Alaska's Northern Lights

Your journey starts in Fairbanks, in the great state of Alaska. Originally a gold rush boomtown, now known as the “Golden Heart of Alaska.”
Hotel Name: Pikes Waterfront Lodge

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 and pose for a perfect souvenir snapshot. In the afternoon, embrace the Iditarod spirit as you step into a sled with an expert guide and glide over the snow with a 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 this evening, chase the legendary northern lights, considered 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 green.

Breakfast Included
Dinner Included

Visit Area: Fairbanks
A home rule city in the state of Alaska, Fairbanks is the largest city in the Interior region. The city of Fairbanks was founded by Captain E. T. Barnette in August 1901 while headed to Tanacross, where he intended to set up a trading post. Fairbanks has a history of gold mining, which dates back to when it was founded. In 1939, major infrastructure in the territory occurred for the first time, in part of a larger effort by the federal government during the New deal and World War II, which fostered an economic and population boom in Fairbanks. The city of Fairbanks is home to a number of attractions and events which draw visitors from outside of Alaska throughout the year.

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. Later in the evening, enjoy a final chance to spot the northern lights.

Breakfast Included

Admittance: Dog Mushing
Dog mushing is an iconic Alaskan sport and/or transportation method powered by dogs. A team of trained, athletic dogs are directed by a human musher on a sled, traversing snowy lands. Dog mushing has been a part of Alaskan life since long before it was even a state. This is sometimes still the best way to travel around rural communities today.

Begin your day hopping on Alaska Railroad’s Snow Train for a full-day journey to Talkeetna. 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. Lunch is included in the train’s dining car. Check into the iconic Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge, perched on a ridge offering unforgettable views of Denali (when conditions allow). Later, perhaps you will spend some time on the Lodge’s expansive deck; a great place to enjoy some hot cocoa by the roaring fireplace in the great room.

Breakfast Included
Lunch Included
Dinner Included
Hotel Name: Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge

Admittance: Northern Light Excursions
Search for the Northern Lights (aurora borealis), and wait to witness the sky erupt in a riot of ethereal colors. Alaska is an ideal place to seek out the legendary northern lights. The best time to catch them is after 10:00 p.m. and before 2:00 a.m., with an expert guide and a mug of hot chocolate.

Start your day with a lecture on the down-to-earth Alaskan lifestyle before taking 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. Your day concludes in Anchorage, an urban enclave surrounded by wilderness.

Breakfast Included
Hotel Name: Hilton Anchorage

Admittance: Alaska Railroad
The Alaska Railroad offers a scenic journey through the rugged landscapes of southern Alaska. Have your camera ready as you pass by snowcapped mountains and dramatic valleys – your conductor will point out wildlife as you travel from Fairbanks to Talkeetna. The historic railroad has operated since 1914.

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.* Toast to your Alaskan adventure at a farewell dinner in a local restaurant.

Breakfast Included
Lunch Included
Dinner Included

Visit Area: Talkeetna
This historic village is the go-to travel destination for avid mountain climbers. Situated at the bottom of Denali, the highest mountain peak in North America, Talkeetna serves as a base for climbers. Aside from its athletic draw, visitors can browse art galleries, local trades, and even the historic Nagley’s General Store (almost 100 years old!) With a population of less than 900 people, Talkeetna is a genuine Alaskan small town.

Enjoy a relaxing morning before heading to the Anchorage Museum. Alaska’s largest museum tells the story of the states multi-faceted culture and history from many different perspectives. The remainder of your day is at leisure. A day room has been extended for your use before your transfer to the airport.

Breakfast Included

Visit Area: Anchorage
A young city founded in 1915, Anchorage is a vibrant city of just over 300,000 people. From its humble origins as a railroad town for the Alaska Railroad, the largest city in Alaska maintains its frontier history in an idyllic mountain setting.