Price per Person
$2,860 double occupancyDuration
9 daysDates
FEBRUARY 29 - MARCH 8, 2016Ultimate Iditarod with Hurricane Train
- Description
- Cancellation Policy
- Travel Insurance
ITINERARY
Monday, February 29
Welcome to Alaska! Fly directly into Anchorage to start your adventures. Your Salmon Berry Tours guide will meet you outside Baggage Claim #3 and bring you into downtown Anchorage for your overnight stay at one of our favorite downtown lodgings. You will have an easy walk to the Iditarod starting line, as well as many of our favorite shops and eateries, the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail and the Fur Rendezvous Winter Festival.
Today Includes: Arrive in Anchorage, Overnight Anchorage
Tuesday, March 1
This morning travel south along the Turnagain Arm with a local guide to the seaside town of Whittier. Here we board the M/V Qayaq Chief to explore Prince William Sound and the Blackstone Bay. Beach the vessel at Blackstone Bay to explore the beach, taking photographs of the glaciers and possibly see some beautiful icebergs floating!! This full day tour includes roundtrip guided transportation, a lunch served on board and a 4hr cruise in Blackstone Bay. We will take scenic photo stops along the Turnagain Arm as we return back into Anchorage this afternoon.
Today Includes: Blackstone Glacier Cruise, Overnight Anchorage (B, L)
Wednesday, March 2
The Seward Highway is a “National Scenic Highway”, and for good reason! Your Salmon Berry tour guide will drive you from your hotel, down the Turnagain Arm to the aerial tram up Mt. Alyeska. At the top we will enjoy the snow-covered decks, watching skiers and snowboarders have a blast on the famed North Face – one of the longest double black diamond runs anywhere! The next highlight is the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center. This rescue center is home to bears, a musk ox herd, a wood bison herd that was once thought to be extinct, moose, an elk family, caribou herd, and more! Lunch is included at a local eatery at the base of the Chugach Mountains serving bottomless soup of the day, sourdough bread made daily, dessert and a beverage.
Today Includes: Winter Turnagain Turnaround Tour (B, L)
Thursday, March 3
This morning check in for the northbound train from Anchorage to Talkeetna aboard the iconic Alaska Railroad’s Hurricane Train. Ride the rails enjoying scenic views and local Alaskan commentary along the way. Upon arrival into Talkeetna, your Salmon Berry Tours guide will be there to pick you up to bring you to check into the Historic Talkeetna Roadhouse. NOTE: Don’t worry about luggage along the way – your guide will bring your luggage and it will be waiting for you in your room at the Roadhouse.
Enjoy Talkeetna with visits to the Rangers Station to learn about mountaineering on Denali, Susitna Salmon project to learn about one of our most precious natural resources, and the Talkeetna Historical Museum to learn about the early pioneers of this unique town. You are also welcome to sign up for an optional Mt. McKinley South Face Flight (please book in advance). Please note: Lunch will be on your own this afternoon. There are plenty of great places to eat in Talkeetna! The afternoon is yours free to nap or explore the town. Tonight we will meet for dinner at the local brewery for some fantastic food to get you fueled up for tonight’s adventure! After dinner, the Star Lady’s interactive chat will give you some great info on the Alaskan night sky and the aurora phenomenon so you feel ready to go hunting for the northern lights! Your guide will get you suited up with snowshoes and a headlamp, and then take you to the best spot for viewing the Alaskan sky and look for aurora borealis.
PLEASE NOTE: On this day tour – guests disembark the train in Talkeetna prior to Hurricane Gulch. If you wish to travel to Hurricane Gulch on one of America’s last flag stop trains for potential views of Denali, we can organize a picnic lunch meal with beverages; however, it would mean that you have to skip the town tour and the optional McKinley Flight Tour, and you would be arriving into Talkeetna at approximately 5:00pm.
Today Includes: Take the train to Talkeetna, Evening Search for Auroras on Snowshoes, Star Lady Presentation, Overnight Talkeetna (B, L, D)
Friday, March 4
Wake up to an Alaskan-sized breakfast at the famous Talkeetna Roadhouse. Featured on both the Travel Channel and the Food Network for their casual family style dining, the Talkeetna Roadhouse has been serving up food for travelers and locals alike since the gold rush days! Today, we will enjoy Alaska’s favorite sport: dog sledding! Travel into mushing country and the Dallas Seavey homestead! This adventure includes 2-1/2 hours of touring Dallas Seavey’s kennel, riding the runners of a real dog sled, cuddling puppies, and plenty of time for pictures with the dogs and the trails. This experience is one to never forget! Dress warm, and supplemental mushing attire will be provided for you if needed. After mushing, your Salmon Berry Tours guide will provide you with transportation back into Anchorage. A late lunch will be included on our way back into town.
Today Includes: Alaskan-sized breakfast at the Historic Talkeetna Roadhouse, Dog Sledding with Dallas Seavey Racing, Overnight Anchorage (B, L)
Saturday, March 5
Today is the start of the 2016 Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. You will be on your own to walk around downtown today to witness the ceremonial start. Marvel at the organized chaos, participate in the Running with the Reindeer or take the shuttle out to the Alaska Native Heritage Center (following the race) to enjoy their annual dancing and drumming demonstration. Stop by our office for hot chocolate and some authentic Alaskan hospitality. Check your Fur Rondy guide for other activities and events going on today! An advanced schedule can be found at furrondy.net! Debra Dawn never misses the Running with the Reindeer!!
Today Includes: Ceremonial Iditarod Start in Anchorage on own, Overnight Anchorage (B)
Sunday, March 6
Now the real competition begins… Head north with Salmon Berry Tours today to the Official Start of the Iditarod! Your guides will serve fresh baked scones and hot chocolate on the way, telling stories of the race, information/details about the race rules and giving you Alaskan insight into the Last Great Race, a race of both survival and strategy. A courtesy stop is done at the Fred Meyers in Wasilla. Here guests can get snacks, beverages and chairs (if you wish to have your own all day) for comfort on the frozen lake! 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 and chairs 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 back into Anchorage after an exciting day on Willow Lake.
Today Includes: Official Iditarod Start in Willow, Overnight Anchorage (B, L)
Monday, March 7
Rainy Pass is an official Iditarod Checkpoint, and that is your destination today. Enjoy the amazing flight north from Anchorage, with a great view of the city before leaving it behind for pure wilderness. Fly over mountains, valleys, see glaciers, and the Iditarod Trail itself on your way to land on the lake. The ski plane will land you right on a frozen lake in front of the lodge, where you’ll immediately see the Iditarod volunteers in action. Spend the morning watching and learning, as mushers come through the checkpoint, booty their dogs, sign autographs, and move on down the trail.
Today Includes: Rainy Pass Iditarod Checkpoint, Overnight in Anchorage (B, L)
Tuesday, March 8
Thank you for visiting with us at Salmon Berry Tours! Take in your last look at Alaska with your tour guide from the Inn to the Airport. We appreciate you choosing to travel with us during our favorite time of the year – Iditarod – and we hope you enjoyed your stay from searching for the aurora in Talkeetna to the cruise through Prince William Sound’s Blackstone Bay and then the Official 2016 Iditarod starting line event!
Today Includes: Hotel Shuttle to Airport (B)
Multi-Day Itinerary Cancellation Policy: A 50% deposit is required to start the booking process. Remainder is due 60 days prior to travel. Cancellations must be made in writing (email, fax, or mail). Processing fee of $100 per guest applies for cancellations more than 60 days before travel, or 50% of total if received less than 60 days from travel. No refund applies if cancellation is received less than 30 days prior to travel.
Day Tour Cancellation Policy: For cancellations outside of 14 days before the first day of your tour, a 10% fee will be withheld. For cancellations inside of 14 days, no refund applies.
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 took care of her needs and concerns immediately.