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SkyChase™ | Northern Lights Experience - Free Photography & More

680 Reviews 4.91 out of 5 stars Based on 680 reviews collected by Cool Alaska and TripAdvisor | Recommended by 98% of reviewers |
Badge of Excellence |Badge of Excellence This experience is highly rated by travelers and has met our top quality standards.
Fairbanks, USA

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Don't miss out!
On average, this is booked 11 (1) days in advance.

5 hours (approx.)
Hotel pickup offered
Mobile ticket
Instant confirmation
Offered in: English

Overview

We don’t just take you to the Northern Lights — we chase them.
At Aurora In Alaska™, our exclusive SkyChase™ Northern Lights Experience uses our Lights-for-Life™ Formula to track weather, clouds, and solar activity in real time to take you to the clearest skies, at the best time.

Travel in a heated, winterized Mercedes Sprinter van, relax at our mobile Aurora lodge, enjoy a twilight campfire meal, and sip drinks from our Borealis Brew Bar. Receive unlimited Aurora portraits from our pro photographers, plus night-lapse video and tripod rentals.

We’re the only tour with an Aurora Guarantee: If no Aurora is visible to the eye or camera on a “guaranteed night,” you get a 50% refund or free rebooking.

Disclaimer: A guaranteed night is based on real-time conditions. If any Aurora is visible by eye or camera, the night is considered fulfilled.

What's Included

  • 360° time-lapse video of the night
  • Aurora Guarantee* (refund or retry if no lights are seen)
  • Twilight Campfire meal (Alaskan reindeer sausage or vegan option)
  • Meals Meals beyond the included fire-cooked meals we provide
  • Edited Pictures - unlimited download of edited photos
  • Please note our Primary goal is Aurora viewing. Weather and other variables may remove extras
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Meeting and Pickup

Pickup point
Pickup details

Tours begin right at your Fairbanks hotel, so you don’t need to plan how to get to us and you will save additional taxi costs. Free guest pickup from 9pm to 10pm. Your guide will call/text when they are 10 min away from pick up.

OR
Meeting point

Merhar Avenue
Fairbanks, AK 99701, USA

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Detailed check-in instructions, including the exact address, are provided with your booking confirmation.

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

Detailed check-in instructions, including the exact address, are provided with your booking confirmation.

What To Expect

Fairbanks (Pass By)

As our home base, Fairbanks is one of the best locations in the world for Northern Lights viewing — located directly under the Aurora Oval. Each night, our SkyChase™ tour departs from Fairbanks and uses the Lights-for-Life™ Formula to determine the optimal location outside the city for clear skies and strong activity.
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Murphy Dome (Pass By)

Murphy Dome is one of the highest accessible points in the Fairbanks area and occasionally used on clear-sky nights for its panoramic views and low light pollution. It’s a prime example of the remote high-elevation locations our team accesses while chasing the Aurora.
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North Pole (Pass By)

While not our final destination, North Pole, Alaska is located along our route and adds charm to the adventure. Guests love passing Santa Claus House and seeing this quirky, festive town en route to darker skies.
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Chena Hot Springs (Pass By)

Chena Hot Springs region is often considered when skies to the east are favorable. These peaceful, forested areas offer a quiet backdrop for Northern Lights viewing with excellent visibility when cloud trends push us in that direction.
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Cleary Summit Aurora Viewing Area (Pass By)

c, northeast of Fairbanks, is one of the elevated points we use on select Aurora nights. When conditions are right, it offers excellent visibility and sweeping skies, especially during high activity nights.
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Denali National Park and Preserve (Pass By)

While not a nightly destination, Denali National Park is visible on rare clear-sky nights from certain elevated viewpoints. Guests occasionally glimpse the Alaska Range from afar, especially during strong Aurora activity. This region highlights the vast scope of Alaska’s night sky and our commitment to chasing the most breathtaking views whenever possible.
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Felix Pedro Monument (Pass By)

This historical stop marks the first major gold discovery in Alaska and is located along one of the routes we sometimes take while chasing clear skies. Though we typically pass by, it showcases our access to remote, scenic locations far from city lights. It’s a meaningful part of the Alaskan landscape and history.
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Chena River State Recreation Area (Pass By)

The Chena area is one of many regions we travel toward when skies are favorable. It offers forested backdrops, river reflections, and lower light pollution — making it a frequent route on strong Aurora nights. This region represents one of many weather-based destination options included in our flexible SkyChase™ route strategy.
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Alyeska Pipeline Viewing Point (Pass By)

One of many high-elevation stops that we utilize on clear-sky nights for its vast visibility and iconic Alaska scenery. Our flexible route often includes this point or others nearby when it offers cloud-free conditions and great Aurora potential. We use dozens of pre-approved locations in all directions based on real-time sky data.
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Pleasant Valley (Pass By)

The Two Rivers and Pleasant Valley region is often considered when skies to the east are favorable. These peaceful, forested areas offer a quiet backdrop for Northern Lights viewing with excellent visibility when cloud trends push us in that direction.
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Ester (Pass By)

Ester Dome is a frequent direction for clear-sky nights. Its elevation, low light pollution, and distance from city glow make it a strong candidate in our flexible SkyChase™ route system.
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Nenana (Pass By)

On nights with clearing trends to the west, we may head toward the Nenana Hills region, exploring lesser-known sites that deliver expansive skies and beautiful terrain far from city lights.
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Show 10 more stops

Additional Info

  • Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
  • Service animals allowed
  • Please visit our website for a full cancellation policy and information
  • No more than 1 backpack per guest
  • All persons joining are required to purchase a ticket, despite their age.
  • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 60 travelers

Frequently Asked Questions

(8)

Q: At the incredible aurora viewing experience in Fairbanks do we have restrooms available for the trip?

A: There are no restrooms on the transportation or at the Northern Light viewing locations. Since tours begin at your Fairbanks hotel, we recommend taking a restroom break before the tour.  Read more Mar 2023

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund.

Still have questions?

We're here to help.
Activity code: C-226902P5

Traveler Photos

Reviews

4.91
680 reviews

Average 4.91 out of 5 stars based on 680 traveler reviews collected by Cool Alaska and partner sites such as Cool Destinations and TripAdvisor

5 stars
639
4 stars
29
3 stars
6
2 stars
3
1 star
3

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Don't miss out!
On average, this is booked 11 (1) days in advance.

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What's Included

Activity name

  • 360° time-lapse video of the night
  • Aurora Guarantee* (refund or retry if no lights are seen)
  • Twilight Campfire meal (Alaskan reindeer sausage or vegan option)
  • Your personal Auro-meteorologist - predicts northern lights' visibility blending aurora and weather.
  • Hands-on camera support & tripod rentals
  • Keepsake Media - professional photography included, downloadable images
  • Mobile Aurora Lodge - Most nights our mobile heated lodge follows the vans. ( 14 or More Guests)
  • Real-time Aurora tracking with Lights-for-Life™ Formula
  • Hotel/B&B pickup & drop-off (within 5 miles of downtown Fairbanks)
  • Exclusive access to mobile Aurora lodge & fire pit
  • Borealis Brew Drink Bar - Featuring 8+ hot/cold drink options
  • Local Expert - ensure your in the best spot to view the lights for the night
  • MealsMeals beyond the included fire-cooked meals we provide
  • Edited Pictures - unlimited download of edited photos
  • Please note our Primary goal is Aurora viewing. Weather and other variables may remove extras
  • Transportation is not private and can have up to a max of 14 guests in one van.
  • RAW files and watermark-free originals are not included in the base package

Additional Info

Activity name

  • Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
  • Service animals allowed
  • Please visit our website for a full cancellation policy and information
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • No more than 1 backpack per guest
  • All persons joining are required to purchase a ticket, despite their age.
  • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 60 travelers

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Free Cancellation

100% refund
No refund

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund.

  • For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the tour start time.
  • If you cancel less than 24 hours before the tour start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
  • Any changes made less than 24 hours before the tour start time will not be accepted.
  • Cut-off times are based on the tour local time (AKST).
  • This tour requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
  • This tour requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.

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Cool Rewards Terms & Conditions

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Cool Rewards

  • Cool Rewards is a loyalty program operated by Cool Destinations. Rewards may be earned by any eligible person holding a Cool Destinations account, subject to the Cool Destinations customer Terms of Use.

Earning rewards

  • Rewards can be earned by making bookings on the Cool Destinations website. You will be able to see the value of the rewards you can earn during the booking process.
  • Earned rewards will be issued in a pending state and will move to a confirmed state 24 hours after the start time of the experience.
  • Earned rewards will be available to redeem once they are no longer in a pending state.
  • For bookings that are moved to a different travel date, the rewards will be redeemable after the amended travel date.
  • If a booking where rewards were issued is canceled, the earned rewards will not be redeemable and will be moved to a canceled state.

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  • To redeem rewards, you must be logged into your Cool Destinations account.
  • Any available rewards will be automatically applied the next time you make a booking, and their value will be deducted from your order at checkout, unless you choose not to apply them, which requires you to indicate this via the toggle switch. Bookings made using rewards are subject to the standard Cool Destinations Customer Terms of Use.
  • You will not be able to redeem only a portion of your available rewards at checkout. It is only possible to redeem all or none of your available rewards.
  • There is no minimum order value required to redeem your rewards. This means that you can pay for 100% of your order with rewards.
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  • If rewards are redeemed against a booking that is canceled or refunded, the rewards will be reissued to your account.

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