Face The Outdoors

About Face The Outdoors | Northern Lights Tours in Alaska

About Face The Outdoors

Experience Alaska's magic with a true local. We don't just show you the northern lights—we invite you into our world, sharing the authentic, untamed beauty of Alaska from our private aurora viewing lodge.

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5.0 Rating
124+ Reviews
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National Geographic
Featured Tour
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Max 10 Guests
Intimate Experience
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100 Miles Out
Zero Light Pollution

Experience Alaska's Magic with a True Local

At Face The Outdoors, we don't just show you the northern lights; we invite you into our world. Our passion is sharing the authentic, untamed beauty of Alaska, immersing you in Alaska's wilderness where the pristine, untouched environment offers the perfect backdrop for an unforgettable experience.

We believe the aurora is best experienced away from the crowds, under pristine dark skies, with an expert who calls this land home.

Our small-group tours fill up fast. Each aurora tour is a special event, thoughtfully organized to provide a structured and memorable experience for every guest.

Guests can expect careful preparation, comfort throughout the journey, and an excellent chance to witness the northern lights in their full glory.

Face The Outdoors private aurora viewing lodge in Fairbanks Alaska
Michael Schultz - Native Alaskan aurora guide and professional photographer
📷 20+ Years Experience

Meet Your Guide

Michael Schultz — Native Alaskan Photographer

As a professional photographer and native Alaskan, Michael has spent over 20 years studying, photographing, and guiding travelers beneath the dancing lights that have been the backdrop to his entire life.

Growing up in Alaska's Interior, he watched the aurora illuminate the night sky from his own backyard—no crowds, no light pollution, just the raw, silent magic of nature's most spectacular light show. This intimate relationship with the northern lights is what inspired Michael to found Face The Outdoors.

While other tour operators rely on seasonal guides learning as they go, Michael's deep understanding of aurora behavior, space weather patterns, and Alaska's microclimates comes from decades of direct observation. He knows where the lights appear, when they'll be strongest, and how to position you for the experience of a lifetime.

Featured in National Geographic
Professional aurora photographer
Uses real-time aurora forecasting
Helps every guest capture the moment
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Featured in National Geographic Recommended as one of Fairbanks' premier aurora tour outfitters. Read Full Article →

Our Mission: Quality Over Quantity

Our mission is simple: to provide an unparalleled aurora viewing experience rooted in authenticity and respect for nature. We believe the best adventures happen in small groups, where the focus is on connection—to the landscape, the sky, and each other.

Couldn't have asked for a better experience! Michael is an expert at finding the lights. The small group made it feel so personal.

— TripAdvisor Review

Why Choose Face The Outdoors?

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Authentic Alaskan Guidance

Your tour is led by a native Alaskan with a lifetime of experience. We leverage local knowledge, not just GPS, to find the best viewing spots. Our exclusive viewing location is reserved for our guests, ensuring privacy and optimal visibility away from crowds.

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Exclusive Aurora Viewing Lodge

You're our guest at our private, rustic log home. Stay warm by the fire, enjoy complimentary snacks, and watch the show from giant windows, far from city lights. A clean and convenient bathroom is available on-site for all guests.

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Mobile Chasing Strategy

We are not just a stationary lodge. If clouds interfere with the view, we use our expertise to "chase" clear skies, significantly increasing your chances of a successful night. We closely track weather conditions and adapt in real time.

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Truly Small Groups

We guarantee an intimate setting by limiting our tours to just 10 guests. You'll never be herded into a fleet of vans or lost in a crowd. You become a member of our family, not just another tourist.

Introduction to Northern Lights Viewing

Standing beneath Alaska's vast darkness, watching ribbons of green light ripple across the star-scattered sky—this is where the aurora borealis reveals itself not as spectacle, but as something alive.

Standing beneath Alaska's vast darkness, watching ribbons of green light ripple across the star-scattered sky—this is where the aurora borealis reveals itself not as spectacle, but as something alive. At Face The Outdoors, we understand that witnessing the northern lights means stepping away from the artificial glow of cities and the chatter of crowded viewing platforms.

Our aurora lodge sits positioned deliberately beyond the reach of light pollution, where true darkness allows the aurora's subtle colors to emerge fully—pale greens deepening to violet, sudden bursts of magenta that cameras struggle to capture accurately.

Your evening begins with pickup from Fairbanks, then the drive into country where artificial light fades completely. The lodge waits—warm, comfortable, surrounded by the kind of wilderness that makes aurora viewing possible in the first place.

We keep our groups intentionally small because the aurora demands quiet attention. No rushing. No crowds blocking your view or disrupting the natural rhythm of waiting, watching, responding to what the sky offers.

Guests viewing aurora borealis at Face The Outdoors lodge in Fairbanks Alaska

Ready to Experience the Alaskan Night Sky?

Join us for an authentic Alaska aurora adventure you'll remember forever. Small groups, expert native Alaskan guide, private lodge, and mobile chasing for the best possible experience.

5.0 Star Rating 124+ TripAdvisor Reviews
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Small Groups Max 10 Guests
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Private Lodge Under Aurora Oval