Day 1 Arrival Anchorage
Upon arrival in Anchorage transfer to your downtown hotel. Remaining day at leisure.  You have time to explore the historical and scenic points of interest of the downtown area, walk along the Coastal Trail with its great Cook Inlet views or check out the Alaska Native Heritage Center with a variety of interactive displays, shows, and five separate culture galleries about the different native groups that used to live in Alaska. Overnight: Anchorage

Day 2 Anchorage
The Iditarod race starts at 10:00 am on 4th. Avenue in Alaska's largest city. Get up early and observe the start preparations, take close up pictures from the Musher’s and the dog teams and enjoy the bustling and exciting race atmosphere. About 80 Musher’s and over 1000 sled dogs are leaving shortly 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. Remaining day at leisure. Don't miss a seafood dinner with a breathtaking view across Cook Inlet at Anchorage's renowned "Crow's Nest Restaurant". Overnight: Anchorage

Day 3 Anchorage – Wilderness Lodge Fly-out
Optional morning sightseeing tour to Wasilla or Willow for the re-start of the Iditarod. Alternatively - check out the many festivities during the ongoing annual Fur Rendezvous in Anchorage with: Native Arts Market, Theater Show, Winter Carnival Activities, Snow Sculpturing Competition and Snowshoe Softball Matches. Afternoon transfer from your hotel to Lake Hood. Fly-out with private ski planes to the Yentna Station - the first remote Iditarod checkpoint in Alaska’s backcountry. Time to observe the race activities on the ground. We continue along the trail and may observe now also the race from the air before we reach a remote wilderness lodge – located over 150 Miles from the civilization. After a delicious dinner we gather around a bonfire on the Yentna River and await the leading dog teams. Some Musher’s even may stop and enjoy a cup of tea or coffee with us. Overnight: Lodge

Day 4 Finger Lake/Winter Lake Checkpoint
After a hearty breakfast our adventure continues with a morning flight along the Iditarod Trail to the Finger Lakes checkpoint within the eastern fringe of the mighty Alaska Range. (Deli Style Lunch Box & Soft Drinks included) Observe race activities and watch the Musher’s gearing up for the most difficult trip across infamous Rainy Pass. Many teams camp here for a while. It is not uncommon for the area to have 10 ft. of snow on the ground. Afternoon return flight to our lodge. Time to relax or for x-country skiing and ice-fishing. After a delicious dinner we watch out for the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis) and enjoy the peace and solitude of the Alaska wilderness. Overnight Lodge

Day 5 Rainy Pass & Puntilla Lakes Checkpoint - Anchorage
Breakfast at the lodge. We say good-by to the lodge and take our ski-plane for a scenic flight to Rainy Pass and the Puntilla Lake checkpoint. The gateway to the interior offers truly the most spectacular scenery of the entire Iditarod Trail. Many teams are taking their mandatory 24 h. layover here before venturing via the treacherous Farewell Burn area and into the flatlands of the interior. Deli Style Lunch Box & Soft Drinks included. You’ll spend the whole day in this incredible wilderness area along the trail observing dog-mushing activities. Return to Anchorage in the early evening. Overnight: Anchorage