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NLRA02 Fairbanks & Arctic Circle - Alaska Railroad from Anchorage

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  • Code: NLRA02

NLRA02 Fairbanks & Arctic Circle - Alaska Railroad from Anchorage

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“All aboard the Alaska Railroad” - board in the morning the Aurora Winter Train in Anchorage, setting off north towards Fairbanks. Starting in late summer, the spectacular natural landscape is bathed in colourful autumn colours before the first snowfalls turn the country white for the coming months. Any nature lover who has experienced it once will be able to confirm: The Dance of the Northern Lights is one of the most breathtaking natural spectacles ever. Alaska has the best box seats to witness this sky spectacle. Ribbons in all colours perform a wondrous dance in the night sky. Visitors from all over the world come to Alaska especially because of the northern lights and combine their journey with snowmobiling, dog sledding or skiing. Overnight in Fairbanks and enjoy the aurora tour to Chena Hot Springs Resort the following day. Relax in natural hot springs and go hunting for the Aurora Borealis. This package also includes a visit to the year-round Ice Museum, which houses the Ice Bar. The following day, experience the legendary Aurora Borealis while crossing the Arctic Circle. From Fairbanks follow the Dalton Highway, which has also become known to us through the "Ice Road Trucker" series, in the direction of the Arctic Circle. During the trip your guide will introduce you to the history of Alaska and the peculiarities of life in Alaska. Enjoy the impressive landscape of Central Alaska, such as the Yukon River, Finger Mountain or the Trans Alaska Pipeline and look out for moose, lynx and foxes that are at home here.

  • Itinerary

  • Prices & Dates

  • Attractions & Add-ons

  • Accommodation

  • Map

  • Information

  • Reviews

Anchorage ( Overnight: Anchorage )

Arrive in Anchorage and settle into your downtown hotel. The rest of the day is yours to enjoy at your own pace. Discover the charm of Alaska's largest city by visiting its many points of interest. Stroll along the scenic Coastal Trail, which winds along Cook Inlet and leads to Earthquake Park, offering stunning views of the snow-capped Alaska Range in the distance. For a more adventurous option, take a trip to Alyeska, Alaska’s largest ski resort. As evening falls, indulge in a memorable seafood dinner at one of Anchorage’s top-rated restaurants. If visiting in February or March, don't miss the lively Fur Rondy, spectacular Ice Carving Festivals, and the iconic Iditarod Sled Dog Race, along with other exciting winter events.

 

Anchorage - Fairbanks | by Alaska Railroad ( Overnight: Fairbanks )

Depart Anchorage at 8:30 AM for a scenic full-day rail tour to Fairbanks onboard the Alaska Railroad. You'll get fantastic views of the snow covered Alaska Mountain Range, a glimpse of Talkeetna and Denali National Park before arriving in Fairbanks at 8:00 PM. Transfer to your hotel near the banks of the beautiful Chena River. Known as the Golden Heart City of Alaska, Fairbanks is tucked into miles of unexplored wilderness only 120 miles from the Arctic Circle. Fairbanks offers many winter activities; from the Open North Sled Dog Race Championship to the World Ice Art Championship - Ice Alaska. Relax during your first evening and get ready for a few days of winter fun and adventure within the Last Frontier. You may watch the Aurora Borealis at night dancing on the northern sky.

Fairbanks (Chena Resort Northern Lights Viewing) ( Overnight: Fairbanks )

Sleep in late this morning. During the day you have time to join a sled dog tour, go ice fishing or explore the Alaska University Museum. At 5 PM you'll be picked up from your hotel for your visit to Chena Hot Springs Resort, 60 miles northeast of Fairbanks. The large heated mineral indoor pool, the outdoor rock lake (adult only) and numerous hot tubs are providing a great opportunity to soak, swim or rejuvenate until the Northern Lights appear in the evening. Included is the visit to the famous Aurora Ice Museum and Stoli Ice Bar. Dine at the restaurant serving everything from hamburgers to Alaskan King crab, or choose to join the free geothermal tour. Enjoy Northern Lights viewing opportunities after darkness at Chena Hot Springs Resort. Return to Fairbanks between 3 and 4 AM.

Fairbanks (Arctic Circle Northern Lights Viewing) ( Overnight: Fairbanks )

Morning at leisure. Your tour to the Arctic Circle departs today at 1:30 PM. Your guide will engage in informative conversation about the Northern Lights as you travel north on the famous Dalton Highway. Departure in daylight allows for the opportunity to enjoy the stunning winter landscape and wildlife of interior Alaska. Moose, lynx and fox are often sighted as we move through their natural habitat. Informative stops at the Trans Alaska Pipeline and the mighty Yukon River Bridge offer perfect opportunities for photographs. When we cross the Arctic Circle your guide will award you a personalized Arctic Circle Certificate. After photographs at the Arctic Circle sign, we begin the return journey and take time to view the amazing Northern Lights! We return to the hotel in Fairbanks at around 4 AM.

Fairbanks

This morning you have time to visit the Alaska University Museum with the States largest collection of gold nuggets, gold mining history and Alaskan heritage artefacts and the nearby Geophysical Institute - recognized as the best in the world for its Aurora Borealis research activities. You may join a Bush Mail Plane Flight to a remote native village above the Arctic Circle. Downtown Fairbanks offers a variety of excellent gift shops and art galleries such as the "Roseberry Art Gallery" with some tasteful items for your friends at home. Stroll through the downtown court before returning to the airport for your individual return flight. Tour extension is available upon request.

Rates in US $ / per Person
Comfort Hotel Category Single Double Triple Quad Child
September 1 - September 15 $2088 $1423 $1224 $1125 $514
September 16 - April 15 $1502 $1144 $1043 $993 $550
First Class Hotel Category Single Double Triple Quad Child
September 1 - September 15 $2529 $1644 $1358 $1212 $514
September 16 - April 15 $1868 $1327 $1156 $1074 $550

What’s included

4 Nights Comfort or First Class Hotel Accommodation

Hotel and State Taxes

Chena Hot Springs Resort Aurora Tour including Ice Museum Tour, Hot Springs Pool Pass, Geothermal Tour

Arctic Circle Northern Lights Viewing Tour *

Deluxe Continental Breakfast in Fairbanks (First Class only)

Alaska Railroad Transportation from Anchorage – Fairbanks

Reserved Seating

Fairbanks Railroad Station and Airport Transfers

Tour Documentation

Sightseeing Information

* Please be aware that we cover a total of 400 miles in this 14-hour van expedition. This tour is not recommended for children under 10 years of age.

Tour Departures

From  August 21  – September 16  |   Tour Start : Daily

From September 17 – April 21 | Tour Start : Every Friday

Fairbanks: Northern Lights Viewing Tour

You will be picked up at 10 PM for your northern lights viewing tour. Enjoy the transfer to a prime aurora viewing lodge, located in the hills about 20 miles north of Fairbanks – far away from any city lights. Enjoy spectacular 270-degree aurora displays through large picture windows from the comfort of the lodge or outside. Once the lights are out, you want to step outside onto the large deck to soak in the view. And if you get cold, just go back in and help yourself to a cup of hot coffee, tea, or cocoa, available self-serve. Return to your hotel at 2:30 AM.

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Fairbanks: Dog Mushing - Sled Dog Tour (1 hr)

Dog Sledding is Alaska's official sport - have you ever seen a state with a more original sport? It is the only means of transportation through the snow lands of old time Alaska. Dog Mushing / Sledding is an activity nobody should miss on an Alaska winter vacation. All our Dog Mushing / Sledding Tours are designed into a spacious time frame. We do not hurry you in and out of the sled or run circles on a field but give you a real Dog Mushing experience on trails used by Alaskan mushers. There is plenty of time to make your favorite Dog Mushing pictures and play with our Alaska huskies. Arctic gear (parka, pants, boots, mittens) is provided for all our Dog Mushing / Sledding adventures. Break away, and mush with us into the twilight of the Alaskan wilderness

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Fairbanks: Snowmobile Tour (1 hr)

Guided Snow Machine Tour around the Chena Lakes Recreational area only accessed by snowmachine. On this snowmobile tour, your guide will lead you through a true winter wonderland you haven't seen before. Explore Fairbanks’ breathtaking surroundings by snowmobile through a beautiful winter wonderland, crossing frozen lakes and rivers, scenic mountains, endless remote trails and hopefully wildlife such as moose, fox or snowshoe hare. The Chena Lakes Recreation area offers a variety of beautiful and well-maintained trails, lakes and rivers ensuring an adventure of a lifetime. No experience is necessary.

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Fairbanks: Ice Fishing

Your Ice Fishing day trip begins with the pick up from your hotel. While catching fish in a warm hut on a beautiful lake you can still safely enjoy the brisk, clear air and peaceful environment of Interior Alaska, the home to some of the best ice fishing this state has to offer. Learn the old native skill of ice fishing from our experienced ice fishing guides. Hot drinks and grilled fish for a late lunch are served while fishing. Warm arctic gear is available and our heated van is always close by. Please provide each participant’s height, weight, and shoe size for the arctic gear. The tour price includes: hotel transfer, arctic gear, fishing license, tackle, hot beverages and lunch.

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Alberto, Mexico: We just come back home in mexico and I just write to you to said thanks for the experience that you help us to accomplish, me and my family were surprised for a beautiful country and a cherry on the cake was the aurora that we saw. Congratulation you have an excellent team work, very organized and the tour goes beyond my expectative. Our family enjoyed the train trip from Anchorage to Fairbanks in January! It took almost 12 hrs with a half dozen quick stops at cabins or towns along the way. Spectacular winter scenery the whole way with 25 below temps and steaming fast moving rivers lined with ice along the way. Mt McKinley was in full view with clear , cold skies. The train was not crowded, with plenty of vacant seats to move around to if you wanted to try a different seat. Restaurant car was good and surprisingly inexpensive. Cocktails, coffee and snacks were available in the adjacent “bistro car”, Which had big windows and tables to sit by if you wanted to leave your normal seating car. All normal seats are large and recline. If you like train travel, this should be on your bucket list.