Denali National Park Tours Doyon/Aramark Joint Venture - Denali National Park and Preserve, AK

vanessa sadd

This was a great way to see parts of Denali that are not accessible by car. We chose the afternoon tour and was picked to take the 1:30 bus. Wanted to get a later bus as wildlife is more active in the am and evening but we still saw a male moose, caribou and dall sheep. Only wished you could pick a specific leave time but understand the need to fill all the buses before sending out another to reduce effects on the environment.

Be aware the sheep were high on the mountain and looked like little dots in the binoculars. We heard other tours saw a bear but we did not. The scenery is amazing nonetheless. Our tour guide Kevin has been doing these tours for about ten years and could answer all the questions about the area.
The snack boxes had a variety of trail mixes, chips, granola bars and brownie bites. We are before going on the bus so this was a nice snack to hold us over.
I was reimbursed the park entrance fees due to having park pass and the process was super easy! I recommend this to anyone who wants to see more of the park.

kiran shetty

You can self drive for the first 15 miles. Anything after you need to go via this company. Some would enjoy, some might say you can skip it. If you are lucky you can see some wildlife. The buses take you up to 45 miles. About a 4hr round trip.

Joe Payne

Denali Park bus tour. I didn’t find much if any value from this glorified school bus ride. Our driver/guide Lisa was very knowledgeable but unfortunately on some kind of power trip. Treated me and other adults like school children. I had a $20 bill ready for her tip but after her abrasive scolding when my leg cramped in the tight seats and I had to stand momentarily - she lost all my respect and the tip. Didn’t see much - some Dall Sheep off in the distance, ‘couple Moose and roadside birds. Denali wasn’t obstructed by clouds but so far off in the distance you had to squint or zoom lens to see it. It was part of our tour so I dunno published cost. Whatever the cost I wouldn’t do it again with that driver even if it were free. I really don’t like to give poor reviews but gotta call it as I see it. Disappointing, painful and RUDE is what I remember.

TXun 1965

This is an absolute must do if you come to Denali. I recommend taking the guided tour because you are guaranteed a seat, rather than the hop on and off buses. We took a box lunch with us from our hotel and the trip was very enjoyable. There were a couple of places to stop and take photos and get restroom breaks. We were able to see Dall Sheep, Moose, a couple of Grizzlies gorging on berries, and lots of Caribou. We were also lucky enough to catch Denali. Our trip was one of the last of the day and the sunset on the way back to the visitor center was fabulous.

Keith Elkins

We thoroughly enjoyed our tour today with Mary J. She was knowledgeable and experienced and very pleasant to be with.

The busses are clean and reasonably comfortable.

They provide some snacks, and water but you should prepare your own meal for your trip. It is a long ride.

They provide plenty of stops for restroom breaks.

Take binoculars

Take a good camera because the animals are not always at a convenient distance from the bus

Thank you for helping preserve such a wonderful resource.

Robyn Cole

All the bus drivers I had the good fortune to be on told amazing stories and history about the park. I think combined experience between the 4 drivers, had close to 100yrs. They added greatly to my experience into Denali National Park sharing their personal experiences in the park. Our 3rd day on the bus, headed to Ellison Visitor center, encountered a wolf eating a recent kill which was epic to watch! Our driver hadn't seen one in 3 years to share in the moment.
Thank you again to all the drivers ?

Barbara Bingham

Our driver, Ryan, was great! He had lots of knowledge of the park and shared some great information. The buses were too crowded. There was no leg room on the bus and it was difficult to see outside the windows. The price we paid for our tickets I expected a better bus for the tour.

Gerry Marchand

Four stars only because of wildlife expectations not being met on the TWT. It's nobody's fault that the wildlife was much more limited than we expected, but I think it's important, especially when most people probably share similar high expectations. What was better than expected was the comfort of the advertised "school bus" which is definitely a nice tour bus equipped with a long range camera for the guide to post views onto the small monitors scattered throughout the bus. The park is beautiful, but unfortunately since the rock slide, you don't get full access. Views were excellent, even on a partial rainy day, but did not see the mountain while on the tour. Our tour guide was Cloyd and he is an absolute gem. He kept us entertained and informed the entire 5.5 hour Tundra Wilderness Tour. He also did a great job noticing bus tracks that suggested a sighting, then moose tracks on the road, so he spent time allowing us all to look around, which is when we spotted our only moose. This is a trip of a lifetime, so I definitely recommend it, just be aware that moose (saw 1), caribou (saw 1), and bears (saw 0) are not as accessible as you may think. This park is gigantic. It's possible some animals have moved past the rock slide, realizing it's quieter past that point. Cloyd mentioned that scientists have collared some animals to test this hypothesis. We did see some sheep way up in the rocky sections of hillside. Great tour, but just be ready for Ma' Nature to give your expectations (created by numerous photos of wildlife close to the bus) a reality check.
Thanks, Cloyd!