Touring Anchorage
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,
dr
ive
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. T
his
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!