Alaska Rail | Cruisetour | Denali | Luxury Travel | Multi Day Tour Travel Package
Experience Denali and Alaska's Interior by Rail
From the nostalgic Budd and Pullman cars of yesteryear to today’s luxurious fully domed railcars, the McKinley Explorer boasts a long history of scenic Alaska travel. Innovative new cars built by Colorado Rail Manufacturing and
introduced into service in 2003 are the pride of Holland America & Princess, a renowned purveyor of premium Alaska cruises and cruisetours, and Alaska Travel Desk is proud to be an offiical resell partner.
McKinley Explorer railcars stand over 18 feet tall and measure 89 feet in length, about 4 feet longer and two feet taller than most Amtrak Superliner passenger cars. The distinctive roof line pays homage to the historic ultra dome cars of the past yet offer significantly more glass for a full 360° view. Among the largest railcars ever built, quests enjoy classic
elegance and style for an unforgettable way to explore the vast Alaskan landscape.
Lively colors drawn from nature and charming Alaskan décor are used throughout the upper level observation lounge and the lower level dining room, lounge, gift shop and fresh-air viewing platform. Comfort is assured thanks to wide aisles, forward-facing, reclining seats and a velvet-smooth ride. Another attractive feature of the McKinley Explorer experience is the live commentary delivered by professional rail guides and a state-of-the-art entertainment
system, including a moving map in the lounge.
Mountains, wildlife and Denali National Park
The fabled Alaska Railroad route is a wonder in itself. It snakes through glacier-carved valleys, crosses magnificent river canyons, and features engineering marvels to rival Alaska’s astounding natural wonders. Awesome tunnels, cliff-hugging trestles and soaring bridges are set against a backdrop of ever-changing scenery.
Most board the McKinley Explorer for the purpose of visiting Denali National Park and seeing Mt. Denali, North America’s tallest peak. But the time spent aboard the McKinley Explorer viewing beaver dams and learning to spot eagle nests, watching for bear and spotting old gold mines, and relaxing over Alaskan-inspired cuisine served by friendly staff members scon becomes a major highlight of a memorable Alaska vacation.
Railtours offer seamless Alaska vacations
When booking a railtour package, your luggage will be transferred from the rail depot directly to your room at the lodge. You’ll receive your room keys & welcome package on the train, and upon arrival to Denali or Talkeetna, you’ll be whisked away on a bus to your lodge where you can bypass the front desk and go straight to your room. Return travel is even easier -you will leave your bags outside your room on the last night, and you’ll collect your bags at the Alaska Rail Depot in Anchorage, or in your room at your next lodge (when purchased as part of a railtour package).
Alaska Travel Desk, Juneau’s travel experts, offer this exciting adventure to Denali that times perfect with your cruise in and out of Juneau or Sitka. The rate calendar below will outline if this tour starts before OR after your cruise in Juneau/Sitka (and if you’ve already booked your airfare to Alaska – that’s OK too, we can help move your flights around at no additional charge!). Our Denali Adventure add-on is perfect for guests on the Seabourn Encore, The Boat Company, UnCruise, Nat Geo, and American Cruiselines!
Most of your first day will be spent on the train to Denali, with an early evening arrival. But, don’t let that make you feel like that’s all you can do! There’s also plenty of time to take in a tour with Black Diamond Resort, be it a horse-carriage drawn ride or ATV trip with a truely delicious Alaskan bbq (don’t forget, the sun doesn’t go down in Denali in the summer!) – which you can now get for just $85 PER PERSON when you book with us.
Guests will have at least one full day to explore Denali on their own, or we can offer a variety of amazing excursions and tours. There’s still plenty of space on the narrated & non-narrated tour busses within the park, and we’re excited to learn the park busses now go all the way to Mile 43 (East Fork) – tickets are available for $33.50 per person.
Your return trip will be seamless as your bags get transferred for you and guests can just leave the lodge & hop on the bus, to take the same trip back to Anchorage. This tour works WELL for Alaskans who live in Southeast as there is plenty of time to get to the airport and fly back on Alaska 70 – so no need for an extra night in Anchorage!
Please note: No cancellations or changes are permitted within 30 days of travel, we HIGHLY encourage you to purchase travel insurance to cover this trip.
Things You'll See
What's Included
- NScenic DomeCar rail between Anchorage & Denali
- NRail guide and narration on train
- N2+ nights upscale lodge in Denali
- NLuggage handling on rail portion
- NTransfers to/from lodge
- NDinner show in Denali
- NPost-travel support
What's Not Included (Things You'll Need)
Transport to Airport
Transport to Rail Depot
Tours & Excursions
Food & Beverage
Tips for Guides
Travel
Insurance
Pricing & Availability
Pricing below is subject to change without notice. Prices are per person, based on 2 sharing a room. Some tour dates require additional hotel nights – we can customize this for you after you pay the deposit.
| 3 DAYS / 2 NIGHTS |
*Pricing is per person based on 2 sharing a room. Subject to availability.
Hotels & Lodging
Railroad Experience
Sample Itinerary
| Day 1 | |
| 8:30 AM | Check-in at the McKinley Explorer at the Alaska Rail Depot. Transfers are not included. |
| 9:15 AM | Depart from Anchorage Rail depot for the 8 hour trip to Denali with a stop in Talkeetna. Keep your eyes out for moose, eagles, and more! |
| 5:00 PM | Upon arrival to Denali, you’ll be transferred by bus directly to your lodge, where you can bypass the front desk and go straight to you room |
| Day 2 | |
| Enjoy the day on your own! | |
| 5:00 PM | Music of Denali music show at the Holland America Denali Lodge (formerly Westmark Chalet), includes dinner! |
| Day 3 | |
| 9:30 AM | Sadly its time to leave Denali, but you will be back on the McKinley Explorer for a scenic ride back to Anchorage |
| 5:15 PM | Arrival in Anchorage, where you have time to catch a flight to Juneau / Sitka or home. |
Additional Tours Offered
With Our Partners at
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I book my Cruisetour or Package?
You can click on the “BOOK NOW” button on the top right, which will open up our booking system – you can then select the tour you want. When booking a PRECRUISE tour, make sure you give yourself enough time – based on the length of the tour / package, that it ends at least a day before your cruise departs Alaska!
Exactly what ARE my options?
The options highlighted in our booking system are typically available for your particular tour or package. Please note that some of our cruisetours do not include all your excursions – because traveler appetites vary, its important that we provide you options of things you might want to do while in Alaska or the Yukon. You can always add these later.
Can we add extra nights?
Yes, please let us know in the comments section of your booking where you would like to add additional hotel nights or select it during the booking process. Please note that hotel availability & rates are not guaranteed until paid in full.
What date do I select in the Booking Engine?
Its important to book the correct date for your cruisetour or package, making sure that the end date is on or before you need to join a cruise or another tour. If you aren’t sure, feel free to give one of our travel designers a call at 907.531.9140 or use our chat feature.
Are these trips offered other days of the week?
Due to Alaska’s popularity, we try to only offer dates in which we have availability or know we can accommodate your request. We are presently working on a waitlist option in our booking system so we can notify you should space open up.
What happens if there's a weather delay?
Living in Alaska, we have first hand experience with our 180 degree variations with weather! Typically when weather delays happen, we NORMALLY have the option to move you to the next day or sometimes refund your tour/package/excursion. Sadly these are all tied to availability. Its important to always build buffer in your travels (and one of our core requirements when we do handle your Alaska/Yukon vacation). Travel insurance is also a must – it will reimburse for any unexpected hotel stays or non-refundable options (if we aren’t able to, for example).
How is your pricing setup?
All tours & packages offered by Alaska Travel Desk are based on 2 adults sharing 1 room. Most packages will have options to include children and 3rd or 4th occupants in a room, as some vendors do offer child discounts; however most hotels do charge for 3rd or 4th adults in a room (over the age of 12).
Why does the system only allow a deposit on some tours & packages?
Due to the popularity and complexity of many of our tours, in order to serve you better we only require a 10% deposit to start the booking process. Once we receive your booking, one of our travel advisors then works at ensuring we have available space with our airline, hotel, and transportation partners before we charge you in full. Should we NOT be able to confirm everything as outlined in our packages, our travel advisor will go over alternative options / upgrades. If none of these are acceptable, we can refund your deposit in full.
When is final payment due?
Once we are able to confirm all of your travel options, we typically require full payment unless otherwise noted. Should we allow a payment plan, our travel advisor will go over the dates at which we can automatically process payments, including the final payment date.
What are the tour change or cancellation fees?
Each package has a number of vendors that have different change or cancellation policies. These will be highlighted during our booking process and duplicated on your receipt. Its very important that you do purchase travel insurance as plans can change, and insurance will cover any losses that we are not able to refund/change depending on the reason for change.
Denail Rail Tour – Alaska Resident Special
Destination
Denali, AK
Duration
3 days / 2 nights
Travel
Activity
Minimal
Accessibility
Excellent