Alaska in Winter: Northern Lights & Dog Sledding Adventure

Arrive at any time. Attend a welcome meeting in the evening and afterwards choose to have an optional dinner together as a group.

Included Experiences

• Meet Your CEO and Group: Your opportunity to meet your CEO and fellow travellers, and learn more about your tour. Opt to join the group for a local meal afterwards. Don't forget to see the notice in the lobby (or ask reception) for the official time and place to meet up with the group.

In the morning visit the tranquil beauty of the Eagle River Nature Centre for a hike along one of the many trails located in the mountainous landscape of Chugach State Park. Return to Anchorage for lunch on your own, before a private afternoon visit to the Alaska Native Heritage Centre for a more in-depth look into Alaska’s Indigenous history. Following the tour, the group will spend free time at the museum before a winter evening to explore Anchorage and have dinner on your own.

Included Experiences

• Eagle River Nature Center Visit: Enjoy the alluring beauty of winter in Alaska's wild landscape with time to hike along trails that are part of the Eagle River Nature Centre within Chugach State Park. The centre is operated by a small, grass roots non-profit organization, and works to ensure continued access to Alaska's important ecosystems. Using crampons the group will walk along a mix of trails ranging from 2-3 miles long to shorter loops.
• Alaska Native Heritage Center Visit: Hear the stories of Alaska's Indigenous People as you explore the history and cultural heritage of the The Last Frontier. Your visit will take you on a journey through 10,000 years of Alaska Native history. The exhibit has art, dance, demonstrations of Native Games, traditional Native dwellings, films, and more.
• Free Time: Take advantage of this free evening to explore Anchorage on your own. Winter definitely offers an entirely new experience in the city.

After breakfast the group will head further north to the mighty Matanuska Glacier for an unforgettable walk on the icy blue surface with a local guide. Then head onwards to Talkeetna where there will be free time in this outdoorsy, mountaineering town. The days might be short, but tonight there could be an opportunity to see The Northern Lights, and a great view of Mt. Denali.

Included Experiences

• Guided Walk on Matanuska Glacier: The Matanuska Glacier is Alaska's most accessible and a popular destination for visitors due to its proximity to Anchorage. With an experienced local guide, the group will set foot on the ethereal blue ice of this massive glacier and experience its uniqueness during the winter season amid Alaska's dramatic scenery.
• Free Time: Upon arrival to the mountaineering town of Talkeetna the group will have free time to walk around the town, grab dinner on your own, and look up into the sky for a possible view of The Northern Lights with Denali as a backdrop.

Start the morning with a walk around Talkeetna and soak in the snowy scenery. Then, get ready for an epic Alaskan winter activity this morning with an incredible dog sledding experience where you’ll learn to mush with the most successful Iditarod dogs of all time. The Alaskan Iditarod race is an annual 1,000-mile sled dog race from Anchorage to Nome. It’s known for testing the unique bond between mushers and their canines. See the pups for yourself and feel the adrenaline rush of sledding. The remainder of the afternoon is free for optional activities in the area like a flight sightseeing tour, nordic ski rentals, or a fat bike activity.

Included Experiences

• Dog Sledding Experience: Witness the power behind the Alaskan husky as you drive a team of sled dogs on a 45-minute mush over the snow and through a nearby birch forest on the property of an expert Iditarod racer. Learn more about how mushers and their dogs survive together along the 1,000-mile race through the arctic tundra. Get to know these remarkable animals and head over to play with the adorable puppies in training, and learn about their journey towards becoming great champions.
• Free Time: Have lunch your own in Talkeetna and then spend the afternoon trying out one of the many optional activities in the area. Choices include flight sightseeing tours, Nordic ski tours, and fat bike tours. After dark, choose to attend an optional night walk to try and see the Northern Lights.

Today is every traveller’s winter Alaska dream! Have breakfast at the hotel, then board the Aurora Winter Train through the gorgeous snowy landscape of Alaska’s tundra en route to Fairbanks. Along the hundreds of miles of track, the group will pass by the state’s most spectacular landscapes, chugging through spruce forests white with frost and along wide rivers completely frozen beneath layers of ice. Meals can be purchased on board. Arrive to Fairbanks later in the evening and transfer to the hotel.

Included Experiences

• Aurora Winter Train Journey: This 8-hour train ride is the perfect way to experience the stunning winter scenery of Alaska between Talkeetna and Fairbanks. Sit back and relax on board as you slow down to appreciate the ice covered trees and frozen rivers. Opt to have lunch and dinner in the train car with different meal options available, and if the weather allows, watch a beautiful sunset amid the whitewashed tundra. If luck allows you may even see some colors in the inky black sky.

Leave Fairbanks behind today and travel to North Pole, Alaska where this small city has fully embraced its year-round commitment to all things Christmas and Santa Claus. Explore the town and have lunch at your leisure before travelling back to Fairbanks. Then, travel to the Chena Hot Springs, located on a property in the Chena River State Recreation Area surrounded by forest. The resort offers plenty of winter oriented activities to choose from and of course some steamy hot springs to soak in while surrounded by snow. Upon arrival, enjoy free time to experience the many amenities and outdoor activities on offer. This evening after dinner on your own, the group will reconvene and depart on an included Aurora Viewing tour to try and catch a glimpse of the Northern Lights, if the weather allows.

Included Experiences

• North Pole Visit: Head to the town where it's Christmas all year around—the North Pole! Spend free time here in the charm of Santa's Workshop, visit the Santa Claus House, and check out the walls covered with letters from children all over the world. Stroll through this magical winter wonderland and gift your inner child with the magnificence of the Christmas spirit.
• Free Time: Enjoy the included amenities and numerous options for outdoor activities that Chena Hot Springs resort provides its guests. With a half-day of free time, there's plenty of opportunities to try new winter experiences like, the Aurora Ice Museum, a Chena Kennel tour, snowmobiling, or ice fishing. Or you could spend the afternoon soaking in the area's hot spring surrounded by the snowy landscape.
• Aurora Viewing Experience: The Chena Hots Springs area is known for being one of the best places on Earth to see the Northern Lights due to its precise location under one of the most active bands of the Aurora Borealis and away from the light pollution of major cities. Plus, Alaska's very cold weather tends to offer clearer skies. During the viewing experience the group will head up into the mountains after dark to a location called Charlie Dome. Spend some time here in the heated huts to warm up and have some beverages and snacks. Then look up and enjoy a 360 degree, unobstructed view of the Northern Lights. There's nothing quite like sipping a cup of hot chocolate while you wait for the magic to happen. The group spends around four hours in this location to ensure maximum amount of viewing time. Please be aware that the Aurora Borealis is a natural phenomenon and cannot be guaranteed.

Enjoy a relaxing morning at the resort to perhaps go for a walk on the property, or soak in the steaming waters one last time. Travel back to Fairbanks and visit the Museum of the North. Spend the remainder of the afternoon on your own, or perhaps choose to visit the Morris Thompson Cultural Centre. This evening, there will be an optional group farewell dinner at a local spot.

Included Experiences

• Free Time: In Fairbanks there will be free time to explore the city on your own.
• Museum of the North: Discover Alaska Native cultures, natural wonders, diverse wildlife, and even Arctic dinosaurs as you explore 2,000 years of Alaska art and history. Experience original exhibits, groundbreaking research by museum scientists, and breathtaking architecture all under one roof.

Depart at any time.