fbpx

Alaska Travel

boat near a glacier in alaska

Alaska Travel

Everyone should experience the wonders of Alaska travel at least once in their lifetime. From non-stop flights, rail tours, and cruise travel, Alaska travel is accessible. The landscape and wildlife viewing experiences change from season to season. The ways of accessing “The Final Frontier” also change from season to season.

scenic view of frozen lake against blue sky

Alaska Travel “The Final Frontier”

Kenai Fjords National Park

Experience Alaska Year-Round

Alaska Travel is a year-round experience. Each season has unique experiences, landscapes & wildlife. In the Spring and Fall of Alaska, the day temperatures can be warmer, but the nights are still cold. Each day is still unpredictable, from rain to snow to sun. Therefore, the best experiences are had when prepared for all types of weather.

Summer in Alaska begins in the Inside Pennisula region first and spreads North. The days grow longer to the point that some areas experience 24 hours of sunlight. Alaska sees the majority of tourists during the summer month of May to September from the cruise industry.

Alaska starts seeing winter over much of its regions from October to March. Days become shorter and colder; in the Northern region, darkness becomes about 24 hours a day. Travel around the state is by air, rail, sled dogs, snowmobiles, and across ice roads.

Guided Hiking Tour

15% off Ultimate Active Alaska | 14 Days – Anchorage to Anchorage

SHOW ITINERARY

This two-week journey through Alaska is just the ticket to get you into the land of epic wildlife, soaring summits, and tundra stretching towards the horizon. Journey to the far north and make the most of the longer days by hiking and camping in the Alaskan wilderness. Explore Valdez, hike to a glacier, kayak past icebergs on Glacier Lake, wander through Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, and get a true sense of the great outdoors.

uplift banner

Cruises

Breaching humpback whale against snow capped mountains seen in the distance in Glacier Bay, Alaska.

Discover Where The Wild Things Are

SAMPLE ITINERARY

When you cruise with Norwegian, the awe of Alaska stays with you throughout your cruise. Get an intimate view of The Last Frontier on Norwegian Sun. With incredible 5-, 7- and 9-day itineraries, including a stop in untouched Icy Strait Point, you’ll explore Native Tlingit villages and soar over lush rainforests on the world’s longest zipline. Go from hiking up snow-capped mountains and witnessing majestic whales splash in the Pacific to coming back on board and catching an amazing show followed by an equally amazing starlit stroll on the top deck.

Wildlife

close up view of a reindeer standing on snowy ground

Alaska’s “Big” 5

Tourists worldwide flock to Alaska to witness its “Big” 5 wildlife. These can be found in different regions of the 49th state. Some of Alaska’s wildlife can not be found anywhere else in the US.

  • Bears – Black, Brown, & Polar
  • Moose
  • Caribou
  • Dall Sheep
  • Wolves

Wildlife Encounters

Getting to and Around Alaska

Exploring Alaska is Only a Non-Stop Flight Away

Alaska Travel by the Alaska Rail Road

Coastal Classic Train

Anchorage → Girdwood → Seward
Daily service May 13 – September 25, 2023

Denali Star Train

Alaska Travel

Anchorage → Wasilla → Talkeetna → Denali → Fairbanks
When the train runs: May 10 – September 21, 2023 (northbound only May 10; southbound only September 21)

Northbound From/ToDepartArrive
Anchorage — Wasilla8:20 AM9:30 AM
Wasilla* — Talkeetna9:35 AM11:05 AM
Talkeetna — Denali11:20 AM 3:55 PM
Denali — Fairbanks4:10 PM8:00 PM
Southbound From/ToDepartArrive
Fairbanks — Denali8:20 AM12:10 PM
Denali — Talkeetna12:30 PM5:05 PM
Talkeetna — Wasilla5:20 PM6:25 PM
Wasilla* — Anchorage6:25 PM8:00 PM

* Trains may depart early from these stops when all reserved passengers are on board. 

Onboard services: Dining car, baggage services (Anchorage, Talkeetna, Denali, and Fairbanks only), non-smoking cars, wheelchair access.

Glacier Discovery Train

Alaska Travel

Anchorage → Girdwood → Whittier → Portage → Spencer → Grandview
Anchorage/Girdwood to Whittier round-trip: May 13, 20, 21 & 24, 2023
Anchorage/Girdwood to Whittier & Spencer Whistle Stop round-trip: May 27 – June 2, 2023
Full route: June 3 – September 17, 2023

From/ToDepartArrive
Anchorage — Girdwood9:45 AM10:55 AM
Girdwood — Whittier11:00 AM12:05 PM
Whittier — Portage12:45 PM1:15 PM
Portage — Spencer Whistle Stop1:25 PM1:45 PM
Spencer Whistle Stop — Grandview1:55 PM3:20 PM
Grandview — Spencer Whistle Stop3:30 PM4:30 PM
Spencer Whistle Stop — Portage4:40 PM5:15 PM
Portage — Whittier5:25 PM6:05 PM
Whittier — Portage6:45 PM7:15 PM
Portage — Girdwood7:20 PM7:40 PM
Girdwood — Anchorage7:45 PM9:00 PM

Onboard services: Wilderness cafe snack bar, baggage service (Anchorage only), non-smoking cars, wheelchair access.

Hurricane Turn Train – Summer

Alaska Travel

Talkeetna → Hurricane Flag-stop Area
Thursday – Monday, May 11 – September 18, 2023

This is a flag-stop train. Due to the nature of flag-stop service, times may vary.

StopsNorthboundSouthbound
Talkeetna (MI 226.7)1:00 PM7:15 PM
Chase (MI 236.2)1:15 – 1:30 PM6:45 PM
Curry (MI 248.5)1:50 PM6:20 PM
Sherman (MI 257.7)2:10 PM5:45 – 6:00 PM
Gold Creek (MI 263.2)2:30 PM5:30 PM
Twin Bridges (MI 270)2:45 PM4:50 – 5:10 PM
Chulitna (MI 273.8)3:00 PM4:45 PM
Hurricane (MI 284)3:30 PM4:30 PM

No dining service; passengers are encouraged to bring food onboard.

Hurricane Turn Train – Winter

Alaska Travel

Anchorage → Wasilla → Talkeetna → Hurricane Flag-stop Area
Operates first Thursday of the month, October 2022 – February 2023 & April – May 2023 (no service March 2023; see additional March mid-week Aurora Winter Train departures)

This is a flag-stop train. Due to the nature of flag-stop service, times may vary.

StopsNorthboundSouthbound
Anchorage (MI 114.3)8:30 AM*8:00 PM
Wasilla (MI 159.8)9:50 AM6:25 PM
Talkeetna (MI 226.7)11:25 AM4:45 PM
Hurricane (MI 281.4)1:20 PM2:45 PM

No dining service; passengers are encouraged to bring food onboard. Baggage service in Anchorage only.

Aurora Winter Train

Alaska Travel

Anchorage → Wasilla → Talkeetna → Hurricane Flag-stop Area → Healy → Nenana → Fairbanks

Weekend Service
Northbound Saturdays / Southbound Sundays
September 24, 2022 – May 7, 2023

Midweek Service
Northbound, Tuesdays: February 14, 21 & 28; March 7, 14, & 21, 2023
Southbound, Wednesdays: February 15 & 22; March 1, 8, 15 & 22, 2023
Northbound, Thursdays: March 2, 9, 16 & 23, 2023
Southbound, Fridays: March 3, 10, 17 & 24, 2023

Due to the nature of flag-stop service, times may vary.

StopsNorthboundSouthbound
Anchorage (MI 114.3)8:30 AM8:00 PM
Wasilla (MI 159.8)9:50 AM6:25 PM
Talkeetna (MI 226.7)11:25 AM4:50 PM
Chase (MI 236.2)11:40 AM4:25 PM
Curry (MI 248.5)12:10 PM4:00 PM
Sherman (MI 257.7)12:20 PM3:45 PM
Gold Creek (MI 263.2)12:35 PM3:30 PM
Canyon (268.4)12:50 PM3:20 PM
Twin Bridges (MI 270)12:55 PM3:15 PM
Chulitna (MI 273.8)1:05 PM3:05 PM
Hurricane (MI 281.4)1:20 PM2:45 PM
Denali (MI 347.9)3:55 PM12:30 PM
Healy (MI 358.7)4:40 PM11:45 AM
Nenana (MI 411.7)5:55 PM10:20 AM
Fairbanks (MI 470.3)8:00 PM8:30 AM

Onboard services: Dining car, baggage service (Anchorage and Fairbanks only), non-smoking cars, wheelchair access (Anchorage, Wasilla, Talkeetna, and Fairbanks only).

%d bloggers like this: