Alaska Northern Lights Tours The aurora borealis has fascinated man for centuries and is truly a natural wonder no one should miss. Bands of green, red, purple and white streaking across the sky are symbolic of winter nights in the arctic. Our Northern Lights March Tour takes you to two of the best places in Alaska for viewing the aurora: Chena Hot Springs Resort and Bettles Lodge. Chena Hot Springs is a rustic resort nestled in the Chena Hills and has a wonderful outdoor hot spring that is perfect for watching the aurora streak across the sky. Sixty miles away from Fairbanks, the resort is beyond the interference of the city's lights and even has heated viewing huts on a remote mountain to further enhance the viewing pleasure. Optional activities such as dogmushing, snowmobiling, skiing, hiking and snowshoeing make it the perfect place for a winter getaway.
Bettles Lodge located above the Arctic Circle near the Brooks Range in the zone of highest aurora activity in Alaska. It is a charming rustic lodge that our clients thoroughly enjoy and its location gives us the best possibilities for spectacular aurora displays.
The fmeals are tasty and your hosts Eric and heather are known for their hospitality. You will have a great time here.
Our tour also spends time in Fairbanks visiting local museums and galleries. The University of Alaska Museum is a wealth of information about the aurora and Alaskan flora, fauna and culture. One of the highlights of this tour is visiting Ice Art Park and the spectacular World Ice Art Championship. Contestants from all over the world come to Fairbanks in March to match their ice carving skills against each other. Using one ton blocks of crystal clear ice, these contestants carve massive figures of incredible detail and realism.
8 Day Northern Lights / Ice Art Championship Tour
Highlights Include :
- Northern Lights viewing from beautiful Chena Hot Springs and Bettles Lodge
- Attending the World Ice Art Championships
- Visiting the University of Alaska Museum.
- Snow Coach ride for northern lights viewing.
- Ice Hotel Tour
- Dog Mushing
- Flights between Fairbanks and Bettles
- All meals in Fairbanks, Chena Hot Springs and Bettles
Tour dates: February 28 - March 6, 2020. $4500 pp shared accommodation, single supplement $600.
Itinerary
- Day One, Monday, Clients arrive in Fairbanks. Night visit to the Ice Art Park and the World Ice Art Championships. Lodging: Pikes Waterfront Lodge. (D)
- Day 2, Tuesday,
Today is our day to spend visiting the sights of Fairbanks. In the morning we will visit the University of Alaska Museum. In the afternoon we will depart Fairbanks and travel to the Chena Hot Springs Resort. In the evening we will take a snowcat ride to a remote viewing hut to watch the northern lights play across the sky. Lodging CHSR. (B,L,D)
- Day 3, Wednesday,
The Chena Hot Springs Resort is a winter wonderland with numerous activities to occupy our time. Optional activities available as add-ons include dog mushing, horse drawn sleigh rides and snowmobiling. Of course, the hot springs are always there for a relaxing soak. Lodging ; CHSR (B,L,D)
- Day 4, Thursday,
We visit the Ice Hotel today and marvel at the intricate ice sculptures and furniture inside of it. The rest of the day will be spent cross country
skiing/snowshoeing enjoying the scenery, taking a dog sled ride or other
optional activities. One of our favorite optional activities is a flight to the native village of Fort Yukon on the banks of the Yukon River. Tonight we will have
another chance to spend the night gazing at the aurora streaking across the
northern sky. Lodging; CHSR(B,L,D)
- Day 5, Friday
Clients return to Fairbanks and catch the flight to Bettles lodge. Lodging; Bettles lodge (B,D)
- Days 6-7 Saturday and Sunday. Tour includwes 1/2 hour of dogmushing in Bettles.Optional activities such as snowmobiling, skiing, hiking and snowshoeing are available. Nights will be spent viewing the aurora. Lodging; Bettles lodge (B,L,D)
- Day 8, Clients return to Fairbanks.(B)
Tour Includes
- 1 Snowcat ride for Aurora viewing
- Ice Art Park Admission
- UAF Museum Admission
- Transportation to / from Chena Hot Springs
- Ice Hotel admission
- Flights between Fairbanks and Bettles
- Lodging and meals as indicated
- Dog mushing session in Bettles
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What our clients say:
"We loved Pike’s, our room, the service and the food were excellent. Location couldn’t have been easier.
Bettles was a whole new level; we were in the Aurora Lodge, ‘cause it’s winter. We were so very pleased with the lodging in Bettles.
At Bettles the whole experience was terrific; town tour, NPS briefing and movies, Aurora viewing station at float lake, dog sledding, snow machining, dry sauna, as well as snacks, drinks, comfortable seating, Education on photo taking. The rooms were so very comfortable, well equipped, and the service was both friendly and professional.
The food - as good as Pingo’s in Nome.
The air transport up on Wright and then back on the Lodge’s Navajo both just perfect.
And just to cap the whole thing off, we had TWO nights of lights. Again the service was top notch - we slept and were awakened by staff when the lights appeared"
Many thanks,
Ellie and Randy
