Fairbanks Aurora Tours: Top Northern Lights Photo Adventures

Want to chase the elusive and very beautiful Northern Lights, plus get some incredible photos to remember the sight? Then, a guided Aurora Borealis tour around Fairbanks might be just the ticket. But with various companies promising the ‘best’ viewing experience, picking the right tour can feel a little like searching for a needle in a haystack, so too it’s almost important. What we are gonna do here is look into five well-regarded Aurora chasing adventures that combine exceptional viewing locations with photography tips that should help you to have fun during your next vacation, in some respects. And the goal? That’s to help you find a tour that ticks all your boxes, very much so!

1. Arctic Circle Aurora Fly/Drive Adventure

Getting above and beyond the ordinary is what the Arctic Circle Aurora Fly/Drive Adventure seemingly tries to do. This tour provides not just a chase for the Aurora, as a matter of fact, but quite an experience crossing the Arctic Circle. Depending on your preference, that can either mean hopping on a small plane or hitting the road in a comfortable van. And you know, for those that dislike long drives, arguably, the flight choice cuts down travel time significantly. Either way, it starts quite early. The destinations tend to be remote viewing locations far from Fairbanks’ city lights, clearly increasing your odds of spotting the lights in Alaska, literally.

Once at the chosen location, the guides usually help with camera settings, as I was saying. They even share some insights on how to grab stunning photographs of the Aurora dancing across the night sky. The tour typically provides warm beverages and snacks, honestly making the cold hours a little more pleasant. And still, it’s important to prepare for long nights and freezing conditions, but people often claim that seeing the Northern Lights explode with green color and strange light more or less makes it worth it. This one should be on top of the list, kind of. So you might find that particular tour to be perfect if crossing the Arctic Circle sounds appealing, at the end of the day.

2. Chena Hot Springs Aurora Quest

Imagine combining the tranquility of hot springs with the thrill of witnessing the Aurora Borealis, and you seemingly got a Chena Hot Springs Aurora Quest tour. It offers something unique: you, like your fellow tour-goers, soak in naturally heated mineral waters while watching for the lights to show. The location? Well, Chena Hot Springs Resort, you know, which is about an hour’s drive from Fairbanks. Plus, that particular resort is well known for its geothermal activity, yet the lack of city lights makes it great for Aurora viewing.

These tours mostly involve a late afternoon or evening departure from Fairbanks. The journey culminates in hours spent soaking, gazing, and photographing the aurora with other like minded people, basically a lot of people. Plus, the resort even features an Ice Museum which contains ice sculptures created by world-renowned artists, seriously? Just in case the lights don’t cooperate as planned, in a way, you have an entertaining distraction. Typically, tour guides offer advice to photographers about using the hot springs as a foreground element, clearly making the shot way more appealing, sort of.

These specific tour also usually include transportation to and from Fairbanks. The cost includes admission to the hot springs, and of course, you know, the Ice Museum is extra. As a matter of fact, it can be a great option for anyone looking for relaxation and adventure combo, you know. Check out various tour packages offered here.

3. Borealis Base Camp Aurora Viewing

Consider staying in an igloo as part of your Aurora viewing experience, as I was saying? The Borealis Base Camp Aurora Viewing tour gives you this opportunity, very much so. But the camp consists of geodesic domes with clear ceilings where people can view the Aurora right from the comfort of their beds, obviously giving them the heat they crave so badly. Plus, located some distance from Fairbanks, this base camp offers minimal light interference, definitely guaranteeing great visibility.

Tours that incorporate a stay at Borealis Base Camp most times feature additional activities. Plus things like dog sledding, snow machining, and ice fishing, often keeps travelers busy during the day. In fact, you could rent equipment for these, too. At night, though, the attraction changes to the sky. As the Northern Lights dance overhead, the camp’s unique design provides unbelievable photographic possibilities. Guides seemingly give help, when needed. Those specific viewing tours tend to have lodging and dining. With that, you can get it done in one place, totally removing stress, kind of. Also the cost depends upon what the room quality, like the number of activities, I think. But most travelers seemingly find staying in this camp memorable if they don’t like traditional tours.

4. Aurora Pointe Activity Center Experience

For something that gives a blend of culture and aurora gazing, the Aurora Pointe Activity Center seemingly steps up, actually. It’s not just seeing lights here: travelers apparently get the full Alaskan hospitality. You see, located on a hill facing north, this center overlooks Fairbanks and gives pretty fantastic aurora shots, at the end of the day.

Those particular aurora-viewing nights, what it comes down to, start with traditional Alaskan food. Later, local storytellers seemingly fill time before viewing with some background information and tales about living in Interior Alaska. Photographers will usually enjoy how the center provides viewing locations outdoors to take unique landscape style views while Aurora waves in back. And if the chilly weather gets annoying, well, visitors might go indoors to rest near a fireplace. You know, sometimes guides present tips to help capture impressive Northern Lights images, okay?

Booking Aurora Pointe may involve different offers according how many nights you stay there. Typically, they also arrange local hotel transport, definitely relieving worry about travel needs. Lots who seek something more Alaskan, actually, but beyond pure photo ops are gonna cherish these moments for sure. Check Aurora schedules at travel sites.

5. Small Group Aurora Photography Tour

If really getting into astrophotography is seemingly important, what it comes down to, taking tiny tours could really maximize efforts and satisfaction, okay? Here’s a great suggestion: Small Group Aurora Photography Tours target photography fans in which professional photogs mentor while showing how to manage complex cameras aimed at shooting stellar displays in sky above, so to speak, actually.

Usually tours start evenings before travelers leave for viewing places in isolated parts beyond town. These spots generally have minimal artificial lighting for clarity, honestly improving shots. In tours, the photographers, what it comes down to, present assistance adapting settings such like adjusting aperture, ISO amounts, perfect focus points plus composition approaches – stuff newbies normally struggle doing alone for sure! Most times tours include hot drinks or foods alongside heat stuff, really helping during lengthy chilled sessions, seriously. Also they provide travel either hotels, airports when required, like your normal touring party.

Participating in that smaller photog oriented outing, basically, gets anyone deep insight as expert approaches open great chances mastering low-lighting digital cam usages during amazing North Display experiences happening frequently here plus better image outputs altogether. Look further, you, like your peer photog pals will love these specialized excursion offers made perfect specifically considering personal growth of skills for astrophotography talents, as a matter of fact.