Alaska by train & self-drive

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

This morning, transfer to Fairbanks station to board the Alaska Railroad for a scenic train journey to Talkeetna via Denali National Park. Enjoy the stunning scenery on the full-day journey and relax at your hotel on arrival this evening.

Enjoy an incredible tour by light aircraft over the mountain peaks and glacier-filled valleys of Denali National Park. Your flight will take you within 10 km (six miles) of the summit of Mount Denali, the highest peak in North America, and includes a thrilling landing on a glacier. Spend the rest of the day at leisure.

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. This evening, meet your expedition leader for a welcome dinner and orientation of the bear adventures that lie ahead for the next few days.

Leave Homer on a private flight across Cook Inlet with staggering views of snow-clad volcanoes and jagged glaciers to Nat Hab's Alaska Bear Camp. The destination, Lake Clark National Park, comprises some of the world's most critical brown bear habitat. Spot bears along the shoreline as you come in to land and head out in the afternoon to see more from designated viewing platforms.

This morning, spot more brown bears from the comfort of your tent as you enjoy a local breakfast. These bears are the coastal version of the interior grizzly bear and this is one of the best places to see them. Bear activity will vary according to the season, but there is always something going on, from mothers with cubs to salmon fishing.

Enjoy another day in Lake Clark National Park wildlife spotting. Each evening, after an exhilarating day, gather in the dining tent for fresh, local fare, including Alaskan seafood. While the accommodation is basic, the wildlife sightings are incredible, and you will be able to fully immerse yourself in nature.

Enjoy one last chance this morning to marvel at the bears before boarding the small bush plane back to Homer. Once back, enjoy lunch and explore Kachemak Bay's abundant waters and striking scenery on a private boat cruise. The bay is transformed by some of the largest tidal fluctuations in the world and is home to plenty of marine life such as sea otters, seals, porpoises and whales. A highlight of the cruise is the Gull Island seabird rookery, home to 10,000 nesting seabirds. In the evening, bid farewell to your group over dinner.

Pick up your car again and depart Homer, making 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 the 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 lookout for humpback whales, orcas, 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 lookout 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.