5 Best Northern Lights Tours from Fairbanks, Alaska

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Booking an aurora tour in Fairbanks is the best way to increase your chances of seeing the Northern Lights in Alaska. Fairbanks is the Northern Lights capital of the U.S., and if you go with a guide who knows the area and can predict when and where the aurora will show up, you’ll be in for a good show!

Of course, the Aurora Borealis is a natural phenomenon, so no one can predict it with 100% accuracy. That said, the tours in this article are led by knowledgeable guides who are dedicated to tracking down the Green Lady.

Best Northern Lights tours in Fairbanks, Alaska

We’ve become quite good at aurora hunting, with over 50 Arctic nights under our belts. Still, whenever we visit a new place, we always hire a tour guide to show us the best places to see the Northern Lights. The first time we went to Fairbanks to see the aurora, we booked this excursion because we wanted to take advantage of the opportunity to reach the Arctic Circle. I highly recommend it!

There are other great Northern Lights tours in Fairbanks, AK, so I’ll share the top 5 in this guide.

Best Northern Lights tours in Fairbanks, Alaska

Again, there are many options, including excursions with additional activities like dog sledding and a visit to the hot springs. To help you choose, here are my top 5 Aurora Borealis tours in Fairbanks:

1. Arctic Circle & Northern Lights tour from Fairbanks, Alaska
2. Fairbanks Northern Lights tour with dog sledding
3. Fairbanks Northern Lights tour with Chena Hot Springs visit
4. Fairbanks aurora tour with professional photography service
5. Northern Lights tour from Fairbanks with campfire & photography

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

First, I must recommend the excursion we took, an Arctic Circle and Northern Lights tour from Fairbanks.

It includes pick-up service from your hotel in Fairbanks or North Pole. You’ll travel along the Dalton Highway, known as one of the northernmost highways in the world, as you make your way to the Arctic Circle.

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

You’ll also pass the famous Trans-Alaska Pipeline and cross the bridge over the Yukon River. Upon reaching the Arctic Circle, you’ll receive a certificate proving you’ve visited one of the most remote places on Earth.

Towards dusk, your guide will check the weather forecast and take you to the ideal location to spot the Northern Lights. We lucked out with the weather on our tour, as it was completely clear just outside Fairbanks, so after nearly three hours of aurora viewing, it was a short walk back to the hotel.

This was a long excursion, but we were comfortable the entire time. Our guide gave us sandwiches, snacks, and hot drinks to keep us warm and alert while we waited for the Dancing Lady to appear.

• Highlights: Scenic trip to the Arctic Circle and Northern Lights chasing
• Duration: 14 hours
• Price: $300
• Number of participants: 8

2. Fairbanks Northern Lights tour with dog sledding

If you’re looking for an exciting aurora-chasing tour in Fairbanks, I recommend this excursion. Not only will you hunt for the Northern Lights, but you’ll also enjoy a dog sledding ride.

Full disclosure: I only did the dog sledding part with this company, and while I’m not a big fan of activities that involve animals, the dogs all seemed well cared for. Sliding over the snow with these strong canines is amazing, and if you’re lucky, you may even see the Northern Lights during the ride, which makes it even more magical.

2. Fairbanks Northern Lights tour with dog sledding

The full tour also includes a visit to a yurt where you’ll enjoy a delicious dinner of salmon and local produce. The yurt is located outside the city, away from all the light pollution, so you’ll wait for the aurora to show up after your meal.

The yurt has north-facing windows, so as soon as the aurora shows up, you’ll be able to spot it in the sky. What’s nice about this excursion is that you can admire the Northern Lights in Fairbanks without standing in the freezing cold. Of course, you can bundle up and go outside to take photos of the Green Lady, which I highly recommend!

• Highlights: Dog sledding with homemade dinner and Northern Lights viewing from a yurt
• Duration: 6 hours
• Price: $320
• Number of participants: 9

3. Fairbanks Northern Lights tour with Chena Hot Springs visit

This excursion is another Northern Lights tour from Fairbanks, Alaska, that I think you should check out.

It begins with a pick-up service from your hotel in Fairbanks or North Pole. Your first stop will be the Aurora Ice Museum, an impressive structure made with over 1,000 tons of ice and snow. Inside, there are incredible snow and ice sculptures.

3. Fairbanks Northern Lights tour with Chena Hot Springs visit

Next, you’ll go to the Chena Hot Springs Resort to enjoy a locally sourced meal and a relaxing soak in the hot springs.

As the skies begin to darken, you’ll head to the Aurorium, where you’ll wait for the aurora to appear. It’s a long day, but it’s one of the most comprehensive Northern Lights tours in Fairbanks, so you’re sure to enjoy yourself.

• Highlights: Guided tour of the Aurora Ice Museum, visit to Chena Hot Springs, and Northern Lights viewing
• Duration: 10 hours
• Price: $230
• Number of participants: 14

4. Fairbanks aurora tour with professional photography service

Take it from me: photographing the Northern Lights is no easy task. It helps to know a few tricks and have the support of a professional photographer, which you can have on this tour. Not only will you get to see the aurora dancing across the sky, but you’ll have the help of someone who knows how to capture great photos of this natural phenomenon.

4. Fairbanks aurora tour with professional photography service

The tour includes professional photography service for both individual and group pictures, so you’ll take home some fantastic souvenirs. You’ll also enjoy SUV transportation from your Fairbanks hotel to a location with a high probability of Northern Lights sightings. The tour comes at a great price, so I think it’s an amazing deal.

• Highlights: Northern Lights chasing with professional photography service
• Duration: 4 hours
• Price: $279
• Number of participants: 7

5. Northern Lights tour from Fairbanks with campfire & photography

Finally, nothing beats a Fairbanks Northern Lights tour by a warm and glowing campfire. This excursion includes transportation to a small campsite where you can stay cozy and enjoy a hot dinner with tea and coffee.

5. Northern Lights tour from Fairbanks with campfire & photography

As you wait for the aurora to appear, your guide will share some interesting details and facts about the Northern Lights and Alaskan culture. The tour also includes photography services, so if you’re not sure how to take photos of the Aurora Borealis, your guide will take care of it so you can bring home nice pictures.

• Highlights: Northern Lights chasing, dinner and hot drinks around a campfire, and professional photography service
• Duration: 5 hours
• Price: $335
• Number of participants: 15

How much does it cost to see the Northern Lights in Fairbanks, Alaska?

Now you know the 5 best Aurora Borealis tours in Fairbanks, Alaska. If you’re still not sure which one to choose, check out this chart to compare prices, durations, and included activities:

All of the excursions I recommended are reserved for small groups, so you’ll receive personalized attention from your guide. If you have any questions about how the Northern Lights form, or how to photograph or predict them, you can talk to your guide and learn more.

Should I take a Fairbanks Aurora tour, or can I see them on my own?

You can definitely venture out to see the Northern Lights on your own, but I recommend having some prior knowledge and experience. In addition to scheduling your trip during the Northern Lights season, you’ll also need to be able to predict the Northern Lights, as specific conditions are necessary for them to be visible.

I suggest downloading weather-tracking apps like Windy and NOAA, as well as My Aurora Forecast to track the KP index and solar activity.

Another good option, if you don’t want to pay for a tour, is to stay at one of Fairbank’s Northern Lights hotels. These accommodations are in carefully thought-out locations, so you have the best chances of seeing the aurora. Some even offer wake-up service so you don’t miss out on sightings.

If it’s your first time in Alaska, you’re better off booking a Northern Lights tour from Fairbanks rather than trying to chase the aurora on your own. Having a guide will increase your chances of seeing the Green Lady, and you won’t have to worry about tracking the forecast and choosing where to go. Not only that, but you won’t have to drive the snowy roads at night, which is a huge plus!

FAQs – Northern Lights tours in Fairbanks, AK

That’s everything you should know about Northern Lights vacation packages in Fairbanks, Alaska. If you still have some doubts, check out the answers to the most frequently asked questions below:

That’s all the information you need about the best Northern Lights tours from Fairbanks. I hope you found an excursion that suits you, but if you still have questions, feel free to leave a comment. I’d also love to hear about your experience taking a Fairbanks Aurora tour!

Good luck!