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. Tonight
you will have another chance to view the
Aurora Borealis at the Denali Discovery
Center! We overnight in Healy. (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. (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. Enroute, stop
at a local grocery store in Wasilla to
pick up snacks. 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. Your Premier Tour Director
will have more information on this
edible portion of the program! A box
lunch is included today. 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
6:00/6:30 pm. 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.) (L)
