Itinerary Highlights:
Day 1 – Arrival & Yukon Quest Start Banquet Day 2 – Local Guided Capital City Tour Day 3 - Race Start Day & ½ Day Mushing Your Own Team Day 4 - Exclusive Quest Trail by Air Charter to Dawson City Day 5 - Tombstone Territorial Park Exclusive Local Guided Tour Day 6 - Dawson City & the Mushers Day 7 - Special ½ Day Gold Rush Snowmobile Tour Day 8 – Fun ½ day Snowshoeing Excursion from Dawson City Day 9 – Private Group Air Charter to Fairbanks Alaska Day 10 – Special Group Excursion to Circle, Alaska, Yukon Quest Checkpoint Day 11 – Elite Guided Group Visit to Chena Hot Springs Day 12 – Local Guided ½ day Alaskan Snowmobile Tour Day 13 – Finish Line Excitement Day 14 – Private Group Charter Flight to Whitehorse & Home |
All Inclusive Features:
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Day One – Yukon Quest Start Banquet Feb 5, 2015 Air North, Yukon’s Airline commercial flights servicing Vancouver, Kelowna, Calgary, Edmonton & Ottawa, with famous Yukon hospitality – snack and warm cookies included! In Whitehorse your local VIP greeting and private transfer awaits to bring you back to your hotel and get you settled in. Your Arctic outerwear rental will be waiting in your room on arrival for you to try on and ensure fit as well as perhaps a fashion photo. A Yukon Quest welcome package will also be provided in each guest room with up to date itinerary details, maps and information. A private orientation with Klondike Travel, Nature Tours of Yukon and Tintina Air, and introduction party will be held with beverages and snacks. The evening will continue with the Yukon Quest annual Start Banquet where all mushers will be in attendance as they are saluted before they leave on their epic journey. Starting bibs will also be drawn at this time. (D) Banquet Tickets and dinner included Kelowna guests arrive late evening 3 nights in Whitehorse included at Coast High Country Inn or Best Western Gold Rush Inn Day Two – Capital City Tour Feb 6, 2015 Hot breakfast at the Hotel will start you off right. Your local guide will be at your assistance for the day and will attend to your comfort and enjoyment. Your guided City and country tour will include visits to Capital City landmarks, Kwanlin Dun Cultural Centre, carving studio, Yukon Quest headquarters, Quest Fest Activities, Yukon Wildlife Preserve and Takhini Hot Springs. You will want to bring your camera as this day will be memorable. (B, L) All tour, admissions and transportation included Ottawa guests arrive late afternoon Day Three – Race Start Day & Mushing Feb 7, 2015 RACE DAY; you will be excited to join your local guide today to enjoy all the Race Day Activities and Main Event! Nothing can compare to seeing all the dogs bouncing and squealing with excitement. A truly unique experience that won’t be forgotten, as you watch these anxious teams of dogs and athletes head off on the “toughest sled dog race in the world”. Why not take the afternoon and Drive your own Team! Enjoy a half day with your guide and a local musher, and learn to drive your own dog team. Feel the exhilaration as your sled glides effortlessly across the arctic snow and your team waits your instruction. This is something you will want to brag to all your friends and family back home about! (B) All tour and transportation included Day Four – Quest Trail by Air Feb 8, 2015 Enjoy a hot breakfast before checking out of your room and embarking on your VIP aerial Quest Tour. Your local guide will transfer you up to the airport to board your private charter aircraft for safety instruction and orientation. As you rise above the Capital City you will be amazed by the clean air, allowing for miles of viewing mountains and crisp wilderness. Look down and you will see the Quest trail and mushers as they make their way north. You will stop at the Braeburn Lodge Quest checkpoint to see the mushers and their teams, and be treated to a famous cinnamon bun and hot beverage. Continue on to the Carmacks checkpoint by air following the Quest trail, or with you guide by land. Engage with the community as they gather together to support the mushers and care for the dogs. Your next stop will be the Pelly Crossing checkpoint where the Quest officials ensure all is going well with the teams.Get in the spirit as this is home to the Selkirk First Nation and Northern Tutchone culture. As you carry on you will see the famous Five Finger Rapids of the Yukon River and finally make your way to Dawson City, home of the Klondike. Your guide will help you settle in your Klondike accommodations at the Downtown Hotel. If you are up to a challenge you may even try the famous “Sourtoe Cocktail” in the Sourdough Saloon! (B) 5 nights in Dawson City included at the historic Downtown Hotel Day Five – Tombstone Park Excursion Feb 9, 2015 Enjoy a hot breakfast at your historic hotel before departing on your exclusive Tombstone Territorial Park excursion. Travel with your knowledgeable guide up the Dempster Highway to Tombstone Territorial Park. Known by its granite peaks and subarctic tundra landscape, This Yukon Icon, will leave you wanting more. Bring your camera as you will no doubt encounter some arctic wildlife. (B,L) All tour and transportation included Day Six – Mushers in Dawson City Feb 10, 2015 Be ready to greet the mushers as they pull into Dawson City for their mandatory rest and check-in. Your guide will be available all day with transportation and up to the minute race information. Meet the Yukon Quest crews and volunteers and see the inside operation as the day unfolds. Optional flight-seeing may also be available to experience the incredible mountain ranges from the air or to view the mushers as they come in to the Dawson checkpoint. ($) No visit to Dawson City is complete without a visit to the famous Gerties Gambling Hall, with exclusive opening for Yukon Quest, enjoy live Klondike entertainment and gaming. (B) All ground transportation included Optional flight-seeing on request ($) Day Seven - Gold Rush Snowmobiling Feb 11, 2015 Enjoy a day of dogs and mushers as they will continue to arrive for their mandatory layover in Dawson City. Watch the teams arrive in this iconic gold rush town and visit with locals and other race enthusiasts. You may even venture across the Yukon River to the musher campground and see the teams rest and prepare for the journey as it heads north to Alaska. Your guide will keep you updated all day on the latest race news. The afternoon will be spent exploring the Dawson City area by snowmobile, getting out to those places that the rest of the world doesn't get a chance to see. On clear nights you are likely to experience the mysterious Aurora Borealis! Day Eight – Fun Snowshoeing in Dawson Feb 12, 2015 Enjoy your some time to yourself today and possibly explore the heritage buildings and local businesses as well as grab some pictures of the restored paddle wheeler, the SS Keno, on the banks of the Yukon River. You may also take part in the included private, local guided snowshoeing excursion, experiencing nature in its most pure form. You may perhaps even be lucky enough to see some sundogs during the day. (B) All transportation & equipment included Day Nine – To Fairbanks Finish Line Feb 13, 2015 After breakfast and checkout, your guide will transfer you to the Dawson City Airport where you will board your private group air charter to Fairbanks Alaska to meet the mushers when they cross the Quest finish line. Your aerial tour to Alaska will follow the mushers on the trail with a bird’s eye view of the checkpoints along the way. Take in the amazing snowcapped mountain vistas and glacier fields and possibly wildlife as you take your exclusive aerial tour. Once in Fairbanks you will be greeted and transferred to your room at the Marriott on the finish line. (B) 5 nights’ accommodation at Springhill Suites by Marriott Day Ten - Gold Rush Snowmobiling Feb 14, 2015 After a hot breakfast you will join your local guide for a day excursion to Circle City, Alaska, a Yukon Quest checkpoint. See how the mushers and dogs are faring as the edge closer to the finish line. With limited sleep and rationed meals, the 1000 mile trail will be taking its toll. Keep your eye on the night skies as clear cold nights invite the Northern Lights! (B) Day Eleven – Dipping in Chena Hot Springs Feb 15, 2015 Chena Hot Springs is your special destination today and won’t disappoint. Founded over a century ago, Chena is world famous for its legendary healing mineral waters. The Aurora Ice Museum – on site, is also an amazing attraction and technological wonder. The resort’s remote location creates a a perfect environment for wildlife viewing up close so be sure to bring your camera today. You may want to try the “Appletini” at the Aurora Ice Bar – you won’t get that opportunity every day. (B) All transportation & entrance fees included Day Twelve – Alaska Snowmobile Adventure Feb 16, 2015 You will notice the excitement building today as the community prepares and the mushers draw closer to the finish line. As you anticipate the exhilaration of the coming day, your local guide will take you on an Alaskan adventure, exploring by snowmobile the beauty and awe-inspiring freshness of the Alaskan frontier. This evening allows for yet another chance to view the Aurora Borealis if they dare to peek through the darkness of the night skies. (B) Day Thirteen – Finish Line Excitement Feb 17, 2015 Your guide, who has been keeping tabs on the race, will be sure to keep you updated so you can be ON THE FINISH LINE today and witness when the teams arrive. The excitement, exhaustion and celebration of the finish will be something to tell your family and friends for years to come. Be a part of the festivities as media, supporters, volunteers and the community with family and friends all come together for the Big Finish of 2015! Who will be the Winner? (B) Day Fourteen – Charter Flight to Whitehorse Feb 18, 2015 Your guide will transfer you to the airport to catch your charter flight back to Whitehorse. You may catch final glimpses of the last mushers on the trail on your flight. Enjoy the beautiful views and memorable landscapes. (B) Guests from Vancouver, Calgary & Edmonton depart on commercial flights, back home Guests from Kelowna and Ottawa will depart the following day, Feb 19 VALUED PARTNERS Ground Tours by: Nature Tours of Yukon Air Charter by: Tintina Air Hotels by: Coast High Country Inn Downtown Hotel Springhill Suites by Marriott Commercial Air: Air North |