Yaks & Tracks
Description
You will be driven in a privately guided all-terrain vehicle on a thrilling ride through trails and back roads of the Two Rivers Community and woods of the Chena River Valley. Experience the beautiful natural landscape of the boreal forest, historic homesteading community, and rolling farm fields as you sit back and relax on your ride. The all-terrain vehicle will bring you directly to our farm's authentic Alaskan-made wall tent and hand-build yak pen. This will be your first opportunity to glimpse our four majestic yaks. Enjoy a complimentary beverage and snack while getting prepared to meet the yaks. For the knitting lover, peruse yak wool and products harvested directly from brushing our yaks. You will be able to feed, pet, and take photos with the yaks while learning about the adaptations that allow them to live in our cold environment. You will then be transported back to your vehicles in the parking area, just a short ride from the yak pen.
Getting Here
Our off-grid Alaskan farm is a serene location on the way to Chena Hot Springs. It is about an hour drive from Fairbanks and an adventure on its own to get to. A detailed email with driving directions will be provided upon booking.
Duration
Total Time: 1.5 hours Estimate about 45-minutes to 1-hour of trail time and 30 to 45-minutes with the yaks, depending on what your group is enjoying the most!
Just Yaks
Description
Meet, greet, pet, feed, and learn about majestic yaks. Have you ever seen a yak before? Learn where they originate and how they ended up in Alaska, what makes them special, and perfect animals for farms in our environment. You will be able to pet, feed, and take photos with the yaks. For this experience, you will transport yourself to our farm in the Chena River Valley. Enjoy a scenic drive into the rural community of Two Rivers nestled near the Tanana State Forest and Chena Recreation Area. When you arrive at our farm, you will be greeted by the farm owner and guide. Be prepared for about a 5-minute trail walk through the birch forest to an authentic Alaskan-made wall tent, similar to those used during the Gold Rush. Enjoy a complimentary beverage and snack while getting prepared to meet the yaks. The yaks will be waiting for you in their hand-built pen outside the wall-tent.
Getting here
Is getting off the beaten path what you are looking for? Your first adventure will be getting here. When you arrive, you can pat yourself on the back, you made it to our off-grid Alaskan farm. It is about an hour drive from Fairbanks. A detailed email with driving directions will be provided upon booking.
Duration
Total time 45-minutes Estimate about 30-minutes with the yaks and 15-minutes of walking and spending time in the wall tent depending on what you are enjoying the most.
FAQs
What if I get lost?
When you book a tour you will receive an email with driving instruction to get to your tour. If you have trouble reading the instructions or think you could get lost, a phone number will be provided with the email. Feel free to call us so we can help direct you.
What if I am sick?
The cancellation policies below explain options for if you have an emergency or get sick on your trip.
I have allergies, can I still go on the tour?
We are about an hour from Fairbanks, so if you have serious allergies to hay or animals that could require the use of an epi pen, we suggest skipping this tour for your safety. However, if your allergy is not serious we can accommodate you viewing the yaks without petting them or we could provide an alternative to hay to feed them. Please contact us individually to plan these acomodations.
Why are the tours expensive?
The price directly goes back into the yaks, the farm, and paying the farmer for their guide time. Before the farmer gets paid, the money pays for feed, hay, vet care, equipment and shelter for the yaks. Farm equipment and hay is more expensive in Alaska than other parts of the country, for example good quality hay can cost anywhere from $15 to $25/bail.
Can I take photos?
Of course! Please take photos and we would love if you tagged us in your social media posts.
Tour Policies
Cancellations
A full refund will be issued if the cancellation is received before 7 days of the tour. A 20% cancellation fee will be charged to cancellations inside 7 days. No refunds will be issued if the cancellation is less than 24 hours prior to the tour. Day of booking cancellations will not be refunded. No shows will be charged in full.
Overdue Arrivals
Guests arriving 15 minutes late are subject to an altered tour to ensure guides remain on the schedule (this could result in a shorter trail time or less interaction with the yaks). Guests arriving in excess of 15 minutes late for a day tour will forfeit their tour and be charged in full.
Emergency & Covid Cancellations
If guests have an emergent case, please notify us immediately to explain the situation. (Examples of emergent cases include emergency hospitalization or car accident; examples of non-emergent cases include failure to secure appropriate transportation, getting lost, previously known/mitigatable health etc). Proof may be requested to receive a full refund. A positive covid test result with the date is required to issue a full refund. If no contact is made prior to the tour start time, no refunds will be issued.
Cancellations by Guide
If unforeseen safety or health concerns arise that require a guide to cancel a tour, guests will be notified as soon as possible of the change. Guests will be given an option to reschedule or receive a full refund.
Tour Conditions
Guests much agree to follow the conditions and rules outlined below to ensure safety for themselves, guide, and animals. Failure to uphold these conditions may result in the guide determining that proceeding with the tour will be unsafe. At the time the tour will be concluded and no refunds will be issued. •Do NOT open any gates. •Follow guides instructions on how to pet and handle yaks. Proceed with handling only after the guide has instructed you to do so. •Stay in the human designated areas. Do NOT climb on or over fencing. •Remain in designated tour areas. Do NOT wander onto private property. •Guests will respond quickly and respectfully to any additional instructions provided by the guide.