Witness the Magic of the Aurora Borealis: Alaska Northern Lights Tours

First things first: The best time to see the northern lights in Alaska is from late August to mid-April, when the nights are long and dark. (You won’t see them during the summer months because of Alaska’s midnight sun.) Plan to look for the spectacular, multi-colored lights from 11 p.m. to 2 a.m., when the sky is at its darkest and the auroras are the most active.

Where should you go? The main auroral band, the ring of geomagnetic particles around the Arctic Circle where the Northern Lights are most visible, crosses the state in an arc above the Alaska Range, which makes Fairbanks and points north the sweet spot for northern lights viewing. Fortunately, it’s easy to get there: You can fly into Fairbanks and be at a world-class aurora-viewing venue in under an hour.

While you can look for the lights on your own, taking a northern lights tour in Alaska is an easier, more efficient way to go. You’ll have a guide who will take you to the best viewing spots and explain the science behind this natural phenomenon. Most tours will also provide warm clothing and hot beverages so you can stay comfortable and enjoy the show!

Interested in tracking the aurora yourself? Download The Alaska App! Our weather tab links directly to the Alaska Geophysical Institute forecast, issuing a nightly forecast and a 27-day forecast.

Why Alaska?

If you’re browsing northern lights–viewing vacations, you’ve likely seen trips to Norway, Canada, Sweden, Iceland, and Greenland. They’re all great places, but here are 4 reasons why Alaska tops the list:

1. Easy Travel from the Lower 48

You can book nonstop flights to Anchorage year-round from major U.S. hubs (like Chicago, Denver, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Seattle, and Portland), so you can get here in just a few hours—no passport required.

2. Fall or Winter

From mid-November through March, you can check into a lodge or look for the lights each night as you try a different activity, like ice fishing or dogsledding. And if you’re on an aurora quest from mid-August to mid-September, (Fall) there’s still time to enjoy summer activities, like visiting Denali National Park or taking a glacier cruise.

3. Great Odds

Visitors to Alaska who spend 3 nights looking for the lights from Fairbanks have a 90% chance of spotting them!

Jump to our list of recommended tours

How to Increase Your Chances of Seeing the Lights?

There’s no guarantee, of course: Clouds may cover them, or they may simply not show up in your location. Fortunately, there are a couple of ways to greatly improve your chances of seeing the aurora:

Plan 5-7 Days

Dedicate at least 3 nights to looking for the lights, so that you, too, will have a 90% chance of seeing them. It can work as a three- or four-day trip centered on a weekend, but then you will need to be more focused.

Go to Fairbanks and the Auroral Oval

Fairbanks sits just below the main auroral band, offering dark skies, minimal light pollution, and clear views of the night sky - all of which make the area a sweet spot for northern lights viewing.

The city has a variety of aurora-viewing venues, from a number of scenic drives and parks to cozy cabins and lodges. With the airport located just a short drive away, visitors can fly into Fairbanks and be at a world-class aurora-viewing venue in less than an hour.

Lodges & Overnight Tours

• Northern Alaska Tour Company offers 3-day/2-night (and longer) trips from Fairbanks to Coldfoot Camp above the Arctic Circle. Located halfway between Fairbanks and Prudhoe Bay, this is an exceptional spot to see the lights.
• Iniakuk Lake Wilderness Lodge, a fly-in luxury wilderness lodge inside Gates of the Arctic National Park, offers one of Alaska’s most exclusive experiences for viewing the northern lights. Step outside or scan the sky from the lodge’s huge picture windows.
• Just an hour from Fairbanks is Borealis Basecamp, where you can book your own clear-roofed igloo for the night.
• Salmon Berry Tours offers 6-day/5-night packages from Anchorage. You’ll work your way north, stopping in Talkeetna, and look for the northern lights each night once you reach Fairbanks.
• Wild Journeys Alaska offers custom, private multi-day packages (3+ nights) from Anchorage. Enjoy fun activities during the day and 3 nights of aurora viewing. Going for more than 3 nights? You’ll get an aurora forecast each day, so you can pick which 3 nights to chase the lights.

Evening Tours

From Fairbanks

• Aurora Pointe is a northern lights–viewing venue just 15 minutes from downtown Fairbanks. You’ll find a beautiful, warm space serving coffee, tea, and locally made snacks while you wait for the lights to appear.
• With Alaska Wildlife Guide, you can leave from Fairbanks and combine a soak in Chena Hot Springs with your search for the aurora.
• Travel beyond the Arctic Circle to see the lights with Northern Alaska Tour Company. Drive, fly, or do both!
• For something really unique, head out with Rod’s Alaskan Guide Service for a night of ice fishing. You’ll be nice and warm in a cabin out over the lake as you cast your line and enjoy refreshments. The wide-open view is perfect if the aurora makes an appearance.

From Anchorage

• On the Anchorage Aurora Quest with Alaska Photo Treks, you'll pho­to­graph alpen­glow on snow-capped moun­tains, frosty scenes glow­ing in rich win­ter light, wildlife wan­der­ing snowy paths, city lights reflect­ing on the water at twi­light, and pos­si­bly even the north­ern lights!
• With Wild Alaska Journeys, you’ll head out of Anchorage (or Wasilla/Palmer) between 9 and 11 p.m., and for the next 7 or so hours, you’ll be on a hunt for the aurora!

Other Tips