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 home, sharing the authentic, untamed beauty of Alaska from our private aurora viewing lodge deep in the interior.

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5.0 Across 260+ Reviews
Google (133) · TripAdvisor (125+)
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National Geographic
Featured Tour
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Max 10 Guests
Intimate Experience
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Deep in Alaska's Interior
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 the wilderness where pristine dark skies offer the perfect setting for an unforgettable aurora experience.

We believe the aurora is best experienced away from the crowds, under pristine dark skies, with an expert who calls this land home. Whether you're here to witness the lights for the first time or capture them with professional gear, our lodge and guide are ready for you.

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—from bucket-list travelers to serious photographers.

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 Alaska's interior
Michael Schultz - Native Alaskan aurora guide and professional photographer
🌌 20+ Years Under These Skies

Meet Your Guide

Michael Schultz — Native Alaskan Guide & Professional Photographer

As a native Alaskan guide and professional photographer, Michael has spent over 20 years reading these northern skies. Whether you just want to take in the lights with your own eyes or you brought a DSLR and tripod hoping for the shot of a lifetime, Michael meets you where you are.

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'll help first-timers understand what they're seeing, help phone users get a great capture, and work with serious photographers on long-exposure settings and compositions.

Featured in National Geographic
Professional aurora photographer
Real-time aurora forecasting expertise
Photo help for any skill level — phone to pro camera
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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 — not a seasonal hire learning as they go. Michael uses local knowledge and real-time aurora data to find the best viewing conditions every night.

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Our Home, Not a Tour Stop

You're a guest in our actual home — a warm cedar cabin with panoramic windows, a fireplace, hot drinks, snacks, and a clean restroom. Deep in Alaska's interior with zero light pollution, the aurora appears directly overhead.

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Lodge + Chase — Only Tour That Offers Both

We're not just a stationary lodge. If clouds move in, Michael takes the group mobile to chase clear skies — something no other lodge-based tour in Fairbanks offers. You get the comfort of a lodge and the flexibility of a chase tour in one night.

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Truly Small Groups

Maximum 10 guests. Ever. You'll never be herded into a fleet of vans or lost in a crowd. Whether you want to learn about the aurora, just take it in, or get help with your camera, Michael has time for everyone.

What It's Like Under the Aurora in Alaska

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 small groups and private tours are built for those who want genuine connection with the night sky — whether that means quietly watching through the lodge windows with a warm drink, learning about the science behind what you're seeing, or working with Michael to capture the perfect long-exposure shot.

Our lodge sits deep in Alaska's interior, 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 take your breath away.

Your evening begins with pickup from Fairbanks, then a scenic drive into the wilderness as the city lights fade behind you. The lodge waits — warm, comfortable, surrounded by the kind of darkness that makes the aurora come alive overhead rather than on the horizon.

We keep our groups intentionally small because the aurora demands quiet attention. No rushing. No crowds blocking your view. Just space to take it all in however you choose — eyes, phone, or camera.

Guests viewing aurora borealis at Face The Outdoors lodge in 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 260+ Reviews on Google & TripAdvisor
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Small Groups Max 10 Guests
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Our Private Home Under the Aurora Oval