Anchorage (Alaska) | Chena Hot Springs | Fairbanks | Talkeetna (Alaska)
The following are Alaska In Winter: Northern Lights & Dog Sledding Adventure tour dates available from G Adventures. Select a bonus offer graphic to view its details, including its terms.
There is at least one departure that the vendor is advising is Not Available for the selected year. Click here if you would like such tours to be included below.
Arrive at any time. Attend a welcome meeting in the evening and afterwards choose to have an optional dinner together as a group.
Your opportunity to meet your CEO and fellow travellers, and learn more about your tour. Opt to join the group for a local meal afterwards. Don't forget to see the notice in the lobby (or ask reception) for the official time and place to meet up with the group.
In the morning visit the tranquil beauty of the Eagle River Nature Centre for a hike along one of the many trails located in the mountainous landscape of Chugach State Park. Return to Anchorage for lunch on your own, before a private afternoon visit to the Alaska Native Heritage Centre for a more in-depth look into Alaska's Indigenous history. Following the tour, the group will spend free time at the museum before a winter evening to explore Anchorage and have dinner on your own.
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Enjoy the alluring beauty of winter in Alaska's wild landscape with time to hike along trails that are part of the Eagle River Nature Centre within Chugach State Park. The centre is operated by a small, grass roots non-profit organization, and works to ensure continued access to Alaska's important ecosystems. Using crampons the group will walk along a mix of trails ranging from 2-3 miles long to shorter loops.
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Hear the stories of Alaska's Indigenous People as you explore the history and cultural heritage of the The Last Frontier. Your visit will take you on a journey through 10,000 years of Alaska Native history. The exhibit has art, dance, demonstrations of Native Games, traditional Native dwellings, films, and more.
Take advantage of this free evening to explore Anchorage on your own. Winter definitely offers an entirely new experience in the city.
After breakfast the group will head further north to the mighty Matanuska Glacier for an unforgettable walk on the icy blue surface with a local guide. Then head onwards to Talkeetna where there will be free time in this outdoorsy, mountaineering town. The days might be short, but tonight there could be an opportunity to see The Northern Lights, and a great view of Mt. Denali.
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
The Matanuska Glacier is Alaska's most accessible and a popular destination for visitors due to its proximity to Anchorage. With an experienced local guide, the group will set foot on the ethereal blue ice of this massive glacier and experience its uniqueness during the winter season amid Alaska's dramatic scenery.
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Upon arrival to the mountaineering town of Talkeetna the group will have free time to walk around the town, grab dinner on your own, and look up into the sky for a possible view of The Northern Lights with Denali as a backdrop.
Start the morning with a walk around Talkeetna and soak in the snowy scenery. Then, get ready for an epic Alaskan winter activity this morning with an incredible dog sledding experience where you'll learn to mush with the most successful Iditarod dogs of all time. The Alaskan Iditarod race is an annual 1,000-mile sled dog race from Anchorage to Nome. It's known for testing the unique bond between mushers and their canines. See the pups for yourself and feel the adrenaline rush of sledding. The remainder of the afternoon is free for optional activities in the area like a flight sightseeing tour, nordic ski rentals, or a fat bike activity.
Witness the power behind the Alaskan husky as you drive a team of sled dogs on a 45-minute mush over the snow and through a nearby birch forest on the property of an expert Iditarod racer. Learn more about how mushers and their dogs survive together along the 1,000-mile race through the arctic tundra. Get to know these remarkable animals and head over to play with the adorable puppies in training, and learn about their journey towards becoming great champions.
Have lunch your own in Talkeetna and then spend the afternoon trying out one of the many optional activities in the area. Choices include flight sightseeing tours, Nordic ski tours, and fat bike tours. After dark, choose to attend an optional night walk to try and see the Northern Lights.
Today is every traveller's winter Alaska dream! Have breakfast at the hotel, then board the Aurora Winter Train through the gorgeous snowy landscape of Alaska's tundra en route to Fairbanks. Along the hundreds of miles of track, the group will pass by the state's most spectacular landscapes, chugging through spruce forests white with frost and along wide rivers completely frozen beneath layers of ice. Meals can be purchased on board. Arrive to Fairbanks later in the evening and transfer to the hotel.
This 8-hour train ride is the perfect way to experience the stunning winter scenery of Alaska between Talkeetna and Fairbanks. Sit back and relax on board as you slow down to appreciate the ice covered trees and frozen rivers. Opt to have lunch and dinner in the train car with different meal options available, and if the weather allows, watch a beautiful sunset amid the whitewashed tundra. If luck allows you may even see some colors in the inky black sky.
Leave Fairbanks behind today and travel to North Pole, Alaska where this small city has fully embraced its year-round commitment to all things Christmas and Santa Claus. Explore the town and have lunch at your leisure before travelling back to Fairbanks. Then, travel to the Chena Hot Springs, located on a property in the Chena River State Recreation Area surrounded by forest. The resort offers plenty of winter oriented activities to choose from and of course some steamy hot springs to soak in while surrounded by snow. Upon arrival, enjoy free time to experience the many amenities and outdoor activities on offer. This evening after dinner on your own, the group will reconvene and depart on an included Aurora Viewing tour to try and catch a glimpse of the Northern Lights, if the weather allows.
Discover Alaska Native cultures, natural wonders, diverse wildlife, and even Arctic dinosaurs as you explore 2,000 years of Alaska art and history. Experience original exhibits, groundbreaking research by museum scientists, and breathtaking architecture all under one roof.
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Enjoy the included amenities and numerous options for outdoor activities that Chena Hot Springs resort provides its guests. With a half-day of free time, there's plenty of opportunities to try new winter experiences like, the Aurora Ice Museum, a Chena Kennel tour, snowmobiling, or ice fishing. Or you could spend the afternoon soaking in the area's hot spring surrounded by the snowy landscape.
The Chena Hots Springs area is known for being one of the best places on Earth to see the Northern Lights due to its precise location under one of the most active bands of the Aurora Borealis and away from the light pollution of major cities. Plus, Alaska's very cold weather tends to offer clearer skies. During the viewing experience the group will head up into the mountains after dark to a location called Charlie Dome. Spend some time here in the heated huts to warm up and have some beverages and snacks. Then look up and enjoy a 360 degree, unobstructed view of the Northern Lights. There's nothing quite like sipping a cup of hot chocolate while you wait for the magic to happen. The group spends around four hours in this location to ensure maximum amount of viewing time. Please be aware that the Aurora Borealis is a natural phenomenon and cannot be guaranteed.
Enjoy a relaxing morning at the resort to perhaps go for a walk on the property, or soak in the steaming waters one last time. Then, travel to North Pole, Alaska where this small city has fully embraced its year-round commitment to all things Christmas and Santa Claus. Explore the town and have lunch at your leisure before travelling back to Fairbanks. This evening, there will be an optional group farewell dinner at a local spot.
Enjoy a leisurely morning at the Chena Hot Springs.
Settle in and scan the scenery from the comfort of your private vehicle between Chena Hot Springs and Fairbanks.
Head to the town where it's Christmas all year around-the North Pole! Spend free time here in the charm of Santa's Workshop, visit the Santa Claus House, and check out the walls covered with letters from children all over the world. Stroll through this magical winter wonderland and gift your inner child with the magnificence of the Christmas spirit.
Depart at any time.
Not ready to leave? Your CEO can help with travel arrangements to extend your adventure.
Select a destination below to to view the hotel(s) included by G Adventures in their Alaska In Winter: Northern Lights & Dog Sledding Adventure tour:
401 E 6th Ave
Anchorage, United States
17600 Chena Hot Springs Rd, Fairbanks, AK 99712, United States
Chena Hot Springs, United States
575 First Ave
Fairbanks, United States-99701
22056 South F Street
Talkeetna, United States-99676
G Adventures is informing us of the following additional details regarding their Alaska In Winter: Northern Lights & Dog Sledding Adventure tour:
Max 13, avg. 10
Your Welcome Moment: Meet Your CEO and Group. Eagle River Nature Center trail walking. Alaska Native Heritage Center visit. Matanuska Glacier guided tour. Iditarod Dog Sledding excursion. Ride on the Aurora Winter Train between Talkeetna and Fairbanks. Reindeer Farm visit. Northern Lights Viewing Tour. Chena Hot Springs. All transport between destinations and to/from included activities.
Bask in Alaska's incredible winter wonderland climate, Walk on the icy blue surface of the Matanuska Glacier, Practice your mushing skills during a dog sled excursion with champions of Alaska's famous Iditarod, Soak in the warm soothing waters of Chena Hot Springs, Set out on a Northern Lights tracking mission in the Alaskan wilderness, Ride a train through the frozen winter tundra to Fairbanks
Travel insurance is compulsory in order to participate on any of our trips. When travelling on a group trip, you will not be permitted to join the group until evidence of travel insurance has been sighted by your leader, who will take note of your insurance details. When selecting a travel insurance policy we require that at a minimum you are covered for medical expenses including emergency evacuation and repatriation. A minimum coverage of USD200,000 is required. We strongly recommend that the policy also covers personal liability, cancellation, curtailment and loss of luggage and personal effects. Some tours include adventure activities that require extra coverage (e.g. crampon use); please review your itinerary and make sure that you are covered for all included activities. If you have credit card insurance we require proof of purchase of the trip (a receipt of credit card statement) with a credit card in your name. Contact your bank for details of their participating insurer, the level of coverage and emergency contact telephone number.
For this trip we use 15-passenger vans for up to 13 people plus the CEO/Driver. These durable vehicles allow us to drive on most types of roads in North America.Each van has a front passenger seat and 4 benches that will accommodate 3 people each with mandatory seat belts to keep us secure and safe. No standing is permitted in these vehicles. This is not a physically demanding journey, but with limited space in the van, long drive days can be difficult. Please take note of the travel times and distances in the above itinerary. There is air conditioning to cool things down on warm days to keep everyone more comfortable. Despite some of the long days, most travellers feel that the diversity of the North American landscape, culture, and wildlife are all well worth the experience!
Hotels (7 nts)
7 breakfasts
Some meals on this tour are included in the tour price. When a meal is not included, this is because there are often many options available and we believe you should have the opportunity to explore a bit and taste the local cuisine yourself. In these cases, your CEO will be able to suggest some good local restaurants or options for you to choose from.
CEO (Chief Experience Officer) throughout.
This G Adventures group trip is accompanied by one of our group leaders, otherwise known as a Chief Experience Officer (CEO). The CEO will be the group manager, leader and driver - this person is experienced in the routes travelled and will organize and lead the meal preparations and has experience in cooking a variety of local and international dishes for large groups.As the group coordinator and manager, the aim of the CEO is to take the hassle out of your travels and to help you have the best trip possible. While not being guides in the traditional sense, you can expect them to have a broad general knowledge of the countries visited on the trip, including historical, cultural, religious and social aspects. They will also offer suggestions for things to do and to see, recommend great local eating venues and introduce you to our local friends. We also use local guides where we think more specific knowledge will add to the enjoyment of the places we are visiting - we think it's the best of both worlds.
Private vehicle, train.
You must be 18 to travel unaccompanied on a G Adventures tour. For minors travelling with a guardian over 21 years old, the minimum age is 12.
Clothing:o Comfortable sleepwear (that layers for temperature fluctuations)o Fleece jacket or warm layero Fleece pantso Hiking boots/sturdy walking shoeso Long-sleeved shirtso Thermal base layero Warm gloveso Warm hatDocuments:o Flight info (required) (Printouts of e-tickets may be required at the border)o Insurance info (required) (With photocopies)o Passport (required) (With photocopies)o Vouchers and pre-departure information (required)o Visas or vaccination certificates (With photocopies)Essentials:o Toiletries (required) (Shampoo, bodywash, soap, etc.)o Binoculars (optional)o Camera (With extra memory cards and batteries)o Cash, credit and debit cardso Day pack (Used for daily excursions or short overnights)o Ear plugso First-aid kit (should contain lip balm with sunscreen, sunscreen, whistle, Aspirin, Ibuprofen, bandaids/plasters, tape, anti-histamines, antibacterial gel/wipes, antiseptic cream, Imodium or similar tablets for mild cases of diarrhea, rehydration powder, water purification tablets or drops, insect repellent, sewing kit, extra prescription drugs you may be taking)o Flashlight/torch (Headlamps are ideal)o Fleece top/sweatero Footwearo Hato Headphones (Noise-cancelling recommended)o Locks for bagso Long pants/jeanso Moneybelto Outlet adaptero Personal entertainment (Reading and writing materials, cards, music player, etc.)o Reusable water bottleo Shirts/t-shirtso Sleepwearo Small travel towelo Sunglasseso Swimwearo Watch and alarm clocko Waterproof backpack covero Windproof rain jacketHealth & Safety:o Face masks (Clients will be only be required to wear a face mask where it is mandated by local regulations.)o Hand sanitizero Pen (Please bring your own pen for filling out documents.)Winter Weather:o Warm winter coato Waterproof gloveso Waterproof pantso Winter boots/shoes
Your CEO will advise you along the trip where you will be able to do your laundry.
Upgraded: Quality accommodations and more inclusions than on other G Adventures tours, like meals, private transport, and activities.