Alaska by Train and Self-Drive tour

Enjoy a free day exploring Fairbanks. There is a variety of activities to do; you may wish to discover the gold mining history of the region at one of the nearby gold dredges. Alternatively, Pioneer Park is worth a visit where you can explore the SS Nenana sternwheeler ship.

This morning transfer to Fairbanks station to board the Alaska Railroad for a scenic train journey to Denali National Park. The park is enormous — about the same size as the state of New Hampshire — and contains North America's highest mountain, Mount Denali. This is where you can enjoy some of Alaska's best wildlife spotting and light aircraft trips.

Embark on a narrated tour into the wilderness of Denali National Park. The tour will give you a comprehensive insight into Denali's vast sub-Arctic tundra valleys, glaciers and the impressive Alaska Range of mountains. There is a good opportunity of spotting wildlife such as grizzly bears, moose, and even wolves and caribou.

Transfer to the train station to board the second leg of your Alaskan Railroad journey to Anchorage. Upon arrival you may wish to visit some of the fascinating museums, such as the Alaska Native Heritage Center or the Anchorage Museum of History and Art. Both host an array of exhibits highlighting Alaska's history and diverse indigenous peoples.

You have another day to explore Anchorage. Perhaps spend the day taking a scenic flight tour across Prince William Sound. This is one of Alaska's highlights, a sprawling region that includes fjords, inlets, and rugged mountain peaks. The sound is rich with marine life, so keep your eyes peeled for whales, seals and lazy otters basking in the sun. You will also see dozens of apron and tidewater glaciers and visit the Columbia Glacier, the largest in the area.

Collect your car and drive from Anchorage to Homer, located on the banks of Kachemak Bay on the far corner of the Kenai Peninsula. This five-hour journey is one of the most beautiful drives in Alaska, providing views along Cook Inlet's Turnagain Arm and toward the Portage Glacier.

Your small group adventure today is bound to be a real highlight of your trip as you embark on a light aircraft tour to Katmai National Park in search of grizzly bears. Your flight gives you a bird's-eye view of spectacular active volcanoes and immense glaciers before landing on a remote beach. Your walking group will be led by an expert guide, along the coast or meadows, to view grizzly bears in their natural habitat from a safe distance. Along the way you may also spot other wildlife such as foxes, bald eagles and marine life.

Spend a day exploring the small settlement of Homer. You could head west of Homer Spit, along the Sterling Highway, for views of snow-capped peaks framing Kachemak Bay. From there you can head to nearby Rogers Loop, where there are numerous walking trails through forest and open meadows offering opportunities to see birds and, occasionally, moose. Alternatively, you may prefer to go out on a guided halibut fishing trip.

Depart Homer and make your way to Seward, on the jagged cliffs of Resurrection Bay. There are plenty of local restaurants serving fresh seafood to stop at along the way. Seward is ideally located for exploring beautiful Kenai Fjords National Park.

Board an eight-hour cruise to Resurrection Bay in Kenai Fjords National Park. On board, a national park ranger will explain about the park's glaciers and wildlife. Keep a look-out for humpback whales, orca, bald eagles and black bears. The cruise includes a close-up view of the Aialik Glacier, where it is often possible to see huge chunks of ice calving into the water below.

Leaving Seward, drive north to Anchorage Airport. En route you will pass dense forest, and near Portage do keep a look-out for swathes of trees killed during the 1964 earthquake, which caused the land to sink and the tree roots to reach salt water. Drop off your car at the airport before boarding your onward flight.

Arrive home today to complete your journey.