Fairbanks 5 Days 4 Nights Tour A Date with the Aurora【Product Code: 6770】

Today you'll arrive in Fairbanks, Alaska's second-largest city, with its location and climate making it known as the "Northern Lights Capital." Check in to hotel upon arrival (at most hotels you can check in after 1:00 p.m.).

At 10 pm, to escape the urban light pollution, take the Aurora Shuttle to our carefully selected Aurora-Viewing Lodge, in an excellent location that will increase your chances of observing the Northern Lights. Our professional guides will introduce you to the Northern Lights and instruct you in camera parameter set-up and aurora borealis shooting techniques to help you take stunning aurora photos. Free hot drinks, coffee, cookies and a Northern Lights monitoring screen are available in the cabin, where you can warm up after watching the aurora (1st Aurora Viewing). You will return to the hotel to rest at around 2 am the next morning.

Fairbanks, Alaska's second-largest city, with a population of 100,000, is a transportation hub for expeditions deep into Alaska's interior and the Arctic Circle. It is also the world's best place to see the Northern Lights, with more than 243 days of clear night sky each year. Because it is only 310 kilometers from the Arctic Circle and is protected from bad weather by mountain barriers, aurora chasers from around the world gather here in this city where the aurora is most easily observed.

Today you'll enjoy a leisurely morning at the hotel. You will depart at 1 pm for the famous "Santa Claus House" in the town of North Pole, which, in order to create a strong Christmas atmosphere in Santa's hometown, features a huge 16-meter-tall santa statue and 2-meter-tall polar bear and moose statues. Many of the surrounding public facilities are also decorated in a Christmas theme. Later, you'll follow your guide to the Museum of the North on the University of Alaska's Fairbanks campus, the best place for visitors to discover the mysterious Arctic world and the real life of early locals. With its unique architecture, the museum is one of Fairbanks' landmarks. The museum is divided into different exhibition halls, which not only give a detailed introduction to the local environment and history, but also display some rare arctic animal specimens (“Blue Babe”, mammoth bones, a nearly 3-meter-tall brown bear, etc.). Afterwards you will return to the hotel for a rest. (If the Museum is closed, you will visit the Morris Thompson Cultural Center and be refunded your $12 Museum of the North ticket fee on site).

At 10 pm, to escape the urban light pollution, take the Aurora Shuttle to our carefully selected Aurora-Viewing Lodge, in an excellent location that will increase your chances of observing the Northern Lights. Our professional guides will introduce you to the Northern Lights and instruct you in camera parameter set-up and aurora borealis shooting techniques to help you take stunning aurora photos. Free hot drinks, coffee, cookies and a Northern Lights monitoring screen are available in the cabin, where you can warm up after watching the aurora (2nd Aurora Viewing). You will return to the hotel to rest at around 2 am the next morning.

Options:  Dog-Pulled ATV Experience (approximately 2 hours total)

Visit Alaskan local Leslie's sled dog kennel. Income from tours allows Leslie to continue the grand tradition of dog sledding by training young mushers and helping them raise funds to compete in the annual Alaskan dog sled races that have become so popular all over the world. Every year, before the winter snow comes to Fairbanks, the mushers will train the dogs by having them pull an ATV instead of a sled. During this time, you can participate in the dog training by riding through the forest in the ATV and cheering on the professional sled dogs (about 10-minute experience). While waiting for a ride, you'll also have the opportunity to get up close and personal with cute dogs.

Today you will enjoy a leisurely day in Fairbanks. You can make your own arrangements or chose an optional activity to participate in for an additional fee. At 10 pm, to escape the urban light pollution, take the Aurora Shuttle to our carefully selected Aurora-Viewing Lodge, in an excellent location that will increase your chances of observing the Northern Lights. Our professional guides will introduce you to the Northern Lights and instruct you in camera parameter set-up and aurora borealis shooting techniques to help you take stunning aurora photos. Free hot drinks, coffee, cookies and a Northern Lights monitoring screen are available in the cabin, where you can warm up after watching the aurora (3rd Aurora Viewing). You will return to the hotel to rest at around 2 am the next morning.

Options:  1. Chena Hot Springs Resort Tour (approximately 7 hours round trip)

Depart from your hotel around 11 am and travel to Chena Hot Springs Resort, famous for its century-old hot spring, interesting ice sculpture museum, and an advanced renewable energy project, making it one of the must-see attractions for almost every visitor to Fairbanks! You can relax in the outdoor natural hot springs, a particulary incredible experience when the surroundings are snow-covered. You will also have the opportunity to visit the year-round ice sculpture museum (at additional expense), which exhibits the work of world-class ice sculpture champions, including tables, chairs, and so on all made of ice. Those interested can visit the ice bar to sample an Apple Martini in a cocktail glass made of ice (at additional expense, must show ID and be at least 21 years old).  

Notes:   

1) You must wear a bathing suit in the hot springs, please prepare in advance.

2) For safety reasons, minors under age 18 may not enter the outdoor natural rock pool, but they may use the indoor pool and the outdoor hot tub.

3) If you choose not to enter the hot springs for your own reasons, the fee is not refundable.

2. Denali National Park Walking Tour (about 7-8 hours round trip)

Depart from your hotel around 10 am and travel by car to Denali. The drive from Fairbanks to Denali is very beautiful, with views of the magnificent Alaska Range mountains to the South, and colorful forest flanking the road. If you are lucky, you may even see some wildlife on the way. Denali National Park is one of the longest-protected ecological preserves in the world. Weather permitting, your guide will take you on a short hike in the park.

Today you will enjoy a leisurely day in Fairbanks. You can make your own arrangements or chose an optional activity to participate in for an additional fee. Due to limited time, it is only possible to choose one out of the three optional activities below.

Options: 

1. Overland Adventure Across the Arctic Circle (drive both ways, round trip about 16 hours)

Depart in the morning and take a specially-equipped arctic bus along the Dalton Highway, one of Alaska's most remote and challenging roads. The whole road is 414 miles long, and is one of the world’s “Ten Roads of Death.” On the way you can observe the arctic tundra wilderness, with the possibility of seeing wildlife such as caribou, foxes, wolves, bears, or musk ox. You’ll also pass over one of North America’s five largest rivers, the Yukon River, and see an incredible product of human engineering, the Trans-Alaska Pipeline, which crosses the state from north to south. Finally, you will arrive at the sign indicating you’ve reached the Arctic Circle (66°33’ north), and receive a special “Arctic Circle Exploration Certificate” to remember your trip. You’ll return to Fairbanks between 2 to 3 am. If you need to depart Fairbanks the following day, please book your flight for no earlier than 7 am, to avoid risking missing your flight.

A map of the land and air routes across the Arctic Circle

2. Fly Over the Arctic Circle Adventure (Fly northbound, about 1.5 hours, drive back, about 10 hours)

Start by going to the airport to take a small sightseeing plane to the town of Coldfoot. From the plane you'll get majestic bird’s-eye views of the snow-covered tundra. Upon arrival, you can send a postcard to your friends and family at the Arctic Post Office in Coldfoot. In the afternoon you’ll return to Fairbanks via the famous Dalton Highway on a specially-equipped arctic bus. On the way, visit the Trans-Alaska Pipeline, the Yukon River, and the Alaska Arctic Circle (66°33' north) marker, where you will receive an "Arctic Circle Exploration Certificate". You’ll return to Fairbanks between 2 to 3 am. If you need to depart Fairbanks the following day, please book your flight for no earlier than 7 am, to avoid risking missing your flight.

3. Aurora-Viewing Lodge (approximately 4 hours round trip)

At 10 pm, to escape the urban light pollution, take the Aurora Shuttle to our carefully selected Aurora-Viewing Lodge, where you can stay warm while waiting for the Northern Lights to appear. You will return to the hotel to rest at around 2 am the next morning.

Today you'll end your trip and bid farewell to beautiful Alaska.