Day
1 Arrive in Alaska
Welcome to Alaska as you arrive in Fairbanks, the Golden Heart
City and transfer to your hotel. Meet your Tour Manager in the lobby for
dining suggestions. This evening an optional journey is available for
Aurora Borealis viewing.
Day
2 Fairbanks Sightseeing and Optional Tours
A guided city tour of Fairbanks shows you the “Golden Heart
City.” Visit the Morris Thompson Cultural Center and the Trans-Alaska
Pipeline. This afternoon will be at your leisure for optional tours such
as dog mushing tours, Arctic Circle flightseeing, as well as many
others to choose from. After our included dinner you’ll have another
chance to view the Aurora Borealis at a different location.
Meals: B, D
Day
3 Denali National Park
Today, take the George Parks Highway south to Denali National
Park. En route, enjoy an included visit to the town of Nenana, home of
the Nenana Ice Classic! Upon arrival into Denali, enjoy an included
visit to the Murie Science and Learning Center which acts as the Denali
Visitor’s Center in the wintertime. See the National Park film
Heartbeats of Denali, hear from a local ranger about the park, and have a chance to snowshoe. A box lunch is included.
Meals: B, Box Lunch
Day
4 Ride the Alaska Railroad
After breakfast transfer to the Healy Rail Stop and board the
world-famous Alaska Railroad, (Adventure Class) for your scenic journey
south to Anchorage, Alaska’s largest city. Keep an eye out for views of
Denali from the north face to south face. Upon arrival in Anchorage you
will be transferred to your hotel.
Meal: B
Day
5 Anchorage Sightseeing and Musher’s Banquet
Today, enjoy a city tour of Anchorage featuring the historic
downtown area, Lake Hood where 190+ floatplanes take off and land daily,
and Earthquake Park to learn about the 1964 Earthquake. There will be
time for lunch on own today. Later, travel along the scenic Seward
Highway and enjoy an included visit to the Alaska Wildlife Conservation
Center where you will have a chance to see Alaska’s Wildlife up close
and personal. Tonight, enjoy Iditarod festivities and dinner at the
Musher’s Banquet.
Meals: B, D
Day
6 Happy Trails Kennel
This morning, head to Happy Trails Kennel and meet four-time
Iditarod Champion Martin Buser. Hear personal stories and see his dogs
while viewing a glimpse of the grandeur Alaska has to offer along the
Iditarod Trail. Later, return to Anchorage with an included stop at the
Iditarod Headquarters en route.
Meal: B
Day
7 Iditarod Ceremonial Race Start
After breakfast, head to 4th Avenue and get a great spot at the
Ceremonial Start of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. Spend time
cheering on mushers from all over the world. Mushers depart the starting
gate every two minutes. Watch each of them depart or take off early and
enjoy other Iditarod festivities in Anchorage. This afternoon, visit
the Anchorage Museum, a large art, history, ethnography, ecology, and
science museum in the heart of downtown Anchorage. Dinner will be
included this evening.
Meals: B, D
Day
8 Official Start of the Race and Travel Home
This morning, depart Anchorage and venture north to Willow for
the restart of the Iditarod Sled Dog Race. Be sure to dress in layers to
maximize staying warm as the entire day will be spent outside cheering
on your favorite dog teams. En-route, stop at a local grocery store in
Wasilla to pick-up on own snack and lunch items. Prepare for a bit of a
walk to find the perfect spot along the fence line of the race.
Mushers take off across Willow Lake on their 1,049-mile journey by dog
sled to Nome. The Willow Community Center is open and offers a break
from the cold with vendors selling food and drink as well as local
crafts. Don’t miss out on snacks throughout the day; your Tour Director
will have more information on this edible portion of the program. The
departure time from Willow will depend on weather conditions and guests’
comfort level.
Our goal is to see as many of the Mushers depart as possible while still
arriving back into Anchorage by 6:00/6:30 p.m. Upon returning to
Anchorage it will be time to say goodbye to your local Tour Manager as
you are transferred to the Anchorage Airport for your evening flight.
Meal: B
Day
9 Arrive Home
Arrive home from your overnight flight.
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provided by the tour operator. All prices, itineraries, accommodations and dates
are subject to change without notice and at any time by the tour operators.
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