Which HAL rail tour in Skagway

[DaveOKC]

We really want to do the White Pass rail tour in Skagway in mid-Sept. I am looking at two HAL tours - "Best of Skagway" - 6.5 hours and "Ultimate Yukon and White Pass Railraod" - 8 hours.

 

Can anyone guide me on which is the better of the two? My wife and I are 60 and my 85 year old Mother will be with us.

 

Thanks

[Ya Ya Cruiser]

We did the 7.5 hour tour through Chilkoot Tours - went up to Fraser on the Railway, then boarded a 15 passenger van for the rest of the journey and back to Skagway. Basically we were sightseeing - got out at Carcross for lunch and then out at a Yukon outpost for wandering, a bit of shopping. The trip is certainly not taxing from a physical standpoint. If you mother is an agile person she should have no trouble as long as she doesn't get too tired. I guess it just depends upon how active she is and whether or not she tires easily as it is a long day.

 

Hope this helps,

YaYa

[Nghthawke]

We did the "Ultimate Yukon and White Pass Railroad" and loved it. The most physical part was walking from the train station back to the ship. The excursion itself was not physical at all.

[Texas Tillie]

I've done the train twice. The first time on a HAL excursion - don't know what they call it now (did it in 2007) - up to Fraser, B.C. on the train and then on the bus (40 plus passengers) back to Liarsville (VERY hokey - for the show and gold panning) and then back to Skagway. In 2008 I did the 7 hour tour with Chilkoot Charters - the train to Fraser, then a 20 passenger bus to Caribou Crossing (including seeing Emerald Lake), lunch at CC and back to Skagway. None involved any major walking. I'd do the Chilkoot Charters again - they picked us up very near the ship. Found the private excursion far superior to what HAL offered.