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IDIA01 Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race Tour Start

  • end: Anchorage
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  • Code: IDIA01

IDIA01 Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race Tour Start - 2027

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The Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race is one of Alaska’s most popular winter events, and the excitement starts in Anchorage on the first Saturday of March each year. Crowds gather in downtown Anchorage to celebrate the ceremonial start of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog race. The annual long-distance sled dog race runs from Anchorage to Nome and mushers and a team of 16 dogs cover the distance in 8–15 days or more. Our Iditarod tour start package features many highlights around the race start and Fur Rendezvous celebration. Included is a visit to a sled dog kennel near Willow. Enjoy riding with a team of huskies through stunning scenery on actual trails. The Mushers Banquet dinner is the annual banquet fundraiser and drawing for the official start order. This is the chance to meet the mushers personally. Experience the bustling atmosphere of the Iditarod ceremonial race start on Anchorage's 4th Avenue and the Iditarod restart in Willow. Please  read  our  itinerary  to  have  more  detailed  day-to-day  experience.  On  request,  this  trip  can  be  customized.

  • Itinerary

  • Prices & Dates

  • Attractions & Add-ons

  • Accommodation

  • Map

  • Information

  • Reviews

Anchorage ( Overnight: Anchorage )

Welcome to Anchorage! Upon arrival, settle into your centrally located downtown hotel. Step outside and immerse yourself in the excitement of the Iditarod. Explore downtown Anchorage at your own pace, stopping at the official race headquarters at the Wildbirch Hotel and browse the Iditarod store for authentic merchandise and souvenirs. Enjoy the vibrant atmosphere of the Winter Fur Rendezvous, Alaska’s iconic winter festival, featuring the Native Arts Market, impressive snow and ice sculptures, and a variety of unique cultural events. A visit to the famous Balto statue on 4th Avenue offers a meaningful connection to the race’s legendary history. This evening, choose from lively Rondy entertainment or unwind with a memorable dinner overlooking Cook Inlet.

Anchorage (City Tour & Mushers Banquet) ( Overnight: Anchorage )

Join a 3-hour sightseeing tour through Anchorage, beginning at the historic Ship Creek's Port. Explore the snow sculptures and scenic Bootleggers Cove, which leads to Earthquake Park. Next, enjoy a scenic drive around Lake Hood, recognized as the world's most active seaplane base. Continue to Turnagain Arm, Beluga Point for a chance to spot wildlife, and Potter Marsh within the Anchorage Coastal Wildlife Refuge. Meet at the Dena'ina Center at 4:00 PM with a Musher Meet & Greet, setting the stage for a captivating evening. At 6:00 PM, a gala and fundraiser for the Iditarod begins, featuring live auctions, a three-course dinner, and insightful musher presentations. A highlight of the night is the mushers' drawing of their official race start positions. 

Anchorage (Sled Dog Ride) ( Overnight: Anchorage )

Today, you will be picked up from your hotel and travel about one hour north to a traditional sled dog kennel near Willow, close to the Iditarod restart point. Step into the authentic world of Alaskan dog sledding and meet friendly retired sled dogs while learning about their role in Alaska’s history and the Iditarod. Then set out on an unforgettable ride as a team of eager sled dogs pulls you through scenic winter landscapes - over frozen lakes, through forests, and across rolling hills. Gain insight into harnessing, sled preparation, and life on the trail while hearing stories from experienced mushers, with the chance to interact closely with the dogs. After this memorable experience, return to Anchorage with a deeper appreciation for Alaska’s sled dog heritage.

Anchorage (Iditarod Ceremonial Race Start) ( Overnight: Anchorage )

The legendary Iditarod Race starts at 10 AM on 4th. Avenue in Anchorage. Observe the start preparations, take close up pictures from about 40 Musher's, over 700 Sled Dogs and enjoy the bustling and exciting race atmosphere before the teams are leaving from the starting line for the "1050 mile race to Nome". Anchorage parks and green belts are providing also a great alternative to observe the race activities. The Balto Statue marks the ceremonial starting point of the Iditarod. Balto was the final lead sled dog in a relay of dogsleds that brought vaccine from Anchorage to Nome just in time to stop a diphtheria epidemic in 1925. The story of the sled dog relay is a classic tale of adventure and sacrifice, as mushers risked their lives in brutal conditions to save their fellow citizens.

Anchorage (Iditarod Race Start Willow) ( Overnight: Anchorage )

After breakfast board the motorcoach for a guided tour to the official Iditarod Race Start in Willow. Enjoy the drive along the scenic Glenn Highway with a brief stopover in Wasilla. Continue to Willow where the Iditarod restart ceremony begins at 2:00 PM. Enjoy the busy and bustling Iditarod race atmosphere and the musher's final preparation. For mushers, thousands of cheering fans at the official race restart -- following Saturday's ceremonial start in Anchorage -- now give way to remote Alaska wilderness and the promise of a finish line in Nome some 1,000 miles away, but not before crossing a trail that may prove perilous for both mushers and dogs. Return to Anchorage approximately 6:00 PM.

Anchorage

Take time for last-minute shopping or savor a delicious seafood lunch at one of Anchorage’s renowned local restaurants. For a deeper cultural experience, visit the Alaska Native Heritage Center. The Gathering Place comes alive with traditional Alaska Native dancing, Native Games demonstrations, and storytelling, while the Hall of Cultures showcases authentic exhibits and working artists. Optional experience: For a truly unforgettable finale, consider a scenic flightseeing tour to the remote Rainy Pass checkpoint along the Iditarod Trail. Fly over vast wilderness, glaciers, and rugged mountain landscapes as you reach one of the most dramatic and isolated points of the race. Witness mushers and their teams passing through this critical checkpoint, offering a rare and authentic view of the Iditarod far from the crowds. Check out of your hotel and transfer independently to the airport for your departure.

Rates in US $ / per Person
Comfort Hotel Category Single Double Triple Quad Child
March 3 - March 8 $2011 $1514 $1396 $1338 $1056
First Class Hotel Category Single Double Triple Quad Child
March 3 - March 8 $2470 $1744 $1526 $1434 $1056

What’s included

5 Nights Comfort or First Class Hotel Accommodation

Local Taxes

Kennel Visit & Sled Dog Ride (2 hrs)

Round Trip Transfer to Sled Dog Kennel

Anchorage City & Turnagain Arm Sightseeing Tour

Mushers Banquet Ticket, Meet & Greet including Dinner

Guided Tour to the Iditarod Race Restart in Willow

Daily Continental Breakfast (Comfort Hotel Category only)

Sightseeing Information

Tour Documentation

Tour Departures

March 03 - March 08, 2027

Matanuska Glacier Walk

The Matanuska Glacier is a stable 27 mile long river of ancient ice. Thousands of years old, this massive glacier is tucked up into the Matanuska Valley. You spend 2 h. on the glacier learning how the glacier has formed the landscape in the Matanuska Valley. Explore blue meltwater pools, the ice formations and deep crevasses that make up the Matanuska Glacier. Walking on ice is slippery fun so our guests are equipped with a helmet, walking stick and cramp on for your shoes. This tour requires a walk of 1.5-2 h. In these winter months, we will actually have the assistance of a snowmachine. Of course, our fully-guided transportation includes a pick up at your hotel in Anchorage as well as water and snacks in the touring vehicle. We will also stop for lunch where we will overlook the glacier while enjoying some yummy Alaskan fare

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Alaska Snowmobile Adventure 

Experience the thrill of riding snowmobiles in the wild backcountry of Alaska with opportunities to see wildlife, breathtaking views of Denali, and of course plenty of charging through the powder. Whether you’re a first-time rider or have more experience, our trails cover a wide variety of terrain from twists and turns to snow-covered forests and mountains that will keep you smiling all day long. Located just over an hour from downtown Anchorage, we have hundreds of miles to ride in Willow. Our tours take you from trail riding to exploring powder-covered fields on the Iditarod Trail, or climbing up the Talkeetna Mountains on Hatcher Pass. We’ll build your skills as we go and help you feel confident to ride like a champ as we get you into the best spots in Alaska! 3 hr Duration. Optional shuttle from Anchorage: add $100 per person

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Prince William Sound Glacier & Wildlife Cruise

A rich variety of wildlife thrives year-round in Prince William Sound, and you can cruise these spectacular waters in the comfort of our spacious heated cabins. Winter is no obstacle to your enjoying the beauty of alpine glaciers, jagged shorelines and towering rocky outcroppings through our vessels' large picture windows. We commonly see Steller sea lions, sea otters, Dall's porpoise, and perhaps even Orca or Humpback whales. There is also a variety of ducks and waterfowl present at this time of the year. Join the 3 1/2 hr cruise to see the massive tidewater glaciers of Alaska at Blackstone Bay and Beloit Glacier - some of the most amazing sights you will ever see. Cruise along Passage Canal and venture into magnificent Blackstone Bay, home to seven glaciers and Yosemite-scale waterfalls. During our adventure you’ll step ashore to experience the natural geology and thick rainforest. Enjoy a snack and hot drink as you reflect on your journey and this magnificent nook of Alaska.

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Beverly, New Zealand: Thank you very much for all the hard work you put into organising this trip. It was an excellent trip. I would recommend it to anyone considering going to watch the Iditarod Race. The hotels were well located and really good, as was the transport. Considering that tis trip was booked 18 months in advance and airfares sorted at that time, - all was perfect. Thank you once again

Kees, NY: Yes it was a great tour. You see all the different parts of the Iditarod and also you see a lot of Anchorage and the surrounding. Everything was arranged perfectly. We never had to wait for the tours. The guide was always on time and the program was very diverse. Vern told us all about the in and outs of the race, dogs, sled and the musher. Vern can tell his story out of his own experience and he can do that very well. We had a great lunch and we went out with the dogs and the sled and even got to drive it !