My wife and I traveled from Fairbanks, Alaska to Dawson City, Yukon Territory, on a 6-day Northern Lights and Fall Colors tour run by Wild Alaska travel. Our host was Laurent Dick. This has to rank as one of the most wonderful vacations of our lives. The scenery was spectacular - we hit the Alaska/Canadian border at exactly peak Fall color. The Top of the World Highway was overwhelmingly beautiful. Chicken, Alaska, with its history of gold mining, was a fascinating place. Dawson City and the Yukon River was a historical wonder. Although we struggled with variable cloud cover, we saw some fine auroras. The thread of gold mining, both historical and present day, wound through the entire trip like a great - sometimes tragic - historical epic novel. The pace of the six-day tour, driving in a minivan from Fairbanks via Tok, Alaska to Dawson City, Yukon, never felt rushed. There was always time to walk, take photographs and learn about the specific locations which we stopped at. We were fortunate with generally good weather and a very pleasant, friendly small group (10). This, however, was a small contribution compared to the leadership of Laurent Dick. Laurent has an encyclopedic knowledge of the history of Alaska and Canada. He has a decade-long career as a photographer and writer. He is a great story teller. In addition to this, though, he knows how to run an immersive travel experience. He is always enthusiastic, always good-humored, always willing to go the extra mile for his clients. He was very willing to be flexible during the trip allowing us to do things "our own way" and make the traveling be our own distinctive experience , rather than adhere to a rigid plan. He spent enormous effort getting to know each of us and constantly steered the conversation in a light hearted way to an inclusive goal, making us all feel appreciated and valued. I could not imagine a better tour guide and I would unreservedly recommend him to anyone thinking of a trip like this. I do know that this special vacation will stay in our memories for a long time. read more

I just returned from my third trip with Wild Alaska Travel. All but one person in our small group of 10 travelers have done multiple trips with Wild Alaska. Laurent (owner and guide) lives and breathes Alaska and the aurora. On this trip we saw beautiful fall colors, the aurora several nights and got to experience the funky mining town of Dawson City, Yukon, Canada. We traveled through the Alaska Range where each turn provided a WOW vista, then traveled the Top of The World Highway into Dawson City. Words cannot describe the beauty of this part of the world. You won't experience this on any other tour and would certainly miss much of the sights traveling on your own. I'm planning on yet another trip with Laurent and Wild Alaska in the future! read more

See all

We just returned from our third tour with Wild Alaska Travel, this time on the Northern Lights & Fall Colors tour. Laurent Dick, the owner and guide, is outstanding. His ability to plan a top-notch itinerary, find unexpected adventures, and make each guest feel welcome and cared for are truly exceptional. And he is a truly fun and generous person. We experienced the gorgeous fall colors of Alaska, several nights of northern lights, and some gold rush relics. We much prefer the small group travel, as it provides a more personal experience. We highly recommend traveling with Wild Alaska Travel and already look forward to another adventure with Laurent. read more

We had a great time on our northern lights tour. Laurent was a great tour guide and we loved our trip. We were able to experience seeing the beautiful northern lights, loved the dog mushing through the forest and across the snow covered fields, and enjoyed the hikes on the frozen river and surrounding areas. The cabins in Wiseman were comfortable and clean. We enjoyed our time with new friends. We would definitely recommend this tour. FMG. read more

Wild Alaska Travel - Our cabin - Tours Near Me - Anchorage, Alaska

See all

Wild Alaska Tours ROCKs!! What an amazing week viewing the Northern Lights and traveling up the Dalton Highway! I have done multiple tours over the years but none compare to Wild Alaska Tours!! Laurent is an amazing tour guide! I felt like I was traveling with one of my close friends!! Thank you for showing us Wild Alaska with such heart and inspiration!! I will be back!!! read more

See all

I have traveled a lot and gone of lots of great trips, but the northern lights trip with Wild Alaska Travel and tour guide Laurent was the best trip I have ever been on. The trip included much more than seeing the northern lights. We went dog sledding, hiked in crampons on a frozen creek, went to an ice carving festival, went sledding, and had a fantastic time. If you are looking for a northern lights trip or a trip to Alaska, I highly recommend Wild Alaska Travel and Laurent for a wonderful trip. read more

This company and the owner Laurent Dick are nothing short of fantastic! I took his Iditarod start tour with the add on norther lights tour and it was everything I hoped for and more! We saw so many beautiful sights I can't stop using exclamation points!!! We saw dogs, sleds, mountains, bush planes, hot springs, moose, lakes, 1 incredible tunnel and yes we saw the northern lights! Saw the international competition of ice sculptures too The food was incredible. I don't think we ate at a single chain restaurant! Only great Alaskan eateries. It was cold, but never unbearable. Anyone who is interested in this activity should definitely travel with Wild Alaska Travel. I hope to travel with Laurent again next summer. read more

This was the best trip of my life; the Aurora Borealis was spectacular! Lots of oohs and aahs. I recognize that this cannot be controlled by the guide but Laurent Dick was extremely knowledgeable about where and when we should be scanning the skies so our time watching the sky versus sleeping was maximized. In addition, he had other unique events planned, such as ice overflow hiking and a visit to the Chena Hot Springs, to occupy our daylight hours and was just plain fun to be around. We all laughed and laughed during the "Wiseman triathlon" (ice sculpture, snow angels, and snowshoeing). You had to be there to appreciate it but there is no doubt that Laurent's personality and leadership set the tone. Definitely a 10 out of 10. read more

When I first contacted the owner, Laurent, of Wild Alaska Travel, I had some very basic questions. For example, should someone who lives in a warm climate consider a trip to Alaska in spring or wait until fall. Yes, I was a bit apprehensive (how much clothing will I have to wear to ensure that I don't feel cold all the time!). He responded to every question quickly and with honesty. Whew! Happily, I just returned from an incredible week-long trip to central and northern Alaska focused on viewing the Northern Lights ("Alaska Northern Lights Tour"), and it exceeded all expectations. We were fortunate to see, and photograph, the aurora borealis on multiple nights -- a truly magical experience that's hard to put into words. Keeping in mind that the lights are elusive and rarely visible to the naked eye, you must be prepared to get up in the middle of the night and know how to use your camera! Laurent and the friend I travelled with helped me deal with the challenges (for me) of using my digital SLR, so I have proof that I was there. Even if I hadn't taken any of my own shots, Laurent makes sure to take pictures throughout the entire experience. Did I mention that he's a professional photographer? More "whew!". What made this trip exceptional was Laurent, who brought remarkable expertise and personality to every aspect of the journey. His intelligence and quick wit kept our group engaged and entertained throughout the week, while his generosity was evident in countless small touches that enhanced our experience. Most impressively, he had an intuitive understanding of each person in our group, adapting his approach to match different personalities and comfort levels. One of the best aspects of spending a bit more money to be part of a small group is that customization is so accessible. Weather change? No problem, let's do this instead! The Northern Lights displays we witnessed were breathtaking - the highlight we came for. But the overall experience, shaped by outstanding leadership and attention to detail, coupled with a group of incredibly warm, like-minded, flexible people, made this trip truly memorable. I highly recommend this Alaska adventure to anyone hoping to see the aurora borealis. Even if all you see is snow-covered mountains, the tundra dressed in her fall colors, and a moose or two, I promise that you'll feel refreshed and rejuvenated. I know now that the owner has repeat customers, and I completely understand why. read more

Wild Alaska Travel is a MUST for anyone interested in the Iditarod, the landscape and beauty of Alaska, the Northern Lights and experiencing the culture and beauty of the people of Alaska! My feet still have not touched the ground from the amazing 2025 Iditarod Finish & Northern Lights tour I took with Laurent Dick through Wild Alaska Travel! Mushing, snow machine ride to Safety check point, flight to White Mountain Check point, the thrill of watching the teams cross the finish line, the Northern Lights, the beauty of the frozen sea...there are not words for the wonderful experiences. I first traveled with Wild Alaska Travel for the 2024 Iditarod Start Tour last year and had the experience of a life time. Laurent's way of putting together his tour groups caused our trip to end up as a group of a dozen new friends. I traveled to the 2025 Iditarod Finish & Northern Lights tour with 2 of the friends I met on the 2024 trip. The accommodations, sights and activities that are experienced with Wild Alaska Travel are amazing. All activities are well organized and expose the group to so many different aspects of the beauty of Alaska and the Iditarod. Laurent's knowledge and love for Alaska adds so much to the experience. All of his guides are so knowledgeable and eager to make your trip the best it can possibly be, they definitely go the extra mile with every activity. We currently are in the process of planning our next trip with Wild Alaska Travel with friends who have traveled with Wild Alaska Travel--our ONLY go to travel company for the most spectacular Alaska experience! Thank you Laurent for always going above and beyond for your guests! Jodi California read more

Wild Alaska Travel Northern Lights Tour was the best trip we have ever been on (we have traveled a lot). We booked the trip to see the Northern Lights (which we saw multiple nights) but we got a whole lot more. During the day we went dog sledding, snowshoeing, explored the sites along Dalton Highway, saw ice sculptures, went sledding, explored Wiseman, AK, walked on ice using crampons to a beautiful canyon, visited hot springs, visited an ice bar and other fun and interesting activities. Laurent Dick, the owner of the company made sure everyone had a great time. The price of the trip was very reasonable and everything was included from the time you arrived at the airport until you returned to airport to go home. I you are looking for a once in a lifetime trip for a reasonable price this is the trip for you. I am very excited about joining Laurent (Wild Alaska Travel) for more wonderful adventures. read more

I did the northern lights tour. This tour was NOTHING what I thought it was going to be. I thought it was going to be very touristy It ended up being better than I thought. There is an itinerary but there also isn't. It depends on the weather and the roads. I saw lots of beautiful scenery and of course I was lucky enough to see the northern lights. The best part about this trip was staying in the woods in wiseman with no light pollution and just seeing the stars and the beautiful night sky hunting for the lights. Be prepared that 1. You will not be getting much sleep at night you nap during the day. 2. You don't have much phone service. Laurent was an amazing guide and he is a great cook! I've never experienced something like this and I wouldn't change it for the world. Definitely not your typical tourist tour. Be prepared for lots of hiking and traveling. read more

See all

In early September we thoroughly enjoyed our Alaska Northern Lights Tour with Wild Alaska Travel's Laurent Dick. We are a couple with one mid-seventies and the other early 80s. This was our second tour with Laurent having first gone with him to the Iditarod Finish in Nome. They were "Once in a Lifetime" trips. Both tours exceeded our expectations. We signed up for the Northern Lights tour in anticipation of the Dalton Highway Haul Road travel and Chena Hot Springs first and secondly to possibly see the Aurora. Having binge watched Ice Road Truckers, although we had before been on the Haul Road as far as the Arctic Circle and to Chena Hot Springs, we knew the trip up to the Atigun Pass would be memorable and the view and the obvious vicissitudes facing truckers going over Atigun made for an exciting day. While there we hiked up a hillside toward a mountain pass and found a large patch of rock and tundra torn up by a grizzly chasing an arctic ground squirrel. Impressive. It rained off and on the entire time and the Haul Road became an 18 wheeler chains-only quagmire. Laurent deftly guided us through to stay in Wise (and under worse conditions back), population 11, just above Cold Foot. On the way up we stopped for lunch at the infamous Yukon River Camp, hiked short distances to numerous vistas including a walk crossing into the Arctic Circle and snacked on blueberries we picked along the road. The weather did not cooperate at all but Laurent found wonderful ways to make the trip scenic and meaningful each day with walks in the picturesque environs of Wise, hikes on remote roads/trails (no problem for the two of us), visits to the Cold Foot Visitors Center and Cold Foot itself, which is one of two places you can get gas on the 400+ miles from Fairbanks to Prudhoe. The five days in Wise, we enjoyed a cabin in Wise all to ourselves and it had full wifi and phone. Chef Laurent made a hearty breakfast each morning, set out the fixins for great sandwiches for lunch if on the road and cooked interesting and tasty dinners including a moose stroganoff. The weather did cooperate one evening outside Fairbanks allowing good camera views of the Aurora ribbon on the horizon. To start the tour we met at Pike's Waterfront Lodge very near the Fairbanks Airport and returned there for two nights. The rooms were large with all the amenities and wonderful plush beds. The breakfast was exceptional from the fresh yoghurt to the hot food to the oatmeal and all the sides you might imagine on a 50 foot long buffet. Again, a tour with Laurent is exceptional in learning, experiencing places few tourists manage, enjoyment of Laurent's knowledge and humor, and just plain fun. We highly recommend this and the Nome Iditarod tour with Laurent's Wild Alaska Travel. Each is exceptional. read more

We are back from our Northern Lights Tour with Wild Alaska Travel, and we appreciate the care and energy that Laurent put into our tour! Our original itinerary to Wiseman got thrown out due to poor road and aurora conditions in Wiseman. He was able to put together a new itinerary on the fly for us that allowed us 3 nights to see the northern lights in different parts of the state while we dodged the rain as best we could. Laurent is a rare mix of adventurer and philosopher while retaining the heart of a boy still seeing the world fresh every day. Such a treat to explore Alaska with him, and I'd do it again in a heartbeat. read more

I was fortunate enough to have booked the Alaska Northern Lights Tour in September with Wild Alaska Travel. What an awesome experience! The company owner and our tour director, Laurent Dick, is outstanding, knowledgeable and personable. He made sure we saw the Lights at every opportunity and so much more. Our group was terrific and we had so much fun. This was a 5+ experience for me! read more

I have traveled considerably over the years on all 7 continents. This last trip I took with Wild Alaska Travel on his Alaska Northern Lights Tour this past September is way up there with one of my all-time favorites. I wanted to experience Alaska but not with a big cruise ship or bus. This trip was just plain AWESOME. The itinerary was somewhat vague which turned out to be a good thing. With only eight of us (strangers for only a short while) and our Guide, Laurent Dick, we were able to experience a very special remote and beautiful part of Alaska that would otherwise be unattainable. Laurent's love of Alaska was evident from the start. His quest to show us the Northern Lights was relentless. Each day brought with it a new adventure. I would highly recommend any of his tours for those who like to travel off the beaten path and who have a desire for adventure. read more

Summer is here, and it is getting hotter in most places. With last summer's heat and humidity, my wife, Sue, knew what was at the top of my 'Bucket List': a trip from Washington State to Alaska for the 2023 Iditarod Sled Dog Race. She looked at several ways to make such a trip happen and found Wild Alaska Travel was the best choice. She called Laurent Dick, the company owner, and discussed the preparations. Since this is a once-a-year event. Laurent got right on the reservations for us. Each group is limited to 12 persons, as we traveled to different events from our Anchorage hotel in a large but comfortable Mercedes van for the whole week. We actually had three groups of 12 this time that went to the many stops at different times, so we would not interfere with the others. This trip was to be my 80th birthday present, though my BD is in January, and the Iditarod is in Early March. I thought I would be the oldest, but another lady was 84. Our group gelled so well that we called ourselves "Moose Offs" for the many moose we saw just off the roads we traveled to each adventure: "There's another moose off to the right." One of our youngest, Paul from New Zealand, made the trip fun and interesting. Walking in the snow was easy for all, but "team members" must realize that Alaska in the winter is pretty cold and refer to the clothing and gear information that will be emailed to you. Mike Hekkers, our guide, gave us hand and foot warmers. We began with a trip on top of a railroad track through a tunnel to the unique port town of Whittier. We also had a tram ride up to the Alyeska Ski Resort for amazing views and ate lunch with these views right out our window. We ate well for all meals, whether at fine places in Anchorage or family-style meals at our adventure sites. The best meal was at the musher's banquet in Anchorage where we met the Iditarod mushers and celebrities. Mike was so professional, knowledgeable, and fun to be with. He had climbed Denali twice. He gave our already great tour a final touch of excellence. One night was in Talkeetna, where we took a de Havilland Otter bush plane the next morning to Rainy Pass to see the dogs and mushers of a long race segment come in for a rest after 151 miles of racing. The dogs are treated like kings and queens, as they are the tired athletes that make the Iditarod possible. Speaking of dogs pulling sleds, the top of my bucket list was being the musher and driving my wife, Sue, for over an hour on seven miles of amazing trails. She was snuggled in a sleeping bag that was atop a wolf pelt. The serene white wilderness trail snaked through small patches of trees and silence. We were pulled by four canine athletes that we got to know, especially Pinion. The dream of a lifetime come true! Between all the pre-race activities, we got to race with reindeer. Notice that I said "with" the reindeer, as our Moose-Off group was on the race course with the reindeer running beside us, brushing against my leg as they ran past me and our whole team. It was a fundraiser but a major highlight. Of course, we were there to see the Iditarod and the real mushers and champion dogs, and all the surrounding excitement of the Fur Rendezvous celebrations, the ceremonial pre-race start, and the actual start in Willow. Envision a large lake frozen with five and a half feet of ice. Two low fences formed the race path across the lake into a thousand miles of wilderness. There were 33 teams. Thousands of spectators lined the outside edge of the fence, and I got to 'High Five' a few mushers as they passed by me on their long journey to Nome. What an experience! TV news cameras, journalists, a thousand other cameras taking in every event in sight, even overhead helicopters and a large remote-controlled drone above us. I've only covered some of the highlights of this Iditarod Start Tour, but there are so many other amazing aspects of this experience. If the cost seems a bit high for your budget, I can tell you that you cannot plan and make this trip by yourself for this price. I've planned almost all of our family's travels, which takes much research and time. You might see hundreds of castles, cathedrals, and towns you never heard of on a European river trip, but your costs will be as high, and the excitement and grandeur will not be there. Laurent had every detail, restaurant, and location reserved for us. Also, the weather can be a game changer on any trip, and that happened on this trip. A scenic boat trip was planned, but weather and icing conditions canceled that, but another nice side trip replaced it. I wanted to take four months to think about this amazing tour and rate it properly. Now is the time to sign up for this unique adventure, as Laurent needs to make the many reservations and build the teams. I'll rate Laurent Dick's Wild Alaska Travel and the Iditarod 2023 Start Tour with 5+ stars and our guide, Mike Hekkers, the same. Tom Carroll Anacortes WA read more

Wild Alaska Travel - The Iditarod 2023 Start Tour with Tom the musher and Sue the rider - Tours Near Me - Anchorage, Alaska

Hands down one of the best vacations I've taken! The Northern Lights Tour did not disappoint! I highly recommend this trip to anyone who wants to see Alaska off the beaten path. Laurent made the trip memorable in so many ways, his sense of adventure is infectious, thank you for an amazing week!!! read more

We just finished the Iditarod Finish and Northern Light trip in Nome..which also included Mother Nature throwing a blizzard at us the day we were to leave. This is an awesome trip. The guides and activities were top notch. please dont go on a trip like this unless you are ready and willing to be in the ice, snow, have the right gear, love dog sledding, winter activities, etc. if thats not your thing..Hawaii waits for you. If you want adventure, spectacular beauty, visiting remote places, etc. this is the company and guides for you. read more

Just returned from the Northern Lights Tour with Wild Alaska Travel. The trip exceeded our expectations. We saw the northern lights every night during our stay in Wiseman. Laurent took care of everything from driving to cooking to guiding. Accommodations were comfortable. Time was used very productively to maximize our experience in this part of Alaska. Highly recommended. read more

WOW was our experience with Wild Alaska Travel. We joined the Polar Bear tour in October 2019 for my wife's 50th birthday. The weather forecast was bad for the scheduled days of our tour. Laurent was great, he rearranged our itinerary ahead of time, and booked a private charter flight for us to arrive at Kaktovik a day before. The charter flight was marvelous with beautiful sunrise and gorgeous views of the range! When we arrived at Kaktovik, we were able to get on the boat right away and managed to have one more boat trip than another tour group! We were able to see so many polar bears at incredible close distances. It was magnificent scene!! When we were back to Fairbanks, Laurent took us on a day tour and we were able to see many moose, just like you had gone on an African safari tour! Because of the weather conditions the first few days and our plans being changed, Laurent was able to move us to different accommodations and one of the nicest places we stayed at was A Taste of Alaska Lodge. It was very spacious and adorable with beautiful a view from the room. It was such an awesome trip! Thanks to Laurent for going the extra mile to ensure we got the most out of this unpredictable weather and being flexible and arrange activities to satisfy his guests! While he is running a business it's obvious he enjoys what he's doing and willing to sacrifice more profit to give his guests an wonderful experience. It shows as this trip was an unforgettable trip of the lifetime! read more

I've been on three of Laurent's tours and each one has been better than the last. He packs so much into each trip. I've seen northern lights, hiked on mountains, gone dog sledding, photographed gorgeous, wild animals, made many new friends, and have countless amazing memories. Since each trip offers something different, Laurent is great about asking you about your wishes and goals to place you on the proper adventure. I highly recommend Laurent and his "off the beaten path" trips over a cruise. He is very knowledgeable and you'll really get to know Alaska and it's beauty much more in depth. In fact, I'm going on my fourth trip with him this spring and I couldn't be more excited! read more

Laurent is passionate and knowledgeable about Alaska, from wildlife to the pipeline to politics/history. He is extremely accommodating and will do whatever he can to fulfill his guests' wishes. He is quite humorous and also a great cook. I found this out recently on his Northern Lights tour; it was amazing. Take one (or more!) of his Wild Alaska Travel tours-you will not be disappointed. read more

Best part of my trip. The driver was knowledgeable and shared a lot about the area with us. We saw glaciers, moose with two babies, learned about the big 1967 earthquake and saw some of the damage, saw gorgeous turquoise glacier water and streams/rivers, saw Potters Marsh, the ocean, mountain goats, beautiful scenery and went to the wildlife park. I had a wonderful time. She gave us plenty of time for pictures. read more

See all

When Linda, my wife, was searching for tour companies to use to see the Northern Lights, I am grateful that she chose Wild Alaska Travel. The Alaska Northern Lights Tour exceeded my greatest expectations. Laurent Dick, owner of Wild Alaska Travel, made this truly a trip of a lifetime. Laurent is very knowledgeable about the Northern Lights and life in Alaska. His clear communication and great sense of humor made the trip enjoyable and as a result we feel we made life long friends with everyone on the trip. The small group of eight meant that we all received Laurent's personal attention and guidance. I did things that I have never done before; saw the Northern Lights on three different nights, wore crampons, tried snow shoeing, rode in a dog sled, went to the Arctic Circle and experienced powder snow several feet deep. As an added bonus, Laurent is an excellent cook and provided great meals. I can not imagine any tour company being any better that Wild Alaska Travel. Go with Wild Alaska Travel and you will be thrilled with the experience. read more

A mere thank you to Laurent Dick of @wildalaskatravel does not begin to appreciate how amazing his Northern Lights Tour was. Laurent used every tool available to make sure we didn't miss an opportunity to see the northern lights. The dog sledding, snowshoeing, Caribou and Moose sightings, and seeing Atigun pass in the Brooks range were all the stuff dreams are made of. This is far and away the best tour of my life! Thank you also for your way of making 7 strangers feel like family right from the start. I only wish everyone could meet you and be a part of this extraordinary tour. It checked so many boxes off my bucket list I'm going to have to start a new one! read more

The Alaska Northern Lights Tour with Wild Alaska Travel has quickly become the all time favorite trip I have ever done. Laurent has the knowledge, the enthusiasm, and sense of humor that greatly contributed to an unforgettable week searching for the Northern Lights. The small group tour was a bonus and in fact helped us to make lifelong friends. Laurent is a great cook, the accommodations were more than adequate, and other activities (snow shoeing, mushing, soaking in mineral springs) were fun, entertaining, and sometimes challenging. Would definitely go on another tour with Wild Alaska Travel. read more

Just returned home from the Iditarod Start Tour by Wild Alaska Travel, and WOW this was the adventure of a lifetime!!! Laurent is incredibly knowledgeable about Alaska, after living there himself and covering the Iditarod as a photographer for the Associated Press. Many of the mushers are on a first-name basis with him, and he shared tons of trail lore, personal insights into the mushers, and history about the Iditarod with us. Having such a fantastic guide + all the amazing activities provided a 100% immersive Iditarod experience. We got to meet the mushers at the Mushers Banquet, we ran with the Reindeer, we tried dog mushing ourselves, we got incredible spots at the Ceremonial Start and the Re-Start in Willow thanks to Laurent's insights into the best places get close to the mushers and dog teams, and we flew over the breathtaking Alaskan landscape to experience the race in action at the Rainy Pass checkpoint. And if that wasn't enough, an added benefit: Laurent is a professional photographer and will take the most incredible photos whenever you ask him to save you from your own attempts to take selfies with dogs/mushers/the landscape. For anyone who is interested in learning more about the Iditarod and experiencing the Last Great Race firsthand, this is the way to go. You will not regret it!! read more

Wild Alaska Travel - Tours Near Me - Anchorage, Alaska

My daughter and I had been looking forward to a trip to Alaska specifically to experience the Iditarod firsthand for quite some time. After researching several tour operators, we landed on Laurent Dick and Wild Alaska Travel. What a great decision that was!!! From the welcome dinner to the Mushers' Banquet to the Willow dog-sledding experience to the ceremonial start and Reindeer Run/Fur Rondy in Anchorage to the official start on Willow Lake to the ski plane excursion to the beautiful Rainy Pass checkpoint, the Iditarod Start Tour was everything we hoped for and more!!! Laurent has a ton of experience in and knowledge of Alaska and his warm personality engenders camaraderie amongst all of his wonderful tour guests. This trip of a lifetime will be difficult to ever top!!!! read more

Travelled with Laurent and 4 intrepid travelers to Kaktovik and Denali. Spectacular scenery, awesome polar bears, musk oxen, grizzlies, caribou. Love the small airplane flights and the "rustic" accommodations...some more rustic than others. Our group bonded well which made the trip exceptional. Laurent handled changes in weather, accommodation & daily plans quite well. Don't go on this trip if you are upset by surprises. Weather changes everything in this remote area, but that's part of the adventure. read more

Wild Alaska Travel - Polar bear yawning at Kaktovik, Alaska - Tours Near Me - Anchorage, Alaska

If your heart is set on the 3 Polar Bear sight-seeing tours as advertised on Wild Alaska's Polar Bear and Northern Lights Tour (PB & NL), the advertised duration of the adventure may elude you, too. The eye-level polar bear viewing provided by six-person boat puttering around the Bay of Barter Island is AMAZING. Informed about the challenges of Barter Island hopping ahead of time, I know that you too will chose your preferred polar bear pilgrimage. Weather-limiting visibility for airplanes, a damaged propeller, limited seating on commercial flights, and non-responsive charter operators, contributed to our 3-day stay in Deadhorse Workcamp. From Deadhorse we returned to the quaint cabins of Boreal Lodge in Wiseman, where we had seen Northern Lights. The next morning, Wild Alaska Tours arranged for an Air Arctic charter from Fairbanks to pick us up in Coldfoot and take us to Barter Island for the day. We relished the one-time Polar Bear boat tour, until it was suddenly stopped at 2:30 pm rather than at 4:00 pm, as discussed. There are only three Polar Bear viewing boats at Barter Island. Consider booking directly with the captain of the charter boat, bed and breakfast, or hotel owners, in Kaktovik, Barter Island. By dealing with the boat captains directly, you may be less likely to get bumped. Our tour company had overlapping PB & NL groups, due to both groups' weather delays in getting to the island, in need of limited services from the local boat operators. Or, consider going on a tour that provides 3-plus potential polar bear sightseeing days, Wild Alaska offers such a tour. Take charter flights from Fairbanks or Anchorage---which depending on the type of airplane can have greater flexibility in being able to land when there is reduced visibility on Barter Island--a chronic problem--compared to the Rav'n commercial flight from Deadhorse. Tourists' use of the commercial airline between Deadhorse and Barter Island adversely impacts the residents of Kaktovik's ability to get on and off the island with ease. If you decide to go to Barter Island via Deadhorse and get stuck, ask the tour operator, if they have arranged for a permit to go by land through the Prudhoe Bay Reserve to see polar bears at the Arctic Sea. The lower latitude destinations, i.e., not in Deadhorse, provided by Wild Alaska were charming, including my being taught to make the mating call to a moose that we were stalking from the safety of the SUV. This trip celebrated my the 30th anniversary of my cancer treatment for which polar bears have been my talisman of hope. The guide quipped that one has to be resilient and flexible for Wild Alaska trips. I am more than resilient, I am a survivor. I just hope the polar bears are survivors, too. read more

The Northern Lights Tour was hands down the best vacation I've ever taken. I have traveled extensively throughout NA, Europe, Australia, and NZ, but experiencing Alaska like the way we did on this tour tops all of my adventures. Every day was filled with different adventures and it was an unforgettable trip with a wonderful, passionate tour guide. We hiked, we built snowmen, we traveled past the Atigun Pass, we saw an AMAZING show of the Northern Lights, we experienced the ice museum and hot springs, and all of our adventures were filled with smiles and laughter. It was truly a privilege to have Laurent as our tour guide, and if I had the opportunity, I would take this trip all over again. This was a trip of a lifetime and I'm very thankful I was able to experience this trip. Being able to disconnect from technology and really see Alaska and connect with the group for a week was amazing. PS....Laurent is not just a great tour guide, but he's also a fantastic cook :) read more

I have taken travel tours before and found that most give you as little time as possible. Wild Alaska Travel is the absolute exception. Laurent Dick IS Wild Alaska Travel. He has amazing knowledge, energy, and puts every bit of his being into making sure his groups have a great time and are taken care of from start to finish. My week with him for the Iditarod Start Tour was outstanding. He is a great guy, great guide, and a team builder, taking a group of strangers to friendships overnight. Thank you Laurent. We will see you in Nome! read more

Wild Alaska Travel - Tours Near Me - Anchorage, Alaska

Wow oh wow The adventure started from day 1 From spotting Moose along the drive to Willow, having the opportunity to ride along with 2 incredible mushers was mind blowing. Not to mention, the Northern lights that arrived on cue during our first night in Anchorage and our last night in Fairbanks. It was a great introduction to Alaska - witnessing the start of the Iditarod race, meeting the dogs, their handlers and the mushers - attending the kick off banquet - seeing the stunning beauty all around us. The official start was moved to Fairbanks - and I was glad to fly even further inland - and see the first racers enter the first checkpoint - after high fiving along the route Thanks again to Laurent for loving what he does and for showing us why read more

I went on the Northern Lights Tour 9/6/2021. The trip was amazing. Laurent is very knowledgeable on Alaska. Every stop we made he knew the answer to every question we asked. We were with a great group of people & made many new friends. The tour has a great variety of things we experienced. We did see the Northern Lights three nights which was the main reason I went on the tour. We went to the Ice museum, hot springs, dog mushing, hiked, went to the town of North Pole & even saw Santa. It was a unforgettable trip. read more

I have just experienced the most amazing holiday with Wild Alaska Travel. Viewing the Polar bears in the Artic was unbelievable. Laurent was a fantastic tour guide on the Alaska Polar Bear viewing and photo tour. The entire experience was breathtaking. read more

I'm just returning from a northern lights tour with Laurent, and it was truly the trip of a lifetime! Everything was memorable, from the food, to the spots only locals know, and of course, The Aurora!! Everywhere we went was an adventure. Laurent is clearly held in high esteem by people all over Alaska, and that says so much about his character. He is so much fun to be around and holds a wealth of knowledge and passion for this wild land. I highly recommend any of the Wild Alaska Travel tours, you won't be disappointed if you're looking for an authentic Alaskan experience! read more

Wild Alaska Travel - This is my group after we hiked up the frozen creek bed, through the canyon, to the plateau, WOOHOO ALASKA!!! - Tours Near Me - Anchorage, Alaska

See all

I always wanted to see the Northern Lights but this trip also included Polar Bears in their natural habitat. What a bonus! Laurent was attentive and knowledgeable. The trip was exactly what I expected. Traveling through Alaska, the way the trip was advertised, you will not get 5 star hotels, so don't expect that. But you will experience the real life of those wonderful people that live in the very extreme northern Alaska. This trip was great fun for many reasons, the Lights, the Bears, the group of people I was with and also Laurent. Yes, you could get up North on your own, but why not travel with a group of new friends and a guide that will make it fun and adventurous. I have traveled a lot and all over the world. And have a lot of stories to tell about guides, but Laurent is up there in my top two. I will travel again with Wild Alaska Travel again. read more

Weather is everything in this type of travel and we just had bad luck in that regard. I preface my review with that fact which profoundly colored our experience. We booked this trip about a year and half before the fixed date. Wild Alaska had great reviews so I felt very confident in booking. Further we had a great trip to above the arctic circle in Alaska a year or two previously. But the weather screwed up the trip. And my problem is that wild Alaska did not have a good plan B to deal with this problem. We spent 4 nights in Deadhorse at the oil field workers hostel. Nothing to do but eat and watch tv. Wild Alaska tried various ways to get to Kaktovik to see the polar bears. We went to the airport to fly there one day, but the flight never happened. They offered a drive to see animals back on the Dalton Highway. But after 2 mega drives already we decided not to go. Others did but it wasn't much. After the 4 nights they flew us back to Fairbanks where we were on our own for the next 3 or 4 days. They paid for the La Quinta hotel and that was it. They also offered a possible flight to Kaktovik from Coldfoot. After the disappointments we decided not to take the long drive to Coldfoot for this possibility. As it turned out the other 4 people did fly and briefly saw some bears at a distance. We ran into one of our group at the hotel and she told us what they saw was not worth the trouble. On our last night we ate dinner and when we returned to the hotel we saw our group and guide getting ready to go to the farewell dinner. They forgot about us even after our companion we saw at the hotel told them we were at the hotel and interested in the dinner. Although the operator told us they never had a group miss the bears in all their years operating our guide warned us as we were finishing our long ride to deadhorse that were always flight problems and with hotel in Kaktovik. We were all put off. Unfortunately his warnings came true for our group. Again I'm sure if the weather was good and all went as planned we would have given a great review. Having said that I still feel their overall planning lacked some points which would have helped. For example we should have had only one long drive to deadhorse or back with one trip being by air. I notice on their web site Wild Alaska has updated their wording and including a Skype call to explain what could go wrong. It did for us. read more

Our trip was a disappointment. When you don't have a lot of vacation days, you rely on experts. I signed up for this trip as I thought the experts would be able to deliver for my arctic adventure what I may not have. Turns out I wasted my money. We did not experience what was laid out in the tour. We ended up spending three days in Dead Horse, which as a work camp, is well and truly dead. There did not seem to be a back-up plan for when things don't turn out as expected. After being so excited about visiting the Arctic for the first time, it's unfortunate that my experience was less than expected. read more