Alaska in WinterFebruary 28 – March 11, 2017

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Photos: Sunset, Winterlake Lodge; Northern Lights, Taste of Alaska Lodge

Silence, solitude and the sheer expanse of Earth and sky. This is

what one experiences on a winter expedition in Alaska. Join Kevin

Clement on this snowy adventure into the boreal forest and see

Alaska as few travelers do. Spend your days cross-country skiing,

snowshoeing and mushing your own sled dog team through the

taiga. Spend your nights gazing upwards in search of a dazzling

northern lights display from the deck of your wilderness lodge.

This Alaska expedition coincides with the Iditarod, and you will be

present to send off the mushers at the official start of the Last Great

Race. See Denali in all its snow-covered glory, look for Moose and

porcupine along old-growth boreal forest trails, and bask in the crisp

winter sun on this 12-day Alaskan snow safari.

Expedition Over view

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Tuesday, February 28: Arrive Anchorage Arrive in Anchorage and transfer downtown to the Hotel Captain Cook. Enjoy a welcome dinner with your expedition leader and fellow travelers. You will also be joined by Jeff Schultz, the famed Iditarod photographer. Hear Jeff’s own stories of the trail, and see his favorite images of the dogs, people, and landscapes he has photographed from the last 30 years. Overnight at Hotel Captain Cook.

Wednesday, March 1: Anchorage / Winterlake Lodge Enjoy breakfast at the hotel, before transferring to the airport for a scenic flight with views of Denali en route to Winterlake Lodge. Situated 200 miles northwest of Anchorage, along the western edge of the Alaska Range, the lodge sits on 15 acres, overlooking a finger-shaped two-mile lake, and is a checkpoint for the Iditarod Race. See lodge staff and officials preparing for the mushers to come through. Dinner and overnight at Winterlake Lodge.

Thursday & Friday, March 2 & 3: Winterlake Lodge The next two days are dedicated to enjoying this remote and pristine location. Spend your time in dog-mushing school, learning how to drive your own dog team, then cross-country ski or snowshoe along the Iditarod Trail. Each evening, look for Alaska’s northern lights from the lodge’s deck. Dinners and overnights at Winterlake Lodge.

Saturday, March 4: Winterlake Lodge / Talkeetna This morning, enjoy a short flight to the charming hamlet of Talkeetna, standing in the shadow of the 20,310-foot giant, Denali. After lunch, trek through the area’s taiga on snowshoes, looking for Wolf, Moose and Caribou tracks along the way, before reaching a spectacular viewpoint over the Alaska Range. Hear tales of a Denali summit from a local mountain climber. Dinner in town and overnight at Talkeetna Cabins.

I t inerar y

Photos: Starting Line for the Iditarod, Anchorage, Winterlake Lodge

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Sunday, March 5: Willow Enjoy breakfast at a local Talkeetna bakery this morning, before heading out to Willow for the Official Start of the Iditarod. The atmosphere will be raucous and festive as spectators gather to watch the dog mushers take off on their 1,049-mile journey through the most majestic landscapes and perilous conditions in existence, in this “Last Great Race on Earth.” Return to Talkeetna afterwards and enjoy dinner in town. Overnight at Talkeetna Cabins.

Monday, March 6: Talkeetna / Fairbanks After breakfast, load up for a drive on the Parks Highway through the Alaska Range. Stop in Denali National Park for a guided driving tour to the Savage River (weather permitting). Enjoy a tundra walk along the river’s edge, and keep your eyes open for Pika and Snowshoe Hare, as well as Caribou. Afterwards, continue on to Fairbanks and enjoy dinner in town before your overnight at the secluded Taste of Alaska Lodge outside the city.

Tuesday, March 7: Fairbanks / Bettles Lodge This morning, the great Alaskan dog musher, Mary Shields, will show you around her property. Mary will introduce you to her family of huskies, the very same sled dogs who have seen her through a number of breathtaking long-distance races. Learn about how it felt to be the first woman to complete the Iditarod, and about the greatest adventure of her life so far—the 1,200-mile Hope ‘91 journey through Siberia. After lunch, transfer for a short flight across the Yukon River and Arctic Circle, to the tiny village of Bettles. From the plane, enjoy views of the majestic Brooks Range—the northernmost mountain range in America—and Gates of the Arctic National Park. Settle into your hotel, and take advantage of its remote location to look for Alaska’s northern lights. Dinner and overnight at the historic Bettles Lodge.

Wednesday, March 8: Bettles Lodge Today, enjoy a guided tour of the Bettles area, including the Inupiaq Eskimo village of Evansville. There will also be time for a dog-sledding tour, for those who enjoy the view of the tundra from this perspective, or a rousing snowmobile ride. After dinner, enjoy more northern lights viewing. Bettles sits under what is called the “Auroral Oval”, a ring-shaped region around the North Pole, which offers a great balance of occurrence, frequency and activity. Intensity varies from night to night, with the best viewing from late evening through the early morning hours. Dinner and overnight at Bettles Lodge.

Thursday, March 9: Bettles Lodge / Fairbanks After breakfast, fly back to Fairbanks and visit the Museum of the North, which offers 1.4 million artifacts and specimens representing thousands of years of culture and natural history in Alaska. Enjoy dinner in town, then view one of Fairbank’s most popular winter attractions—the Alaska Ice Park. Partake in a variety of activities such as the giant ice slide, ice-skating, and of course, viewing the magnificent ice sculptures. Carvers from around the world travel to Fairbanks to showcase their talent. Some sculptures are many stories high, built from giant ice blocks. Overnight at Taste of Alaska Lodge.

Photos: Denali at Sunrise, Snowshoe Hare, Northern LIghts at Bettles Lodge, Ice Art

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Friday, March 10: Chena Hot Springs / Fairbanks Head out of town to Chena Hot Springs Resort, legendary for its healing geothermal pools. Tour the resort’s ice museum, visit the dog kennels or join a geothermal renewable energy tour. You’ll also have time to soak in the hot springs, in the peaceful, outdoor rock lake or indoor pool. This evening, return to the hotel for a festive farewell dinner. Conclude your Alaska winter tour with one last night of viewing the aurora borealis. Dinner and overnight at Taste of Alaska Lodge.

Saturday, March 11: Depart Fairbanks Head to the airport for your early morning flights home.

Market at Merkato

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Photos: Chena Hot Springs, Flightseeing over Alaska Range

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Expedition Map

A – Anchorage

B – Winterlake Lodge

C – Talkeetna

D – Willow

E – Fairbanks

F – Bet t les Lodge

By Air By Road

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Kevin ClementNot many people can say they have lived inside Denali National Park, but Kevin Clement is one. Nowadays, however, he spends most of his time guiding ecotourism and adventure travel trips on all seven continents. Kevin has served as the Denali Foundation instructor for natural history and as a trainer for the Park’s staff of naturalists. For several years he worked with the sled dogs of Denali National Park, rebuilding sleds in the summer and patrolling in the winter. He has lived in several other national parks and has guided groups in whitewater rafts, on cross-country skis, by sled dog, and on foot, earning certifications in scuba diving, swiftwater rescue, and wilderness medicine, as well as a Coast Guard Master’s license.

Kevin’s interests and experience make him a superb all-round naturalist. A veteran of over 100 voyages to the Antarctic, most recently Kevin has been coordinating and leading kayaking excursions in South Georgia and on the Antarctic Peninsula. Kevin also continues to draw and paint. His first career was as an illustrator and he never travels without his sketchbook. Or his sense of humor.

“Kevin is the consummate

Renaissance Man, possessing a

poetic and artistic take on the

world that adds a fascinating

dimension to his interpretation

as you explore alongside him.”

– Judy M., Hawaii

Your Expedition Leader

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Alaska in Winter February 28 – March 11, 2017$14,970 Per Person Rate

$17,780 Solo Rate

12 Days Trip Length

16 Guests Group Size

Anchorage / Fairbanks Start/End

Expedition Details

IncludedApex Expeditions’ rates include all accommodations; all meals, activities and excursions as described in the

itinerary; air from Anchorage to Winterlake Lodge, Winterlake Lodge to Talkeetna, and Fairbanks to Bettles Lodge

roundtrip, as noted in the itinerary; services of an Apex Expedition leader and local guides throughout the itinerary;

local beer and wines at lunch and dinner; all gratuities; airport transfers; permits and entrance fees; all taxes.

Not IncludedCosts not included in the price of your Apex expedition include travel to and from the start and end point of trip;

premium brand drinks and liquor; travel insurance (Trip Cancellation and Interruption, as well as Emergency Medical

and Evacuation insurance, are highly recommended); airport departure taxes; equipment rental; excess baggage fees;

passport and/or visa fees; items of a personal nature (phone calls, laundry, souvenirs, etc.); and independent travel

arrangements pre- or post-trip.

Payments & Terms20% of the trip cost will confirm your place on the expedition. The final balance is due 150 days prior to departure.

All prices are quoted in U.S. dollars and must be paid in U.S. dollars. Per person pricing is based on double occupancy.

The solo rate is paid by participants who specifically request single accommodations and is subject to availability.

If you are traveling alone and wish to share accommodations, we will try to match you with a roommate of the same

gender. However, if a roommate is not available, the published solo rate will be charged. Upon confirming your

reservation you will be required to pay the published Solo Rate, if we are able to pair you with a roommate, the

applicable difference will be refunded at the time that the final trip payment is due for all participants. Please note that

solo accommodations are limited and cannot always be guaranteed throughout. For our full set of Terms & Conditions,

please visit our web site at www.apex-expeditions.com/about/terms-conditions/

One-of-a-kind adventures to the world’s most fascinating places. Join us.

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Alaska in Winter February 28 –March 11, 2017

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