This 11-day Train Ride Is the Ultimate Way to Explore Alaska—With Glass-dome Rail Cars, Stunning Scenery, and Visits to 2 Epic National Parks

• Railbookers has an 11-day train itinerary called “Grand Alaska Adventure with Alaska Railroad Southbound.”
• The journey includes stops at two state parks: Kenai Fjords National Park and Denali National Park and Preserve.
• The cost is $3,689 per person.

There’s arguably no mode of transportation as iconic—and nostalgic—as train travel. You can cover hundreds of miles from the comfort of a cabin, all while enjoying stunning views of the landscape passing by. And nowhere in the U.S. is the landscape more vast and wild than Alaska, home to the historic Alaska Railroad.

Railbookers, a company that specializes in curating train itineraries for travelers, offers the 11-day-long “Grand Alaska Adventure with Alaska Railroad Southbound.” It traverses some of the state’s most dramatic landscapes, including visits to Kenai Fjords National Park and Denali National Park and Preserve. Prices start at $3,689 per person and include nine nights of hotel accommodations and seven meals—two breakfasts, three lunches, and two dinners.

The journey begins in Fairbanks, Alaska, and after two days of exploring the city, the train departs south toward Denali National Park and Preserve. Here, passengers get the chance to overnight at the park and embark on guided tours of iconic landmarks such as Polychrome Overlook, known for its colorful geography and grizzly bear, moose, and caribou sightings.

From Denali, the train chugs south through the small town of Talkeetna, famous for its vistas of Mount McKinley (also known as Denali). After exploring Talkeetna, passengers will continue to Anchorage, where they can explore the state’s largest city on a guided tour.

Then, the next stop is Seward, Alaska, the gateway to Kenai Fjords National Park. After spending the day in Seward, guests can explore all Kenai Fjords offers, including coastal rainforests, glaciers, and wildlife such as puffins, seals, and whales. In the evening, the train makes its way to Anchorage, marking the end of the trip.

Perhaps best of all, when passengers make their reservations through Railbookers, they will get access to Alaska Railroad’s GoldStar Service railcars, which include luxury seating in glass-dome cars with exceptional 360-degree views from outdoor viewing platforms. GoldStar Service booking also includes meals (often made with local ingredients) in the train’s sit-down dining service and two alcoholic beverages. And if you’d like to take the journey in reverse (going northbound and ending in Fairbanks), there’s always Railbookers’ Grand Adventure with Alaska Railroad Northbound option.