Anchorage, Northern Light Excursions, Winter Glacier Cruise, Prince William Sound, Talkeetna, Alaska Railroad, Fairbanks, Dog Mushing
Day 1: March 4, 2024: Anchorage, Alaska — Tour Begins
Your journey starts in Anchorage, a city on the edge of the snowcapped Chugach Mountains and 60 sparkling glaciers. This is your gateway to wilderness and adventure.
Day 2: March 5, 2024: Anchorage — Winter Glacier Cruise — Anchorage
Head to Whittier and embark on an incomparable glacier cruise of Prince William Sound, narrated by an expert guide. Blue skies collide with stark white glaciers, and playful otters dip in and out of the calm waters. Embrace the sheer magnitude of Alaska's natural beauty as you venture through a geological wonderland. Feel like a true explorer during a beach landing.* In the evening, gather with new friends for a welcome dinner in a local restaurant.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 3: March 6, 2024: Anchorage — Palmer — Talkeetna
Take a step into the past when you visit Musk Ox Farm. Learn about the Musk Ox project — a sustainable domestication effort that has worked to preserve, protect, and increase awareness for these wooly creatures since 1954. Continue on to Talkeetna as Denali, North America’s tallest mountain, looms large over the landscape. Perhaps you will take an optional flightseeing tour and experience a breathtaking perspective of Denali. Check into the iconic Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge, perched on a ridge offering unforgettable views of Denali. Later, perhaps you will spend some time on the Lodge’s expansive deck, a great place to search for the Northern Lights, or just enjoy some hot cocoa by the roaring fireplace in the great room.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 4: March 7, 2024: Talkeetna — Alaska Railroad — Fairbanks
Begin your day with a lecture on the down-to-earth Alaskan lifestyle before hopping on Alaska Railroad’s Aurora Winter Train for a full-day journey to Fairbanks. Sit back and relax as you are whisked away through snow-covered mountains and striking valleys. Have your cameras ready — the train conductor will point out wildlife as you pass by. Dinner is included in the train’s dining car. This evening you arrive in Fairbanks, your home for the next three nights and one of the best places in Alaska to see the northern lights.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 5: March 8, 2024: Fairbanks
Enjoy a full day at leisure in the city of Fairbanks. Take this opportunity to relax or flex your sense of adventure with optional excursions: consider flightseeing to the Arctic Circle. Late this evening, chase the legendary northern lights, considered to be one of the most amazing natural spectacles in the world. Walk out in the snow under an unspoiled bed of stars and search for the shimmering hues of purple and green.
Included Meals: Breakfast
Day 6: March 9, 2024: Fairbanks
Feel the brisk air and discover Fairbanks, the perfect combination of nature and civilization. Look into the past at the Antique Auto Museum, where vintage cars sit between timely artifacts and fashionable designer dresses from times gone by. Hop in a car yourself, throw on some flapper accessories, and pose for a perfect souvenir snapshot. In the afternoon, embrace the Iditarod spirit and try your hand at dog mushing, stepping into a sled with an expert guide and gliding over the snow with your very own pack of sled dogs. Stay for dinner at the kennel owner's home and learn more about what the life of a musher is like. Later in the evening, enjoy a final chance to spot the northern lights.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 7: March 10, 2024: Fairbanks — Tour Ends
Enjoy a relaxing morning before heading to the Museum of the North, the University of Alaska’s collection featuring 2.2 million years of biodiversity and thousands of years of human history. The remainder of your day is at leisure. A day room has been extended for your use before your transfer to the airport.
Included Meals: Breakfast
Average Temperature: 29 °F (-2°C) and a low near 18°F (-8°C)
When you’re deciding what to bring on your trip, we have a few suggestions for you.
Temperatures in February and March can be quite cold. It is strongly recommended that you dress appropriately for Arctic weather. Winter jackets, waterproof shoes, gloves, and/or scarves are all items that will help you remain comfortable in the cold weather.
In regards to clothing, think of layers. It’s much easier to maintain a level of comfort if you can add or remove a layer at a time, especially if you’re traveling to a destination where the temperature can vary widely. So always bring a light jacket or sweater; fleece or wool is best. We recommend avoiding cotton sweaters or jackets as they won’t keep you warm if wet.
Comfortable footwear is crucial. Make sure you bring a pair of shoes that fit well and give you the necessary support. If you decide to purchase new shoes for your trip, we suggest you wear them a number of times before you leave to break them in. Your feet will thank you.
Pack anything that could leak in plastic bags or a waterproof case for your toiletries. In addition, you might want to bring a washcloth or two. Not all hotels provide them.
If you take prescription medication, make sure to bring enough for your entire tour plus a few additional days in the original prescription containers. Medication should be packed in your carry-on bag, never your checked luggage, in case your luggage is delayed. You don’t want to be without your medication. You could also bring extra medication in a separate bag in case any gets lost.
In general, we recommend not packing anything of value in your checked bag.
You’ll want to take pictures of everything, so make sure to bring a camera as well as extra memory cards and batteries for your entire trip. If you bring a video camera, don’t forget an extra battery, plus a charger. Be sure to pack chargers and cords for all your electronic equipment.
It’s also a good idea to bring a travel alarm clock, a travel sewing kit, a portable scale to weigh luggage, and some hand sanitizer for when soap and water aren’t readily available.
If you are traveling with a companion, we suggest dividing the contents of your suitcase with them; that way, if one bag is delayed, some of your belongings are still available to you both.
If that is not an option for you, you could put a change of clothing in your carry-on if there’s room. That will also give you something to wear if your checked luggage is delayed.
Last but certainly not least, leave room! You’ll need it to fit all the souvenirs you want to bring home.