Price per Person
$4,413 (based on double occupancy)Duration
9 nights, 10 daysGroup Size
12Dates
February 26- March 7, 20252025 Iditarod Aurora Tour with Race Checkpoint Fly Out
- Description
- Details
- Cancellation Policy
- Travel Insurance
Join a local guide on this small group travel package to experience the Iditarod.
ITINERARY
Wednesday, February 26, 2025
Welcome to Alaska! Fly directly into Anchorage to start your adventures and take a taxi/uber to downtown Anchorage for your stay at the Copper Whale Inn. This hotel is located in downtown Anchorage, within walking distance of the Iditarod Starting Line! You will also have an easy walk to many of our favorite shops and eateries and the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail and Fur Rendezvous Winter Festival.
Today Includes: Arrival into Anchorage, Overnight Anchorage
Thursday, February 27, 2025
Your Salmon Berry tour guide will pick you up to enjoy a group welcome lunch to meet your fellow travelers, a city tour of Anchorage highlighting two popular Fur Rondy events and the 2025 Iditarod Musher’s Banquet. Following our group lunch, visit the snow sculptures at Ship Creek and the Charlotte Jensen Native Arts Market. This annual market features Alaska Native artisans selling and demonstrating their air-basket weaving, dolls, beading, carving, and more. This is a rare opportunity to meet and greet the artists and watch them create one-of-a-kind items. Upon returning to downtown Anchorage, you will have tickets to the Musher’s Gala, the premier fundraising event for the 2025 Iditarod, this week. Enjoy dinner, a presentation by Iditarod Trail Committee, and see veteran mushers. Enjoy a hearty dinner and chat with fellow travelers about their favorite teams on the trail. Today’s tours and evening events include transportation by your Salmon Berry Tours local guide.
Today Includes: Group Lunch at the Glacier Brewhouse, city tour of Anchorage with snow sculptures at Ship Creek, Charlotte Jensen Native Arts Market, Musher Meet & Greet & dinner at the 2025 Musher’s Gala, Overnight Anchorage (B, L, D)
Friday, February 28, 2025
This morning you will be traveling north to the mushing country! Dog Sledding is Alaska’s official sport – we will meet the canine athletes of Dallas’s professional racing team at the kennel for a dog sledding tour! Dallas is the ONLY six-time Iditarod Champion – we hope you enjoy this unique kennel and a chance to ride the runners of the dog sled. There will be a gear demonstration, Q&A with a genuine dog musher, an opportunity to see the Iditarod race team(s), and a chance to ride the runners of a dog sled behind the best teams in Alaska! You will learn what it takes to train a team and compete in the “Last Great Race” from a professional racing kennel! Also included in this day tour is a visit to the Iditarod Headquarters, where you can look through their museum and visit their gift shop.
Today Includes: Dallas Seavey Racing Iditarod Dog Sledding Program, Iditarod Headquarters Visit, optional First Friday downtown Anchorage at the Museum, Overnight Anchorage (B, L)
Saturday, March 1, 2025
Today is the start of the 2025 Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race! You will be on your own to walk downtown today to witness the ceremonial start on 4th Avenue. Marvel at the organized chaos; please participate in the Running with the Reindeer (following the race) or one of the other Fur Rondy Activities taking place today! Please stop by our office (2 blocks from the start!) for hot chocolate and some authentic Alaskan hospitality.
Today Includes: Ceremonial Start of the 2025 Iditarod, Overnight Anchorage (B)
Sunday, March 2, 2025
Now the real competition begins… Head north with Salmon Berry Tours today to the Official Start of the 2025 Iditarod! Your guides will serve freshly baked scones and hot chocolate on the way, telling stories of the race and information/details about the race rules, and giving you Alaskan insight into the Last Great Race, a race of survival and strategy. Once you arrive at Willow Lake, visit the Salmon Berry Tours tent for good company, hot food served all day, race information, and friendly faces. Our private tents are there just for our group – warm up with some hula hooping or ask a guide to take you out snowshoes to get a look further down the race trail. Once all the mushers have gotten on their way, we head to Talkeetna after an exciting day on Willow Lake.
Today Includes: Official Start of the 2025 Iditarod at Willow Lake, Evening at Denali Brewing Co, optional Aurora Viewing from Talkeetna, Overnight Talkeetna (B, 2nd B, L, D)
Monday, March 3, 2025
Rainy Pass Lodge is an official Iditarod Checkpoint! Enjoy the amazing bush plane flight north from Anchorage, with a great view of the city before leaving it behind for pure wilderness. Fly over mountains, valleys, distant glaciers, and the Iditarod Trail on your way to land on the lake. The ski plane will land you right in front of the lodge, where you will immediately see the Iditarod volunteers in action. Spend the morning watching and learning as mushers come through the checkpoint, booty their dogs, get vet checks, sign autographs, and move on down the trail! Today is hosted by a Salmon Berry Tours guide who will set up “camp” with hot drinks, snacks, provide lunch hosted by our friends at Rainy Pass Lodge!
Today Includes the OPTIONAL 2025 Iditarod Checkpoint visit by Ski Plane, Overnight Talkeetna. (B, L, D)
Tuesday, March 4, 2025
This morning, check out of your Talkeetna accommodations and join us for an adventure north to the Golden Heart City of Fairbanks aboard the iconic Alaska Railroad. The Aurora Winter Train is a single-story railcar offering comfortable assigned seating with large windows. This 8-hour rail tour is a full day and an absolutely beautiful way to spend the day! A dining car is available to enjoy meals, and your local guide will provide lunch & dinner vouchers. Along the route, a rail guide will be on board, pointing out interesting features of the towns and landscape. Keep an eye out for moose, caribou, eagles, and other animals seen along the tracks! Upon arrival in Fairbanks, your local guide will pick you up at the Fairbanks Rail Depot & take you out of the aurora viewing this evening
Today Includes: Aurora Winter Train: Talkeetna to Fairbanks, Fairbanks Evening Aurora Tour, Overnight Fairbanks (B, L, D)
Wednesday, March 5, 2025
Sleep late today because it will be another late night of aurora viewing with a visit to the Chena Hot Springs Resort! Once at Chena Hot Springs, you will tour the ice hotel and have time to swim/soak in the rock pool before we travel to Fairbanks for dinner at Lavelle’s Bistro. Following our stay at Chena Hot Springs, go out searching for the aurora borealis at an alternative aurora viewing lodge with great views of the Alaska night sky! The best part of this aurora viewing tour? Not only is it private but if you need to warm up, feel free to take a guided snowshoe walk with our hosts and their canine companions! Don’t forget your swimsuit, towel, and sandals for the hot springs soak!
Today Includes: Chena Hot Springs Aurora Tour, Ice Museum Visit, Dinner in Fairbanks, Private Aurora Viewing, optional Snowshoe night hike, Overnight Fairbanks (B, D)
Thursday, March 6, 2025
Today check out the 2025 BP World Championship Ice Art on display at Ice Park. Your local guide in Fairbanks will pick you up from your hotel to bring you to the Ice Park to enjoy an ice carving demonstration, a tour through the ice carvings, time on your own at the Ice Park, and complimentary warm beverages from your local guide. We go to the ice park in the late afternoon to enjoy the beauty of the park, with colorful lights accenting the details of the ice the artist worked tirelessly to create. The activities continue with your local Fairbanks guide as we return to the private Aurora viewing location to marvel at the beauty of the aurora borealis with our friends and their canine companions at Aurora Bear.
Today Includes: Fairbanks City Tour with admission to the 2025 BP World Championships of Ice Art, Private Aurora Viewing Tour, Farewell Dinner, Overnight Fairbanks (B, D)
Friday, March 7, 2025
Farewell from Alaska today! Take the hotel courtesy shuttle to the Fairbanks International Airport in time for your departure flight home. Thank you for visiting Alaska with us at Salmon Berry Tours – we hope you enjoyed the 2025 Iditarod and aurora viewing in the Interior of Alaska!
Today Includes: Hotel Shuttle to the Airport (B)
2025 Iditarod Aurora with Checkpoint Flight – Pricing:
$5,138 per person based on double occupancy
2025 Iditarod Aurora WITHOUT Checkpoint Flight – Pricing:
$4413 per person based on double occupancy
So what’s not included?? Your commercial flights into Anchorage International Airport (ANC), your commercial flight out of Fairbanks International Airport (FAI), the meals not listed as included, and any add-on pre/post nights in Anchorage or Fairbanks.
For more information on this tour, please get in touch with us or give us a call at 866-681-0209
HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDED
- Local Alaskan Guides with water & snacks en route
- Maximum 12 guests
- Four nights Anchorage, 2 nights Talkeetna, 3 nights Fairbanks
- Drive Your Dog Sled at 6-time Iditarod Champion Kennel, Dallas Seavey Racing
- Iditarod Headquarters Visit
- 2025 Musher Meet & Greet followed by the Iditarod Gala, hosted by Iditarod Trail Committee
- Ceremonial Start of the 2025 Iditarod
- 2025 Iditarod Official Starting Line Event
- optional Checkpoint Fly Out to Rainy Pass Lodge (hosted lakeside) – see pricing below
- Aurora Winter Train with Lunch & Dinner Included Onboard
- 2025 BP Ice Art World Championships with special ice carving demonstration!
- 3 Evening Tours to search for the Northern Lights – 2 of the nights are PRIVATE aurora viewing locations!
- Chena Hot Springs Resort soak/swim pass with Ice Hotel Tour
- Fairbanks Airport Transfer
- All Rail Transfers
- Meals: Breakfasts (9), Lunch (5), Dinner (6)
- Taxes & fees associated with activities & accommodations
- All Local Guide Gratuities are Included!
2025 Iditarod Aurora WITHOUT Checkpoint Flight – Pricing:
$5138 per person based on double occupancy
2025 Iditarod Aurora with optional Checkpoint Flight – Pricing:
$4413 per person based on double occupancy
So what’s not included?? Your commercial flights into Anchorage International Airport (ANC), transfer from Anchorage Airport to the Copper Whale Inn, the meals not listed as included, and any add-on pre/post nights in Anchorage/Fairbanks and your commercial flights out of Fairbanks International Airport (FAI).
To secure you seats online, a $250 per person deposit is requested. After we secure all your information and make your reservations, we will ask for the remaining 50% deposit. The final balance is due 60 days before travel. Cancellations must be made in writing (by email, fax, or mail).
IDITAROD ITINERARIES ARE NON-REFUNDABLE. PLEASE PURCHASE TRAVEL INSURANCE FOR ALL PORTIONS OF YOUR TRIP.
Please note: The flight office does not issue a refund if the Rainy Pass Checkpoint flight is weathered or canceled due to conditions. Your travel insurance would cover this.
What happens if the race starts to change to Fairbanks?? We are fully prepared and experienced with this change! We have this covered. We are more than prepared to adjust this itinerary to include a Fairbanks Start option. The checkpoint location will adjust based on the new trail, so guests with a checkpoint visit will still get this remote experience. This has happened twice in recent history – in 2015 & 2017.
Salmon Berry Travel & Tours recommends travel insurance provided by TravelSafe Insurance. Our recommendation is based on positive guest feedback. In particular, the experience of one Salmon Berry guest is instructive:
- Our guest had booked the vacation of a lifetime and the ultimate Alaska package. She had to cancel the trip a week before it began due to unfortunate circumstances.
- She later told us that within ten minutes of phone time, her claim was processed in full. She was very pleased with TravelSafe Insurance’s immediate and empathetic response. Getting a refund for her trip was the last thing she wanted to think about, and TravelSafe Insurance immediately took care of her needs and concerns.
Due to the high demand and limited availability, Iditarod Itineraries are non-refundable.