Luxury Tailor Made Journeys depart on the dates that work for you and feature expert local guides throughout your journey. The itinerary below can be customized to your interests.
ARRIVE ANCHORAGE, ALASKA
Arrive in Anchorage, where you are met and privately transferred to your hotel. This afternoon and evening, enjoy events of the Fur Rendezvous — an annual winter festival that leads up to the ceremonial start of the Iditarod Dogsled Race — including snow sculptures, fireworks, the Running of the Reindeer (like the bulls in Pamplona), crazy costumes and more.
Anchorage | Celebrating the Iditarod
Start your action-packed day by taking part in more “Fur Rondy” events and witnessing the ceremonial start of the Iditarod. Walk Anchorage’s downtown streets, going up close to mushers and their dogs, and then step indoors to a warm, A&K-exclusive viewing location and watch as the more than 50 teams receive a send-off with fanfare. This afternoon, enjoy more engaging activities and a relaxing dinner at a festival-related restaurant.
Winterlake Lodge | Scenic Wilderness Flight
This morning, board a ski plane for a flightseeing transfer to Winterlake Lodge that features spectacular views of the Alaskan Range, including possible sightings of Denali, the former Mount McKinley, en route. Arrive at Winterlake Lodge, overlooking Finger Lake, in time for lunch. Afterward, walk out onto the frozen lake to view the preparations at Checkpoint 4 on the Iditarod Trail, mingling with race officials, veterinarians, reporters and others awaiting the racers. Later, return to your lodge to relax by the wood stove, take a cooking or stretching class, or enjoy a dip in the hot tub. Tonight, savor the first of a series of gourmet dinners from the kitchen of a Cordon Bleu-trained chef.
Winterlake Lodge | Iditarod Mushers’ Arrive
Watch firsthand as Iditarod mushers and their dog teams begin arriving at Finger Lake over the next two days. All mushers are invited into the lodge for a meal, where you may observe and perhaps meet them. Some sleep overnight on the frozen lake with their dogs, others just check in and move on. After their stay, watch them take off again, down the Iditarod Trail. Take part in other activities as well, including snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. Indoor activity options include cooking classes, yoga and stretching classes, or soaking in the hot tub on your lodge’s outdoor deck.
Winterlake Lodge | Dogsledding & the Great Outdoors
Today, choose from a diverse slate of winter guided activities, including dogsledding on frozen Finger Lake or following in the tracks of the Iditarod mushers on the Iditarod Trail, filling your senses with the sights, sounds and scents of the deep Alaskan forest along the way. You may also once again select from a variety of indoor activities on offer, or simply relax by the fireside with a good book and a warm drink.
Anchorage | Experiencing Indigenous Culture
After breakfast, fly by ski plane to Anchorage. Upon arrival, begin a guided afternoon tour of Anchorage and the surrounding vicinity. Depending on your interests and subject to availability, your explorations may include a behind-the-scenes excursion through the Anchorage Museum; a visit to Earthquake Park to view the remnants of the devastating 1964 earthquake; an exploration of indigenous Alaskan art and culture on a tour that includes time for art-and-crafts shopping; or a visit to the home studio of famed artist Jon Van Zyle, creator of all Iditarod dogsled race posters since its inception in 1978. Stop for lunch at one of Anchorage’s best local restaurants, before continuing to your hotel in the mid-to-late afternoon. Dine tonight at the Crow’s Nest Restaurant, set in the top floor of your hotel, absorbing the panoramic views over the city and toasting your weeklong Alaskan sojourn.
Depart Anchorage
After breakfast, you are privately transferred to the Anchorage International Airport for your homebound flight.
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