Yukon Quest Dog sledding | Follow the toughest race

Arrive Whitehorse. Your guide will meet you at the airport and provide a transfer downtown. On the way to the hotel, the guide will point out some of the city’s main attractions including the SS Klondike National Historic Site, the Yukon Visitor Centre, the Old Log Church and the Log Cabin Skyscraper. The Yukon’s capital city, Whitehorse is Canada’s largest north of the 60th parallel, with a population of around 25,000 people. We’ll also visit the very informative MacBride Museum of the Yukon, which tells the story of the Territory from pre-historic times, through the Klondike Gold Rush to today. With its numerous café’s and galleries and well-travelled, well-educated population, Whitehorse has a surprisingly cosmopolitan feel. But the real beauty of Whitehorse is its proximity to some of the country’s most beautiful natural landscapes, literally just minutes from downtown! Conditions permitting, we’ll have a chance at your first views of our stunning Northern Lights before bed. Overnight in a hotel in Whitehorse.

We’ll leave the Yukon’s capital city behind for the wilds of the Yukon interior today. Just outside Whitehorse we’ll stop in at the Yukon Wildlife Preserve for views of the many large mammal species that inhabit the Yukon including moose, caribou, musk-ox, elk, mule deer, Dalls sheep and mountain goats! As we travel the North Klondike Highway northbound, you’ll begin to get a sense of the sheer size and grandeur of the Yukon. At half the size of Ontario, or roughly the same size as California, the Yukon’s total population is only 35,000 people. Breathtaking doesn’t describe the vastness or the beauty of the Yukon’s wilderness! Our route roughly follows the Yukon River valley and takes us through a few small settlements and villages including Braeburn, Carmacks, Pelly Crossing and Stewart Crossing before the Ogilvie Mountains come into view. The road then drops down to the famous Klondike River Valley that spawned the Klondike Gold Rush of 1898. Still considered the greatest gold rush the world has ever seen, the gold discovery near Dawson City in 1896 drew more than 50,000 people to the Yukon in 1898, making Dawson City the largest city west of Winnipeg (Canada) and north of Seattle (USA)! As a national historic site, Dawson City today still retains its turn-of-the-century pioneer feel. Saloons with batwing doors and buildings with wooden facades, wrapped with wooden boardwalks, line un-paved streets. Straight out of the Old West, this is the Yukon you imagined! We’ll take a short city highlight tour on arrival and point out some of Dawson City’s most famous locations including the Palace Grand Theatre, the former Territorial Legislature (now housing the Dawson City Museum), the Commissioners Residence, the SS Keno and the homes of famous Klondike authors, Robert Service, Pierre Berton and Jack London. We’ll also stop by the official Yukon Quest check point to check on the expected arrival times of the first teams arriving this evening. After checking into the hotel and a bite to eat, we’ll walk over to Diamond Tooth Gerties Casino, another gold rush icon, where you can try your hand at the typical casino games, and soak up some serious Yukon Quest atmosphere. Overnight in a hotel in Dawson City.

Today we’ll experience the relaxed pace of Dawson City while we wait for the first team to arrive. The town’s fire siren will announce the first team in, and everyone rushes down to the checkpoint to see who has arrived. To add to the excitement, the first team to arrive is given several ounces of gold by Dawson City as a reward. Spectators will have the chance to meet the mushers and their handlers as they load the sleds and prepare to depart. And of course, you’ll get up close and personal, with the real starts of the show, the 14 delightful Alaskan huskies that comprise each team. Though teams pass through several check points during the race, the Yukon Quest is much more of a test of wilderness survival than Alaska’s Iditarod sled dog race. Teams are required to spend several days between check-points without aid or re-supply, and the Yukon Quest is considered a much more difficult event than the Alaskan race. Yukon Quest teams will be arriving throughout the day, providing many more opportunities for great Quest photos. In between, we’ll visit some of Dawson’s most interesting attractions including the wonderful Dawson City Museum to gain more insight into the Klondike Gold Rush history and the Dänojà Zho Cultural Centre to for an introduction to the people, history and culture of the local Trondek Hwechen (Han) First Nation. Teams will continue to arrive throughout the day and into the evening, occasionally under the soaring Northern Lights, making for a memorable evening. Tonight, we’ll visit Diamond Tooth Gerties for some more casino fun, and for the more adventurous, a chance to experience one of the North’s most infamous rituals, the Sourtoe Cocktail, a Dawson City tradition!. Overnight in a hotel in Dawson City.

Following breakfast, we’ll return to Whitehorse, once again along the scenic North Klondike Highway. During this southbound trip, we’ll stop by the Five Finger Rapids overlook for views of the 4 impressive chunks of rock in the middle of the river that gave river travelers and paddle-wheelers some difficulty during the gold rush. Just outside Whitehorse, we’ll take a relaxing soak in the hot pools of Takhini Hotsprings Resort.

After spending the previous few days watching world-class Mushers, today you’ll get to experience the world of White Fang and Buck for yourself! We’ll travel to a scenic alpine valley located just a short distance outside the city for an introduction to the exciting adventure of dog sledding. We’ve planned 3 more days of great mushing action in the high alpine area around Fish Lake. This area is a favourite backcountry location for local residents; its stunning scenery provides easy access to some of the most beautiful wilderness in the Yukon.

You’ll spend the days mushing your own team of Alaskan husky along a winter trail. The swish of the sled’s runners and the panting of the wonderful huskies and the sound of your own heart beating with excitement are the only sounds you’ll hear as we leave civilization behind for the Yukon wilds. We’ll stop for a trail-side lunch cooked over the open fire before returning to the trailhead.

While we are enjoying our winter fun, Arctic Range staff will be monitoring the progress of the Yukon Quest leader board. The first mushers to complete the 1000 miles of Yukon Quest trail are expected to arrive in Whitehorse sometime on Feb. 13th. While the mushers can be quite spread out after more than 10 days on the trail, through some of the most remote wilderness in North America, several recent Quests have come down to a sprint finish between 2 mushers. We’ll be ready to whisk you down to the finish line so you can witness all the thrilling action yourself. Overnight in a hotel in Whitehorse.

Time for one last look around town this morning before the transfer to the airport. Check-in for your departing flights. End of tour services.