- 9 Days from Fairbanks
February 23, 2014
From : $2,699 plus $98 tax
The ultimate winter gateaway! This escorted vacation combines Alaska's two great winter attractions; the Iditarod and the Northern Lights
Tour Includes:
- 4 Nights Anchorage Hilton
- 2 Nights Fairbanks Princess
- 2 Nights Chena Hot Springs
- 8 Breakfasts
- 2 Dinners (Mushers' Banquet and Final Night Dinner)
- Escort
- Private Transfers
- Airfare Anchorage to Fairbanks
- All admissions (including two lectures Friday March 2nd)
Day 1 - Arrival in
Fairbanks
Upon arrival in Fairbanks you are met and transferred to your hotel. Settle in and get acquainted with the city.
Overnight Fairbanks
Day 2 - "Welcome Breakfast" and on to
Chena Hot Springs
This morning you will enjoy a "Welcome Breakfast", where you will meet your fellow adventurers and your guide. We will review the logistics of the trip and set out the schedule. Later in the morning we will depart for Chena Hot Springs.
(B) Overnight Chena Hot Springs
Day 3 - Full day at Chena Hot Springs Resort & Northern Lights - Today enjoy this internationally known resort.
The area is noted as one of the best areas in North America to view the northern lights. You will enjoy the unique Rock Lake natural mineral hot pool, exquisite Moose Lodge and gourmet meals.
Optional activities include flightseeing ,cross country skiing, snowshoeing or snowmobiling.
For the adventurous there will be a variety of dog sled ride opportunities with veteran Alaska dog mushers.
This evening enjoy the included Aurora Viewing Snow Coach Tour. The tour departs the resforts and travels to the top of a hill (2600 ft) After arriving on top, keep warm inside the heated 30ft. Yurt and enjoy a hot beverage of your choice. Head outside to see the amazing Northern Lights dance across the night sky.
(B) Overnight Chena Hot Springs
Day 4 - Depart
Chena Hot Springs to
Fairbanks
Enjoy breakfast this morning. Indulge yourself in the therapeutic warmth of the Hot Springs. After lunch we will depart back to Fairbanks. On the way we'll make a stop at the Ice Park to see how the ice carving is going for participants in the World Ice Art Championships.
The World Ice Art Championships attracts ice carvers from around globe. The park encompasses 25 acres, and hosts visitors and the carving competition for three weeks in March. At this time, the competition is "icy" as the carvers showcase the intricate, complex, larger-than-life multi-block works of art. You won't believe what you see!
(B) Overnight Fairbanks
Day 5 - Touring
Fairbanks then to
Anchorage & the Mushers' Banquet
This morning after a breakfast, you will tour Fairbanks and have a chance to visit the Ice Park. We will then transfer to the Airport for a midday flight to Anchorage.
Upon arrival you will tour Anchorage we have an orientation tour of Anchorage and then check in at our hotel.
Tonight you will attend the Mushers' Banquet where you enjoy the festivities as you celebrate the great achievement of the serum run to Nome. At the banquet you will have a chance to bid on an opportunity to ride in one of the sleds during the race start in Anchorage.
(B, D) Overnight Anchorage
Day 6 - Two lectures and free time.
After breakfast this morning we will transfer to the Millenium Hotel for a series of learning experiences. First we will attend a lecture with a musher who will explain how they racers pack their sleds. They will also regale you with tails of the trail and how this unique race is run complete with strategy and some of the fun experiences.
After lunch we attend one of the more interesting lectures as the Head Veterinarian for the race will explain the rules that protect these great athletes. They will explain how racers plan mandatory rest periods and the diet for these amazing dogs. After this lecture you will be left with a greater understanding of the "Last Great Race".
(B) Overnight Anchorage
Day 7 - "Race Day"
The ceremonial Iditarod start will begin in downtown Anchorage, where thousands of fans and media from around the world join in this world-famous event. The #1 position is reserved for Leonard Seppala one of the most famous musher's who carried the diphtheria serum to Nome over the original Iditarod Trail. Today, fans who were the successful bidders on the "Idita-Rider" auction will ride in the sled of a musher as they leave the start chute.
(B) Overnight Anchorage
Day 8 - Race Re-Start and Farewell Dinner
Today the real race to Nome begins, with the re-start at Wasilla. Mushers will hookup their dogs and race across more than 1,000 miles of Alaska's wilderness. The dogs sense that this is "go time" and their level of excitement is unmatched. You will have a far better, closer look at the teams and mushers.
5, 4, 3, 2, 1 - Go! With a rooster-tail of snow behind each sled speeding down the chute, mushers wave to fans as they head off on the "Last Great Race". After wishing the mushers well we head back to Anchorage.
Later tonight we will have a farewell dinner to recount the sights and sounds from our trip
(B, D) Overnight Anchorage
Day 9 - Depart
Anchorage - Today your northern adventure ends with individual transfers to the airport. (B)
