Iditarod Tours: Alaskas iditarod, multi day iditarod race higlights

Iditarod Adventure Tour

Itinerary

Day 1: Anchorage: Arrive in Anchorage and transfer to hotel via courtesy shuttle. Anchorage, also called "city of lights" offers many attractions during wintertime. Visit the Fur Rendezvous Festival offering snow sculpture competition, snowshoe softball and the Eskimo blanket toss. Stroll along the coastal trail to Earthquake Park with fantastic views of the Alaska Range, Mt. Susitna and Mt. McKinley. The rest of the day is free to wander around and explore this pleasant city and its shops. The hotel is located only ten minutes from the downtown shopping area. The hotel also offers a health club, pool and whirlpool for your convenience to help you unwind from your long flight up to Alaska.

Day 2: Willow: You will meet your guide at 8am in the hotel lobby. Later you will visit Vern Halter’s Dream a Dream Premier Iditarod Kennel. Vern Halter is an accomplished musher who presents his story of Alaska and the Iditarod in a provocative fashion that captures the essence of the Iditarod. Vern weaves in the history of sleddogs from early native use, gold rush use, the famous Serum run to Nome during the 1925 diphtheria epidemic-the focus is on the husky. The uniqueness of the Iditarod from the standpoint of length, diversity of competition and the “no help” rule are highlights. Training and care of Iditarod dogs is demonstrated. The logistics of the race and food drops, checkpoints, veterinarian care, the Iditarod Air Force and trail conditions inspire questions. Race strategy and the changes to the Iditarod Race Vern has seen in his twenty five years of racing elicit more dialogue. Clothing and survival gear along with sleds and equipment are topics that are backed up with demonstrations. Drive your own dog team with guided supervision! You will have an excellent opportunity to learn about the Iditarod Race and Mushing Basics combined with the exhilaration of a sleddog ride and driving a dog team. You can also choose to ride on the sled if you do not want to mush your own team of dogs. The Iditarod presentation is inspiring and educational. The mushing 101 course focuses on the equipment, sleds harnessing, commands and what to expect from our sleddogs. Bring your Camera! We provide winter clothing: parkas, bibs, suits, boots, gloves/mittens, and mukluks - all that you need! (B,L)

Day 3: Seward/Girwood: Pickup at your hotel with a scenic ride along Turnagain Arm to the port of Seward Alaska. Here we will take a 4-hour cruise in beautiful Resurrection Bay. We commonly see Steller sea lions, sea otters, Dall porpoise, and perhaps even Orca or Humpback whales. There is also a variety of ducks and waterfowl present at this time of the year. View Bear Glacier, a piedmont glacier stemming from the Harding Field located in Kenai Fjords National Park. The hanging glaciers of Resurrection Bay will provide a scenic backdrop for your photos.In the afternoon you will visit the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center (AWCC), located just 40 minutes south of Anchorage. The AWCC provides an opportunity to view moose, bears, caribou, musk ox and others up close. Take a self-guided tour through this amazing place designed for the care and rehabilitation of wildlife rescued in Alaska. Later you will travel to the village of Girdwood and stay at the magnificent Alyeska Ski Resort. (B,L)

Day 4: Girwood/Anchorage: Today you will spend the day at Alyeska. You can book optional activities such as downhill or cross-country skiing. Non-skiers can choose flightseeing by plane or helicopter, snowmobiling, dogsledding, exploring the village of Girdwood or just enjoying the hotel amenities. In the afternoon you will head back to Anchorage and attend the Musher's Banquet in the evening. This is a must for anyone interested to see “The Last Great Race on Earth” for the first time. You have plenty of photo opportunities and chances to meet and talk with some Iditarod Musher’s personally. Overnight: Anchorage. (D)

Day 5: Anchorage: In the morning you will visit the Iditarod Race Headquarters and clients wishing to be handle the dogs at the race start will go through their dog handler certification training. Afternoon and evening are free. You may purchase tickets for the "Iditarod Fun Raiser Dinner and Auction" in the evening. (L)

Day 6: Anchorage: At 8 a.m. you will meet your guide in the lobby of the hotel and board our comfortable van and head downtown for the start of the “Last Great Race.” The Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race begins on 4th Avenue in downtown Anchorage. Mushers can be seen on the trail along the Glenn Highway to Eagle River. The racers then pack up and head to Wasilla for the restart of the race on Sunday, an event that also draws big crowds. Later this afternoon, you will go to the Alaska Native Heritage Center* and listen to fascinating stories about Alaska’s native cultures and get an insightful perspective into traditional native ways of life. Programs and exhibits demonstrate how Alaskan Natives fulfill their culture today. The Village Store provides an outlet for authentic Native arts and crafts. After the tour, you will have a free day to enjoy local activities, shopping, or dining in Anchorage. Overnight in Anchorage. (B)

Day 7: Race Day in Willow: At 7 a.m. we will board our comfortable van, and travel north to Willow, home of the Iditarod Headquarters and the official re-start of the Iditarod race. Today we focus on the Iditarod Race Re-start in Willow. Experience the excitement of cheering for your favorite mushers as they set out for a 1050-mile race to Nome. Another chance to be a part of the Race by working as a dog handler or security personnel. At the end of this exciting day, you will be shuttled back to your Anchorage hotel. (B)

Other Similar Tours that we offer:

Iditarod & Northern Lights Tour	Iditarod Start Tour	Iditarod Start & Winter Wildlife

Travel Information

Note: Adventure travel is exactly is as its name implies, an adventure! Although every attempt is made to adhere to these itineraries, participants need to acknowledge and willingly accept the unexpected route and itinerary changes due to factors beyond our control. *Depending on the winter schedule of the Alaska Native Heritage Center, we may replace the visit with the Anchorage Museum. Some activities are subject to change when temperatures are below -30°F.

Tour includes: Transportation, lodging, transfers and baggage handling and meals as indicated on the itinerary. All rates are per person in U.S. dollars based on shared occupancy. Single supplement is $400 for this tour. Tour does not include Alaska Sales tax, air transportation to and from Anchorage or any optional tours, liquor, items of personal nature or purchases made onboard the vessels.

Travel Insurance: We strongly suggest purchasing trip cancellation/interruption insurance to protect your travel investment at the time you sign up for one of our trips. This coverage will offset cancellation charges in the event of illness before or during your trip. Trip cancellation/interruption and baggage insurance is available at a supplemental cost. Please visit Insure my Trip for more details.

What to Wear In Winter Airline Reservations

Recommended Outfitters Alaska Weather

Tour Dates

2010 March 1 - March 7

2011 February 28 - March 6

Anchorage Iditarod Webcam

2010 Tour Cost:

$xxxxxx per person

B= Breakfast L=Lunch D=Dinner

IDITAROD TRAIL MAP

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	HELPFUL INFORMATION "A Guide to The Last Great Race" What to Wear - Winter Guide for Alaska You will need Adobe Reader to view any of the above documents. You can download Adobe Reader for free by clicking the Adobe icon below.