Yosemite to Denali - Explore America’s dazzling west coast by rail and sea as you travel from San Francisco to Seattle, Canada and Alaska.
From: £ 2,582
Yosemite to Denali
Explore America’s west coast as you travel first by train from San Francisco to Seattle and Vancouver and then by ship through Alaska’s Inside Passage. Your rail-cruise combination tour is a visual feast, from the natural wonders of Yosemite National Park and peaks of the Cascade Mountains to Alaska’s glaciers, port towns and Denali National Park.
ms Volendam
Tour Highlights & Inclusions
Three nights in San Francisco at the Hilton at Fisherman's Wharf with sightseeing tour, welcome dinner and much more.
Full-day trip by train to Yosemite National Park with a guided tour of Yosemite Valley.
Sleeping car accommodations aboard the vintage Great Western Limited with all meals, wines & spirits while aboard.
Three-night Inside Passage cruise from Vancouver to Skagway aboard Holland America's ms Volendam taking in Juneau, Tracy Arm and Sawyer Glacier.
Two great train trips in Alaska, the storied White Pass & Yukon Route and the luxurious McKinley Explorer from Denali to Anchorage.
Complete touring in the Yukon & Alaska interior with professional guides including overnight stays in Whitehorse, Beaver Creek and Anchorage. Two nights are enjoyed in Fairbanks along with a sternwheeler cruise aboard the riverboat Discovery.
Overnight stay in Denali National Park with Natural History Tour.
Tour Map
Yosemite to Denali Map
Itinerary
Day 1 - Arrive San Francisco
Arrive in San Francisco today and transfer to the Hilton at Fisherman's Wharf to begin your three-night stay in “The City by the Bay.” The remainder of the day is at your leisure. (R)
Day 2 - San Francisco
Start the day with a complete city tour followed by a Bay Cruise that circles Alcatraz and sails under the Golden Gate Bridge. Tonight enjoy a special Welcome dinner at Fisherman's Wharf. Overnight at the Hilton at Fisherman's Wharf. (B)
Day 3 - San Francisco - Yosemite
Discover the natural wonders of Yosemite National Park. We travel to this stunning destination by train through the Great Central Valley, returning to San Francisco late this evening. (B, D)
Day 4 - San Francisco - Special Train Overnight to Portland
Spend your last full day in San Francisco visiting the city’s famous neighbourhoods and impressive sights. You may wish to explore Chinatown, colourful North Beach, shop in Union Square or enjoy a cable car ride. A special bon voyage dinner is included this evening before we board the Great Western Limited bound for Seattle. (D)
Day 5 - Seattle
As morning dawns we’re traversing the rugged Cascade Mountains, passing through Portland this afternoon for an evening arrival in Seattle. Upon arrival, transfer to the superbly located Warwick Hotel for a two-night stay. (B, D)
Day 6 - Seattle
Today is an entire day at leisure in the “Emerald City” with a final overnight at the Warwick Hotel.
Day 7 - Vancouver, BC & ms Volendam, bound for Alaska, The Great Land.
Travel by train today along Puget Sound to lovely Vancouver where we board the ms Volendam bound for Alaska!
Day 8 - Scenic Cruising Inside Passage
Alaska’s Inside Passage offers incredible scenery with lush forests, turquoise glaciers and charming port towns loaded with history, culture and adventure. With most of Southeast Alaska accessible only by boat or plane, the Inside Passage is a lifeline to the outside world.
Day 9 - Afternoon and Evening in Juneau
Today we visit Tracy Arm and Sawyer Glacier before our arrival in Juneau late this afternoon. Located on the Gastineau Channel, the town of Juneau is home to the massive Mendenhall Glacier and the immense Juneau Icefields. Explore the lush Tongass National Forest. Visit the rustic shops in town. Climb aboard the Mt. Roberts Tramway for a great spot to hike and shoot a souvenir photo. Or get out and kayak, dogsled, raft, hike, whale watch, flightsee or fish. (B, L, D)
Day 10 - Skagway To Whitehorse with White Pass & Yukon Railroad
Meet a Klondike National Park ranger and your Tour Director in Skagway. Take time to tour the town on your own before boarding nostalgic gold rush railcars for dramatic scenery through the White Pass, an integral part of the historic Klondike Trail. Continue via Explorer Coach into Canada's wild Yukon Territory. We will overnight in downtown Whitehorse this evening. (B, L, D)
Day 11 - Whitehorse
Explore the historic Alaskan town of Whitehorse on your own today, or arrange one of the many outdoor adventures in nearby Kluane National Park. (B, D)
Day 12 - Explorer Coach to Beaver Creek
Start the day with a natural history presentation near Kluane National Park. Marvel at ancient, glacier-carved valleys, braided rivers and majestic mountain ranges as you travel the historic Alaska-Canada Highway on your way to Canada's westernmost settlement. At Beaver Creek you'll catch the Yukon spirit at our famed Yukon Rendezvous Dinner Show, a festive way to learn about local history and culture. (B, D)
Day 13 - Explorer Coach to Fairbanks
Get as far from civilization as most ever get on your journey to Fairbanks. Popular sights along your route include the Tetlin Wildlife Refuge, the dramatic Wrangell Mountains and the famed TransAlaska Pipeline. Along the way stop at Rika's Roadhouse, a noted gathering place for Alaskan travellers since 1904 located in Alaska State Park, for tempting homemade pie. Arrive in Alaska's "Golden Heart" city and enjoy frontier flavour this evening. (B, D)
Day 14 - Fairbanks
Start your day with a journey on the sternwheeler Discovery. At Gold Dredge No. 8, a National Historic Site, browse the mining exhibits and pan for gold during an informative tour. After lunch, visit the Museum of the North for a presentation and the exhibits. (B, D)
Day 15 - McKinley Explorer Rail to Denali National Park
Soak up panoramic scenery through huge domed windows aboard the McKinley Explorer as you travel to Denali National Park. Later, embark on a 5-hour Denali Natural History Tour. Travel through a moose habitat to Primrose Ridge. Tonight, opt for dinner in the lodge or at the dinner theatre. (B, D)
Day 16 - Denali National Park
Today we travel deeper into the tundra of the Denali wilderness. (B, D)
Day 17 - McKinley Explorer Rail to Anchorage
After a morning at leisure re-board the train and sightsee to Alaska's largest city, Anchorage. Transfer to your downtown hotel and say goodbye to your tour director. (B, D)
Day 18 - Tour Ends This Morning in Anchorage
Your spectacular rail-sail adventure ends today as you journey home with a suitcase full of snapshots and memories. (B)
Prices shown include a Standard Double Bedroom onboard the train. Guests who wish to upgrade from the included Standard Double Bedroom accommodations to Superior Bedrooms can do so for £160 per person. Guests wishing for added savings may subtract £128 per person for travel in classic Pullman Sections.
Single fares begin at £3,222. Port taxes and fees are per person and not included in the price.
Transportation
The Great Western Limited features two lovingly restored privately owned rail cars from the golden era of Streamliner travel with the widest array of sleeping accommodations of any train in the country. We have cozy Double bedrooms, Superior Double bedrooms, Single bedrooms and suites, with double bed with two windows, two lower beds and maximum space. All room types provide comfortable beds, abundant pillows and nightly turn-down service. There is a an inviting lounge and dining area for relaxing in and all meals are prepared freshly onboard by a chef and served on tables graced with red roses.
The ms Volendam is reflected in an artful floral motif throughout the ship's spacious public rooms and elegant staterooms. "Flowers" can be found in abundance in the forms of floral fabrics and tapestries, as well as huge vases of tropical floral arrangements and chrysanthemums.
Accommodations
Great Western Limited:
Double Berth
Upper and lower berths
Double Berth Room
Standard Double Bedroom
One large room with upper and lower berths and private enclosed bathroom with toilet and washbasin. Perfect for couples traveling together.
Standard Double Bedroom
Superior Double Bedroom
Same as Standard Double Bedroom except instead of two armchairs, features large sofa by day. These rooms are also slightly larger in length.
Superior Double Bedroom
Suite Accommodations on Train
Two Double Bedrooms combined to guarantee two lower beds or a large queen bed. Includes two picture windows, and two separate bathrooms with washbasins and toilets! Suite availability is very limited. Approximate suite size is 14' x 7'.
Suite Accommodations on Train
Two Roomettes
Two individual single rooms offering individual lower beds, Individual washbasin and toilets in each room. Perfect for friends traveling together.
