Face The Outdoors
- (907) 590-1567
Fairbanks Aurora Tours
NatGeo-Recommended Tours · Private Lodge
NatGeo-recommended small-group Fairbanks aurora tours from a private wilderness lodge directly under the aurora oval. Maximum 10 guests, native Alaskan guide, watermark-free aurora portraits delivered within 24-48 hours, and free rescheduling up to one year.
From $325 per person
Max 10 guests, ever
Fairbanks Aurora Tours, Built for Every Kind of Traveler
Face The Outdoors runs small-group and private northern lights tours from a private wilderness lodge directly under the aurora oval — away from Fairbanks' light pollution — every night from August 20 through April 20. Seeing the aurora is never guaranteed on any single night, so where you watch from and who's reading the sky matters: a location directly under the oval, a native Alaskan guide tracking conditions in real time, and the flexibility to chase clear skies are what tilt the odds in your favor.
What It Is
A single-night aurora viewing tour from a heated private lodge in Alaska's interior, with a mobile chase vehicle ready to drive to clear skies if clouds move in. Small group from $325 per person, private from $975 for your group only.
Who It's For
Every kind of aurora traveler — first-timers who've never seen the northern lights, phone and casual mirrorless shooters, and serious photographers after a portfolio frame. Families, couples, and solo visitors all welcome. Small-group tours are open to ages 10 and up; private tours have no age limit.
Why Book Us
Max 10 guests, ever — versus the 60-traveler nights other operators run. A native Alaskan owner-operator who calls you personally the day of your tour, watermark-free aurora portraits in 24-48 hours, and free rescheduling for a year. Recommended by National Geographic.
See What a Night With Us Actually Looks Like
We get it — booking a $325 tour sight unseen is a leap. So watch the video below before you decide. This is what a real night with Face The Outdoors looks like — the lodge, the lights, the chase.
Our season runs August 20 through April 20. Peak viewing is September through March, with the darkest skies running October through February and the September and March equinox months bringing elevated geomagnetic activity. The more nights you book, the better your odds under the aurora oval — we recommend 5-7 nights, and five or more pushes your chances past 90%. That's why we offer 15% off bookings of 3 nights or more.
Our Actual Home, Not a Commercial Lodge
You're a guest in our home, deep in Alaska's interior beneath the aurora oval, far from Fairbanks' light pollution. Panoramic windows, an open deck for unobstructed views of clear night skies, and no other tours sharing the space. The authentic Alaska experience you came for.
Lodge AND Chase
Most Fairbanks operators are lodge-only or van-only. We're the only one marketing both — your basecamp under the aurora oval, with a chase vehicle ready to relocate from cloudy skies to clear skies, sometimes to remote locations well outside the city.
Hands-On Photo Coaching
Whether you brought a phone, a casual mirrorless, or a DSLR, Michael coaches you on your gear. Watermark-free aurora portraits delivered within 24-48 hours, no upsell.
From $325 per person · Max 10 guests · Reschedule free for 1 year
Why 274 Guests Rate Us 5 Stars
Across 146 Google reviews and 128 TripAdvisor reviews, our guests rate Face The Outdoors 5.0 stars. Here's what they tell us makes the difference.
Our Home, Not a Tour Stop
You're not visiting a commercial facility — you're a guest in our actual home, deep in Alaska's interior beneath the aurora oval — an ideal location for aurora viewing, far from city light pollution. This is where we live, where we've watched the northern lights our entire lives. Panoramic windows, wood fire warmth, no other tours sharing the space. The authentic Alaska experience you came for.
Small Groups, By Design
Maximum 10 guests. Ever. One van, one guide, one private lodge. While other Fairbanks operators run 60-traveler nights across multiple vans, our cap is enforced by the operational reality of an owner-operated tour — not by marketing. You'll never split your night across multiple vehicles or stand in a crowd of strangers.
"The small group made it feel so personal. Couldn't have asked for a better experience."
— Sarah M., TripAdvisor
Your Guide: Born and Raised Under the Aurora
Michael Schultz is a native Alaskan, born and raised under the aurora oval — 46 years living under these skies. He founded Face The Outdoors — recommended by National Geographic — in 2021. Whether you brought a phone, a casual mirrorless, or a DSLR with a tripod, Michael meets you where you are. He'll help first-timers understand what they're seeing, coach phone users on Night Mode, and work with hobbyist photographers on settings — using real-time data to put you under the clearest sky available that night.
Lodge AND Chase — Not One or the Other
Most Fairbanks operators are either lodge-only (you sit and wait) or van-only (you drive all night). We're the only one marketing both — a private lodge under the aurora oval as your basecamp, with a mobile chase vehicle ready to relocate when clouds move in. If conditions change, your night doesn't end. We chase clear skies and put you back under the aurora.
From $325 per person · Max 10 guests · Reschedule free for 1 year
What to Expect on Your Northern Lights Tour
From Booking to Photos in Your Inbox — 5 Steps
From the moment you book through the drive home at sunrise, here's exactly what your northern lights tour Fairbanks experience looks like with us. Our season runs August 20 through April 20, with peak viewing September through March. Every tour is owner-operated, capped at 10 guests, and built around reading conditions in real time so we can put you under the clearest sky available that night.
Book Your Night
Pick your date through our booking page. You'll get confirmation within 24 hours along with a prep email covering what to wear, what to bring, and how to read the aurora forecast leading up to your tour. Plans change? Reschedule free anytime within 12 months.
Day-Of Call from Michael
Between 3-5pm on your tour day, Michael personally calls with the weather and aurora forecast, your hotel pickup time (typically 8-8:30pm), and what to layer up for. No call center, no automated text — you're talking directly with the native Alaskan owner-operator guiding your night.
Journey to the Lodge Under the Aurora Oval
Hotel pickup in the Fairbanks core area, then a scenic drive into Alaska's interior to our private home — directly under the aurora oval, where the lights appear overhead rather than on the horizon. City lights disappear, snow-covered wilderness opens up, and you settle in. The drive is part of the experience, not just the commute.
Experience the Aurora
Watch from the warm lodge or out on the deck. Michael monitors conditions all night, explains the science behind what you're seeing, and coaches you on your camera or phone — whether you're shooting on an iPhone, a casual mirrorless, or a DSLR with a tripod. If clouds move in, we chase clear skies. Active aurora hunters can join the search; if you'd rather take it in from the lodge, that's your call.
Return Home With Your Photos
Back to your Fairbanks hotel by approximately 5am. Within 24-48 hours — often the next morning, before the night's tour even starts — your watermark-free, high-resolution aurora portraits land in your inbox. No upsell, no full-resolution paywall, no watermark.
Small group tour from $325 per person. Private from $975. Save 15% on 3+ night bookings. Reschedule free for 1 year.
PICK YOUR DATE →Simple, All-Inclusive Pricing
Small Group Tour
- ✓ Max 10 guests
- ✓ Round-trip transport
- ✓ Private lodge access
- ✓ Hot drinks & snacks
- ✓ Photography guidance for any skill level — phone to professional camera
- ✓ 1-3 aurora portraits of your group
Private Tour
✨ Everything in Small Group, plus:
- ✓ Exclusive lodge use
- ✓ 5-7 professional aurora portraits of your group
- ✓ Flexible timing
- ✓ Perfect for families, couples & serious photographers
💰 We recommend 5-7 nights — five or more brings your aurora odds past 90% across a trip. Save 15% on bookings of 3 nights or more.
🗓️ Reschedule free for 1 year · View all policies →
What Guests Are Saying
"I asked ChatGPT what my chances were and it said 'highly unlikely due to KP levels' — but Michael showed us incredible views anyway. So glad we just booked it!"
— AlLee W., Google
"Michael made great effort putting us in position to experience the lights. Very knowledgeable about photographing aurora — taught me a lot."
— Thomas B., Google
"Michael has a wealth of knowledge about the Aurora. His house offers respite from the cold, hot beverages — you can pop in and out all evening."
— Susie W., Google
Common Questions About Our Northern Lights Tour Fairbanks Experience
What's included in the $325 tour price?
Hotel pickup and drop-off in the Fairbanks core area, private aurora lodge access — a heated lodge with restrooms — for the duration of the tour, mobile chase vehicle if conditions require relocation to clear skies, hot drinks — coffee, tea, and cocoa — and light snacks, photography coaching on your own camera or phone, and watermark-free aurora portraits delivered within 24-48 hours — often the next morning. We never upsell photos, watermark them, or charge for full-resolution files.
What if the aurora doesn't appear?
If weather or geomagnetic conditions prevent any aurora viewing on your tour, we'll rebook you on a future tour during your trip when seats are available. As a one-van, owner-operated tour with a 10-guest cap, rebooks are at the guide's discretion. The aurora is a natural phenomenon — what your eyes see is rarely what a long-exposure camera captures, and even faint visible activity counts as a viewing.
What's your cancellation and rescheduling policy?
Reschedule for free anytime within 12 months of your original tour date — subject to availability, just like any booking. If we cancel due to severe weather, you receive a full refund. Guest cancellation refunds scale by date proximity. The most flexible reschedule policy in Fairbanks.
When is the best time to see the northern lights in Fairbanks?
Our season runs August 20 through April 20, with peak viewing September through March when nights are long and dark. Fairbanks sits directly under the aurora oval, so the longer you stay the better your odds. We recommend 5-7 nights — five or more pushes your chance of seeing aurora during your trip past 90%. Multi-night bookings of 3 or more nights also save 15%.
How small is your group really?
Maximum 10 guests per tour. Ever. One van, one guide, one private lodge. While other Fairbanks operators run 60-traveler nights across multiple vans, we'll never split your night across multiple vehicles or pack you into a crowd. The 10-guest cap isn't marketing — it's the structural ceiling of what one owner-operator can run from a private lodge.
Can you help me take photos?
Absolutely. Michael has decades of aurora photography experience, so whether you're shooting on an iPhone, a casual mirrorless setup, or a DSLR with a tripod, he'll help you get the best results on your own gear. No experience required. He also captures watermark-free aurora portraits of you and your group so you go home with great images even if you'd rather just take the show in.
What camera do I need to photograph the aurora?
Any camera works — phone, mirrorless, or DSLR. The aurora is captured in long exposures, so a camera picks up far more color and detail than the eye sees on a given night, and you'll often go home with vivid portraits even when the display looks faint in person. Michael coaches you on the long exposures, a tripod or steady surface to hold the shot, and the higher ISO settings that brighten the aurora on your own gear, and shoots watermark-free aurora portraits of your group either way — no experience needed.
Where do you pick up from?
Hotel pickups in the Fairbanks core area only. Pickup window is typically 8-9 PM and we return you to your hotel by approximately 5 AM. We don't currently pick up from Chena Hot Springs, Borealis Basecamp, North Pole, or Eielson — guests staying outside the core area can meet us at the Morris Thompson Visitor Center in downtown Fairbanks.
What time of night is best, and how long is the tour?
The aurora is usually most active between about 10 PM and 3 AM, though on a dark, clear night it can appear any time from around 9 PM through the early morning. That's why we're out through the heart of those hours — pickups run in the evening and we return you by about 5 AM, roughly an 8-hour night, and we'll stay out longer when the aurora is putting on a show.
Ready to Book Your Night Under the Aurora?
Rated 5.0 stars across 274 reviews. NatGeo-recommended tours. Native Alaskan owner-operator. Max 10 guests, ever. Watermark-free photos in 24-48 hours. Reschedule free for a year.
CHECK AVAILABILITY →Prefer to talk first? Call (907) 590-1567 — Michael answers personally.