2022 YUKON QUEST TOUR - FROM FAIRBANKS
7-Day Yukon Quest Tour
Trip Highlights
Enjoy the Mushers Banquet.
See the star of the Yukon Quest, the 1,000 mile International sled dog race.
See the finish of the Yukon Quest 300.
Visit several of the race checkpoints.
Witness the magical spectacle of the Northern Lights as they dance across the sky.
Transportation, guide and lodging included.
TOUR ITINERARY - 7 DAYS
Observe part of the 1,100 Mile long Yukon Quest Sled Dog Race which is considered to be one of the most Epic and Toughest sleddog race in the World! Follow the teams along the trail, mingle with mushers and dogs at checkpoints and, enjoy a scenic drive through the heartland Alaska in the winter. You will be talking with mushers, see what goes on at the checkpoints, experience vets and officials at their work. Follow the race from Fairbanks to Circle and back or extend your visit and take an overnight guided round trip journey to the Arctic Circle. This tour offers the perfect combination of race observation and action as well as winter activities in the amazing part of Alaska!
Day 1: Fairbanks: Arrive in Fairbanks. Airport transfers included. This afternoon, we will meet in the lobby of the lodge for a pre-trip orientation. This evening, attend the Musher’s Banquet. Enjoy the Yukon Quest Festivities at the Musher’s Banquet. Mingle with the mushing community from near and far and bring your camera for a photo opportunity with your favorite musher. Overnight in Fairbanks.
Day 2: Fairbanks: After breakfast, we will visit the University of Alaska Fairbanks Museum. Situated on a ridge overlooking Fairbanks and the Alaska Range, UAF has the best view in town! Here you will marvel at the natural and cultural history of Alaska, the science behind the Northern Lights, view a 36,000 year old Steppe bison mummy, see the state’s largest gold display, and also learn about the trans-Alaska pipeline. The afternoon is free to wander and explore this city. Tonight, we will go to the University of Alaska to scan the sky for the Northern Lights. Overnight in Fairbanks.
Day 3: Fairbanks: Today the Yukon Quest Sled Dog Race is in full swing! The Yukon Quest Race begins on the Chena River downtown Fairbanks. Mushers can be seen on the trail along the Chena Hot Springs Road and the Steese Highway. After the start of the race, we will travel about 60 minutes and follow some of the teams along the Chena Hot Springs Road and visit the Two Rivers checkpoint. Overnight in Fairbanks.
Day 4: Chase the Race: Mile 101 and Central Checkpoints: After breakfast, we will travel along the Steese Highway and follow mushers and dog teams to Mile 101 checkpoint and watch as they take off towards Eagle Summit. We will spend some time watching teams come into Mile 101 and then start to make our way towards Central. Central hosts a checkpoint for the long-distance Yukon Quest sled dog race. We will overnight at Steese Roadhouse. Accommodations at the Roadhouse may be considered slightly rustic, but are certainly clean and comfortable. On the property, a bathroom with shower is shared by the occupants of this building. Later tonight, we will go outside and scan the skies for the northern lights or hang out and wait for teams as they arrive into this checkpoint. Central is located under the most active band of Northern Lights and away from the light pollution. Overnight in Central.
Day 5: Central & Circle Checkpoints: This morning you will have breakfast Central Roadhouse. Afterwards, we will continue along the Steese Highway towards Circle. Circle is 160 miles northeast of Fairbanks at the end of the Steese Highway. Circle was named by miners in the late 19th century who believed that the town was on the Arctic Circle. The Arctic Circle is actually about 50 miles north of Circle. Circle was established in 1893 when gold was discovered in Birch Creek, and served as an unloading point for supplies shipped up the Yukon River from the Bering Sea. The goods were sent overland to gold mining camps. In 1896, before the Klondike Gold Rush, Circle was the largest mining town on the Yukon River, with a population of 700. It had a store, a few dance halls, an opera house, a library, a school, a hospital, an Episcopal church, a newspaper, a United States commissioner, marshal, customs inspector, tax collector and a postmaster.
Circle lost much of its population after gold discoveries in the Klondike, in 1897, and Nome, in 1899. A few miners stayed near Circle and mining in the area continues to the present. Most of the people in Circle today are Athabascan. Here, again we will watch as mushers and dog teams come into this checkpoint. There are great photo opportunities at this location including amazing views of the Yukon River. Watch as musher depart Circle and head into the wilderness across the Yukon River en route towards Eagle. Overnight in Central.
Day 6: Central Checkpoint YQ300 Finish: Today we’ll spend the entire day in Central. We will wait as the Yukon Quest 300 finishers come into Central. Later this evening we can scan the skies for the northern lights. Overnight in Central.
Day 7: Fairbanks: We will enjoy breakfast together this morning and start our way back to Fairbanks. Along the way, we will stop at the Alyeska Pipeline interpretive site and learn about the history of the pipeline. Overnight in Fairbanks.
Extend your tour and combine it with an Arctic Circle overnight trip. Click Here.
TRAVEL INFORMATION
ABOUT THIS TOUR: Adventure travel is exactly is as its name implies, an adventure! Although every attempt is made to adhere to these itineraries, participants need to acknowledge and willingly accept the unexpected route and itinerary changes due to factors beyond our control. About Aurora viewing and moon phases: we run our tours even when there is a full moon, a new moon and at all times in between. During a full moon the foreground is brighter, allowing you to capture the foreground. During a new moon, the sky is darker so the lights may appear slightly brighter. However, since we are in a place where the lights are so bright anyway, this makes very little difference in the quality of viewing. Aurora viewing is subject to weather conditions and solar activity and its not guaranteed. Some activities are subject to change when temperatures are below -30°F.
NOTE ABOUT THE ROUTE OF THIS TOUR: This tour operates only on even years.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS FOR THIS TOUR: (Easy/Moderate)
The Yukon Quest Tour does not require a high degree of physical fitness. However, we will be exposed to extremely cold weather, often experiencing high temperatures well below freezing, which in itself can be physically challenging. We may also have to walk in deep snow. Most nights we will stay up past midnight to look for the northern lights, which typically appear later in the evening.
WHAT IS INCLUDED AND WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: Transportation, lodging, transfers and baggage handling and meals as indicated on the itinerary. All rates are per person in U.S. dollars based on shared occupancy. Single supplement is $975 for this tour. Accommodations are double occupancy. Due to the remote nature of the town of Central City, the accommodations there is unlike any other place you’ve stayed in. Because there are not many choices, the accommodations in Central City are very basic to rustic Alaskan and cannot be considered to be 5-stars by any means. It is the nicest place in town and is cozy and welcoming. However, you may have to share a room and or bathroom facilities. It certainly won’t be as nice as standard hotels you’ll find elsewhere. This is just a fact of life in the arctic. We’ll do everything we can to make sure you are comfortable and taken care of on this trip. Tour does not include Alaska Borough taxes, air transportation to and from Alaska or any optional tours, liquor, items of personal nature or other purchases. Winter clothing rental is available in Anchorage in limited supplies. (See below) This is the important part: Tour participants must understand and be willing to accept that weather can affect changes in the itinerary. Any additional costs which occur due to weather issues, delays, extra nights lodging or unforeseen circumstances, the tour participant is responsible for these expenses. You should plan to have some "buffer" days in your itinerary. Planet Earth Adventures will not be responsible for any missed flights or connections. For this reason, we strongly recommend that you purchase travel insurance.
TRAVEL INSURANCE: We strongly suggest purchasing trip cancellation/interruption insurance to protect your travel investment at the time you sign up for one of our trips. This coverage will offset cancellation charges in the event of illness before or during your trip. Trip cancellation/interruption and baggage insurance is available at a supplemental cost. Click Here to purchase travel protection.
WINTER GEAR RENTAL: Anyone visiting Alaska in the winter time should bring a warm hat, gloves, neck scarf, and a heavy coat. Layering is the best way to keep warm in Alaska. A light weight thermal with a fleece and a loose fitting jacket is recommended. Please refer to our "What to Wear Winter Guide" by clicking the link below. In Fairbanks, Arctic Wear rents insulated snow type pants, parkas with hoods, and boots. We do not guarantee availability or sizing. You can make reservations on garments on-line. Please call Arctic Wear at (907) 341-4475 for questions and availability.
2024 TOUR DATES, COST & TOUR INFORMATION
TOUR DATES: FEBRUARY 1, 2024
TOUR COST: $4,795 per person/double occupancy
MEALS: B= Breakfast L=Lunch D=Dinner
NOTE: This tour is offered only on even years (Fairbanks - Whitehorse)
OPTIONAL TOUR ACTIVITIES
Please note that these optional activities will add extra days to the tour itinerary.