See Alaska clothed in winter! Join this exclusive winter tour program featuring
the Aurora Borealis viewing and the world famous Iditarod Sled Dog Race!
Witness first hand the excitement of the Iditarod sled dogs bursting through the
start line in Anchorage. This trip is offered to those of you wanting to travel to
Alaska in the winter. You will travel on your own, not accompanied by a Christian
Tours Escort. On this adventure tour you will be greeted upon arrival in Alaska
and escorted by an experienced guide from Premier Alaska Tours.
Day 1
FAIRBANKS:
Today you fly to
Fairbanks. Upon arrival transfer to
your hotel in Fairbanks for a two night
stay.
Day 2
FAIRBANKS • AURORA BOREALIS
VIEWING:
After breakfast, later this
morning, enjoy a city tour of Fairbanks
including a visit to the Morris Thompson
Cultural Center and the Trans-Alaska
Pipeline. This afternoon you are at
leisure for optional tours such as dog
mushing tours, Arctic Circle Flight
seeing, as well as others to choose from.
This evening, board a deluxe motorcoach
for a night of Aurora Borealis Viewing.
Day 3
NENANA • DENALI • HEALY:
Today
board your deluxe motorcoach
for a scenic transfer south to Denali
National Park. En route, enjoy an
included visit to the town of Nenana,
home of the Nenana Ice Classic! Upon
arrival into Denali, enjoy an included
visit to the Murie Science and Learning
Center which acts as the Denali Visitor's
Center in the wintertime. Enjoy the
National Park Film, “Heartbeats of
Denali,” hear from a local ranger about
the park, and even have a chance to
snowshoe! A box lunch is included today.
We overnight in Healy. Tonight you
will have another chance to view the
Aurora Borealis! (L)
Day 4
ALASKA RAILROAD:
We are
transferred to the Denali Rail Stop
where you board the world-famous
Alaska Railroad, (Adventure Class) for
your scenic journey south to Anchorage,
Alaska's largest city. Keep an eye out
for views of Denali from the north face
to south face. Upon arrival in Anchorage
you will be transferred to your local
hotel for a four night stay
Day 5
ANCHORAGE:
Today, enjoy a city
tour of Anchorage featuring the
historic downtown area, Lake Hood
where 190+ floatplanes take off and land
daily, and Earthquake Park to learn about
the 1964 Earthquake. There will be time
for lunch on your own today. Later, travel
along the scenic Seward Highway and
enjoy a visit to the Alaska Wildlife
Conservation Center where you have a
chance to see Alaska's Wildlife up close
and personal. Tonight, enjoy Iditarod
festivities and dinner at the Musher's
Banquet. (Book by December 28 for
guaranteed seating at Musher's
Banquet.) (D)
Day 6
IDITAROD CHAMPION • IDITAROD
HEADQUARTERS:
We travel north
today to meet four-time Iditarod
Champion Martin Buser at his Happy
Trails Kennel. Hear personal stories
while viewing a glimpse of the grandeur
Alaska has to offer along the Iditarod
Trail. Later we return to Anchorage
with an included stop at the Iditarod
Headquarters en route.
Day 7
CEREMONIAL START OF THE
IDITAROD:
This morning head to
4th Avenue to get a great spot at the
Official Ceremonial Start of the Iditarod
Trail Sled Dog Race. Spend time cheering
on mushers from all over the world.
Mushers will depart the starting gate
every two minutes. Watch each of them
depart or take off early and enjoy other
Iditarod festivities in Anchorage. This
afternoon, visit the Anchorage Museum,
a large art, history, ethnography, ecology,
and science museum in the heart of
downtown Anchorage.
Day 8
WILLOW • RESTART OF IDITAROD•
FLIGHT HOME:
This morning, we
take an adventure north to Willow for
the restart of the Iditarod Sled Dog
Race. Be sure to dress in layers to
maximize staying warm as the entire
day will be spent outside cheering on
your favorite dog teams. En-route, stop
at a local grocery store in Wasilla to
pick up snacks and lunch items. Prepare
for a bit of a walk to find the perfect
spot along the fence line of the race.
Mushers take off across Willow Lake
on their 1,049-mile journey by dog
sled to Nome. The Willow Community
Center is open and offers a break from
the cold with vendors selling food and
drink as well as local crafts. Don't miss
out on snacks throughout the day! Your
Premier Tour Director will have more
information on this edible portion of
the program! The departure time from
Willow will depend on weather conditions
and guests' comfort level. It is our goal
to see as many of the Mushers depart
as possible while still arriving back into
Anchorage by 6:00/6:30pm. Upon return
to Anchorage it is time to say goodbye
as you are transferred to the Anchorage
Airport for your flight. (Overnight
accommodations can be made if you
choose to fly out the next day.)
