1 Day Shared Tour Arctic Circle and Aurora Viewing in Alaska

About This Experience

This shared tour from Alaska Safari Sultan Tours combines the Arctic Circle drive with an aurora chase on the way home. The van leaves Fairbanks in the mid-afternoon and heads up the Elliott Highway to Livengood, then onto the Dalton Highway, the gravel haul road built to serve the Prudhoe Bay oil fields. The first long stop is the Yukon River bridge at milepost 56, where the group takes a 50-minute indoor break at Yukon River Camp. Dinner there is not included in the price, so bring cash or a card.

The road climbs on through open tundra to the Arctic Circle sign at Dalton Highway milepost 115, about 198 road miles north of Fairbanks and 66 degrees 33 minutes north. Guests usually reach the sign between 7:30 and 8:00 pm, with time for photos before turning south. On winter departures the guide also stops for the snow-covered spruce the operator calls the magic forest.

The return is where this tour differs from the big coach operators. Rather than waiting at one viewing spot, the driver watches the sky and pulls over whenever the aurora strengthens, and he photographs guests under the lights with his own camera so you go home with pictures even if you have no tripod. Guests consistently mention guide Sultan by name for his stories about the road and the pipeline.

It is a long night in a van on a rough road, roughly 12.5 hours in all with a return to Fairbanks in the early morning. The group is capped at 14, the aurora is never guaranteed, and the lights are not visible in May, June or July. Rated 4.5 from 78 reviews, from $329 per person.

Highlights

• Elliott Highway and Dalton Highway drive north from Fairbanks, with aurora stops whenever the lights strengthen
• Yukon River bridge at Dalton Highway milepost 56, with a 50-minute indoor break at Yukon River Camp
• Arctic Circle sign at Dalton Highway milepost 115, reached around 7:30 to 8:00 pm
• Short stop on the Dalton Highway for the snow-covered trees the operator calls the magic forest
• Aurora watch on the return, chasing clear sky by vehicle and stopping for photos
• Shared van, maximum 14 travelers

What's Included

• ✓ Driver-guide with commentary along the whole route
• ✓ Aurora photos taken by your guide during the drive
• ✓ Pickup in Fairbanks (Walmart Supercenter lot for stays outside city limits)
• ✓ Climate-controlled vehicle
• ✓ Small group, maximum 14 guests

Not Included

• Dinner (bought on site during the 50-minute break at Yukon River Camp)
• Snacks and drinks for the road
• Pickup outside Fairbanks city limits (meet at the Walmart lot instead)

What to Bring

• Warm layered clothing and thermal underwear in winter
• Insulated boots, warm socks, gloves, hat and scarf
• Camera with spare charged batteries for the aurora stops
• Snacks and water for a 12-hour day
• Cash or card for dinner at Yukon River Camp

Good to Know & Caveats

• The aurora is never guaranteed and there is no refund for a cloudy or quiet night
• Free cancellation: full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours before departure, no refund inside 24 hours
• The Northern Lights cannot be seen in May, June and July because of the daylight
• Departure is mid-afternoon (around 2:00 pm) and the day runs about 12.5 hours, so you return to Fairbanks in the small hours
• Pickup is in Fairbanks; guests staying outside city limits are collected at the Walmart Supercenter car park on Johansen Expressway
• The Dalton Highway is a bumpy gravel road and there is no cell service north of the Elliott Highway
• The separate Aurora Viewing and Photograph option is a 4-hour night drive only and does not go to the Arctic Circle
• For same-day or last-minute bookings, phone the operator so your pickup can be arranged

Meeting Point

Pickup in Fairbanks; guests staying outside city limits meet at the Walmart Supercenter, 537 Johansen Expressway, Fairbanks.