FAIRBANKS — “I’ve travelled all the way to Norway and Iceland to see the Northern Lights, and this is finally where it’s happening,” exclaims D’Ann Kolan of St-Clair Travel.

Indeed, it is only the first evening of Trafalgar’s Highlights of Alaska Tour Week Fam, but already the 38 participants (including North American travel advisors, accompanied by four members of the TTC Tour Brands team) admit to being pleasantly surprised when a magnificent green aurora borealis dances in the sky of Fairbanks, deploying its seven beams.

Whitney Ramirez and Dora Redman (Aurora Dora), recognized as THE photographer of the northern lights in this region ©Nathalie DeGrandmont

For Whitney Ramirez, SVP North American Sales for TTC, there’s no doubt Trafalar’s new Alaska Northern Lights tour fills a real need.

“So many people dream of seeing the Northern Lights!” she says. “This tour is designed to ensure our guests can see them AND learn a ton about them.”

Ramirez then cites as an example the two to three evenings of observations (in the company of experts), plus the evening in the company of Dora Redman (AKA ‘Aurora Dora’), who lives in Alaska and has been photographing the Northern Lights there for more than 20 years.

“Guests are fascinated by her anecdotes and her passion for Alaska; it’s truly a moving moment and a great example of our Be My Guest program (present on several Trafalgar tours), which offers our guests exclusive meetings with key players in different communities,” she adds.

FAIRBANKS: 100 NIGHTS OF AURORAS EVERY YEAR

Being sparsely populated and located just over 300 kilometres from the Arctic Circle, Fairbanks is one of the best places in the world to observe the polar lights, also called the Northern Lights, especially since they are visible there around 100 nights a year, from mid-August to mid-April.

In fact, the University of Alaska Museum of the North and the Morris Thompson Cultural Center (downtown) feature several films and exhibits about these luminous phenomena, not to mention the local newspaper and hotels, which announce daily the best times, locations, and conditions for observing them.

One thing is certain: the Northern Lights – and the Midnight Sun in summer – are major attractions for Fairbanks, along with a major ice sculpture festival (in February and March), and the town of North Pole and its Santa Claus house, which also attract a lot of curiosity.

ABOARD THE ALASKAN RAILROAD

After two nights in Fairbanks, our winter adventure continues aboard the Alaska Railroad: a must-see for discovering the heart of Alaska, which visitors can take in its entirety (to Anchorage) or all the way to Denali National Park, as Trafalgar’s tour offers.

For three hours, we pass by old mining towns and snow-capped peaks, seemingly peaceful and almost inaccessible otherwise. And that morning, our group is also lucky enough to spot several moose running across the plains, as well as a herd of bighorn sheep, which seems to be waiting for us on the slopes of Healy Canyon. For many, it’s a true favourite!

TOP PICKS FOR TALKEETNA & MOUNT DENALI

Among the trip highlights, several advisors – including the three from Canada – loved our next stop: the Talkteena Alaskan Lodge.

Mostly made of wood and very warm, this vast hotel has a high stone fireplace and an expansive terrace which, like several rooms, offers an incredible panorama of the Alaskan mountain range and Mount Denali, which peaks at 6,190 metres.

“In fact, around here, everyone still calls it Denali,” says our tour director, Dontae McFalls, referring to Donald Trump’s decision to rename it Mount McKinley. “That name has been used by the Athabascans for centuries and means ‘the very tall one,’” he continues. “It’s perfectly fitting for the highest peak in North America!”

With such a setting as a backdrop, and with a (single) charming main street with a western feel, Talkeetna is also the stage of the circuit which offers us an immersion in nature and the opportunity to practice some optional activities such as a snowshoe walk, a dog sled ride and/or a flight over Mount Denali.

Here again, the emotions are there, the (very dry) cold is quickly forgotten and many admit to being very satisfied to have been able to check off new items on their travel wish list!

In Talkeetna, many took the opportunity to try snowshoeing and dog sledding ©Nathalie DeGrandmont

ENCOUNTERS WITH WILDLIFE & LOCAL COMMUNITIES

As Lisa Boyadijan, Director of Sales for TTC (Southern California), explains, “The TTC Group offers more than 750 routes in over 80 countries.”

Lisa Boyadijan, with Liliana Zsigmond (from Collacut Travel, in Toronto) ©Nathalie DeGrandmont

“For Trafalgar and Insight Vacations alone,” she continues, “we have more than 3,700 guaranteed departures. At Trafalgar, not all tours have the same schedule [this new tour is classified as ‘balanced,’ meaning two nights per leg] but all include accommodation, several meals, as well as activities and tours, including several exclusive ones.”

Indeed, on the outskirts of Anchorage, you can visit a musk ox farm as well as the Wildlife Conservation Center, which rehabilitates and houses many local species, including moose, caribou, bison and bears, among others.

Added to this is a stop at the Alaska Native Heritage Center, which replicates various habitats of Alaska Native nations, while offering a program of cultural activities.

Lisa Boyadijan and Alicia Rose, also a sales director for TTC in Ohio, point out that “these last two sites are part of their Make Travel Matter program, a pride of the TTC team, which aims to leave a positive social or environmental impact on the communities they visit.”

ALASKA IN WINTER? YES PLEASE

As the trip progresses, several travel advisors admit that their impressions of Alaska are changing.

Accustomed to selling this destination in summer and often through cruises, many are now seeing new arguments for offering it in winter, particularly to families, outdoor enthusiasts and more active travellers.

“It would be a great product for school holidays,” comments Kolan, “especially since the hotels on the circuit are well-suited for families.”

According to Liliana Zsigmond of Collacutt Travel in Toronto, winter – and the lack of tourists during this season – allows people to appreciate Alaska’s starry skies, nature, and wild landscapes even more, although she laments the high cost of living in the state.

OFF-SEASON TRAVEL CAN IMPACT SERVICE

One downside, and it’s worth noting for future guests: winter being a slower season, hotels do not have all their staff in place, which can have an impact on the quality of certain services, both in the rooms and in the restaurants.

Cassidy Adcock (Tillsonburg Travel) and Alexandra Domalion (of Glenny Travel), from Ontario ©Nathalie DeGrandmont

“One thing’s for sure: the scenery is 4 stars!” reiterates the TTC team. And Ramirez adds: ”Dog sledding, landing on a glacier, the Northern Lights, wildlife – it’s a winter wonderland here. You can have so many exciting experiences, all while being taken care of and guided by Alaska enthusiasts.”

Expressing her satisfaction with this new product, Ramirez said that TTC plans to offer eight to 12 similar tours next winter, adding that they will soon begin promoting them to their Canadian partners.

This story originally appeared at ProfessionVoyages.com, part of The Travelweek Group