Why Staying at a Northern Lights Resort Is Worth It

If seeing the northern lights is on your bucket list, here’s our strategy for giving yourself a real chance: plan on more than a quick stopover. Sightings are never guaranteed, of course, but spending multiple nights in the right location can make the difference between leaving disappointed and taking unforgettable memories home with you.

And when you stay at a resort that focuses on the northern lights, you can get even more of an advantage along with a comfortable stay. Here’s what you’ll find if you stay at Borealis Basecamp, in Fairbanks, Alaska.

Better Odds of Seeing the Aurora

Borealis Basecamp sits directly beneath the aurora oval—one of the best spots in the world to see the northern lights. How good? According to the local visitor center, if you dedicate at least three nights to looking for the lights from Fairbanks, you’ll have close to a 90% chance of seeing them. Spend at least two of those nights at Borealis Basecamp and you won’t even have to book separate viewing tours.

See the Lights Without Leaving Your Bed

Since the northern lights are most often visible between 11 p.m. and 3 a.m., it can be tough to stay awake or rally for a late-night tour. But at Borealis Basecamp, you don’t need to bundle up and leave the resort. Because it sits on a quiet ridgeline far from the lights of Fairbanks, the resort offers dark skies, great viewing conditions, and a serene setting.

Even better, you don’t even need to leave your cozy lodging to see the lights. Borealis Basecamp features 36 igloos and 9 aurora-viewing cubes, including a family suite. These aren’t your typical cabins—each one is designed specifically for aurora viewing. Huge, 16-foot concave windows (think helicopter windshields) are reflection-free and face northeast—the optimal direction for the northern lights. Even on nights where the aurora doesn’t appear, you’ll have a dazzling view of a sky full of stars.

Best of all, you don’t have to force yourself to stay up all night. If the lights appear when you’re dozing, the resort will give you a wake-up call so you won’t miss the show.

Daytime Adventures and Dining

The lights may be your inspiration to stay at Borealis Basecamp, but they’re just the beginning of the adventure. During the day, you can embark on exciting activities like snowmobiling, dog sledding, or a UTV tour—all included in your stay. You can also add on other adventures like a reindeer hiking experience, a sunset coach tour, or a helicopter tour. To take your memories home, book an aurora portrait photography session for a once-in-a-lifetime keepsake.

You also have a few choices for where to dine. At Latitude 65, the resort’s on-site restaurant, you can enjoy a complimentary breakfast each morning, with local breads, cereals, and hot items to order. Lunch is casual—soups, sandwiches, or noodle bowls—while dinner is a multi-course event featuring dishes like Alaskan king crab, salmon, reindeer medallions, and other local favorites. It’s authentic Alaskan cuisine that helps make your stay feel special.

For a more casual dinner, check out The Pub. Its elevated comfort food includes items like gourmet burgers made with locally sourced beef to dishes with fresh-caught Alaska salmon. And don’t miss the Basecamp Cafe. It’s perfect for enjoying a pre-adventure morning coffee, a quick lunch, or a filling snack—as well as spectacular views that stretch all the way to Denali!

Plan Your Trip

The best time to stay is between August 20 and April 10, when aurora season is in full swing. So, if you’ve ever dreamed of lying in bed and watching the aurora dance across the Arctic sky, Borealis Basecamp is an ideal place to do it.