Alaskan Natural Adventures
nature travel, wildlife tours, adventure travel and general travel to Alaska

Alaska's Iditarod & Northern Lights

Special Escorted Tour - Iditarod and Northern Lights including the Mushers Banquet and a a PRIVATE breakfast with Lance Mackey, 2007 and now 2008 champion.

For years visitors from other countries have come to Alaska in winter to take advantage of its particular location which provides the world's best views, and best reliability, of the magical phenomenom called the Northern Lights. This has not been the case from the lower 48, where Alaska has been seen as a summer destination. Knightly Tours, established in Alaska since 1969, is determined to introduce the winter beauty of Alaska to Americans, and have combined the excitement of the start of the famous Iditarod dogsled race with the Northern Lights, a combination that's hard to resist. Join this single departure Escorted tour, taking in both ceremonial and actual Iditarod starts in Anchorage & Wasilla, attendance at the Mushers Banquet, breakfast with 2007 and 2008 Iditarod winner Lance Mackey, Fairbanks' Ice Carving competition, the Northern Lights from the central Alaskan resort of Chena Hot Springs. Plus, enjoy a scenic tour along Turnagain Arm, with the mountains towering one one side and Cook Inlet, discovered by Captain James Cook, on the other.

ITINERARY

Day 1 - Wednesday, March 4: 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 - Thursday, March 5: Discover Anchorage / Turnagain Arm / Musher's Banquet
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 - Friday, March 6: Private Breakfast Reception with a Musher
The Iditarod is world-famous and dog mushing is an important part of Alaska's history and heritage. 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. 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 20" wide sled, 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 there is 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 - Saturday, March 7: 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 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 - Sunday, March 8: Race Re-Start and on to Fairbanks
We'll leave Anchorage for a short drive to Wasilla. We visit the Iditarod Sled Dog Race Headquarters and then we will watch the Race Re-Start, as real race to Nome begins from Wasilla. Mushers will hook up 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 and closer look at the teams and mushers than is usual in Anchorage.

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 - Monday, March 9: Fairbanks and World 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- Tuesday, March 10: Fairbanks 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 - Wednesday, March 11: Chena Hot Springs Resort
Chena Hot Springs 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, 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 - Thursday, March 12: Chena Hot Springs for Fairbanks
Enjoy breakfast this morning and have the morning free to explore the Springs. After lunch depart for Fairbanks, where there is time to enjoy the Ice Park. Tonight wel dine at the famed "Pump House" and enjoy a truly great Alaskan meal. (B, D) Overnight in Fairbanks

Day 10 - Friday, March 13: Fairbanks / Lower 48
Today our 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. Recommended is a store that sells the exclusive (B)

Cost:

$3,099 plus $119 tax (per person based on double occupancy) / $4499 plus $199 tax (per person single occupation). Does not include airfare.

SPACE IS RESTRICTED - CALL NOW 1 877 285 1170 TO SECURE YOUR ALASKA IDITAROD ADVENTURE

ALASKA SKIING

Extend your stay by skiing Alaska at the Aleyska Resort - The most northerly ski resort in the US, where the base is just 250ft above sea level, and the summit 3900ft. No need to acclimate or fear altitude sickness - just arrive and ski. Despite the low altitude, Aleyska has 2500ft of vertica drop, over 1400 skiiable acres, and is ranked in the top 20 ski resorts in the US. Snow averages 630", but is about 740" at the peak, and can be much higher. There are bowls and long slopes, with the 68 runs divided between a mix of 11% beginner, 52% intermediate and 37% advanced. Lift capacity is over 10,000 skiers per hour, so lines are non-existent. Be the first on your block to Ski Alaska!