Best Way to See the Northern Lights of Alaska

Looking for the best way to see the northern lights of Alaska? Your adventure starts right here in Fairbanks! At Face The Outdoors, we offer one of the most unforgettable aurora borealis experiences at our exclusive Aurora Viewing Lodge—a destination designed to give you front-row seats to the awe-inspiring northern lights of Alaska.
Escape the city’s bright lights and join us at our private lodge, thoughtfully positioned far from light pollution and noisy crowds. Here, you’ll enjoy unobstructed, panoramic views of the aurora borealis as it lights up the Alaskan sky. Relax in the cozy comfort of our personal home, complete with modern amenities that make your stay both comfortable and inviting. Whether you’re an avid photographer or simply want to soak up the beauty of the northern lights, our lodge offers the perfect balance of convenience, warmth, and exceptional viewing conditions.
Join one of Fairbanks’ highest-rated northern lights tours and let us help you create memories that will last a lifetime. Experience the magic, capture the moments, and discover why our Aurora Viewing Lodge is the best way to see the northern lights of Alaska.

Experience the Magic of the Northern Lights of Alaska

Located less than 100 miles from Fairbanks, the Aurora Viewing Lodge sits under the aurora oval, a section of the earth’s atmosphere where you can see the aurora borealis.

We’ve made sure the lodge is located in an area with dark skies and zero light pollution. This makes seeing even the faintest aurora possible with the naked eye.

Need help with your camera settings? No problem. Learn how to photograph the northern lights on this northern lights Alaska tour. With a professional photographer on board to help you with your settings and to make sure you get the best photos to capture your experience.

Great People. Amazing Tours. Beautiful Alaska.

What Makes Our Northern Lights Fairbanks Alaska Tours Unique

Experience an authentic northern lights tour in Fairbanks, Alaska, with Face The Outdoors. We take pride in offering genuine, small-group excursions that embody true Alaskan authenticity. Unlike other tours, we don’t rely on gimmicks, flashy antics, or caravans of multiple vans. With just one van and a small group, we create a comfortable, unhurried, and deeply personal experience.

Our tours bring you to our private home, the Aurora Viewing Lodge, far away from the crowds and commercialized venues. Here, you’ll witness the northern lights in their purest form—peacefully, intimately, and surrounded by Alaska’s breathtaking beauty. It’s an unforgettable adventure that stays true to the heart and spirit of the Last Frontier.

Why Choose Our Northern Lights Fairbanks Alaska Tour?

Comfort & Style

If you’d like us to drive, we have a comfortable & spacious van that seats up to 15 people ( the heat works great on chilly nights and since we have a max of 10 people on our tours, you can avoid the cramped packed vans of other tours ). We’l drive you to our fully furnished and decorated Aurora Viewing Lodge, where we’ve gone to great lengths to provide the best aurora viewing experience possible. Starting with the COZY SEATING & GIANT WINDOWS perfect for viewing the northern lights from inside, to the FREE SNACKS & DRINKS you can enjoy by the fire, to the FRESH & CLEAN BATHROOM, to the lack of light pollution outside the home, (AND MORE!) We’ve made sure your aurora viewing borealis viewing experience is the best it can be. There’s no need to chase the northern lights on the road system all night fi the skies are clear. However we will set out I search of clearer skies if the clouds roll in. Essentially the best of both worlds when you book with us!

Unrushed & Unhurried Tours

“Don’t rush me!” Ever said this? People aren’t cattle, they can’t be driven along from point A to point B while trying to enjoy nature. Face The Outdoors prefers a less frenzied approach to the aurora borealis tour life.

Small Group Size

We limit the size of our tours to no more than 10 people. This means personalized, one-on-one attention for you and each group member. We want everyone to get their questions answered individually and to have a pleasurable and personalized experience with a sense of worth throughout their time with us. Children 10 years an older are welcome to join our tours. Enjoy the spacious room and comfort in our 15-passenger van on your way to and from the lode and avoid the operators that advertise “small group” but groups are 12-15+ and multiple vans to accommodate everyone and the heat in those vans may or may not be enough to keep you warm on those chilly nights.

Go With Someone Who Knows

Your tour guide, Michael, is a native Alaskan. If anyone has firsthand experience regarding the best way to see the aurora borealis, it’s Michael. He and Lis love to give others the experience of a lifetime and they’ve gone to great lengths to ensure your tour of the northern lights is truly comfortable and memorable. We’re not transplants and Alaska isn’t new to us!

Same-Day Booking Available, No Booking Minimum

We offer same-day booking if you book before 5pm AKST, and as long as we have availability. Traveling solo? No problem! We’ve been known to take one person on a tour. Get in touch with us. We still want you to come and enjoy the northern lights, after all that’s why you are here!

Because YOLO. "You Only Live Once"

At Face The Outdoors, we want you to live your best life. This means taking the plunge an going after that bucket list item. With this perspective in mind, it’s easy to realize that it’s now or never. You only live once so you might as well “carpe diem! (seize the day).

Free Snacks & Beverages. FREE!

In case you’re a skimmer and didn’t carefully read the paragraph on point number one…..We provide FREE, delectable goodies to the guests who come to the Aurora Viewing Lodge to see the aurora borealis. We’re talking chips, fruit, snacks bars, cookies, and a variety of tea, coffee, and hot chocolate, and water. Plus, you never know what else we’ll throw in there just for kicks. We like to keep it fun and delicious around here.

Professional Photos + Your Own Photos!

If you don’t get photos and video of your experience viewing the northern lights in the great outdoors of Alaska, were you really even there? But in all seriousness, memories are great, but it’s more fun to share photos and videos of the experience with friends and family. If you’d like, professional portraits are available to document your experience. Also, your tour guide Michael is happy to help you with your camera settings to ensure you get the best photos to take home with you. We want you to leave with great memories as well as your own unique photos. We do include 1 portrait of your booked group, however we do charge for additional photos. We do offer a photo package you can select at the time of booking.

August 2025 - April 2026 Season

$325 per person
Private Group Viewing: Want the night just for your group? Now you can! See options when booking.
Included 1 Aurora portrait of the booked group, 5 on private tours.
Additional photos available through the photo package. See these additional options when booking.
Camera rentals need to be reserved at time of booking and you’ll need to provide the SD card.
Photography assistance and instruction on how to capture your own shots of the northern lights.
$50 per additional photo aside from the 1 portrait that is included of the booking group.
Please read our FAQ’s for more information.
15% discount 3 nights or more on multi-night bookings contact us for details.
We are committed to ensuring you have the best chance to witness the Northern Lights. That’s why we’re willing to go the extra mile—literally. If necessary, we’ll travel up to 4 hours from Fairbanks to find the perfect spot for viewing. Our dedication to chasing the lights as far as needed reflects our passion for creating unforgettable experiences and helping you see the spectacular Aurora Borealis you came for.

More Details about Our Aurora Viewing Lodge Tours

Same-day bookings are available if you book before 5pm AKST.
8-8:30pm pick up from your hotel. Return to Fairbanks around 5am.
No booking minimum.
Our mode of transportation is a heated 15 passenger van.
Private, uncrowded viewing away from the city light pollution and overcrowded lodges.
Small groups of no more than 10 at a time.
The comforts of home + amenities.
Unobstructed dark skies + large viewing windows + spacious viewing deck to enjoy the northern lights.
Property around the Aurora Viewing Lodge provides a variety of trees and open fields for excellent compositions and portraits.
Camera rental available with free tripod. ** SD Cards are NOT available. Please bring your own SD card. **
Metal and acrylic prints are available to order for your aurora portrait. Please ask for details.
Chasing to clearer skies if need be, we truly offer both options maximizing your chances of seeing the amazing northern lights.
Gratuities are not included but appreciated.
Although it doesn’t happen often, if the weather deteriorates or clouds roll in we’re happy to hop in the van and hunt for clearer skies. We want you to see the lights!
We do NOT provide warm clothing, gloves, socks, boots, etc. Please make sure you are dressed appropriately for the weather. If you’re visiting during the winter months we suggest renting your cold weather gear. Google ” winter clothing rental Fairbanks” and you’ll see a few options to keep you warm, which leads to a much more enjoyable experience.
Please make sure to provide your contact info in case we need to reach you regarding weather changes or rescheduling. If weather looks questionable on your night booked we will reach out to reschedule your tour, so having flexibility in your schedule is preferred. If we have to cancel due to weather you’ll be fully refunded.
Please let us know where to pick you up to embark on your aurora borealis adventure.
We should let you know that, while we are pretty amazing people who do our best to provide you with the best northern lights photography tour possible, we have no control over the weather or the aurora. Once we pick you up, there are no refunds. Please keep this in mind.

What to Expect on Our Northern Lights Tours

See the Aurora Borealis with a native alaskan.

The best way to see Alaska is with someone who knows it well–a native Alaskan. Born and raised in Alaska, your tour guide, Michael Schultz, knows the ins and outs of The Last Frontier. An avid outdoorsman, Michael understands what makes Alaska thrive and “tick.” Being a native Alaskan also means he knows all the best-kept secrets of Alaska. A win-win for you.

So hop on board. Get ready to see and experience things you’ve never seen before.

It’s gonna be one helluva ride.

Our Promise to you

At Face The Outdoors, we promise to do our best to provide you with the most comfortable aurora tour experience possible.

Reviews: What People Are saying about our Northern Lights Of Alaska tours

Hands down BEST Northern Lights tour! This small group tour was led by Michael who is a born and bred Alaskan who went above and beyond to ensure we got to see the lights! He was constantly monitoring Aurora activity on his phone while driving out to his beautiful Alaskan country home, ready to chase the Aurora if needed. It was so beautiful at his property which has 360 degree views of the Aurora for when it changed directions. He took amazing high tech camera photos that were so good, I paid extra for additional pics. As a solo traveler I was so grateful to have a tour that kept numbers small and intimate. Inside was warm and cosy and the windows were big enough to view the aurora and wait for them to become more active before stepping out into the cold. You have to be ready though, they can come and go quickly! Note: You can see the lights better on your phone than the naked eye at times so please don’t be disheartened if they’re not as bright at first. This natural phenomena is unpredictable so you need to go into these tours with low expectations and trust with patience. I was super grateful to see the lights change from green to red and dance in the sky but some nights are not like this. We even saw some Moose on the way back which made the tour even better 🫎 I highly recommend going with ‘Face the Outdoors’ for this exceptional authentic Aurora tour! Thank you! Happy Aussie Traveler 🦋

We had an amazing time with Michael viewing the aurora. We were a small group that night and Michael was an excellent tour guide, taking time to explain to us the northern lights and life in Alaska. He welcomed us into his home where we were able to warm up and wait for the aurora. Once it started we went to a wide open field in front of the house and we got the best views of the sky as we were the only one there and far away from cars/houses. There’s a possibility to rent a camera and tripod, if you want to get better photos than with your phone (my iPhone stopped working after a while because of the cold). Michael was useful at setting up the camera for us and ensuring we got good photos. We had the best time and couldn’t have wished for a better experience.

A Magical Northern Lights Experience with Face the Outdoors If you’re looking for an unforgettable northern lights adventure, look no further than Face the Outdoors. This tour exceeded all of our expectations and created memories we will cherish forever. From the moment we booked, the team was professional, friendly, and eager to ensure we had the best experience possible. Michael was not only an expert in tracking the elusive aurora borealis but also passionate about sharing his knowledge of the night sky. The evening began with a comfortable ride to a remote, carefully chosen location far from city lights. Delicious hot beverages and snacks kept us warm as we waited for nature’s show to begin. And what a show it was! The northern lights danced across the sky in breathtaking waves of green. Michael was prepared with high-quality cameras and helped us capture stunning photos of the aurora, ensuring we had keepsakes to bring home. His enthusiasm was infectious, making the experience even more special. The attention to detail, personal touch, and genuine care for each guest set Face the Outdoors apart. Whether you’re an avid stargazer or a first-time aurora chaser, this tour is a must-do. Thank you, Face the Outdoors, for an incredible journey under the northern lights. We can’t recommend this tour enough!

It was like an executive experience. Heated home, nice deck, open backyard, guidance, limited number of participants, canine companions, and best of all a nice indoor modern toilet.

Mike is an incredible tour guide. Very knowledgeable, great host and his photography skills are off the charts. 15/10 would do it again! Thank you Mike!

Plan Your Northern Lights Adventure in Fairbanks

Northern Lights Bucket List!

If capturing the northern lights of Alaska is on your bucket list, then look no further! We've got you covered with a private setting away from the crowds and light pollution. With the comforts of home, you have endless options and open skies to enjoy your once-in-a-lifetime experience. Or, why not make it twice in a lifetime? Or more! We've certainly made it easy and convenient enough. After all, you should be able to enjoy the northern lights in comfort and without worry so you can focus on capturing the moment.

Questions?

Frequently Ask Questions about the Northern lights Of Alaska

See our FAQ’s page for more information.

What is the best time to see the Northern Lights in Alaska?

The best time to see the northern lights in Alaska is from late August to mid April, with peak activity during the winter months.

How do I photograph the northern lights of Alaska?

We provide expert guidance and camera rentals to help you capture stunning photos of the Aurora Borealis during your tour.

What makes Fairbanks the best place to see the northern lights of Alaska?

Fairbanks is one of the best places to see the northern lights of Alaska due to its location under the auroral oval, minimal light pollution, and clear skies. Our Aurora Viewing Lodge offers an ideal setting away from city lights, ensuring an unforgettable experience.

Feel free to reach out with any questions you may have. Or, visit our FAQs page

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