Bettles Aurora

2026 Iditarod Race Start and Northern Lights Tour .

This tour combines our very popular 7 Day Race Start guided tour with a 4 day tour self-guided tour to the Chena Hot Springs Resort. The aurora borealis has fascinated man for centuries and is truly a natural wonder no one should miss. Bands of green, red, purple and white streaking across the sky are symbolic of winter nights in the arctic. This tour takes you to one of the best places in Alaska for viewing the aurora: Chena Hot Springs Resort . Chena Hot Springs is a rustic resort nestled in the Chena Hills and has a wonderful outdoor pool that is perfect for watching the aurora streak across the sky. Sixty miles away from Fairbanks, the resort is beyond the interference of the city's lights and even has heated viewing huts on a remote mountain to further enhance the viewing pleasure. Staying at the resort for 5 nights gives you the best chance of seeing the aurora. Optional activities such as dogmushing, snowmobiling, skiing, hiking and snowshoeing make it the perfect place for a winter getaway.

10 Day Race Start and Chena Hot Springs Tour Highlights

  • Learn about dog mushing and ride the runners on a 6 mile trail at the Hapy Trails Kennel
  • Attend the ceremonial Iditarod Race Start in Anchorage
  • Attend the Iditarod Race restart in Willow
  • Attend the Mushers Meet and Greet followed by the Mushers Banquet
  • Spectacular flight to the Rainy Pass Checkpoint in the heart of the Alaska Range
  • Visit to the Iditarod Museum in Wasilla
  • Visit to the Anchorage Museum of History and Art
  • 3 night stay at one of Alaska's premier locations for Aurora displays
  • Snowcoach ride to remote aurora viewing hut in the Chena Hills
  • Informative geothermal energy tour and Aurora Ice Museum Tour
  • Three days to relax and soak in the hot springs lake

Cost and Details

March 4- March 13, 2026. $6000 pp. shared accommodation, single supplement $1300. Price includes all local taxes.

Tour cost Includes

  • 9 nights lodging
  • Flight to Rainy Pass Checkpoint
  • Dog Mushing at the Happy Trails kennel
  • Meals as indicated on the itinerary
  • Meet and Greet and Banquet tickets
  • Transportation and admission to all activities and events listed
  • Flight from Anchorage to Fairbanks
  • Shuttle bus Transportation between Fairbanks and Chena Hot Springs
Aurora band

Spectacular aurora displays

Willow restart

Willow restart

    Itinerary

  • Day One Wednesday : You will have to take a taxi or Uber from the airport to the Hilton Anchorage as downtown hotels do not have shuttles. Your room reservations at the Hilton will be under your name when you check-in.
  • Day Two Thursday : Group will meet at 10:00 am in the hotel lobby for introductions and sign Liability Waivers before walking to the Anchorage Museum of History and Art. Our visit to the museum is followed by free time for lunch with a meeting in the hotel lobby at 3:15 pm and a 15-minute walk to the Dena’ina Convention Center for a pre-admission to the Iditarod Banquet Meet and Greet, followed by the Musher Banquet at 6:00. The pre-admission gives you access to the mushers before the doors open to the general public. The default serving at the banquet is steak. If you require a vegetarian or gluten free serving, you must request this at the time of your booking. (Dinner)
  • Day Three Friday :- Meet in the hotel lobby for an 8:00 am departure and a guided tour of Anchorage and the surrounding area with Alaska Step-On Guides. This will be followed by a 90 minute or so trip to Martin Buser’s Happy Trails Kennel where you will learn about dog mushing, tour the kennel and take a 6-mile sled ride. Subway sandwiches will be provided as we head to our 12:00 appointment. Expected arrival back to Anchorage about 4:00 pm. (Lunch)
  • Day Four Saturday: Clients are on their own to watch the 10:00 am Ceremonial Race Start on 4th Ave with mushers leaving the starting chute in 2-minute intervals. We will provide information regarding where on 4th Ave. to watch the race during the Thursday Walk to the Museum. We will also point out where the dog teams will be staging before the race begins. Going out early in the morning at 7:30 am or so will give you access to the staging area and opportunities to see the teams up close. (Dinner) The race start will be followed by the running of the reindeer at 4:00 pm. Clients wishing to participate in the Running of the Reindeer can register at this website: https://www.furrondy.net/events/running-of-the-reindeer/. This is a fun event with many participants wearing creative costumes. We will meet at 5:15 pm in the Hilton Lobby and walk to the Glacier Brewhouse for our 5:30 pm reservations. Each client will receive a $50 gift certificate to use at the restaurant as they wish for food, beverages and tip.
  • Day Five Sunday :9:30 am departure for the Iditarod Museum in Wasilla followed by the race start in Willow at 2:00 pm. There is a warm community hall at the race start where you can take a break or buy food and drinks at. Clients can also purchase lunch from vendors outside the hall. After the restart, we will stop for a group dinner in Wasilla on our way back to Anchorage. (Dinner)
  • Day Six Monday :Today we fly over the Iditarod Trail into the heart of the Alaska Range and Rainy Pass Lodge. This gives us an opportunity to view the teams from above and watch the mushers care for their teams at the checkpoint. Departure time to the air strip TBD. We return to Anchorage for the night before heading to McGrath on Tuesday. Departure time TBD. (Lunch)
  • Now the tour becomes a self-guided tour* with all lodging, Fairbanks flight, shuttles and listed activity tickets pre-booked are paid for by Alaska Iditarod Tours
  • Day Seven Tuesday: Transportation provided to the Anchorage Airport for your flight to Fairbanks on Alaska Air. The Chena Hot Springs Shuttle will pick you up in Fairbanks and transport you to the resort. Aurora Viewing Tour is at 9:30 pm. Tickets for the Aurora Tour as well as the Ice Museum Tour are included in your packet.
  • Day Eight Wednesday These are open days for all Clients to soak in the hot springs and explore the resort surroundings with hiking, snow-shoeing, snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, and even a massage. All activities are to be booked through the Activities Desk including the FREE Geothermal Tour at 2 pm or 4 pm daily plus the ticketed Ice Museum tour.
  • Day Nine Thursday: These are open days for all Clients to soak in the hot springs and explore the resort surroundings with hiking, snow-shoeing, snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, and even a massage. All activities are to be booked through the Activities Desk including the FREE Geothermal Tour at 2 pm or 4 pm daily plus the ticketed Ice Museum tour.
  • Day 10 Friday:Chena Hot Springs Shuttle will bring you to the Fairbanks Airport with an anticipated 12:00 pm drop-off time. We hope you will have many fond memories of your Alaska Iditarod Tour.