5 Best Northern Lights Tours from Fairbanks, Alaska

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Selecting a Fairbanks Northern Lights tour doesn’t have to be a difficult process. Although there are various options to see the Northern Lights in Fairbanks, some have distinctive features that make them stand out from the rest: dog sledding, hot springs visits, Arctic Circle treks, and more.

Not only are Fairbanks aurora borealis tours the perfect catalysts for adventure, but they’re also the best way to ensure you actually see the aurora while you’re in Alaska. After all, the guides are all experts who will keep abreast of the aurora forecast and take you to the most likely spots for Northern Lights viewing.

5 Best Northern Lights Tours from Fairbanks, Alaska

Of course, the Northern Lights are a natural phenomenon, so there’s never a complete guarantee that you’ll see them, but booking a Northern Lights tour from Fairbanks and traveling to Alaska at the best time to see the Northern Lights will stack the odds in your favor.

Ultimately, all of the best Fairbanks aurora tours I’ve selected combine interesting features and activities with the memorable experience of seeing the aurora, so you’ll get to have fun and go on an adventure while enjoying one of nature’s most beautiful sights.

Best Northern Lights tours in Fairbanks, Alaska

The abundance of Fairbanks Northern Lights tours means you’ll have a wide variety of options. To help narrow the list down and make it easier for you to choose, these are the best Northern Lights tours in Fairbanks:

1. Arctic Circle and Northern Lights tour from Fairbanks, Alaska
2. Aurora borealis tour in Fairbanks with dog sledding
3. Fairbanks Northern Lights tour with Chena Hot Springs visit
4. Fairbanks aurora viewing tour with photography
5. Northern Lights tour from Fairbanks with campfire

1. Arctic Circle and Northern Lights tour from Fairbanks, Alaska

If you’re craving an exhilarating adventure, an Arctic Circle and Northern Lights tour from Fairbanks will certainly deliver one. This tour is perfect for travelers who want to visit some of Alaska’s most remote spots.

1. Arctic Circle and Northern Lights tour from Fairbanks, Alaska

After getting picked up from Fairbanks, you and your small group will be driven down the remote, treacherous Dalton Highway, past the Trans-Alaska Pipeline, to the Arctic Circle. Along the way, your guide will tell you all about the sights and point out the imposing Yukon River Bridge.

When you finally reach the Arctic Circle, you’ll receive a commemorative certificate to mark the occasion. After all, it’s not every day you end up so far north. If you get lucky enough to spot the Northern Lights during your journey, your guide will stop the vehicle so you can get out and admire this natural wonder.

There will be several stops throughout this Fairbanks aurora borealis tour, so hot beverages, sandwiches, and snacks are available throughout to help you keep your energy levels up.

• Highlights: Aurora hunting, scenic drive to the Arctic Circle, sandwiches and snacks
• Duration: 14 hours
• Number of participants: 8
• Price: $260+

2. Aurora borealis tour in Fairbanks with dog sledding

Go dog sledding in the moonlight and enjoy a tasty dinner in a yurt on this top-rated tour.

2. Aurora borealis tour in Fairbanks with dog sledding

After getting picked up at your Fairbanks accommodation, you’ll be whisked away on a thrilling dog sled ride. You might even get lucky enough to see the aurora overhead as you glide through the snow on this aurora borealis tour in Fairbanks with dog sledding.

Then, once your sledding adventure has ended, head to a cozy yurt to eat a home-cooked dinner and wait for the aurora to appear. If the Northern Lights do become visible, the yurt’s north-facing windows are a great place to watch the show, or you can brave the cold and head outdoors to watch the display.

• Highlights: Aurora viewing from a yurt, dog sledding, home-cooked dinner
• Duration: 6 hours
• Number of participants: 10
• Price: $310+

3. Fairbanks Northern Lights tour with Chena Hot Springs visit

Explore the Aurora Ice Museum and relax in the warm waters of the Chena Hot Springs on this activity-filled tour.

3. Fairbanks Northern Lights tour with Chena Hot Springs visit

As part of this Fairbanks Northern Lights tour with Chena Hot Springs visit, your busy day will start with a guided tour of the Aurora Ice Museum, where you’ll see incredible ice sculptures and wander through a building made of ice and snow. Then, if you’re hungry, head to the Chena Hot Springs Resort’s restaurant for a delicious meal with locally sourced ingredients.

After you’ve eaten your fill, spend some time soaking in the Chena Hot Springs’ famous mineral waters. Once it starts to get dark, you can head up to the Aurorium to watch any aurora displays that appear.

• Highlights: Aurora viewing from Aurorium, guided tour of Aurora Ice Museum, visit to Chena Hot Springs
• Duration: 10 hours
• Number of participants: 14
• Price: $185+

4. Fairbanks aurora viewing tour with photography service

Whether you’ve seen them before or not, it can be quite a challenge to photograph the Northern Lights. Make the process easier by booking this tour, which includes professional group photos.

4. Fairbanks aurora viewing tour with photography service

Once you get picked up from your Fairbanks hotel, you’ll chase the Northern Lights through the rural Alaskan wilderness in an SUV. As soon as you spot the aurora, you’ll stop off to watch the colors dance overhead, the highlight of this Fairbanks aurora viewing tour with photography service.

To commemorate the moment, your guide will take photos of you and the group with the Northern Lights and share them with you after the trip. Additionally, if you’d like to take any photos yourself, the guide can provide tips and answer questions.

• Highlights: Aurora hunting with SUV, photography service
• Duration: 3 hours
• Number of participants: 14
• Price: $189+

5. Northern Lights tour from Fairbanks with campfire

If you want to learn more about Alaskan culture while cozying up around a campfire, this tour, a Northern Lights tour from Fairbanks with campfire, is for you.

5. Northern Lights tour from Fairbanks with campfire

Trade the hustle and bustle of Fairbanks for the peaceful solitude of the Alaskan wilderness as you chase the Northern Lights in a heated van. Once you’ve set up camp, gather around a crackling campfire for hot drinks and reindeer hot dogs.

As you sit by the fire and wait for the aurora to appear, your guide will tell you all about the Northern Lights and Alaskan culture. If you do manage to see the aurora, the guide will take photos of you and the group. The guide can also share aurora photography tips if you need them.

• Highlights: Aurora hunting in small group, snacks and drinks around a campfire, photography service
• Duration: 5 hours
• Number of participants: 14
• Price: $269+

Fairbanks Northern Lights tour prices

Seeing the Northern Lights in Alaska might be priceless, but tours certainly aren’t. As such, the costs of the best Fairbanks Northern Lights tours range from around $180 to $300. 

These prices are based on various factors, including the length of the tour, the tour group size, and the number of included services and activities. Below is a chart of the top Northern Lights tours from Fairbanks with their prices and highlights so you can compare them.

Whether you’re leaning towards a tour with an Arctic Circle visit or one where you make some new canine friends, I hope this article has helped you choose the best Fairbanks aurora tour for your budget and needs.

Regardless of the Fairbanks Northern Lights tour you choose, you’ll already have boosted your chances of seeing the aurora by visiting Fairbanks, which is considered one of the best places to see the Northern Lights in the world. Add in an experienced tour guide who knows the best places for aurora spotting, and you’ll end up with a pretty high chance of glimpsing the Northern Lights for yourself.

Always remember to check the Northern Lights forecast, even if you’re going aurora hunting with a Northern Lights tour from Fairbanks. Additionally, staying at one of Fairbanks’ best Northern Lights hotels will only enhance your experience.

Good luck with your aurora hunting in Fairbanks!