6-Day Northern Lights Tour from Fairbanks: Chena Hot Springs and Arctic Circle | 4 Chances for Aurora Viewing | 14 Pax Small Group

What you'll experience

Highlights

6 days

Day-by-day itinerary

1. 1

   Day 1 — Home - Fairbanks -Aurora Activity Center

   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.
   -Hotel check in time is after 15:00.
   Aurora Viewing
   - 22:00, 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.
   - 2:00am back to the downtown hotel.
   Special note: If you are unable to catch the 22:00 aurora viewing shuttle, you will be deemed to automatically abandone this chance and the viewing cannot be rescheduled.
      

   Meals: B: Excluded, L: Excluded, D: ExcludedStay: Springhill Suites by Marriott Fairbanks or similar
2. 2

   Day 2 — Optional Itinerary - Aurora Viewing Activity (Recommend activity: Fairbanks City Tour)

   Today is a free day, but you may also choose to join the Fairbanks City Tour at your own expense.
   【Museum of the North】 - The Museum of the North is located on the Fairbanks Campus of the University of Alaska. The whole body is white, and it blends with the surrounding snow in winter, which is chic and artistic. Dramatic architecture and new exhibit galleries make the museum an extraordinary destination. There are specimens of animals living around the Arctic Circle, as well as the lifestyle and status of the local aborigines. The most attractive are those exhibits that can be touched by hand, which will enrich your sensory experience and make your travel experience more memorable. In addition, our tour guide's vivid explanation of the exhibits will make your trip to the Museum of the North worthwhile.
   * Closed on Thanksgiving, Xmas, and New Year.
   【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).
   - 13:50 Depart from hotel.
   - 14:30 Visit Museum of the North, which is located on the Fairbanks campus of the University of Alaska. If the Museum of the North is closed, you will go to Thompson Memorial Center.
   - 16:00 Visit Santa Claus House.
   - Around 17:00 finish the tour and return to the hotel.
   - During the day, you can choose the optional activities that you like or just rest on your own.
   If you do not join the optional tour, you will have a free day, followed by wilderness aurora viewing in the evening.
   - 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.
   - 2:00am back to the hotel.
   
    
    

   

   University of Alaska Museum of the North

   

   Santa Claus House

   Meals: B: Included, L: Excluded, D: ExcludedStay: Springhill Suites by Marriott Fairbanks or similar
3. 3

   Day 3 — Free day - Optional Itinerary (Chena Hot Springs/Arctic Circle Adventure/Snow Activities)

   Today, you can enjoy a free day, or you may choose to participate in our specially curated winter snow activities at your own expense.
   【Ice Fishing】
   【Snowmobile】  *If the optional activity is scheduled after checking into the Borealis Camp, only the 【Borealis Basecamp Snowmobile】 option is available.*
   【Dog sledding】  *If the optional activity is scheduled after checking into the Borealis Camp, only the 【Borealis Basecamp Dog Sledding】 option is available.*
   【Chena Hot Springs】
   【Arctic Circle Fly-drive Adventure】
   【Arctic Circle Land Adventure】
   【Aurora Ice Museum】is an ice sculpture museum open all year round. 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 ($15 at your own expense, must be over 21 years old, please show the Valid ID when purchase).
   - 10:50, Departure from the hotel and follow your guide 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.
   Notes:
   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.
     
     
    

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

   Day 4 — Borealis Basecamp Cube

   The Borealis Basecamp Cube 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 15:00. 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.
   * Please note that if the dog sledding experience is not possible due to insufficient snow, it will be replaced with a dog pulling experience, and there will be no price difference to refund.
    
    
     
     

   Meals: B: Included, L: Excluded, D: ExcludedStay: Borealis Basecamp Cube
5. 5

   Day 5 — Borealis Basecamp Cube - Dog Sledding

   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.
   Today you will have a dog sledding experience at Borealis Basecamp, the specific time of the activity is subject to notice by the staff. In addition, Borealis Basecamp has plenty of other wonderful winter activities for you to choose from: snowmobiling, reindeer meet & greet, etc. Check out the optional activities for details.
   * Please note that if the dog sledding experience is not possible due to insufficient snow, it will be replaced with a dog pulling experience, and there will be no price difference to refund.

    
    
    

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

   Day 6 — Fairbanks - Home

   Today is your last day for the trip. Check out time is 11am. Please reserve the airport shuttle at the front desk in advance. 

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

What's included

Cancellation policy

Important info

Tour operator