Stay at the Borealis Basecamp Cube | 7-Day Aurora Viewing Tour from Anchorage/Fairbanks: Matanuska Glacier Hiking, Chena Hot Springs and Arctic Circle | 3 Chances for Aurora Viewing

What you'll experience

Highlights

7 days

Day-by-day itinerary

1. 1

   Day 1 — Home - Anchorage

   Today you will arrive in Alaska's largest city and also its biggest transportation hub, Anchorage. Positioned in the center of Alaska's southern coast, it contains 40% of Alaska's total population- about 300,000 people. It has been awarded the Top 10 cities in America 4 times. For tourists, it's a must-see city due to its culture, history, and amazing scenic views.
   Hotel check in time is after 15:00 with a valid ID.
     

   Meals: B: Excluded, L: Excluded, D: ExcludedStay: Courtyard by Marriott Anchorage Airport
2. 2

   Day 2 — Matanuska Glacier Hiking Tour

   Matanuska Glacier is the source of the Matanuska River and the largest glacier in the United States that can be reached by car. The Matanuska Glacier hiking allows you to explore blue-and-white glaciers, impressive ice sheets and deep crevasses for spectacular scenery you'll never forget. All equipment and safety equipment will be provided for this tour.
   - 08:30 Departure from the hotel, drive about 2.5 hours to the park. Follow one of our guides on a once-in-a-lifetime excursion from the lodge out to the terminus of the Matanuska Glacier. Guides will narrate the tour, share their knowledge and are more than happy to stop for photos along the way. The tour takes up to 3 hours. 
   - 17:00 We will be back to the Anchorage Hotel.
   Special Notes:
   1. Please be prepared for your own hiking equipment, such as sunglasses, hiking boots, spare pair of socks, insulated jacket, snow pants. 
   2. English/Chinese tour guide.
   3. The price includes: Round trip transportation between Anchorage hotels and glacier, glacier tickets, glacier hiking equipment, professional guide services.
   4. The price does not include: lunch and other expenses for personal reasons, driver and guide tips. Suggest gratuity, $20/pp (driver), $20/pp (hiking guide).
     
    

   

   Matanuska Glacier

   Meals: B: Included, L: Excluded, D: ExcludedStay: Courtyard by Marriott Anchorage Airport
3. 3

   Day 3 — Anchorage - Fairbanks (Guide does not accompany on board) - Aurora Activity Center

   The Aurora Train, a great way to see the Alaskan wilderness in winter, travels through the Chugach Range, the Alaska Range, and the Talkeetna Range. The mountains along the way, and the occasional wildlife, are a travel experience that shouldn't be missed.
   
   Fairbanks is one of the world's best places to watch the aurora, because there are more than 243 days of the year when the aurora will appear. Since Fairbanks is only 310 kilometers away from the Arctic Circle and is surrounded by mountains, it can avoid bad weather and create good environmental conditions for aurora viewing. Therefore, many aurora hunters will gather here to enjoy it. Additionally, Fairbanks' low precipitation and distance from coastal areas contribute to consistently clear nights. All these combined variables make Fairbanks an outstanding destination for viewing the aurora borealis. There are also many newlyweds who choose this place as their honeymoon destination because of the ancient legend that "seeing the aurora will lead to happiness for a lifetime". Our guides will take you to the best aurora viewing area to chase the aurora according to the weather conditions. They will introduce you to the aurora and instruct you in camera parameter set-up and aurora borealis shooting techniques to help you take stunning aurora photos.
   
   With Train Ticket
   - 7:00, Depart from the hotel and take the shuttle bus to Anchorage Train Station, take the Aurora Train to the "Aurora capital" - Fairbanks. It is the second largest city in Alaska, the northernmost city in Alaska and the best place to see the aurora. About 12 hours by train (Anchorage - Fairbanks 8:30-20:00), upon arrival, take the shuttle bus to the hotel.
   No Train Ticket
   - Enjoy breakfast, check out the hotel and take the hotel shuttle to the airport. Approximately one hour flight time to Fairbanks, upon arrival, take the shuttle to the hotel in Fairbanks. (If the flight depart  late, you can choose to join the Anchorage City Tour before the flight, or you can arrange your own tour  before the flight to Fairbanks)
   - 21:50, Departure from hotel lobby to aurora viewing activity center. You can relax in the cabin waiting for the northern light with coffee, tea, hot chocolate, and a variety of snacks. Once the Aurora is out, you can enjoy this magical phenomenon right from inside the cabin or by an outdoor spacious viewing area.
   - 2:00 back to the downtown hotel.
   * The departure date and city may vary, and transportation arrangements between Anchorage and Fairbanks will differ accordingly. Please refer to the actual itinerary for details.
     

   Meals: B: Included, L: Excluded, D: ExcludedStay: SpringHiII Suites by Marriott Fairbanks
4. 4

   Day 4 — Santa Claus House - Chena Hot Springs Resort - Out-door Aurora Viewing

   【Santa Claus House】 - Walking on the streets of Arctic Village, it seems like walking in a fairy tale world. The street lights are all in the shape of red and white candy bars. The main street in the area is also called "Jingle Street", the name comes from the sound of the bells as Santa Claus passes by in his sleigh. The 16-meter-high giant Santa Claus statue, the 2-meter-high polar bear and elk, and many Christmas trees are all good choices for taking pictures. You can also send a postcard from the North Pole.
   * In winter, the Santa Claus hut in Arctic Village is only open at a fixed time. If the Santa Claus hut is closed, you will visit the Arctic town (North Pole).
     
   
   【Chena Hot Springs】has indoor hot spring pools and outdoor hot spring pools. You can feel the warmth of mineral hot springs in the snow. You can experience the magical feeling of soaking in hot springs and freezing your hair. It is a unique magical experience in the world. Hot springs can not only give people spiritual pleasure, but also have a healing effect on the tired body. It is the most popular winter tour in Fairbanks. There is also a reindeer farm in the southeast corner of the resort (outside visit only), even in the cold winter months, you can see Santa's good partners, enjoying life here leisurely.
     
   
   【Aurora Ice Museum】is an ice sculpture museum open all year round (admission is not included,US20$/pp). It is built with a thousand tons of ice. There is not only the world's smallest chapel, but also a real Inuit igloo, and a bedroom made entirely of ice. You can also taste a glass of Appletini, the most local ice glass cocktail, at the ice bar, and experience the wonderful feeling of the ice glass touching your warm lips ($20 at your own expense, must be over 21 years old, please show the Valid ID when purchase).
     
   
   Itinerary: 
   - 10:20, Departure from the hotel to Santa Claus House.
   - After visiting Santa Claus House, head to Chena Hot Spring Resort. We will be going to visit the Aurora Ice Museum (admission is not included). Then you can relax in the outdoor natural hot springs, enjoy the incredible experience while surroundings are covered by ice and snow. At 17:00, leaving from the resort and heading back to the hotel.
   - 21:50, Depart from the hotel and our experienced tour guide will take you to the wilderness, away from the light pollution of the urban area to chase the trail of the Aurora. Aurora is a natural landscape that cannot be forecasted. When the aurora appears in the sky, our tour guide will stop and let you take pictures and enjoy the aurora; or take you to a place with super high visibility to stop and wait for the aurora. Along the way, the guide will explain the knowledge of the aurora, camera parameter adjustment and the aurora borealis shooting skills to help you take wonderful photos of the aurora. Because it is an out-door tour, there are no toilets and hot drinks. If you need to use the restroom, please inform the tour guide, and we will arrange that for you.
   - 02:00 Return to the hotel.
   
   Kindly Reminder:
   1. Please bring your own swimsuit, bath towel, slippers and 25 cents (for locker rental).
   2. Aurora Ice Museum opens at 13:00 or 15:00.
   3. Be cautious not to drink Appletini before soaking in the hot springs.
   4. The hot spring is a pure natural sulfur hot spring, if you have cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, please arrange the time of bathing in the hot spring reasonably.
   5. For safety reasons, children under 18 may not enter the outdoor natural hot springs pool, but they may use the indoor pool and hot tub.
   6. The meeting point of the hot spring is the Activities Center.
   7. Activity center has a convenience store. You may choose to eat in the activity center or at the restaurant.
   8. If you choose not to enter the hot springs by any circumstances, the admission fee is not refundable.
   9. In winter, the Santa Claus hut in Arctic Village is only open at a fixed time. If the Santa Claus hut is closed, you will visit the Arctic town (North Pole).

   

   Santa Claus House

   

   Chena Hot Springs

   

   Aurora Ice Museum

   Meals: B: Included, L: Excluded, D: ExcludedStay: SpringHill Suites by Marriott Fairbanks
5. 5

   Day 5 — Borealis Basecamp Cube

   The Borealis Basecamp is located on the outskirts of Fairbanks. On the outskirts of the mountains without buildings, away from the pollution of city lights, you can have the best aurora observation experience here.
   - Take Borealis Basecamp shuttle to the campsite on 11:30. After arriving at the camp, you can store your luggage at the front desk. The check-in time is after 16:00.
   - Today you will enjoy a full day of freedom. Borealis Basecamp provides a variety of winter activities, please see the additional services: snowmobile etc.
    
    

   Meals: B: Included, L: Excluded, D: ExcludedStay: Borealis Basecamp-Cube
6. 6

   Day 6 — Free day - Optional Itinerary (Arctic Circle Adventure/Snow Activities)

   Free time during the day. You can purchase optional activities or make your own arrangements.
   Please select and pay for the tour when booking. (Limited spots available - please purchase in advance if you wish to join.)
   【Recommendation】
   1-Day Arctic Circle Land Adventure Tour: Dalton Highway, Yukon River | Arctic Circle Adventure Certificate | Small Group Tour
   【Fly in, drive back】1-Day Arctic Circle Fly Drive Adventure: Coldfoot Camp, Yukon River Camp and Arctic Circle Trading Post | Arctic Circle Adventure Certificate
   Dog Sledding Experience: Enjoy Speed and Passion | Small Group Tour
   Snow Mobile Experience: Enjoy the Scenery of the Alaska Icefield | Small Group Tour
   Ice Fishing Experience: Learn and Master the Unique Ice Fishing Skills of the Inuit | Small Group Tour
   1-Day Denali National Park Hiking Tour: Experience the Wild and Breathtaking Viewing of Alaska | Small Group Tour
    

   Meals: B: Included, L: Excluded, D: ExcludedStay: SpringHill Suites by Marriott Fairbanks
7. 7

   Day 7 — Fairbanks - Home

   Today is your last day for the trip. Check out time is 11:00. Please reserve the airport shuttle at the front desk in advance. 
   If you stay at Borealis Basecamp on your last night, the shuttle bus from Borealis Basecamp to Fairbanks Airport departs at 8:00 or 11:00. It takes about 1.5 hours. Please book your flight reasonably.

   Meals: B: Included, L: Excluded, D: Excluded

What's included

Cancellation policy

Important info

Tour operator