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Day
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Routing
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01
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Anchorage (Arrival Day)
Upon arrival in Anchorage transfer to your downtown hotel. Remaining day at leisure. You have time to explore the historical and scenic points of interest of the downtown area, walk along the Coastal Trail with its great Cook Inlet views or check out the Alaska Native Heritage Center with a variety of interactive displays, shows, and five separate culture galleries about the different native groups that used to live in Alaska. Overnight: Anchorage
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02
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Anchorage
The Iditarod race starts at 10:00 am on 4th. Avenue in Alaska's largest city. Get up early and observe the start preparations, take close up pictures from the Musher’s and the dog teams and enjoy the bustling and exciting race atmosphere. About 80 Musher’s and over 1000 sled dogs are leaving shortly from the starting line for the "1050 mile race to Nome". Anchorage parks and green belts are providing also a great alternative to observe the race activities. Remaining day at leisure. Don't miss a seafood dinner with a breathtaking view across Cook Inlet at Anchorage's renowned "Crow's Nest Restaurant". Overnight: Anchorage
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03
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Anchorage – Wilderness Lodge Fly-out
Optional morning sightseeing tour to Wasilla or Willow for the re-start of the Iditarod. Alternatively - check out the many festivities during the ongoing annual Fur Rendezvous in Anchorage with: Native Arts Market, Theater Show, Winter Carnival Activities, Snow Sculpturing Competition and Snowshoe Softball Matches. Afternoon transfer from your hotel to Lake Hood. Fly-out with private ski planes to the Yentna Station - the first remote Iditarod checkpoint in Alaska’s backcountry. Time to observe the race activities on the ground. We continue along the trail and may observe now also the race from the air before we reach a remote wilderness lodge – located over 150 Miles from the civilization. After a delicious dinner we gather around a bonfire on the Yentna River and await the leading dog teams. Some Musher’s even may stop and enjoy a cup of tea or coffee with us. Overnight: Lodge
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04
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Finger Lake/Winter Lake Checkpoint
After a hearty breakfast our adventure continues with a morning flight along the Iditarod Trail to the Finger Lakes checkpoint within the eastern fringe of the mighty Alaska Range. (Deli Style Lunch Box & Soft Drinks included) Observe race activities and watch the Musher’s gearing up for the most difficult trip across infamous Rainy Pass. Many teams camp here for a while. It is not uncommon for the area to have 10 ft. of snow on the ground. Afternoon return flight to our lodge. Time to relax or for x-country skiing and ice-fishing. After a delicious dinner we watch out for the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis) and enjoy the peace and solitude of the Alaska wilderness. Overnight Lodge
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05
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Rainy Pass & Puntilla Lakes Checkpoint
Breakfast at the lodge. We take our ski-plane for a scenic flight to Rainy Pass and the Puntilla Lake checkpoint. The gateway to the interior offers truly the most spectacular scenery of the entire Iditarod Trail. Many teams are taking their mandatory 24 h. layover here before venturing via the treacherous Farewell Burn area and into the flatlands of the interior. Deli Style Lunch Box & Soft Drinks included. You’ll spend the whole day in this incredible wilderness area along the trail observing dog-mushing activities. Return to a wilderness lodge in the early evening. Overnight: Lodge
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06
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McGrath or Nikolai Checkpoint – Anchorage
Breakfast at the lodge. Ski plane pick up and flight to McGrath or Nicolai. With a population of 125 people - Nikolai is the first of many tiny Native villages along the Iditarod Trail. Area orientation and introduction to dog mushing. You have the opportunity to run your dog team and explore the surrounding countryside. This is usually the area were the leading teams are taking their mandatory 24 hour layover. Evening return flight to Anchorage. Transfer to your hotel. Overnight: Anchorage.
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07
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Anchorage – Alyeska Resort - Anchorage
Day at leisure. You may opt to take a comfortable ski bus for a trip down to Girdwood and the famous Alyeska Ski Resort (About 40 Miles south of Anchorage). Despite its elevation the area is home to some of the most challenging skiing in the world. Girdwood has successfully evolved from its gold mining roots into a thriving all season resort community with an average snowfall of 631 inches every year and provides over 1,000 acres of ski terrain with easy to expert runs. Ski gear may be rented at the REI store in Anchorage or at the day lodge in Girdwood. Non-skier have a choice of snowshoeing or x-country ski trips, dog sledding, snowmobiling or simply rejuvenate at the world-class spa facilities of the Alyeska Resort Hotel with large indoor pool, sauna & fitness center. Overnight: Anchorage
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08
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Anchorage – Nome (Flight)
Get ready for the Iditarod finish. Transfer to the airport. Morning flight to Nome. Check in to your hotel in Nome and explore the many sights of the community. You may attend a city tour and learn more about the rich history of this gold rush town and the Iditarod Sled Dog Race. Visit a dog musher's camp to experience sled dog teams in action. Plenty of time to shop for exquisite jade, hand-carved ivory and skin sowings. Overnight: Nome
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09
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Unalakleet Checkpoint
We fly along the Iditarod Trail and spot teams from the air. Frequent landings with excellent photo opportunities. Unalakleet on the shores of Norton Sound is a major logistic hub for the race – about 275 Miles from Nome. You have a full day to observe the race activities. Note: All fly outs for this and the next days are depending on Race Schedules, team placements and weather conditions. Return to Nome during the early evening. Overnight: Nome
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10
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Koyuk Checkpoint or Elim Checkpoint or Shaktoolik Checkpoint
Morning flight from Nome to one of the above checkpoints for the day. Koyuk on the shores of Norton Bay is only 171 Miles from Nome. Musher’s are sometimes discovering bad weather conditions along this stretch with high winds and temperatures of 40-below. The way to Shaktoolik is also extremely difficult to run due to the ever-present threat of open water and moving ice. This is certainly one of the hardest stretches of the race. Full day to observe mushing activities. Evening return flight to Nome. Overnight: Nome.
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11
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White Mountain Checkpoint
Morning fly out to White Mountain – only 75 Miles from Nome. Every musher has to take a mandatory 8-hour layover here before continuing the race to Nome. A perfect day at leisure to observe the race activities and the final gear up for the finishing line in Nome. Evening return flight to Nome. Overnight: Nome.
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12
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Nome
Day on your own to relax. The first musher is scheduled to arrive during the day / evening. The last stretch of the trail is exposed to the elements and ground blizzards are not uncommon. Gather near the “Burled Arches” along Front street to watch the spectacle as the first musher approaches the finishing line with his dog team - greeted by a cheering crowd, TV Stations, Film Crews and newspaper reporter. Overnight: Nome.
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13
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Nome - Anchorage
Return flight to Anchorage. End of services or individual program extension.
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Services Included