Alaska Northern Lights

Today your adventure begins upon arrival in Anchorage. If you booked your flight with YMT, a representative will greet you at the airport and transfer you to your hotel. This picturesque city sandwiched between 5,000-foot peaks and the Cook Inlet is home to one of the world’s only urban beluga whale pods. As for humans, nearly half of Alaska’s population lives in Anchorage. You can always find great food like salmon or reindeer sausage, and a great cup of coffee. Just remember to keep your eyes peeled for wild moose, who have been known to wander through downtown. Relax this evening, because tomorrow the fun really starts!

This morning, you will take a deluxe motor coach tour of Alaska’s largest city. Learn more about life in Anchorage from its turbulent past all the way up to the present. Your day continues with a gorgeous drive along the Turnagain Arm, one of the most scenic roads in America. Stop in the resort town of Girdwood, and board the Alyeska Tram for a breathtaking ride from the Hotel Alyeska to the top of Mt. Alyeska. Sit down for a delicious lunch (included), while enjoying panoramic views of Turnagain Arm, up to seven “hanging” glaciers, and deep into the Chugach Mountains. This afternoon, visit the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center. This sanctuary in Portage is home to wolves, bears and moose, as well as lynx, bald eagles and porcupines. Spend the evening enjoying Anchorage at your leisure. (B, L)

After breakfast, take a drive north to Talkeetna, which is the starting point for any climbers to Denali National Park. The Talkeetna Historic District is on the register of National Historic Places, where some of the buildings date back to the early 1900s. Spend the afternoon enjoying Talkeetna at your leisure, and this evening will include an unforgettable Aurora Borealis viewing. The bright dancing lights are collisions of electrically-charged particles from the sun that enter the earth’s atmosphere. Auroral displays appear in many colors, although pale green and pink are the most common. Shades of red, yellow, green, blue and violet have been reported. The lights appear in many forms, from patches or scattered clouds of light to streamers, arcs, rippling curtains or shooting rays that light up the sky with an eerie glow. Enjoy a warm nonalcoholic beverage as you take in the show.
Note: Northern Lights pursuit may be moved to another day, if conditions are better for optimal viewing. Seeing this natural phenomenon cannot be guaranteed. The bus will depart after 8:00 PM and return after midnight.

First thing today, you will board your deluxe motor coach for a scenic transfer north to Alaska’s “Golden Heart City”, Fairbanks. Alaska’s second-largest city was born of gold rush fever, thanks to a eureka! moment in 1902 on the banks of the Chena River. Upon arrival, enjoy a city tour of Fairbanks including the Trans-Alaska Pipeline.

In the afternoon, you’ll join your fellow travelers for a stop at the Morris Thompson Cultural & Visitor Center where you’ll have a chance to learn about the Alaskan Natives that call the interior their home. Spend the evening in hot pursuit of the Aurora Borealis, which appears in the skies above Fairbanks 243 nights a year. Enjoy a warm non-alcoholic beverage while you take in the lights of the night sky.

Note: Northern Lights pursuit may be moved to another day, if conditions are better for optimal viewing. Seeing this natural phenomenon cannot be guaranteed. The bus will depart after 8:00 PM and return after midnight. (B)

After a final breakfast at your hotel (included), it’s time to return to warmer climes. Say goodbye to your new friends and the Last Frontier, then depart for home. (B)

Note: Most flights from Fairbanks are non-direct with at least one or two connections. Departure flights from Fairbanks to most cities are overnight and arrive the following day; some flights depart Fairbanks after midnight.