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2013 Iditarod Race Tours
2013 Northern Lights Tours
Photo Galleries
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This 2013 Iditarod Race Tour Package is designed to let you experience all of the excitement of the race start, plus visit one of the best places in Alaska for northern lights viewing and see the World Ice Art Carving Championships.. We begin by traveling along the spectacular Turnagain Arm to the town of Seward where we frequently see Orcas, Humpback Whales, Sea Lions, Mountain Goats and Otters on our Resurrection Bay Cruise. Our visit to the Alaska Wildlife center will give us close-up views of Grizzlies, Black Bears, Caribou, Moose, Elk and Muskoxen. At the Iditarod Race Banquet you will mingle with the mushers, have photo ops with them and the opportunity to wish them well. Clients have the option to go through the dog handler certification that allows them to help bring the sled dogs up to the starting line at the Race start. How exciting is that for Iditarod fans! Optional activities at Alyeska include dog sled rides, snowmobiling, helicopter rides and of course skiing. With all the excitement of the Iditarod Race start, 1st rate lodging and meals and the spectacular scenery and wildlife viewing, this Idiatrod Race Tour is a wonderful introduction to the Iditarod and will one you will truly enjoy.
The aurora borealis has fascinated man for centuries and is truly a natural wonder no one should miss. Bands of green, red, purple and white streaking across the sky are symbolic of winter nights in the arctic. This tour takes you to one of the best places in Alaska for viewing the aurora: Chena Hot Springs Resort . Chena Hot Springs is a rustic resort nestled in the Chena Hills and has a wonderful outdoor pool that is perfect for watching the aurora streak across the sky. Sixty miles away from Fairbanks, the resort is beyond the interference of the city's lights and even has heated viewing huts on a remote mountain to further enhance the viewing pleasure. Optional activities such as dogmushing, snowmobiling, skiing, hiking and snowshoeing make it the perfect place for a winter getaway.
Our tour also spends time in Fairbanks visiting local museums and galleries and the spectacular World Ice Art Championship. Contestants from all over the world come to Fairbanks in March to match their ice carving skills against each other. Using one ton blocks of crystal clear ice, these contestants carve massive figures of incredible detail and realism. We will watch the carvers at work and also have a chance to view the finished pieces.
With all the excitement of the Race start, the spectacular scenery and wildlife viewing, the Ice Art Carving Champonships, 1st rate lodging and meals and northern lights viewing, this tour is a wonderful introduction to the Iditarod and will one you will truly enjoy.
11 Day Iditarod Race Start and Northern Lights Tour Package Highlights
Include
- Attending the Iditarod Race Starts in Anchorage and Wasilla.
- Sightseeing excursion to beautiful Alyeska ski resort.
- Attend the Musher's Banquet
- Opportunity to be an Iditarod team dog handler with VIP privileges.
- Scenic drive along Turnagain Arm to Seward and boat cruise of Resurrection Bay.
- Visit to the Iditarod Museum
- Northern Lights viewing from beautiful Chena Hot Springs.
- Northern Lights viewing from Bettles Lodge.
- Attending the World Ice Art Championships
- Visiting the University of Alaska Museum.
- Snowcat ride for northern lights viewing.
- Dog Sled Ride.
- Optional Dog mushing,cross country skiing and snowshoeing.
Cost and Details
February 26- March 4, 2013. $4300 shared
accommodation, single supplement: $800
Tour Includes
- 5 nights accommodation in Anchorage
- 1 night accommodation at Alyeska
- 3 nights accommodations Chena Hot Springs
- 1 night accommodation Fairbanks
- Admission to UAF Museum
- Admission to Ice Art Park
- Admission to Ice Hotel
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Resurrection Bay cruise admission
Alaska Wildlife Center admission
Transportation to Willow Restart and Iditarod Museum
Snowcat ride to aurora viewing hut
Dog sled ride
Breakfast and lunches as indicated
8x Dinners including Musher's Banquet |
Itinerary
- Day One Tuesday : Guests arrive and check into the Anchorage Hilton Hotel. Evening group
meeting.
- Day Two Wednesday : Pickup at your hotel with a scenic ride along Turnagain
Arm to the port of Seward Alaska. Here we will take a 3 hour cruise in
beautiful Resurrection Bay . In the afternoon we will travel to the village of Girdwood
and stay at the magnificent Alyeska Ski Resort.(L,D)
- Day Three Thursday : We will spend the day at Alyeska. Clients can book
optional activities such as downhill or cross-country skiing, flight seeing
by plane or helicopter, snowmobiling, dog sledding, exploring the village
of Girdwood or just enjoying the hotel amenities. In the afternoon we
will head back to Anchorage and attend the Musher's Banquet in the
evening. (D)
- Day Four Friday : In the morning we will visit the Iditarod Race Headquarters and clients wishing to be handle the dogs at the race start will go through their dog handler certification training. Afternoon and evening are free. Clients may purchase tickets for the "Iditarod Fun Raiser Dinner and Auction" in the evening. . (L)
- Day Five Saturday : Iditarod excitement clicks into high gear today with
the ceremonial Race start in Anchorage. We will get an early start and watch
the mushers unload their teams in the staging area and later join the
crowds cheering on their favorite mushers as they race down 4th Ave.(D)
- Day Six Sunday : Morning departure to the official restart of the
Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in Willow. Another chance to be a part of the
Race by working as a dog handler or security personnel. (D)
- Day Seven Monday: Clients continue on to Fairbanks. We will have an evening meal together before visiting Ice Art Park to view the magnificent pieces of carved ice
Lodging ; Fairbanks. (D)
- Day 8, Tuesday : Today is our day to spend visiting the sights of Fairbanks including the University of Alaska Museum and the Alyeska Pipeline. In the afternoon we will travel the Chena Hot Springs Road to a local kennel for an exciting ride on a dog sled. We will return to Fairbanks with the option of another visit to the Ice Art Park. Lodging ; Fairbanks. (B,L,D)
- Day 9, Wednesday: In the morning we will head to Chena Hot Springs Resort. Optional activities available as add-ons include dog mushing, horse drawn sleigh rides, snowshoeing and snowmobiling. Of course, the hot springs are always there for a relaxing soak. If the weather is clear and the potential for viewing the aurora are good, we will travel by snow-buggy to a remote viewing site for a late night aurora display. Lodging ; CHSR (B,D)
- Day 10, Thursday We will spend another full day at Chena Hot Springs cross country
skiing/snowshoeing enjoying the scenery, taking a dog sled ride or other
optional activities and of course, the hot springs. Tonight we will have
another chance to spend the night gazing at the aurora streaking across the
northern sky. Lodging; CHSR (B,D)
- Day 11 Friday : Today we return to Fairbanks and clients depart for home. (B)
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