The Amazing Riverboat Discovery Boat Tour – Fairbanks Alaska

As the tour starts off down the beautiful Chena River, you will see gorgeous homes. Many of the owners come outside to wave to say hello. 

Our Tour Guide

Our tour guide was fantastic.  We learned some very interesting facts and enjoyed the commentary.  There are TV screens that show actual footage of the different events that we learned about including the Iditarod.  

The staff was amazing and made sure to make you feel right at home. 

Small Plane

One of the first experiences on the boat tour is an up close and personal view of a small airplane.  It takes off from the water and lands on the water.  The narrator gives a really cool history of the planes and how important these small planes are in Alaska.  A lot of people live in remote areas and these planes bring in supplies. 

These planes are also used in medical emergencies. The narrator said the plane we saw had flown out to a remote area to pick up a woman in labor and fly her to the hospital.  The baby was actually born on the plane! 

It was really fun to see the plane land right next to the boat.  

Dog Sled 

As we journeyed down the Chena we came across a house that had several dog houses.  This house belonged to the late Susan Butcher.  She was the second woman to win the Iditarod competition and the second person to win four Iditarod races in a row.  

Her husband (David Monson) has a sled dog training center a little farther down the river.  It is amazing.  The boat stops and David teaches everyone on board how they train the dogs.  They also do a demonstration on how they train the pups.  These dogs need a lot of exercise so David attaches them to an ATV (no engine) and the dogs race around the kennel, pulling him along. 

The dogs are so cute.  It is really fun to see them in action.  

Village

The boat docks at a Chena Indian Village.  You will disembark and head to the village.  There are three areas where natives share all about their culture and how they have survived in the Alaska territory for so long.  

Clothing

On the first stop, you learn all about the different animals used to make clothing warm enough for survival in the Alaskan winters. 

There is also a demonstration of traditional garb, made by hand.  The full outfits are worth over $25,000.  They are beautiful! 

Reindeer

There is an area where there are reindeer.  It was amazing to get up close and see the big antlers.  

After the demonstrations are over there is time to explore the village.  The dog trainers from the kennel come over and teach about how to train the dogs and demonstrate skills that are essential for the dogs to learn.  

David Monson also comes over and signs his book at the Indian Village Post Office.  

You can go around and talk with the native workers and learn more about the culture and what it is like to live in the area.  

Discovery Boat Tour Return Trip

After spending time in the village you re-board the boat and head back. The boat ride back is a lot faster.  You do get a different point of view if you stick to your same seat.