Iditarod Tour Highlights Include:
- Attending the Iditarod Race Starts in Anchorage and Wasilla.
- Sightseeing excursion to beautiful Alyeska ski resort and mountain ram ride.
- Attend the Musher's Banquet
- Opportunity to be an Idiatrod team dog handler with VIP privileges.
- Scenic drive along Turagain Arm to Seward and boat cruise of Resurrection Bay.
- Optional " Meet mushers along the trail with our 4 day Iditarod Trail Extravaganza" add-on.
- Optional " 5 day Northern Lights / Ice Art Championship Extravaganza" add-on.
The Iditarod Sled Dog Race is one of the most exciting sporting events in the world and we put you in the middle of it. Watch frenzied, leaping sled dogs straining at their harnesses to begin the 1000 mile race to Nome as anxious mushers and their handlers battle to control the excited dogs. Be part of the race by being a dog handler at the race start. Mingle with the mushers and race personnel along the trail at the McGrath, Nikolai and Takotna checkpoints with our "Iditarod Trail Add-on".
Now in our 13th year, Alaska Iditarod Tours was the first company to offer tours of the Iditarod Race and still offers the finest tour available. Read our testimonial page from some of the scores of clients who have been our guests and had the time of their life. Our Iditarod Tour includes outstanding sightseeing, adventure and the opportunity to be a volunteer in this exciting sporting event. If you have ever wanted to experience Alaska and one of the most unique and exciting sporting events in the world, this trip is for you. Make your reservation now for 2009.
Tour Itinerary:
Day 1, Tuesday: Guests arrive and check into the Anchorage Hilton Hotel. Evening group meeting.
Day 2, 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. Includes: (L, D).
Day 3, Thursday: We will spend the day at Alyeska. Clients can book optional activities such as downhill or cross-country skiing, flightseeing by plane or helicopter, snowmobiling, dogsledding, 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. Includes: (L, D).
Day 4, Friday: In the morning we will visit the Iditarod Race Headquarters and clients 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. Includes: (L).
Day 5, 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. Includes: (D)
Day 6, 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. Includes: (L, D).
Day 7, Monday: Clients not continuing onto McGrath will depart Anchorage.
* Optional "Iditarod Trail Tour Add-0n":
Day 7, Monday: Clients will fly to the community of McGrath on the Kuskokwim River. You will have opportunity to explore the town of McGrath, the old town site of McGrath and meet a lot of interesting and friendly people. Clients can book optional activities such as dogmushing. Lodging: McGrath. Includes: (L, D).
Day 8, Tuesday: Today you will fly to the Athabaskan community of Nikolai and watch as the lead mushers come in from their grueling travels through the Alaska Range and the Farewell Burn. Nikolai is a great place to watch the musher's care for their dogs and experience a little of bit of life in a remote Native village. In the late afternoon we will return to McGrath and spend the evening watching the lead mushers come into the McGrath checkpoint. Lodging: McGrath. Includes: (B, L, D).
Day 9, Wednesday: The Takotna checkpoint has earned a reputation as the friendliest checkpoint on the trail and the spot where many of the lead mushers take their 24 hour layover. Today we take a short flight there and spend the day watching the mushers and their teams. We will spend the evening watching the lead mushers come into the McGrath checkpoint. Lodging: McGrath. Includes: (B, L, D).
Day 10, Thursday: Today is a free day in McGrath with teams entering and leaving McGrath. We will work to schedule slots for clients who are interested in being a volunteer checker. Lodging: McGrath. Includes: (B, L, D).
Day 11, Friday: The tour comes to an end and clients return to Anchorage. Includes: (B).
* Optional "Northern Lights / Ice Art Championship Add-0n":
Day 7, Monday: Morning departure for Fairbanks. In the afternoon we will explore Fairbanks with a late afternoon / evening visit to the Ice Art Park. Lodging: Marriott Springhill Suites. Includes: (L, D).
Day 8, Tuesday: Today we will visit the University Museum. In the afternoon we will depart Fairbanks and travel to the Chena Hot Springs Resort. We will stop for a dog sled ride along the way and then head to the resort to spend the evening soaking in the hot springs and watch the northern lights play across the sky. Lodging: Chena Hot Springs Resort. Includes: (B, L, D).
Day 9, Wednesday: The Chena Hot Springs Resort is a winter wonderland with numerous activities to occupy our time. In the morning we will tour the area with either cross country skis, snowshoes or hiking. Optional activities available as add-ons include, more dog mushing, horse drawn sleigh rides 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-monkey to a remote viewing site for a late night aurora display. Lodging: Chena Hot Springs Resort. Includes: (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: Chena Hot Springs Resort. Includes: (B, D).
Day 11, Friday: Today we return to Fairbanks with a visit to the Trans-Alaska pipeline and the community of Fox. Evening departure for Anchorage. Includes: (B, L).
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Prices:
- Iditarod Tour: March 3 - March 9, $1995 per person, double occupancy; $2,395 per person single occupancy.
- Iditarod Tour with Iditarod Trail Add-on: March 3 - March 13, $4250 double occupancy, $4950 single.
- Iditarod Tour with Northern Lights Add-on: March 3 - March 13, $3950 double occupancy, $4550 single.
Price Includes:
- Accommodations,
- Pre-race activities,
- Admissions,
- Group meals as indicated.
Also see tour packages in:
USA
Alaska
Dogsledding
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