
Optional experiences
- GoldStar dome seating with its dining room, priced at booking
Easier option: Stay at the hotel or the visitor center area for a slow morning and join the group at the train.
More active option: Start at 6:30 am with your guide for the Mount Healy Overlook Trail, about 8 km return with roughly 520 m of climb. It takes about four hours, so you miss the kennels but are back well before the 12:30 pm train.
Activity: About seven and a half hours on the train. The Horseshoe Lake loop is about 4 km, with one steep section down to the lake and back.
The Coastal Classic to Seward and Exit Glacier
Anchorage by train along Turnagain Arm, via Girdwood and the Kenai Mountains to Seward, then Exit Glacier
- Breakfast and lunch
- Stay in Seward
- Drive about 45 min
Morning
The Coastal Classic leaves Anchorage at about 6:45 am, so breakfast comes from the train's cafe as the line runs south beside Turnagain Arm, where the tide moves fast over the mudflats and Dall sheep graze on the cliffs above. The highway shares this shore, but after Girdwood and Portage the track turns away from it into the Placer River valley, past Spencer Glacier and Bartlett Glacier to Grandview, a stretch with no road at all, before rejoining the highway near the Trail Lakes.
Afternoon
We reach Seward at about 11:20 am, drop bags at the hotel and have lunch in town. In the afternoon a 20-minute drive takes us to Exit Glacier, the part of Kenai Fjords National Park you can reach by road. Your guide walks the trail to the glacier viewpoint, past signs that mark where the ice stood in past years, and explains why it has retreated so fast.
Evening
The evening in Seward is free.
Included
- The Alaska Railroad Coastal Classic from Anchorage to Seward, Adventure Class
- Breakfast from the train's cafe, included
- Lunch in Seward
- Exit Glacier, Kenai Fjords National Park, with your guide
Optional experiences
- GoldStar dome seating with its dining room, priced at booking
Easier option: Walk only the flat first section to the outwash plain, or stay at the Exit Glacier Nature Center.
More active option: Climb the first part of the Harding Icefield Trail with your guide to Marmot Meadows for the view down onto the glacier.
Free time: Evening free in Seward
Activity: About four and a half hours on the train. Exit Glacier walks are 2 to 3 km on gravel paths; the Harding Icefield option is steep.
Kenai Fjords National Park by boat
Seward Small Boat Harbor through Resurrection Bay into the Kenai Fjords and back
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner
- Stay in Seward
- By boat
Morning
After breakfast we walk to the Small Boat Harbor for a six-hour cruise into Kenai Fjords National Park, where glaciers from the Harding Icefield run down to the sea. The boat follows Resurrection Bay south past cliffs and small islands, then out into more open water and into one of the fjords to sit in front of a tidewater glacier, engines off, listening for ice to crack and fall. The captain and crew call out wildlife as it appears: sea otters, Steller sea lions on the rocks, puffins and other seabirds, often humpback whales and sometimes orcas.
Afternoon
Lunch is served on board. We are back in Seward by mid-afternoon with time to rest or walk the waterfront.
Evening
In the evening we meet for a seafood dinner in town, the last dinner together off the train.
Included
- Six-hour Kenai Fjords National Park cruise from Seward, with a tidewater glacier
- Lunch on board
- Seafood dinner with the group in Seward
Optional experiences
- Sea kayaking in Resurrection Bay
Easier option: Stay in the heated cabin for the open-water stretch; the views are as good through the windows.
Free time: Late afternoon free in Seward
Activity: The open water outside Resurrection Bay can be rough. Take seasickness tablets before boarding if you are prone to it, and bring a hat, gloves and a waterproof.
Seward, then the evening train to Anchorage
Seward, then the Coastal Classic to Anchorage and the airport
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner
- Drive about 18 min
Morning
The morning starts at the Alaska SeaLife Center on the waterfront, a public aquarium and marine research centre where you can watch Steller sea lions, harbor seals and puffins from above and below the water and learn how the centre rescues stranded animals.
Afternoon
Lunch is in town, then the afternoon is yours: walk the waterfront path along Resurrection Bay, look for sea otters in the harbor, or walk the Tonsina Point trail with your guide.
Evening
The Coastal Classic leaves Seward at about 6 pm, so you ride the Placer River valley and Turnagain Arm again, this time northbound in the long evening light, with dinner from the train's cafe, included. We reach Anchorage at about 10:15 pm. A transfer takes you to the airport for an overnight flight, or to a hotel if you are staying on. Book a flight leaving after about midnight, or add a night in Anchorage, which we can book at cost.
Included
- Alaska SeaLife Center, Seward
- Lunch in Seward
- The Alaska Railroad Coastal Classic from Seward to Anchorage, Adventure Class
- Dinner from the train's cafe, included
- Drop-off at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (ANC) or a hotel in Anchorage
Optional experiences
- An extra night in Anchorage, booked at cost
More active option: Walk the Tonsina Point trail with your guide, about 5 km return through rainforest to a beach on Resurrection Bay.
Free time: Afternoon free in Seward
Activity: Book a flight leaving after about midnight, or add a night in Anchorage: the train arrives at about 10:15 pm.
- Anchorage1 night
- Denali Park2 nights
- Anchorage1 night
- Seward2 nights
- Anchorageend
- Overnight stop
- Day trip
- By boat or train
Wildlife and weather: Alaska's summer is cool and changeable: expect 10 to 20 C, rain at any time and colder air on the water. Denali the mountain is often in cloud, so a clear view is luck, not a promise. Bears, moose and caribou are easiest to see early in the day; whales and puffins are around the Kenai Fjords from late May to August.
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Before you book
Right for you?
Good for you if you want
- Travellers who want Denali and the Kenai Fjords without long days in a van
- Rail fans and anyone who likes watching country go by from a window
- Older travellers and mixed-fitness couples: every walk has an easy version
- First-timers in Alaska who want a guide to handle depots, bags and bookings
Not for you if you want
- Travellers who want a loop that never retraces a line: the trains go up and back the same way
- People who want Talkeetna, Homer or Girdwood overnights: see our road trips
- Anyone needing an early flight home on the last day
- Hikers looking for long days on the trail
Book flights after we confirm your seat.
6 nights
Where you'll stay
Your hotels are named in your trip confirmation.
- Anchorage1 night
- Denali Park2 nights
- Anchorage1 night
- Seward2 nights
One price
What's in the price
Included
Accommodation
- 6 nights: 2 in Anchorage (nights 1 and 4), 2 near the entrance to Denali National Park and 2 in Seward
- Central hotels of a 3-star-plus standard with private bathrooms; we name each hotel when we confirm your dates
- Rooms shared, or your own for a supplement
Transport
- Pick-up and drop-off at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (ANC)
- Four Alaska Railroad journeys in Adventure Class: the Denali Star from Anchorage to Denali and back, the Coastal Classic from Anchorage to Seward and back
- Your luggage in the train's baggage car
- Local transfers by contracted vehicle between depots, hotels and Exit Glacier; no ride longer than about 25 minutes
- The Denali park transit bus to the Eielson Visitor Center
- A six-hour Kenai Fjords National Park cruise from Seward
Your guide
- A See Sight Tours guide with the group from day 1 to day 7, on the trains, the park bus and the boat
- Park rangers at the Denali kennels, and the boat's captain and crew in Kenai Fjords
Activities
- Denali National Park entrance fee
- Park transit bus to the Eielson Visitor Center (Mile 66), Denali
- Sled dog kennel demonstration, Denali
- Horseshoe Lake walk, Denali
- Exit Glacier walk, Kenai Fjords National Park
- Kenai Fjords National Park cruise, Seward
- Alaska SeaLife Center, Seward
Meals
- 6 breakfasts, one of them from the Coastal Classic's cafe
- 6 lunches: two from the Denali Star's cafe, a packed lunch on the Denali park bus, two in Seward and one on the Kenai Fjords boat
- 5 dinners: the welcome dinner in Anchorage, one at Denali, one from the Denali Star's cafe, a seafood dinner in Seward and one from the Coastal Classic's cafe
Not included
- International flights to and from Anchorage
- ESTA or US visa where you need one
- Travel insurance
- Meals not listed
- Drinks
- Tips for restaurant and boat crews
- GoldStar dome and dining room upgrades on the trains
- Optional activities such as flightseeing, rafting and kayaking
- An extra night in Anchorage after the trip
- Personal expenses
Extras
- Room of your own
- CAD 1,065 (estimated price)
When you can go
Dates and prices
Pick your start date when you request to book. We check that date and confirm it in your quote.
Prefer to travel without a group or guide? Ask us about arranging hotels, transport and city tours for you to travel independently.
Before you book
Booking terms
Nothing is charged now. Full terms and the cancellation schedule come with your quote, before you accept.
Business addresses
See Sight Tours Trips (USA): 3172 N Rainbow Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89108, United StatesSee Sight Tours Trips (Canada): 5305 50 Avenue, #1091, Red Deer, AB T4N 4B6, Canada+1-888-961-6584Guest reviews
What guests say
Reviews from guests on our day tours.
Jane
October 06, 2026
5/5
Susan
October 06, 2026
5/5
Tom L
October 05, 2026
5/5
MandL83
October 05, 2026
5/5
Darren O
October 05, 2026
5/5
Good to know
Questions
What does the price include?
Six nights in central hotels, six breakfasts, six lunches and five dinners (train meals come from the onboard cafe), four Alaska Railroad journeys, airport and depot transfers, the Denali entrance fee, park bus and sled dog demonstration, Exit Glacier, the six-hour Kenai Fjords cruise, the Alaska SeaLife Center and a See Sight Tours guide for the whole week.
Are there any long drives on this trip?
No. Every long leg is the Alaska Railroad. Outside the eight-hour Denali park bus, the longest vehicle ride is about 20 to 25 minutes, between the airport and downtown Anchorage or from Seward to Exit Glacier. If you would rather see Talkeetna and Girdwood by road, our Alaska road trip does that, with no day over about four hours.
Do we see the same scenery twice?
Yes, partly. Both trains go out and back on the same line, so you ride each stretch twice: to Denali in morning light and back in the afternoon, to Seward at dawn and back in the long evening light. Sitting on the other side shows the other half of the view. If you want a loop that never retraces, our Alaska road trip does that.
How big is the group and who leads it?
The small group runs with 7 to 12 guests. A See Sight Tours guide travels with you from the welcome dinner to the last train, sorting bags, depots and bookings, with park rangers at the kennels and the boat crew in Kenai Fjords adding their own knowledge.
How fit do I need to be?
Not very. Most of the trip is spent on trains, a park bus and a boat, with walks of 1 to 4 km on good paths. Two harder hikes, Mount Healy Overlook and the Harding Icefield Trail, are optional, and every walk has an easy version or can be skipped.
I am travelling solo. What does a room of my own cost?
A room of your own is from CAD 1,065 more for the whole trip, shown up front. You can also ask whether another solo traveller on your departure wants to share; we tell you before you pay anything whether a match is possible.
When is the best time to go, and what is the weather like?
Mid-May to mid-September, when the Denali Star and Coastal Classic run their summer service. June and July bring the longest light and active wildlife; late August and early September bring autumn colour and fewer visitors. Expect 10 to 20 C, rain at any time and cold wind on the boat, so pack a waterproof, a fleece, a hat and gloves.
Will we see whales, and will I get seasick on the Kenai Fjords cruise?
Humpback whales are often seen from late May to August, and sea otters, sea lions and puffins are more reliable; orcas are a bonus, never a promise. The water outside Resurrection Bay can be rough, so take seasickness tablets before boarding if you are prone to it. The boat has a heated cabin, and the captain can change the route in heavy seas.
How much luggage can I bring on the train?
Pack one suitcase and a day bag. The Alaska Railroad carries checked bags in the baggage car on both trains, and we confirm the current allowance and weight limit when you book. Keep layers, a camera, binoculars and any medication in your day bag, because checked bags stay out of reach until the end of the line.
How does booking work?
Choose a departure and request to book. We confirm your place within 24 hours, and no payment is taken until we do. Prices are per person sharing a room, with taxes included, starting from CAD 6,275 for the small group.
Can we travel privately or on our own dates?
Yes. The same trip runs privately for your party only, on a date you choose, with your own guide. If you would rather travel independently, ask us from the dates section and we can quote the same trains, hotels and cruise without a guide.
Do I need a visa for Alaska?
Alaska is part of the United States. Canadians need a valid passport. Visitors from Visa Waiver Program countries need an approved ESTA before flying, and others need a US visitor visa. Check the rules for your passport well before you book flights.
See Sight Tours has been providing travel services across North America since 2006. Operating in 20 cities across Canada and the USA, the company specializes in small group tours that offer personalized, high-quality experiences for travelers.
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