TRAVELLERS WORLD LTD

Day 1: Anchorage (Arrival Day)
Upon arrival in Anchorage transfer to your downtown hotel. Remaining day at leisure and time to explore the historical and scenic points of interest within the downtown area: walk along the Coastal Trail towards Earthquake Park with a magnificent Cook Inlet and Mount Susitna view, take a picture from the Captain Cook Monument, visit the Museum of History and Art, check out the Ice Sculpturing competition, or take a bus to 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.

Day 2: Anchorage - Race Start
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.

Day 3: Anchorage - Willow (Iditarod Re-Start) - Anchorage
Morning at leisure. Private limousine transfer around noon from Anchorage on the scenic Glenn Highway to Willow with a brief stopover at the Iditarod Headquarter and Museum in Wasilla. Check out the many Iditarod memorabilia at the very interesting museum before continuing to the official Iditarod restart ceremony in Willow which begins at 2:00 pm. Enjoy the busy and bustling Iditarod race atmosphere and the musher’s final preparation for the 1050-mile trip throughout Alaska’s backcountry to the fnishing line in Nome. Our tour is fully escorted! Return to Anchorage approximately 5:00 pm. Everning at leisure. Time to attend the many festivities during the ongoing annual Fur Rendezvous in Anchorage with: Native Arts Market, Theater Show, Winter Carnival Activities and the Snow Sculpturing Competition. Overnight: Anchorage.

Day 4: Anchorage - Wilderness Lodge - Finger Lake Checkpoint Fly out
Morning transfer from your hotel to Lake Hood. Fly-out from Anchorage with private ski planes to a remote wilderness lodge – located 100 Miles away from the civilization. You may observe some race teams and activities already from the air. Continue your scenic flight journey to the Finger Lakes checkpoint within the eastern fringe of the mighty Alaska Range. 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. We provide a deli style lunch, fruits and soft drinks for your convenence. Late afternoon return flight to the wilderness lodge. After a delicious dinner it’s time to relax, watch out for the Northern Lights and enjoy the peace, solitude and atmosphere of the remote Alaska backcountry setting. Overnight: Wilderness Lodge.

Day 5: Wilderness Lodge - Rainy Pass or Puntilla Lakes Checkpoint Fly out
Breakfast at the lodge. Morning ski-plane fly-out for a phantastic flightseeing trip to Rainy Pass and the nearby 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. A deli style lunch, a hot soup, fruits and soft drinks included. You’ll spend the whole day within the incredible wilderness area along the trail observing various dog-mushing activities. Return to the wilderness lodge by ski-plane in the late afternoon. Enjoy a delicious evening 3-course dinner and share the stories of the day with your fellow travelers. Another night to watch out for Aurora Borealis activities on the northern sky. Overnight: Wilderness Lodge.

Day 6: Wilderness Lodge - Nikolai or Rohn Checkpoint Fly-out - Anchorage
Breakfast at the lodge. Morning fly-out to the McGrath or to the Nikolai Iditarod Checkpoint. The actual destination depends on the race schedule, standings and checkpoint activities. We like to make sure you are always around „the action“. 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 own dog team and explore the surrounding countryside. This is usually the preferred area were the leading race teams are taking their mandatory 24 hour layover. A deli style lunch is included. Late afternoon return flight via the wilderness lodge to Anchorage. Hotel Transfer. Overnight: Anchorage.

Day 7: Anchorage - Portage Lake - Alyeska Resort - Anchorage
Morning at leisure or for shopping activities in Anchorage. Afternoon: Get into your large and luxurious limousine and leave Anchorage for a scenic sightseeing tour. You will drive along Turnagain Arm with dramatic views of mountain scenery and the inlet with the second highest tide in North America. Watch out for Beluga Whales, Dall Sheep and other wildlife. Arrive at the Portage Glacier Valley and Portage Lake: walk along the shore of the lake to see icebergs floating around up close. You’ll notice several nearby „hanging glacier“ and a beautiful scenery around you. Continue your journey to the Alyeska Resort – Alaska largest ski area with a deluxe 5-star resort hotel. Check in for the next three days and enjoy later a 3-course dinner with your fellow travelers at the famous Double Musky Restaurant. Overnight: Alyeska Resort.

Day 8 - Day 10: Alyeska Resort
Days at leisure. 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, multiple restaurants, bars etc. Overnights: Alyeska Resort.

Day 11 - Day 15: Anchorage – Nome (Flight)
Get ready for the Iditarod finish. Transfer from Alyeska Resort 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. The nights may provide some outstanding Northern Lights – Aurora Borealis – viewing. Depending on the race action we may fly out already to one of the checkpoints. Overnight: Nome

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. Return to Nome during the early evening. Overnight: Nome

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 usually dealing with bad weather conditions along this stretch. High winds and temperatures of 40-below are common. 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. Return to Nome during the early evening. Note: During a very fast race the first musher may cross the finishing line in Nome during the upcoming night or early morning hours. Overnight: Nome.

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. Note: During a slower or regular race we expect the first musher to arrive in Nome either during the early evening hours or during the night. Overnight: Nome.

Nome
Day on your own to relax. 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 mushers approaches the finishing line with his dog team - greeted by a cheering crowd, TV Stations, Film Crews and newspaper reporter. Overnight: Nome.

Nome – Anchorage (Flight)
Remaining day on your own. Return flight on Alaska Airlines to Anchorage. End of Tour Program