ARCTIC CIRCLE BASECAMP

Experience the magic of spring in the Arctic, with long days, lingering sunsets, snow-capped mountains, mammoth tusks, migrating caribou, and shimmering spring aurora. Our Arctic Circle tours are an incredible way to experience the majesty of Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve.

Travel by dog team through the breathtaking mountains of the Brooks Range on this springtime Arctic adventure.

The sun lingers high above the horizon and sunlight sparkles across the wide-open snowy tundra of the Brooks Range, inviting travel by dog team through this majestic landscape of snow-capped peaks and vast, treeless valleys. Caribou dot the ridgelines, their silhouettes moving quietly across the horizon, while the crisp Arctic air carries only the sound of paws and sled runners on snow.

Our Arctic Basecamp is a comfortable, well-appointed camp nestled just outside Gates of the Arctic National Park and the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Heated expedition tents provide a warm, cozy, dry haven after each day on the trail.

Come evening, step outside and look up—green aurora ribbons ripple through a twilight sky that refuses to fully darken, dancing high above the mountains in the stillness of the Alaskan Arctic.

THE DETAILS

Location
📍 Galbraith Lake, AK, USA next to Gates of the Arctic National Park

Price
$8,699 USD per person

Duration
🗓️ 5 days

Season
Annually in April - April 18-22, 2026

Group Size
Min 2| Max 4

Physical Rating
Moderate

INCLUDED

4.5 full days of mushing (4-8 hrs/day mushing)
Airfare to Coldfoot, AK from Fairbanks, AK
Transfer to Galbraith Lake, AK (warning: scenic!)
Cold weather parka, snow pants, boots, mittens
9’x9’ Heated Tent (2 persons per tent)
Sleeping Pad, Sleeping Bag, Sleeping Bag Liner, Pillow
Meals from Lunch on Day 1 to Lunch on Day 5
Dog mushing lessons
Return transfer to Coldfoot
Return airfare to Fairbanks, AK

NOT INCLUDED

Flights to Fairbanks: You will need to book flights to Fairbanks.
Pre and Post Trip Hotel in Fairbanks.
Post Trip Transfer from the Small Plane Airport (3842 University Avenue South, Fairbanks, AK 99709) to your Post Trip Hotel.
Insurance: You MUST have travel insurance. Instructions will be provided after you register.
Alcohol: Alcohol is not included in the price, nor is it available for purchase in Coldfoot.

Day 1: Into the Arctic

Hotel pickup is included on the first day of your tour. Our transport partner will pick you up from your hotel around 11 a.m. and take you to the small plane airport where you will check in at Wright Air for your 1 hour flight seeing tour to Coldfoot, Alaska, 60 miles North of the Arctic Circle. Check-in at 11:30 a.m. for a 1 p.m. flight. Nils, one of our lead guides, will meet you at the runway at Coldfoot around 2 p.m. and help you load your gear for the 100 mile drive North to Galbraith Lake, an ancient glacial lake on the North side of the Brooks Range. Nils will have a sack lunch for you upon arrival. Please note: Coldfoot is not a village or town, it is a truck stop with a rustic hotel, a runway, a State Trooper station (1 trooper who services the surrounding area by plane) and a few seasonal service buildings for Gates of the Arctic National Park and the BLM. The airstrip is across the highway from the truck stop. It will feel like you are flying into the middle of nowhere. Nils will meet you at the airstrip. Sometimes Coldfoot Camp offers a shuttle across the highway to the truck stop when they know there is a plane coming in but it is extremely unreliable. If the shuttle is there, take it! And text Nils (there is service in Coldfoot). BLM recently opened a Winter Visitor's Center that offers Arctic Circle Certificates, National Park Passport Stamps, and more. We will swing by for your certificates and stamps before heading North towards Galbraith Lake and Basecamp. The drive to Galbraith Lake passes several incredible landmarks such as Sukakpak Mountain, past the furthest North spruce tree, and over the famous Atigun Pass of the Brooks Range. During April, the Central Arctic Caribou Herd is heading from the mountains to their calving grounds near the Arctic Coast. Keep an eye out for migrating caribou herds on the horizon, and the large predators that may follow them. Keep your eyes peeled for musk ox, caribou, dall sheep, wolves or even grizzlies. Arrive at the Galbraith Lake trailhead by late afternoon, where we will be met by your teams of harnessed sled dogs. When you have arrived at the Galbraith Lake Trailhead (a parking lot that doubles as a runway for Gates of Arctic National Park/Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and a refueling station for the Trans Alaskan Pipeline helicopters), we will issue you your outerwear, boots, etc. After loading your suitcase/bag into your dog sled, and a brief mushing lesson, you will drive your dog sled to camp, three miles away. Once the dogs are parked, unharnessed and settled, we will give you a tour of camp and let you settle in a bit before dinner. Transport to Airport: Included. Meals: Sack Lunch at Coldfoot Camp and Dinner at Camp. Accommodations: Arctic Ovens (2 persons per tent)

Day 2-4: Daily Dog Sledding

These days are devoted solely to dog sledding. Words can almost not describe the vast magnificence of the Arctic landscape. We left the boreal forest on the other side of the mountain range and only willow bush delineate the Arctic tundra that stretches as far as we can see to the North, and to the South, rocky ridges and dramatic mountain peaks rise dominate the landscape. Gates of the Arctic National Park surrounds us to the South and West and the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge forms the valley boundary to the East. All around us, caribou tracks pepper the hillsides and ptarmigan tracks dot the creek valleys. (Caribou have been known to cross behind camp in the late evenings, after we are settled in for the night). Each day, we will harness the sled dogs, hook them up to the sleds, and take off on the day's adventure. We will explore the tundra and creek valleys surrounding our camp that run straight into the surrounding mountains. We will flit through the shadows of narrow creeks and cross over sunny mountain passes. Where we shall go depends on the weather, snow conditions, and our will! Prior to your arrival, we put in trails around camp that range in distance from 10 to 30 miles. Most are loops, with a few out and backs up that follow creeks up into the mountains. Lunch is taken al fresco, usually on a soft spot of exposed tundra or a sun-warmed rock emerging from a creek. When we arrive back at camp between 3 and 5, we unharness all the dogs, settle them in their sheltered spots on the picket line, and go about taking gear off and hanging it to dry in your tents. There is usually time to relax in your tent or around camp before dinner at 6 or 7pm. In the morning, coffee and breakfast are taken in the wood stove heated main tent (the Lodge) between 7 and 8am. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner at Camp.

Day 5: Breaking Camp

Our last breakfast in the Arctic. We will take the scenic route -- one last dog sled adventure -- to ferry our gear out to the trailhead to transfer you to Coldfoot, where the afternoon flight will take you back to Fairbanks. Upon arrival in Fairbanks, take a cab or other local transportation to your post trip hotel. Meals: Breakfast at Camp, Sack Lunch. You will need to find your own dinner this night. Accommodations: You will need to find your own accommodations this night.

Adventure doesn’t have to mean roughing it. We've elevated this remote adventure with thoughtful touches so you can enjoy the rugged beauty of the Arctic Circle comfortably:

Heated Arctic Oven Igloo tents – Made in Alaska, these Arctic Ovens are tall enough to stand in, with carpeted floors and stoves to keep you warm.
A comfortable night’s sleep – Winter sleeping bags on twin size cots, with real pillows for added luxury.
Hot meals in style – A heated dining tent with table and benches paired with fresh, homemade food like charcuterie boards, Chickpea Salad, Lox Bagels, and protein-packed suppers like homemade Texas Chili, Pulled Pork, Burrito Bowls, and Shrimp Scampi.
Fresh coffee and hot tea anytime – with hot water, cocoa, cider and snacks always available.
Thoughtful amenities – Drying racks for your gear, camp chairs to enjoy the spring sun, and a vault toilet in a dedicated building.

After days of mushing your own dog team, exploring heartstoppingly beautiful landscapes, and soaking in the Arctic serenity and sun, you’ll return to a basecamp that feels like a cozy retreat.

Discover the Heart of Alaska’s Arctic Wilderness

Welcome to Arctic Dog Adventure Co's Arctic Basecamp, nestled on the shores of Galbraith Lake, a breathtaking remnant of an ancient glacial lake that once filled the entire Atigun Valley. This extraordinary location lies between two of Alaska’s most iconic protected areas—Gates of the Arctic National Park to the west and the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to the east—offering unparalleled access to the wild beauty of the Arctic.

Your adventure truly begins in Coldfoot, where your flight lands amidst the majestic Brooks Range. North of Coldfoot, the journey continues past the towering Sukakpak Mountain and over the dramatic Atigun Pass, the highest mountain pass in Alaska. Descending from Atigun, you’ll find yourself surrounded by untouched wilderness: Gates of the Arctic sprawling to the west, the vast Arctic National Wildlife Refuge dominating the eastern horizon, and endless tundra stretching into the northern expanse.

The journey to Basecamp is an adventure in itself. You'll drive up the remote Dalton Highway, Alaska’s rugged northern lifeline to the Arctic Ocean. In winter, this seldom-traveled road is shared only with truckers hauling supplies to oil fields, roaming wolves, moose, caribou, ptarmigan, and a handful of intrepid adventurers. Along the way, you’ll witness the rolling hills of the Yukon River Valley, cross the Arctic Circle into the Land of the Midnight Sun, and traverse ancient plains dotted with mysterious granite tors.

This is more than just a trip—it’s your gateway to the raw, untamed Arctic. Let the wild beauty of Alaska welcome you in a way you’ll never forget.

Explore the Arctic and Protect It's Sacred Lands

Our Arctic Basecamp Tours offer more than just an extraordinary adventure—they are a chance to contribute to the preservation of one of the world’s most iconic wilderness areas. A portion of every booking supports Defend the Sacred Alaska, a grassroots organization dedicated to protecting the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and the Gwich’in way of life.

By joining this journey, you’ll help:

Safeguard the Arctic Refuge: Your trip supports efforts to defend this untouched wilderness from industrial threats, ensuring it remains a sanctuary for caribou, polar bears, migratory birds, and other wildlife.
Uphold Indigenous Rights: The Gwich’in people have stewarded these lands for generations. Your participation helps amplify their voices in the fight to protect the Refuge, which is vital to their culture and survival.
Promote Environmental Justice: Together, we can protect one of the planet’s last great wild places, ensuring its beauty and ecological significance endure for future generations.

Immerse yourself in the stunning Arctic landscape—where the snow-draped tundra, star-filled skies, and majestic wildlife offer an unforgettable experience. As you explore, know that you’re part of a powerful effort to protect this sacred region.

Reserve your spot today and join us in making a lasting impact!

Vastness of the tundra in the arctic.webp

UPCOMING TRIP DATES

2026 Arctic Basecamp

📍 Galbraith Lake, AK, USA

🗓️ 5 days | April 18-22, 2026

🏷️ US$8,699 per person

Long spring days invite intrepid dog sledders to explore the stunning treeless landscapes of the Brooks Range, far above the Arctic Circle.

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