March 4- March 13, 2009
Tour Includes:
4 Nights Captain Cook Hotel
3 Nights Fairbanks Princess
2 Nights Chena Hot Springs
9 Breakfasts
2 Dinners (Mushers' Banquet and Pump House Final Night Dinner)
Escort
Private Transfers
Airfare Anchorage to Fairbanks
Private Meeting/Lecture with Iditarod Musher
All admissions (including two lectures of your choice)
Day 1 - March 4, Wednesday
Arrival in Anchorage - Upon arrival in Anchorage you are met and transferred to your hotel. Settle in and get acquainted with your guide and the city of Anchorage. Overnight Anchorage
Day 2 - March 5, Thursday
Touring Anchorage This morning after a leisurely breakfast you will attend a "Welcome to Alaska" orientation that will review the week's activities. This will be your in depth introduction to the "Last Great Race".
Before leaving for a drive along Alaska's only National Scenic Highway, the Seward, we'll visit the Anchorage Museum of Art and History. Then, drive south of Anchorage toward Portage Glacier. Here on the eastern edge of the Pacific "Ring of Fire," the road skirts Turnagain Arm, where 14,000 years ago we would have been unable to drive here as the landscape was covered with late Wisconsin glaciers. Turnagain Arm was named by English Captain, James Cook in 1778. We'll stop at Beluga Point, a 4,000-year old Alutiiq Eskimo hunting site, where the second highest tides in the world occur with a 38-feet surge.
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) Overnight Anchorage
Day 3 - March 6, Friday
Private Breakfast Reception with a Musher This morning our group will enjoy a private meeting with an Iditarod Musher.
Our musher will provide insights into the sled dogs, their many characteristics and attributes, the years of breeding and training that goes into putting together a team. As well, he will describe the strategy, hardships, technical aspects and joys of life on the trail - the race itself. We'll get a good look at the sled, (20" wide), clothing and gear that carries the musher, food and required survival equipment for two weeks from Anchorage 1,150 miles across the wilderness of Alaska to Nome on the Bering Sea coast. What it takes to win this extraordinary sled dog race will soon emerge from the discussion.
This afternoon you have free time to attend some lectures on the race and learn even more in anticipation of the race start tomorrow. (B) Overnight Anchorage
Day 4 - March 7, Saturday "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 Leohard Seppala, one of the most famous mushers 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. Overnight Anchorage
Day 5 - March 8, Sunday
We'll leave Anchorage for a short drive to Wasilla. We will visit the Iditarod Sled Dog Race Headquartersand then we will watch the Race Re-Start.. (B)
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 to the Anchorage Airport and fly to Fairbanks to enjoy more wonders of the North. (B) Overnight Fairbanks
Day 6 - March 9, Monday
Tour to Fairbanks and Ice Carving Competition The highlight today will be a visit to the Ice Alaska Park which encompasses 25 acres, and which will host visitors and the carving competition for three weeks in March. We'll visit Ice Alaska both during the day and at night. At this time, the competition is "icy" as the carvers showcase the intricate, complex, larger-than-life multi-block final competition. You won't believe what you see! (B) Overnight Fairbanks
Day 7- March 10, Tuesday
Fairbanks Orientation and Northern Lights This morning will feature an orientation of the schedule of events in Fairbanks.
After lunch, we'll leave Fairbanks for a scenic 60-mile drive east along the scenic Chena River Valley to Chena Hot Springs to enjoy the wonders of the hot springs and search for the Northern Lights. (B) Overnight Chena Hot Springs
Day 8 - March 11, Wednesday
Full day at Chena Hot Springs Resort This resort is recognized internationally as the best North America site to view the northern lights. Guests enjoy the unique Rock Lake natural mineral hot pool, exquisite Moose Lodge and gourmet meals.
Optional activities include northern lights Aurorarium, Snow Coach Aurora Tour atop one of Alaska's oldest mountains, dog sled rides, cross country skiing, snowshoeing or snowmobiling.
For the adventurous there will be a variety of dog sled ride opportunities with veteran Alaska dog mushers. (B) Overnight Chena Hot Springs
Day 9 - March 12, Thursday
Depart Chena Hot Springs to Fairbanks Enjoy breakfast this morning and have the morning free to explore the Springs. After lunch you depart for Fairbanks, where there is time to enjoy the Ice Park. Tonight you will dine at the famed "Pump House" and enjoy a truly great Alaskan meal before depart home. (B, D) Overnight in Fairbanks
Day 10 - March 13, Friday
Depart Fairbanks - Today your northern adventure ends with individual transfers to the airport. If time permits your escort will shuttle you around town to any site you wish to revisit. (B)
Tour Includes:
4 Nights Captain Cook Hotel
3 Nights Fairbanks Princess
2 Nights Chena Hot Springs
9 Breakfasts
2 Dinners (Mushers' Banquet and Pump House Final Night Dinner)
Escort
Private Transfers
Airfare Anchorage to Fairbanks
Private Meeting/Lecture with Iditarod Musher
All admissions (including two lectures of your choice)
Day 1 - March 4, Wednesday
Arrival in Anchorage - Upon arrival in Anchorage you are met and transferred to your hotel. Settle in and get acquainted with your guide and the city of Anchorage. Overnight Anchorage
Day 2 - March 5, Thursday
Touring Anchorage This morning after a leisurely breakfast you will attend a "Welcome to Alaska" orientation that will review the week's activities. This will be your in depth introduction to the "Last Great Race".
Before leaving for a drive along Alaska's only National Scenic Highway, the Seward, we'll visit the Anchorage Museum of Art and History. Then, drive south of Anchorage toward Portage Glacier. Here on the eastern edge of the Pacific "Ring of Fire," the road skirts Turnagain Arm, where 14,000 years ago we would have been unable to drive here as the landscape was covered with late Wisconsin glaciers. Turnagain Arm was named by English Captain, James Cook in 1778. We'll stop at Beluga Point, a 4,000-year old Alutiiq Eskimo hunting site, where the second highest tides in the world occur with a 38-feet surge.
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) Overnight Anchorage
Day 3 - March 6, Friday
Private Breakfast Reception with a Musher This morning our group will enjoy a private meeting with an Iditarod Musher.
Our musher will provide insights into the sled dogs, their many characteristics and attributes, the years of breeding and training that goes into putting together a team. As well, he will describe the strategy, hardships, technical aspects and joys of life on the trail - the race itself. We'll get a good look at the sled, (20" wide), clothing and gear that carries the musher, food and required survival equipment for two weeks from Anchorage 1,150 miles across the wilderness of Alaska to Nome on the Bering Sea coast. What it takes to win this extraordinary sled dog race will soon emerge from the discussion.
This afternoon you have free time to attend some lectures on the race and learn even more in anticipation of the race start tomorrow. (B) Overnight Anchorage
Day 4 - March 7, Saturday "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 Leohard Seppala, one of the most famous mushers 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. Overnight Anchorage
Day 5 - March 8, Sunday
We'll leave Anchorage for a short drive to Wasilla. We will visit the Iditarod Sled Dog Race Headquartersand then we will watch the Race Re-Start.. (B)
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 to the Anchorage Airport and fly to Fairbanks to enjoy more wonders of the North. (B) Overnight Fairbanks
Day 6 - March 9, Monday
Tour to Fairbanks and Ice Carving Competition The highlight today will be a visit to the Ice Alaska Park which encompasses 25 acres, and which will host visitors and the carving competition for three weeks in March. We'll visit Ice Alaska both during the day and at night. At this time, the competition is "icy" as the carvers showcase the intricate, complex, larger-than-life multi-block final competition. You won't believe what you see! (B) Overnight Fairbanks
Day 7- March 10, Tuesday
Fairbanks Orientation and Northern Lights This morning will feature an orientation of the schedule of events in Fairbanks.
After lunch, we'll leave Fairbanks for a scenic 60-mile drive east along the scenic Chena River Valley to Chena Hot Springs to enjoy the wonders of the hot springs and search for the Northern Lights. (B) Overnight Chena Hot Springs
Day 8 - March 11, Wednesday
Full day at Chena Hot Springs Resort This resort is recognized internationally as the best North America site to view the northern lights. Guests enjoy the unique Rock Lake natural mineral hot pool, exquisite Moose Lodge and gourmet meals.
Optional activities include northern lights Aurorarium, Snow Coach Aurora Tour atop one of Alaska's oldest mountains, dog sled rides, cross country skiing, snowshoeing or snowmobiling.
For the adventurous there will be a variety of dog sled ride opportunities with veteran Alaska dog mushers. (B) Overnight Chena Hot Springs
Day 9 - March 12, Thursday
Depart Chena Hot Springs to Fairbanks Enjoy breakfast this morning and have the morning free to explore the Springs. After lunch you depart for Fairbanks, where there is time to enjoy the Ice Park. Tonight you will dine at the famed "Pump House" and enjoy a truly great Alaskan meal before depart home. (B, D) Overnight in Fairbanks
Day 10 - March 13, Friday
Depart Fairbanks - Today your northern adventure ends with individual transfers to the airport. If time permits your escort will shuttle you around town to any site you wish to revisit. (B)
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