This Iditarod tour package is similar to our ID-04 tour - except that it starts in Fairbanks and ends in Anchorage. Enjoy Northern Lights viewing at Chena Hot Springs Resort, Alaska. The resort offers some of Alaska's most perfect and almost guaranteed Northern Lights viewing in a remote wilderness just below the Arctic Circle. Travel aboard the famous Alaska Railroad toward the magnificent snow-capped Alaska Mountain Range from Fairbanks to Anchorage. Now it's all about the Iditarod! Enjoy the highlights of the Iditarod Sled Dog Race and experience the ceremonial Iditarod start in downtown Anchorage, the restart activities in Willow, the musher banquet and the scenic flight to Rainy Pass in the magnificent Alaska Mountain Range. This is the perfect itinerary for our independent and active travelers who want to experience some of the highlights of the Iditarod and enjoy Alaska's winter wonderland. Join us for unforgettable insights and first-hand information about the toughest and most popular sled dog race in the world. |
ID05 - Iditarod | Northern Lights Viewing & Iditarod Highlights
Tour Itinerary
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Day
01 |
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Fairbanks – Chena Hot Springs Resort (Sunday) Arrive in Fairbanks and enjoy the scenic van transfer to Chena Hot Springs Resort - a prime Northern Lights viewing area in the hills about 60 road miles northeast of Fairbanks. The 440-acre resort is known for their natural hot springs, awesome Ice museum, great aurora viewing and the geothermal powered facilities. It is the most accessible and developed hot spring resort in Alaska’s Interior. This amazing place was discovered in August 1905 and became famous for curing crippled prospectors of their aches and pains. Tonight join the spectacular snow coach tour to see the aurora borealis up close (included). From the resort you travel 30 minutes to the top of a ridge (2600 ft) where no city lights interfere the aurora. After arriving on top you can step inside the heated Mongolian Yurt to warm up and enjoy a hot beverage. For the next few hours you can go outside anytime and enjoy spectacular 360-degree aurora displays. Return to the resort at around 2 AM |
Day
02 |
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Chena Hot Springs Resort (Monday) Spend a full day at Chena Hot Springs Resort. Relax in the large indoor heated mineral pool, outdoor rock lake, and numerous hot tubs for swimming and bathing. In the afternoon, take a guided tour of the aurora ice museum, visit a dog kennel, or lead your own team of sled dogs. Take a guided snowmachine tour of the resort's areas and let your guide show you the remote backcountry. Rent cross-country skis, snowshoes or ice skates and explore the resort's 440 acres of scenic trails. In the evening, enjoy a delicious dinner at the rustic log cabin restaurant, then join the snowcoach tour (optional) for another night of excellent Northern Lights viewing opportunities. A heated log cabin, reached after a short hike, is open 24 hours a day for resort guests. It is located high on a hill overlooking the resort and has large glass windows facing northeast. |
Day
03 |
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Chena Hot Springs Resort - Fairbanks (Tuesday) Spend the morning at Chena Resort and join our transfer to Fairbanks around noon. Known as the Golden Heart City of Alaska, Fairbanks is tucked into miles of unexplored wilderness only 120 miles from the Arctic Circle. You may join a sightseeing tour of Fairbanks and the surrounding area that afternoon, combining fun with Fairbanks history, Alaskan crafts, and Alaska's winter activities. Your first stop is the Santa Claus House in North Pole, where you can take a photo with Mr. and Mrs. Claus. Continue on to the Trans Alaska Pipeline lookout and the Yukon Quest Cabin, where you can interact with a musher and his huskies. Optional Northern Lights viewing tour (from 10:00 PM - 2:30 AM): Evening transfer from your hotel to a prime Northern Lights viewing lodge in the hills about 20 miles north of Fairbanks – far away from any city lights. Enjoy spectacular 270-degree aurora borealis displays through large picture windows from the comfort of a heated cabin or outside. |
Day
04 |
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Fairbanks - Anchorage | by Alaska Railroad (Wednesday) Transfer to the Fairbanks rail station and departure at 8:30 AM for a very scenic full-day rail tour to Anchorage. All seats within the comfortable train compartments are pre-reserved and the staff takes care of your entire luggage. Enjoy the ride ! You'll get fantastic and breathtaking views of the snow covered Alaska Mountain Range with its towering 20.320 feet high Mt. Denali (formerly Mt. McKinley). Short stopovers are at Denali National Park and Talkeetna before arriving in Anchorage in the evening at 8:00 PM. Check in to your hotel in downtown Anchorage. In the next few days, enjoy the many winter festival activities during the ongoing annual Fur Rendezvous with: Native Arts Market, Theater Shows, Winter Carnival Activities, Snow & Ice Sculpture Competition, Snowshoe Softball Matches and Firework Displays - while the cities gears up for the Iditarod Race Start over the weekend. |
Day
05 |
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Anchorage | Sightseeing Tour & Mushers Banquet (Thursday) Discover Anchorage on a 3-hour guided city tour starting at Ship Creek's Port of Anchorage, the birthplace of Alaska's largest city. Explore snow sculptures, Bootleggers Cove, and Earthquake Park, followed by a drive around Lake Hood, the busiest seaplane base in the world. Visit Turnagain Arm, Beluga Point for wildlife viewing, and Potter Marsh in the Anchorage Coastal Wildlife Refuge. The day concludes with a Musher Meet & Greet at the Dena'ina Center at 4:00 PM, leading to a banquet and fundraiser at 6:00 PM for the Iditarod, featuring live auctions, a 3-course meal, and musher presentations. The highlight of the evening is the mushers taking the stage to draw their official start order for the race, an event filled with anticipation and excitement. Guests will have ample opportunities for photographs, engaging conversations with the mushers, collecting autographs, and participating in the auction. |
Day
06 |
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Anchorage | Day at Leisure (Friday) Enjoy a day at your leisure, filled with diverse winter activities in Alaska. Embark on a 2-hour sled dog tour north of Anchorage, engaging directly with the dogs before heading out on a memorable trail ride. You can either savor the journey in a specialized sled or take on the challenge of guiding it. Alternatively, take a thrilling 3-hour snowmobile ride through Alaska's backcountry, with opportunities to spot wildlife and view Denali. For those drawn to natural wonders, a full-day tour Matanuska Glacier offers breathtaking scenery. You’ll venture across the glacier and discover grand views of crevasses, seracs and unique ice formations. Adventure enthusiasts might prefer a Prince William Sound Glacier Cruise or skiing at Alyeska Ski Resort, each providing unique experiences in Alaska's magnificent landscapes. Choose your adventure and immerse yourself in Alaska's winter beauty. |
Day
07 |
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Anchorage | Iditarod Ceremonial Race Start (Saturday) The legendary Iditarod Race starts at 10:00 AM on 4th Avenue in Alaska's largest city. Get up early and observe the start preparations, take close up pictures of about 50 mushers, over 1000 sled dogs and enjoy the bustling and exciting race atmosphere before the teams are leaving from the starting line for the "1050 mile race to Nome". Anchorage parks and green belts are providing also a great alternative to observe the race activities. The Balto Statue marks the ceremonial starting point of the Iditarod. Balto was the final lead sled dog in a relay of dogsleds that brought vaccine from Anchorage to Nome just in time to stop a diphtheria epidemic that was threatening to devastate Nome's population in the winter of 1925. The story of the sled dog relay is a classic tale of adventure and sacrifice, as dozens of dogs and mushers risked their lives in brutal conditions to save their fellow citizens. |
Day
08 |
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Anchorage - Willow | Iditarod Official Race Start (Sunday) After enjoying breakfast, embark on a motorcoach for a guided journey to the official Iditarod Race Start in Willow. Departing at 9:30 AM, relish the picturesque drive along the scenic Glenn Highway, pausing briefly in Wasilla. Witness the mushers set off from Willow at 2 PM, launching in two-minute intervals. Immerse yourself in the vibrant and bustling atmosphere of the Iditarod race, observing the mushers' final preparations. As the excitement of Saturday's ceremonial start in Anchorage fades, mushers and their teams face the solitude of Alaska's wilderness on their way to the Nome finish line, nearly 1,000 miles distant. This journey is not without its challenges, presenting potential hazards for both mushers and dogs. Expect to return to Anchorage around 6 PM, carrying memories of the day's unique adventure. |
Day
09 |
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Anchorage | Day Trip to Rainy Pass Checkpoint (Monday) Begin your day with a morning flight by ski-plane, soaring over the breathtaking Alaska Mountain Range as you head toward the remote Rainy Pass Checkpoint. Nestled near Puntilla Lake, this checkpoint is one of the most scenic and dynamic points along the iconic Iditarod Trail, marking the transition from Alaska’s rugged mountain terrain to the vast interior. Rainy Pass is a strategic layover for many mushers and their teams, who often take their mandatory 24-hour rest here to recharge for the challenging journey ahead. The checkpoint transforms into a bustling hub, where you can observe a range of dog-mushing activities up close. Watch as mushers tend to their sled dog teams, feeding, resting, and preparing them for the next stretch through the notorious Farewell Burn area. Lunch includes deli-style options and soft drinks, allowing you to refuel while immersed in the camaraderie and energy of the checkpoint. With unforgettable memories of Alaska’s backcountry, you’ll return to Anchorage by ski-plane in the late afternoon. |
Day
10 |
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Anchorage | Departure (Tuesday) Morning at leisure in/around Anchorage. Time for your last shopping activities, visit the Alaska Native Heritage Center or enjoy a seafood lunch with delicious Alaska Salmon or King Crabs in one of Anchorage's top restaurants. Individual transfer from the hotel to the airport. Please note: Individual program extensions are available. Extend your stay and fly to Nikolai Checkpoint or join a scenic glacier cruise in Prince William Sound. |