7 Day Alaska Winter Itinerary
Is it your dream to experience Alaska in the winter? This 7-day Alaska winter itinerary is based in Southcentral Alaska and includes all the quintessential activities to fully enjoy Alaska in the winter. Spend a few days searching for northern lights, participate in snowy outdoor adventures, and cozy up fireside on your winter trip to Alaska.
*Based on the time of your visit, you may be able to incorporate the Fur Rendezvous Festival and the Iditarod into your itinerary.
Included in this sample itinerary:
Northern Lights Night Tour
Flightseeing in Denali National Park
Alaska Railroad Hurricane Turn Train
Aerial Tram in the Chugach Mountains
Relax at a Traditional Nordic Spa
Visit the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center
Visit the Portage Glacier Area
Activities of your choice, such as Nordic skiing, downhill skiing, snowboarding, ice skating, or fat tire biking
Alaska Winter 7 Day Itinerary Map
Day 1 - Anchorage
Welcome to Alaska! You’ve had a long journey, and we are excited to welcome you to our home! At the airport, you will collect your belongings and rental car prior to going to your hotel. You can spend the afternoon enjoying some of the local sights around Anchorage, including the Glen Alps Overlook, which will give you a beautiful view over the city go Anchorage, the famous Mount Susitna, and even Denali on a clear day!
Enjoy dinner at one of the many excellent restaurants in Anchorage (you will receive our Alaska Restaurant Guide) before preparing for your northern lights tour. This Northern Lights Tour will take you with local guides to areas outside of Anchorage that offer the promise of no light pollution and the hope for clear skies. The guides prepare hot drinks and snacks and provide extra warm jackets to ensure a memorable northern lights experience.
Day 2 - Anchorage
The daylight hours may be shorter in Alaska in the winter, but we promise you can fit all the activities into the day! In the morning, you can enjoy a meal at one of our favorite breakfast restaurants, followed by a walk through downtown Anchorage along Historic 4th Avenue. Next, you can visit the modern Anchorage Museum - Alaska’s largest museum, where you can explore the diversity of Alaska Native cultures, including masterworks for Alaska Native art and design from the collections of the Smithsonian Institution.
In the afternoon, you can rent ice skates, nordic skis, or a fat bike and explore the area around Westchester Lagoon. Here you will find a large lagoon maintained daily for ice skating and miles of trails for other activities. This lively outdoor area is where Alaskans love to recreate year-round.
Day 3 - Talkeetna
Today you will travel north to the little town of Talkeetna. While this town truly comes alive in the summer, the winter season offers a vibrant community of locals and a number of fun activities. You can join a Denali flightseeing tour that flies you through the mountain peaks of the snowy Alaska Range with the possibility of a glacier landing.
After your adventurous afternoon, you can walk along the historic Talkeetna Main Street and then cozy up at the Denali Brewing Company, where they offer a wide selection of locally brewed beverages and tasty cuisine.
Day 4 - Talkeetna
Today in Talkeetna, you will travel roundtrip aboard the Alaska Railroad on the Hurricane Turn Train. The Hurricane Gulch area is a beautiful Alaska backcountry area filled with snowy and wintery scenery. This train also offers flagstop services, where residents living in cabins off the grid can flag down the train for a ride.
After your train trip, enjoy dinner at one of the many local restaurants. As Talkeetna is a small town, little light pollution makes it a great place to look for northern lights on a clear night.
Day 5 - Girdwood
Today you will drive south to the outdoorsy town of Girdwood. This mountain community is home to Alaska’s largest ski resort, Alyeska. The drive along Turnagain Arm to reach Girdwood is stunning any time of the year. In Girdwood, you can participate in many activities, including (but by no means limited to!) downhill skiing and snowboarding, nordic skiing, and fat biking. If you’d rather just enjoy the views, travel up the mountain on the Alyeska Aerial Tram. You will have beautiful views over Turnagain Arm from the top of the mountain.
Enjoy dinner at one of the many excellent restaurants in Girdwood, or visit the Girdwood Brewery to taste some locally made flavors.
Day 6 - Girdwood
Today you can visit some areas around Girdwood, including Portage Glacier. At Portage, there is a large lake that often freezes over in the winter that is surrounded by beautiful peaks. Afterward, head to the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, a nonprofit wildlife rescue and rehabilitation center. There is a 1-mile loop you can walk or drive through with your car. You can see bears (yes, even in the winter!), wolves, moose, caribou, bison, and many other animals.
Return to Girdwood for a relaxing afternoon at the Alyeska Nordic Spa. This traditional outdoor Nordic spa is nestled into the Chugach Mountains at the base of Mount Alyeska. The spa offers hot and cold pools, saunas and steam rooms, exfoliation, massage, and many other spa services. They even have a private restaurant catering to spa guests.
Day 7 - Departure
In the morning, you will drive from Girdwood to Anchorage to catch your flight. Thank you for visiting us in Alaska!
Ready to make this trip your reality?
Visit our Design Your Trip page to fill out a short questionnaire so we can start planning your trip!