Denali National Park (photo credit: Photos Jocelyn Pride / Travel Alaska)

Checking in on Alaska to See What’s New for 2021

Denali National Park (photo credit: Photos Jocelyn Pride / Travel Alaska)
 
 

New experiences abound in Alaska for 2021, for when your clients are ready to start traveling again. Here, we’ve put the focus on new excursions you’ll want to tell your clients about.

The Alaska Experience Company is a brand-new tour company formed by local Alaskan experts who have traveled extensively through the wilds of Alaska. Experiences include ATV adventures, helicopter flightseeing, the dogs of Iditarod and much more. Each multi-day adventure, all-inclusive package caters to small groups and is accompanied by a personal guide who lives in and is part of Alaska. myalaskaadventure.com

Alaska
Inside Passage (photo credit: Jocelyn Pride / Travel Alaska)

Alaska Tour & Travel, the 25-year-old Anchorage-based custom tour packaging company, recently launched reservations for new winter packages. It also introduced a worry-free cancellation waiver that means reservations can be canceled for any reason without a fee or penalty up until 31 days prior to travel.

New escorted winter tours:

  • Ultimate Winter Wonderland is an 8-day journey from Fairbanks to Anchorage that includes a visit at Denali National Park and Preserve, a chance to witness the Northern Lights and more. Starting from $1,849, departs on Feb. 11, Feb. 18, Feb. 28 and March 7.
  • Iditarod Winter Wonderland is a 5-day experience timed for travelers to cheer from the sidelines at both the ceremonial and official Iditarod starts out of Anchorage and Willow and join in the Fur Rondy festival in Anchorage. Starting from $1,069, departs on March 3.
  • Ultimate Iditarod Winter Wonderland is an 8-day adventure that combines opportunities to see the Iditarod with Northern Lights viewing and a ride on the Alaska Railroad’s winter train. Starting from $1,849, departs on Feb. 28.

Alaska Tour & Travel also instituted a new 14-day no-risk booking policy for 2021. Guests confirming their trip at least 60 days prior to travel will have 14 days to change their deposit and cancellation waiver choices, change their reservation, or cancel their trip for a full refund. alaskatravel.com

Alaska Helicopter Tours will be offering a new helicopter dog mushing tour this winter and next summer in partnership with former Iditarod Champion Dallas Seavey. The tour will depart from Knik River Lodge and land on Cataract Glacier in the Mat-Su Valley. alaskahelicoptertours.com

Sheep Mountain Lodge along the Glenn Highway has introduced new helicopter tours, Sheep Mountain Air. The helicopter tours visit the Matanuska Glacier area, and glacier landings are an add-on option, along with combined packages that include glacier trekking through MICA Guides. The lodge will still operate the restaurant and cabins. sheepmountain.com and sheepmountainair.com

Go Hike Alaska is launching its new 5-day backpacking trip, The Ancient One: K’esugi is Calling in 2021. The K’esugi Ridge line is a 27-mile stretch of land featuring lush boreal forests, unique geology, exciting topography and an alpine paradise that lasts for miles. The ridge parallels both the Chitina River and Alaska range where North America’s highest peak, Mt. Denali, stands at a massive 20,146 ft. gohikealaska.com/hikes

For more information, visit travelalaska.com.