(c) Matt Hage. All rights reserved.
Want to experience Alaska’s winter highlights all in one trip? This 7-day guided journey starts in Fairbanks, your basecamp for chasing the dancing northern lights. You’ll travel north to cross the Arctic Circle, relax in the warm waters of Chena Hot Springs, and visit the unique Aurora Ice Museum. Feel the excitement of an evening dog sled ride under the stars. Then, head south to the mountain town of Talkeetna. From there, you’ll take a ski plane to fly among Denali’s giant peaks, explore Hatcher Pass, and zip through the woods on a snowmobile. This tour wraps up all the classic Alaska winter activities into one great adventure.
Touch down in Fairbanks, the Golden Heart City of Alaska’s interior. Your private driver/guide will greet you and provide a transfer to your hotel.
After settling in, you’ll have some time for local Fairbanks fun—maybe grab an early dinner or explore shops nearby.
Tonight, the adventure really begins on your Northern Lights Tour. You’ll head to a dark viewing location outside the city for your first chance to watch the spectacular aurora dance across the northern sky.
You will overnight in Fairbanks, your home for the next three nights.
(c) Sherman Hogue. All rights reserved.
Start your day with some local Fairbanks fun. You might take a quick city tour to see the Golden Heart Plaza or visit the Trans-Alaska Pipeline, or perhaps check out the world-famous Santa Claus House in North Pole.
In the afternoon, you’ll head out on an all-day driving Arctic Circle Tour, venturing north toward the remote Arctic region. Watch the forested hills change into vast open tundra as you travel. When you cross the Arctic Circle, you’ll receive an official Adventure Certificate to mark the journey! As you travel back to Fairbanks, keep an eye out for the aurora starting to show in the dark, remote skies.
You will overnight in Fairbanks.
Sleep in this morning after your exciting Arctic Circle trip. Later, you’ll take a private transfer out of Fairbanks to Chena Hot Springs Resort. Here, you can spend time relaxing in the outdoor natural hot springs, letting the warm water soak your muscles. You’ll also visit the unique Aurora Ice Museum, the world’s largest year-round ice environment, made from 1,000 tons of ice and snow.
As evening arrives, you’ll trade your driver for a musher for an exhilarating Evening Dog Sled & Aurora Tour. You’ll feel the thrill of a dog team pulling you to a cozy cabin, where you’ll enjoy a delicious dinner as you wait for the northern lights to appear again.
You will overnight in Fairbanks.
Today, you’ll have a long, scenic travel day as you journey from Fairbanks to Talkeetna.
The route will take you south through the interior of Alaska. Along the way, you’ll make a stop at the Denali National Park Headquarters to see the Denali Dog Sled Kennels and the Visitor Center, where you can learn about the park’s history and its famous mountaineering past.
You’ll also get to take part in a leisure snowshoe adventure, with gear provided by the National Park Service, allowing you to easily explore the park’s snowy trails.
After your stop, you will continue to Talkeetna, a unique mountain town where you will overnight.
Your day starts with a bit of local Talkeetna fun before heading to the airport for your unforgettable Denali Flightseeing Tour. You’ll board a small plane with skis for a scenic flight right into the Alaska Range, soaring around the massive peaks of Denali National Park and possibly landing on a glacier for a moment on the ice.
In the evening, you’ll head out on an adventure searching for the northern lights through the beautiful landscape of Hatcher Pass. After your evening adventure, you will head back to Talkeetna.
You will overnight in Talkeetna.
Start your morning with a relaxing, guided snowshoe trek near Talkeetna, enjoying the quiet of the forest trails and the crisp Alaska winter air.
Afterward, you’ll have time for more local Talkeetna fun, maybe poking around the cute shops on the main street for local art or souvenirs. The afternoon brings a thrilling Snowmobile Tour in Willow, a nearby community. You’ll zip across frozen lakes and through wooded trails on this classic Alaska winter transport (known here in Alaska as Snow Machines), soaking up the wide-open landscape.
You will overnight in Talkeetna.
Today, you will journey from Talkeetna to Anchorage. Your private transfer will drive you south, giving you a chance to relax and reflect on your adventure as you pass through the stunning scenery one last time.
Your driver/guide will bring you directly to the Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (ANC) in time for your departure flight.
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You did an amazing job arranging this trip for a bunch of spoiled, whining Californians. Each of our guides, activities and accommodations gets 5-star ratings. Tutka was especially appreciated; our only regret being we couldn’t stay longer. Everyone wants to go back. Steve our driver was a very cool dude. And everyone from... Read more
David Cutler