Northern Exposure Alaska Sampler - Tour 169

Because a wild place is best experienced through wild adventures.

Group visiting the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center.

Northern Exposure Alaska Sampler - Tour 169

Because a wild place is best experienced through wild adventures.

Guests experiencing spectacular views from a glacier landing.

Northern Exposure Alaska Sampler - Tour 169

Because a wild place is best experienced through wild adventures.

Explore the whitewater of the Nenana River.

Northern Exposure Alaska Sampler - Tour 169

Because a wild place is best experienced through wild adventures.

Hiking is a great way to enjoy Denali National Park.

Northern Exposure Alaska Sampler - Tour 169

Because a wild place is best experienced through wild adventures.

Overview
What's Included
Itinerary
Map
Rates & Dates
Options & Upgrades
Photos
Add to My Trip

Trip Overview

This active Alaska trip is chock full of energetic excursions, ranging from rafting past icebergs, to hiking through the Denali National Park frontcountry. The seven-day itinerary starts in Anchorage and concludes in Fairbanks, with stops in Talkeetna and the Denali Park area along the way. Travel is done independently by rental car to provide plenty of freedom to explore between planned tours and daily destinations. The full package includes all tours and the rental car, plus accommodations in Anchorage, Talkeetna, Denali, and Fairbanks.

Trip Highlights

Ride the Alaska Railroad, see wildlife, and float among icebergs on a full day trip out of Anchorage.
Fly from Talkeetna into the Alaska Range aboard a ski plane for flightseeing and a glacier landing near the tallest mountain in North America.
Whitewater raft down Class III and IV rapids in the Nenana River Gorge near Denali Park.
Hike the Denali frontcountry with a naturalist guide.

Why Pick This Trip

This adventurous Alaska package works best for active travelers who like to hike, raft, and flightsee (or who are at least game to try). It's also ideal for visitors who enjoy a good road trip. By traveling one way from Anchorage to Fairbanks, more time is afforded for both planned excursions and your own independent explorations.

What's Included

Here is everything that is included. Remember, we can easily add or remove services so this vacation package is the perfect fit for your party.

Anchorage | 2 Nights

A convenient location, updated rooms, and complimentary breakfast draws guests to this comfortable Anchorage hotel. Learn More >

Anchorage | Depart 9:45 AM | 9 Hours

Do it all in a day (ride the train, see Alaskan wildlife, raft alongside icebergs) on this roundtrip tour out of Anchorage. Learn More >

Anchorage | 4 Days

Spend more time exploring Alaska's scenic roadways and less time backtracking with this convenient one-way rental 4x4 SUV or van rental. Learn More >

Talkeetna | Depart 4:00 PM | 1 Hour

Land on a glacier deep within the Alaska Range on this unforgettable flightseeing trip out of Talkeetna. Learn More >

Talkeetna | 1 Night

When the mountain is "out" Denali is unmissable from this ridge-top property. The lodge comprises two full-service restaurants, a coffee shop, bar, and comfortable guest rooms with either forest or mountain views. Learn More >

Denali Park | Depart 6:30 PM | 3 Hours

Splash through wilder rapids in the Nenana River Gorge on this three-hour trip with Denali's longest-running rafting company. Learn More >

Denali Park | 2 Nights

Stay in a cedar cabin or comfortable lodge room at this resort-style property. The Village is seven miles from the entrance to Denali Park and offers guests free shuttle service. Learn More >

Denali Park | Depart 6:00 AM | 5 Hours

Fully narrated bus tour with a turnaround point at the historic Murie Cabin deep inside Denali National Park. Learn More >

Denali Park | Depart 6:45 PM | 2 Hours

Get behind the wheel or enjoy the ride from the passenger seat on this exciting side-by-side ATV excursion outside Denali National Park. Learn More >

Denali Park | Depart 11:15 AM | 5 Hours

Explore the Denali Park area alongside a guide well-versed in the area's flora, fauna, and fascinating natural history on this more challenging five-hour hike. Learn More >

Fairbanks | 1 Night

Relax in a private riverfront or garden cottage in this quaint property. The resort, which offers a free shuttle service to the Fairbanks airport and depot, is located on the banks of the Chena River. Learn More >

Itinerary

Read on for a day-by-day breakdown of this tour package. Click on an item to get started, and be sure to contact us if you have any questions.

Fly into Ted Stevens International Airport and transfer to your hotel for the next two nights. Overnight Anchorage.

The first tour of the trip is a memorable one. It starts with a ride on the Alaska Railroad's Glacier Discovery train. After almost two hours winding through beautiful mountain and water landscapes, you'll get off near Portage for a guided tour of a conservation center home to wolves, moose, lynx, bears, and many other native animals.

But that's not all. Next, you'll head back on the train and get off again at the Spencer Glacier Whistle Stop, then climb onto a raft for a paddle through a lake filled with icebergs. From here on it's a mild water float back to the train pickup point. The trip includes a sack lunch. Overnight Anchorage.

Pick up your rental car this morning and hit the highway heading north. Talkeetna is your destination. To get there, you'll head up the Glenn Highway with the Chugach Mountains to your right, then continue on the Parks Highway past Wasilla. Fun fact: There are so few highways in Alaska that locals call them by name rather than number.

You'll get your first taste of the grandeur of Denali National Park on this evening's flightseeing tour to the mountains at the heart of the park. Even better, you'll land on a glacier amidst those formidable granite massifs. Overnight Talkeetna.

Load up on snacks for the road from one or two of Talkeetna's many delish cafes, then continue your drive north to the entrance area of Denali National Park. This evening you'll gear up for a splashy whitewater rafting trip down the Nenana River Canyon. Overnight Denali.

Your bus tour into Denali National Park starts in the early morning to provide the best chance to see wildlife and the north facing mountains of the Alaska Range. A driver-guide narrates throughout, keeping a keen eye out for bears, moose, caribou, and other park animals along the way. You'll end the day with an evening ATV tour north of the park. Overnight Denali.

The morning is yours, just have your hiking boots laced and day pack packed in time for your afternoon interpretative hike. Your guide will choose the trail based on the weather and the small group's interest, but expect some incline, plus views and lots of learning about the local area. Afterward, enjoy your last Alaska highway miles on the way to Fairbanks. Overnight Fairbanks.

Your trip concludes.

Map

Check out the map below for a visual overview of this specific tour package. You can see a larger version of the map here, or try our an interactive tour map by using the link below.

SHOW INTERACTIVE MAP >

Rates & Dates

The prices below will give you an idea of approximately how much this trip will cost. Keep in mind your actual price will likely vary based on your departure date, availability, and any modifications you make. You can use one of the links below to request an exact quote for your party, or price the trip yourself if you prefer using our My Trip feature. You can often save money by traveling in the value season, typically May and September.

	Single	Double	Triple	Quad	Child
Tour Price	Single: $4,759	Double: $3,022	Triple: $2,556	Quad: $2,265	Child: $1,219
Taxes & Fees	Single: $1,330	Double: $698	Triple: $491	Quad: $387	Child: $44
Total	Single: $6,089	Double: $3,720	Triple: $3,047	Quad: $2,652	Child: $1,263
The columns above represent room occupancy. For example, "Double" means two adults sharing one room. The "Child" rate shown is based on an 11 year old sharing a room with two adults.

	Single	Double	Triple	Quad	Child
Tour Price	Single: $4,479	Double: $2,882	Triple: $2,462	Quad: $2,195	Child: $1,219
Taxes & Fees	Single: $1,306	Double: $686	Triple: $483	Quad: $381	Child: $44
Total	Single: $5,785	Double: $3,568	Triple: $2,945	Quad: $2,576	Child: $1,263
The columns above represent room occupancy. For example, "Double" means two adults sharing one room. The "Child" rate shown is based on an 11 year old sharing a room with two adults.

Options and Add-Ons

This is one of our most popular active adventure tour packages, but you can still make it better! We can add or remove services to make it a perfect match for your party. There are many options, and just a few suggestions are listed below.

You can make these changes at check out and your final package price will be updated to reflect just the services you choose. Give us a call or request a quote for more specifics.

Denali Park

Minutes away from the Denali National Park entrance, this mountaintop property offers standard guest rooms and premium rooms with a view as well as fine dining at the Alpenglow Restaurant and Peak Spirit Lounge. Learn More >

Denali Park | Depart 7:45 AM | 3 Hours

Join this popular tour for a three-hour thrill ride through the treetops and tundra just outside Denali National Park. Learn More >

Fairbanks | Depart 7:00 AM | 5 Hours

Spend two hours flightseeing and three hours on the ground exploring the extreme environment above the Arctic Circle on this guided tour out of Fairbanks. Learn More >

Talkeetna | Depart 9:15 AM | 3 Hours

With complimentary transportation available from the McKinley Princess Lodge, this easy three-hour kayak trip takes visitors into the wildlife-rich waters of Byers Lake. Learn More >