Package Includes
Package Excludes
Hotel: Holiday Inn Express & Suites Fairbanks / Westmark Fairbanks Hotel and Convention Center or similar
Fairbanks––The largest city in the interior region of Alaska, located less than 120 miles (190 km) south of the Arctic Circle. One of the best places on earth for experiencing the beautiful and mysterious aurora borealis. It is visible on average more than 200 days per year in the vicinity of Fairbanks. A welcome seafood dinner will be arranged after the 5:00 PM – 5:30 PM pick-up from the airport.
If your flight arrives in Fairbanks before 5:00 PM, you could have a welcome seafood dinner for free. The guide will meet you around 5:00 PM to 5:30 PM in Fairbanks airport. We will then take you to the restaurant after the pick-up. If you arrive early and have already checked in at the hotel, there will be another guide taking you to the restaurant from the hotel lobby at 5:00 PM.
Please be noticed the free welcome seafood dinner only be arranged on the day of arrival in Fairbanks; The guests who could not arrive on time shall be deemed to have given up the seafood dinner and have no refund.
Aurora Viewing Lodge––Take our shuttle to the selected Aurora viewing lodge, the Aurora Viewing Bar or Clear Summit Aurora Viewing Lodge to experience the mysterious Aurora Borealis at 10:00 PM. We will head back to the hotel at around 2:00 AM next morning.
Aurora Viewing Bar:
There are thousands of one-dollar bills with hand-written blessings all over the wall and the roof of the bar. You could wait for the Northern Lights in this lovely warm lodge and have a drink if you’re interested.
Clear Summit Aurora Viewing Lodge:
The bar is on the mountain top that is far away from the city with less light pollution. There is a large monitoring screen in the bar, so please make yourself comfortable inside while waiting for the Northern lights to show up.
Like this tour, but scheduling needs are different? Check out these other versions to see if they fit your needs.
Hotel: Holiday Inn Express & Suites Fairbanks / Westmark Fairbanks Hotel and Convention Center or similar
You could enjoy a free day in Fairbanks. We especially recommend you Optional tours: Arctic Circle Aurora Fly Drive Adventure, Arctic Circle Aurora Fly Drive Adventure (Afternoon departure), Arctic Circle Aurora Fly Drive Adventure (Morning departure with Brooks Range Safari). You could choose only one of them to experience.
Arctic Circle Aurora Drive Adventure
Head north from Fairbanks in personalized, comfortable Thomas Arctic Buses at around 10:30 AM.
Dalton Highway––It is one of the most isolated roads in the United States and directly parallels the Trans-Alaska pipeline. It begins at the Elliott Highway, north of Fairbanks, and ends at Deadhorse near the Arctic Ocean and the Prudhoe Bay oil fields. It became famous through the hit TV show Ice Road Trucker on the History Channel. Traveling this will give you more chances to see wildlife such as caribou, arctic foxes, wolves, moose etc.
Yukon River––Traverse the mighty Yukon River.
Trans-Alaska Pipeline––View the remarkable Trans-Alaska Pipeline, one of the world’s longest continuous pipeline systems which is more than 800-miles in length. It moves 500,000 barrels of crude oil a day.
Arctic Circle––Cross the Arctic Circle and receive an official Arctic Circle Adventure Certificate.
You may get the chance to chase the Aurora Borealis on the way back to Fairbanks. Back to hotel around 2:00 am next morning.
* Arctic Circle Aurora Fly Drive Adventure upgrade (Afternoon departure)
Take a flight to Coldfoot at 1:00 PM. Depart from hotel around 11:30 AM. See the endless beautiful tundra and bird-eye view of the vast Arctic Circle. The flight will take 1 hour to 1.5 hours.
Mail postcards to your family and friends in the northernmost post office in America or get a collectible stamp in the National Park.
You may get the chance to chase the Aurora Borealis on the way back to Fairbanks.
If the tour is unable to travel due to weather conditions, USD $459 per person will be refunded, then you will enjoy a free day.
* Arctic Circle Aurora Fly Drive Adventure upgrade (Morning departure with Brooks Range Safari)
Take a flight to Coldfoot at 9:00 AM. Depart from the hotel around 7:30 AM. See the endless beautiful tundra and bird-eye view of the vast Arctic Circle. The flight will take 1 hour to 1.5 hours.
Mail postcards to your family and friends in the northernmost post office in America or get your precious stamp in the National Park.
Leave Coldfoot and go north along the Dalton Highway deep into the polar region and head towards Brooks Mountains. The Gate of Arctic National Park located here is the northernmost national park in the United States and one of the most difficult-to-reach national parks. This vast area is home to tens of thousands of caribou. As winter approaches, thousands of caribou will migrate southward in groups hundreds of kilometers away. Lucky tourists can witness this caribou migration for themselves.
We will drive straight on to Sukakpak Mountain. “Sukakpak” means “catching clips” in the Eskimo language. It is also called the “magnet” by the residents of Wiseman Town. It is said that in the night when the Aurora Borealis is weak and when you can’t see it even in Wiseman, the fascinating Northern Lights will still erupt above the Sukakpak Mountain. On your way back, you will come to Wiseman, the only village along the Dalton Road. The village was built in 1908 yet only 14 people currently live there. The residents live a leisurely life of self-sufficiency and by hunting and growing vegetables.
We will head south from Coldfoot to Fairbanks. You may get a chance to chase the Aurora on the way.
If the tour is unable to travel due to weather conditions, you have two choices: First, the project fee will be refunded, then you will enjoy a free day. Second, the gap between the prices of “Arctic Circle Aurora Fly Drive Adventure (Morning departure with Brooks Range Safari) ” and “Arctic Circle Aurora Drive Adventure” will be refunded, you will be scheduled to attend the “Arctic Circle Aurora Drive Adventure”.
Hotel: Holiday Inn Express & Suites Fairbanks / Westmark Fairbanks Hotel and Convention Center or similar
You could enjoy a free morning before the Fairbanks City Tour or take our optional Dog Sled tour.
Depart from the hotel around 1:00 PM to enjoy Fairbanks City Tour. Asian Lunch included.
The UAF Museum of The North–The University of Alaska Museum of the North is a vital component of the University of Alaska – Fairbanks and the only research and educational museum in Alaska. Explore Alaskan Native cultures, natural wonders, and its diverse wildlife while experiencing 2,000 years of Alaska art.
Santa Claus House–It’s Christmas year-round in the North Pole, Alaska—just 20 minutes away from Fairbanks. It has the world’s largest Santa statue. You can choose holiday gifts for your special friends, or you can mail a postcard to them. (You will take a tour of North Pole Village if Santa Clause House is closed.)
Chena Hot Springs Aurora Viewing– We’ll depart from the hotel around 5:30 PM to enjoy the warmth of these natural Hot Springs in winter.
Enjoy the chance to visit the world’s only all-year around open Ice Museum (at your own expense), made out of 1,000 tons of ice. You’ll never forget the creative things you see that are being carved out of ice! You can order an apple martini that comes in an ice molded martini glass (at your own expense and if you’re at least 21 years old). As daylight wanes, you can watch the northern lights while enjoying the hot springs!
We’ll head back to Fairbanks hotel around 2:00 AM the next morning.
Dog Sled Tour (This tour would take approximately 2 hours, Pick-up and drop-off at the specified hotels.)
Depart around 10:30 AM from hotel as Leslie, a local resident will take you dog sledding and introduce you to the the culture that has sprung up around it. Over the past twenty years, Leslie has operated a training ground and cultural center for Alaskan sled dogs and young mushers to prepare for the annual race as well as tourist adventures. In her exhibition center, pictures, audio, and physical objects show visitors how an Alaskan native use the dog sled as a traditional commuting tool and the profound cultural traditions connected to it. You will also have a chance to play with the cute dogs.
In autumn when there is insufficient snowfall (approximately from September 16th to November 15th), the musher will let the dog team pull a ATV instead of a sled for about 5 to 10 minutes. You will have a chance to sled first-hand with the musher and enjoy the cooperation and the team work spirit of the sled dog team. Leslie will also take you to the kennel and explain the history, breeding and training of sled dogs in Alaska. Usually, the mommy dog will breed in early fall, so you may have chance to play and take pictures with a newborn puppy!
In winter (approximately from November 16th to the beginning of April), you will experience the thrill of dog sledding over the snow for about 20 to 25 minutes. Two passengers will sit on one sled that is being pulled by a team of dogs. The leading dogs are responsible for the direction and the dog near the seat is the most powerful. You will be speeding on the trail through the forest, splashing snowflakes from snow banks and having lots of fun.
Hotel: Holiday Inn Express & Suites Fairbanks / Westmark Fairbanks Hotel and Convention Center or similar
Depart from hotel around 10:30 am. From Fairbanks to Denali by vehicle, from Denali to Fairbanks by train.
Denali National Park––The most famous national park near the mountain Denali. These tree-free mountains possess a breathtaking natural beauty that attracts visitors from all over the world. You will visit the Visitor Center here. There is a small museum inside where you can watch a 20 minute movie Cardiac Denali to acquaint yourself with the landscape and its wild animals. In the winter, the Denali National Park will be covered by thick snow. As long as there is fine weather and appropriate levels of snowfall, you can enter the national park with a certified guide. A short walking experience or an outdoor snowshoe walk will give you a closer look at North America’s largest peaks.
Alaska Railroad–– Continue your Aurora adventure by riding the Aurora Winter Train. Depart at 3:55 PM from Denali and arrive at Fairbanks at 8:00 PM. Built more than a 100 years ago during The Gold Rush, the train travels through some of the most scenic and rugged territory in Alaska.
If you want to experience another night of the Aurora Borealis, we recommend our Aurora Viewing Lodge tour.
* Aurora Viewing Lodge (This tour would take approximately 4 hours, Pick-up and drop-off at the specified hotel.)
Take our shuttle to the selected Aurora viewing lodge, Aurora Viewing Bar or Clear Summit Aurora Viewing Lodge, to experience the mysterious Northern Lights at 10:00 PM. We will head back to the hotel at around 2:00 AM next morning.
Hotel: Holiday Inn Express & Suites Fairbanks / Westmark Fairbanks Hotel and Convention Center or similar
You could enjoy a free day in Fairbanks but we recommend our optional tours: Snow Machine Ride, Ice Fishing and Barbecue, Aurora Viewing Lodge. All of them can be arranged in the same day.
* Snow Machine Ride (This tour would take approximately 2 hours, Pick-up and drop-off at the specified hotels.)
An Alaskan resident will take you on your Alaska Snow Machine Tour! There is nothing like the thrill of driving a snow machine on your own. It is the fastest commuting tool on the snow, and its speed is comparable to a regular vehicle. The snow machine is different from the motorcycle because it is not driven by wheels but by the track rotation. Therefore, you will find the driving safer, more stable and easy to learn. You can ride it up to the hills, across the obstacles, and speed through the open field. You do not need any license to operate the snow machine!
Come on and enjoy a scenic route with lots of fresh snow as we experience the paradise on earth. (Please bring you winter gear such as waterproof suits, hat, gloves and warm boots to avoid frostbite.)
* Ice Fishing and Barbecue (This tour would take approximately 4 hours, Pick-up and drop-off at the specified hotels.)
All rivers are frozen in Alaska from the end of November to March next year. The depth of the ice is up to 2 m. The fish are very hungry under the ice and can often be readily caught even by people with little fishing experience. The fishing guide will help you catch the trout and salmon! Fishing equipment, clothes, and transportation from the hotel are included. The tour guide will also assist you in buying a fishing license ($25/person at your own expense) on the tour day.
Aurora Viewing Lodge (This tour would take approximately 4 hours, Pick-up and drop-off at the specified hotel.)
Take our shuttle to the selected viewing lodge, Aurora Viewing Bar or Clear Summit Aurora Viewing Lodge, to experience the mysterious Aurora Borealis at 10:00 PM. We will go back to the hotel at around 2:00 AM the next morning.
Take the free hotel shuttle to the airport.
To avoid missing flight, please book a departure flight after 7:00 am on the last day.
Hotel breakfast is included; lunch and dinner are at your own expense.
