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Experience the Amazing Northern Lights in Alaska!

The 10 Best Places to see the Northern Lights in Alaska ! Anyone who has experienced it once will be able to confirm: The dance of the aurora borealis is one of the most breathtaking natural spectacles of all. Alaska has the best box seats to witness this celestial spectacle. Ribbons of all colors perform a wondrous dance in the night sky. Many visitors from all parts of the world come to Alaska especially for the Aurora Borealis. We carefully selected the best Aurora Viewing Tours around Fairbanks in Northern Alaska. You can choose from our wide range of tours like the Alaska Aurora Borealis Tour to the Arctic Circle or to famous Chena Hot Springs Resort at Chena Hot Springs. Bettles Lodge is a remote wilderness lodge, located north of the Arctic Circle offering all conveniences to guests. View the Aurora Borealis in all its glory as you gaze upon the Northern Lights far away from Fairbanks city lights - waving across the sky in shades of green, purple and red. You can also take the opportunity to try out the many other winter activities Alaska has to offer, such as snowmobiling, dog sledding, skiing or relaxing in the natural outdoor hot springs pool. Visit the ice museum and enjoy the many winter festivities Fairbanks has to offer.

Alaska Northern Lights Railroad Tours

Our Alaska Northern Lights Winter Rail Tours from Anchorage feature fantastic and breathtaking views of the snow covered Alaska Mountain Range with its towering 20,320 feet high Mount Denali. Please feel free to choose your preferred tour from our large selection of Northern Lights Tour Packages within Alaska and Northern Canada. The Northern Lights have been a source of fascination for centuries. With their various colors and shapes, they appear magical and it is not at all surprising that they have been incorporated into ancient myths and folk stories. Join one of our Northern Lights tours in Alaska to experience this majestic natural phenomenon for yourself. Welcome to Alaska's Winter Wonderland!


►Fairbanks Northern Lights Viewing Tours
NL-01 Fairbanks Aurora Viewing Tour 
04 Days from | to Fairbanks 

Fairbanks is an ideal starting point to observe the aurora in Alaska. View the magnificent Alaska Northern Lights displays from a heated log cabin high above Fairbanks – far away from any city lights – and from the hills above Chena Hot Springs Resort with a spectacular and breathtaking 360-degree panoramic view. During the day, you have time to explore Fairbanks during a guided city sightseeing tour, take an exciting sled dog tour, or view the ice sculptures during the World Ice Art Championships. Rejuvenate in the natural hot springs pools at Chena and join us on a tour of the unique ice museum. This package is also available as an extended tour program with railroad departures from Anchorage. We will watch the Aurora Forecast for you.


NL-02 Fairbanks | Arctic Circle & Chena Aurora Viewing
04 Days from | to Fairbanks

This northern lights tour includes the guided van tour to the Arctic Circle and to the well known Chena Hot Springs Spa Resort. Because Fairbanks is located in the auroral oval and the winter nights are longer, the Aurora Borealis light shows are generally much brighter and more reliable here than anywhere else. The lights are flipping and waving across the sky in shades of green, purple, and red. Taking a trip to view the Northern Lights is a spectacle you'll never forget again! Optional: You can extend the tour program with railroad departure from or to Anchorage.


NL-03 Chena Hot Springs Resort | Chena Aurora Viewing
04 Days from | to Fairbanks  

Chena Hot Springs Resort with its legendary healing mineral waters is one of the best accessible and the most developed hot springs spa resort in Alaska with over 200 Alaska Northern Lights viewing days per year. At night take the unique snowcoach tour and observe the magnificent Alaska Aurora Borealis displays from a heated cabin on the Chena Hills. Relax and rejuvenate in the large natural outdoor Chena hot spring pool, the indoor mineral water fed pool or in the hot tubs. It is possible to overnight in a real ice hotel. Optional activities include ice museum tour, Alaska dog mushing, and sled dog rides, sled dog kennel tours, Arctic Circle flightseeing, sleigh rides and guided snowmobile tours.


NL-04 Coldfoot | Arctic Circle and Dalton Highway Aurora Experience
05 Days from | to Fairbanks

Join the guided Alaska Aurora tour across the Arctic Circle: Starting in Fairbanks, we'll drive on the Dalton Highway across the Arctic Circle to the remote settlements of Coldfoot and Wiseman. The area is within striking distance of the magnificent Brooks Range wilderness region. The fully escorted van tour includes a stopover at the remarkable Alaska Pipeline project and on the banks of the frozen Yukon River. You'll receive a personal Arctic Circle certificate. Enjoy the scenic return flight to Fairbanks, remembering the outstanding Alaska Northern Lights viewing opportunities. Optional local tours include guided dog mushing.


NL-05 Bettles Lodge | Aurora Viewing above the Arctic Circle
05 Days from | to Fairbanks

Bettles Lodge is located 35-miles north of the Arctic Circle and just outside of Alaska's remote Gates of the Arctic National Park. The destination provides some of the world’s most outstanding Alaska Aurora Borealis activities with mainly clear skies and without any city lights. Daily activities include the visit of Evansville - an ancient native village on the frozen banks of the Koyukuk River, flightseeing tours across the Arctic Tundra, the mighty Yukon River, and along the Alaska Pipeline, as well as sled dog tours with a professional Iditarod musher. Optional: Extend the tour program with railroad departure from or to Anchorage.


► Alaska Northern Lights Railroad Tours

NL-06 Alaska Winter Rail Tours | Northern Lights Activity Tour 
06 Days  from Anchorage - Fairbanks

Experience the best places on Earth to view the beautiful and mysterious Alaska Northern Lights. Bright, energetic curtains of yellow, green, red, or even purple light brighten our night skies regularly. Fairbanks is situated within a ring-shaped region around the North Pole called the Auroral Oval. This location provides the area around Fairbanks a terrific balance of occurrence, frequency and activity. Experience the Fairbanks Alaska Aurora Borealis from a heated "Aurorium" cabin north of Fairbanks and from Chena Hot Springs Resort pool. During the day you have plenty of time for a sled dog tour, visit the Ice Museum or the Santa Claus House in the North Pole.


NL-07 Alaska Winter Rail Tours |  from Anchorage - Fairbanks
06 Days from Anchorage - Fairbanks  

NL-08 Alaska Winter Rail Tours | from Fairbanks to Anchorage
07 Days from Fairbanks - Anchorage 

If you prefer to start your Alaska winter tour vacation in Fairbanks, we also offer the above tour (NL-06) just in reverse direction with an additional night in Fairbanks or at Chena Hot Springs Resort. Our tour starts with the overnight at Chena Hot Springs Resort - known for its spectacular Alaska Northern Lights viewing. Spend one night in Fairbanks and then continue your Alaska Aurora tour aboard the Aurora Railroad via Denali National Park and Talkeetna to Anchorage. You'll definitely enjoy Alaska's magnificent scenery with never ending panoramic views.


NL-09 Alaska Winter Rail Tours | the Arctic Circle and Chena Hot Springs Resort 
08 Days from Anchorage | Fairbanks

Enjoy an amazing vacation within Alaska's spectacular winter wonderland. Travel onboard the comfortable Alaska Aurora Railroad from Anchorage to Fairbanks and enjoy the panoramic views of the magnificent snow-covered Alaska Range. You'll continue your journey with a guided van tour on the magnificent Dalton Highway and drive along the Alaska Pipeline to the Arctic Circle. The Northern region provides some of world's most outstanding Alaska Northern Lights viewing. Relax in the mineral pools of the Chena Hot Springs resort and enjoy typical winter activities such as sled dog tours, cross-country skiing, snowboarding, snowmobiling, and ice skating.


NL-10 Alaska Winter Rail Tours | Bettles Lodge & Chena Aurora Viewing
08 Days from Anchorage | Fairbanks 

This is our staff's favorite Alaska Aurora Tour! Travel in comfort onboard the Alaska Railroad from Anchorage to Fairbanks. Enjoy a magnificent flightseeing trip along the Alaska Pipeline into the Gates of the Arctic National Park and overnight at Bettles Lodge, located about 35-miles north of the Arctic Circle. Experience a remote Alaska backcountry destination within Alaska's Brooks Range. Transfer to Chena Hot Springs Resort about 60 miles from Fairbanks. Relax in the mineral pools of the Chena Hot Springs resort and enjoy typical winter activities such as sled dog tours, x-country skiing, snowmobiling and ice skating.


NL-11 Alaska Fall Railroad Tour | Autumn Colours & Aurora Viewing
08 Days from Anchorage | Fairbanks

Autumn in Alaska! Fall foliage in Alaska provides an equally brilliant symphony of yellows, orange and red fall colors which usually peak in late August and during the first two weeks of September. These colors also match with the Alaska Aurora Borealis. Travelers will be rewarded with glorious views of the Alaska Range, snowcapped Mt. Denali, broad alpine valleys, arctic tundra - impressive views around Broad Pass on the Parks Highway to Denali, excellent wildlife viewing for moose and grizzly bears, as well as fascinating Alaska Northern Lights viewing opportunities from both Fairbanks and Chena Hot Springs Resort.

 

Yukon Northern Lights Tours
NL-12 Tagish Lake | Yukon Winter Soft Adventure Tour
05 Days from | to Whitehorse 

Winter season is very special at Tagish Lake in Canada. Although daylight is short, there are a lot of ways to spend your vacation at Tagish Wilderness Lodge – be active and hike through the winter forests or pamper yourself in our wood-heated whirlpool. Yukon's Winter Wonderland awaits you – experience the crystal clear winter days, deeply frozen lakes and takes part in a choice of typical Yukon activities like dog sledding, snowmobiling, snowshoeing, or even watching the mystic Aurora Borealis. Your adventurous day ends with a hearty, home-cooked dinner, lovingly prepared by your Swiss hosts.


NL-13 Yukon Territory | Northern Lights Safari
08 Days from | to Whitehorse 

Start your Aurora tour with a small group, traveling across the winter wonderland of the Yukon Territory. Overnight in Whitehorse, a trip on the Alaska Highway to Watson Lake, visit Liard Hot Springs with its natural hot springs pools, stayover in Watson Lake and visit the Northern Lights Space and Science Center and spend a few days in Dawson City. The former "Paris of the North" is synonymous with the 1898's Klondike Gold Rush and the author Jack London. You'll finally end the tour at the Takhini Hot Springs with the 35-40 degree heated pools and many recreational activities and over 300 acres of ski trails.


QUICK FACTS ABOUT THE NORTHERN LIGHTS / AURORA BOREALIS

The Northern Lights are a natural phenomenon that illuminate the night sky in many possible color combinations. Many visitors come to Alaska with the desire to see the lights. They are called Northern Lights or Aurora Borealis in the Northern Hemisphere and Southern Lights or Aurora Australis in the Southern Hemisphere.

WHY CAN THE NORTHERN LIGHTS BE SEEN SO WELL IN ALASKA ?

The Aurora Borealis can be seen in countries close to the Arctic Circle. The further north, the better the chances of a sighting of these wonders of nature. They are most commonly seen in Alaska, Canada, Iceland, Greenland and Lapland. The southern lights can be seen in Tasmania, Antarctica and Patagonia.


Alaska is definitely the perfect place to see them, as there are spectacular landscapes like the arctic tundra, mountain ranges, natural hot springs or picturesque fjords. Alaska's strength lies in its small population, which means that there is nature everywhere and very few artificial light sources. In addition, the city of Fairbanks is the ideal base to search for the best viewing location. It is essential to get away from the street lights to better see the colorful lights.

WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO SEE THE NORTHERN LIGHTS IN ALASKA ?

The best time to see Northern Lights in Alaska during the year is between September to April. They occur all year round, but winter is definitely the best time to see them due to less light pollution. In fact, it doesn't really get dark in Alaska during the summer. Sometimes the sun doesn't even set, which makes sighting the auroras impossible. Nevertheless, the midnight sundown is an equally beautiful phenomenon that can be seen from the end of May to the end of July, most strongly around June 21. In contrast, it is almost always dark in winter, as we only have a few hours of daylight, especially in December and January. The chances of seeing Northern Lights are very high during this time.