Arctic Circle with Aurora* and FREE Photos - Arctic Night Tours

Name: Arctic Circle with Aurora* and FREE Photos - Arctic Night Tours
Brand: Arctic Night Tours
Price: 350.00 USD
Availability: InStock
Rating: 4.57 (21 reviews)

4.6 (21 verified reviews)

Tour group holding sparklers in front of the Arctic Circle sign at dusk in winter

Two guests playing in deep snow on a hillside stop along the Dalton Highway

Three guests jumping for a photo on a snowy pullout with spruce forest behind

Couple with arms raised at a snowy hilltop viewpoint over the forested valleys north of Fairbanks

Guest leaning out of the window of the tour minivan under a blue winter sky

About This Experience

Arctic Night Tours is a small family-run Fairbanks company, and its Arctic Circle day is a minivan trip for no more than 10 guests, collected from their hotels in Fairbanks. From the Elliott Highway the route joins the Dalton Highway, the 414-mile gravel haul road from Livengood to Deadhorse, and follows the Trans-Alaska Pipeline north for roughly 400 miles there and back.

The guide stops often for photos: the pipeline, the Yukon River bridge at milepost 56, the granite tors and open tundra of Finger Mountain at milepost 98, and finally the Arctic Circle sign at milepost 115, about 198 road miles north of Fairbanks at 66 degrees 33 minutes north. Each guest receives an original Arctic Circle Certificate there. Snacks, water and hot and cold drinks are provided on board; full meals are not.

What sets this listing apart is the photography. The guide shoots group portraits at the landmarks and, between August 21 and April 21, hunts for the aurora on the return and photographs guests under the lights, all included in the price. Guests often mention the owners Ed and Elena by name and the late return, with one group getting back around 2:00 am.

The listing offers free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start, the minimum age is 5, and the operator keeps a strict no alcohol, cannabis, tobacco or vaping rule on board. Rated 4.6 from 21 reviews, from $350 per person.

Highlights

Dalton Highway drive from Fairbanks to the Arctic Circle, about 400 miles round trip
Trans-Alaska Pipeline photo stops along the road north
Yukon River crossing on the bridge at Dalton Highway milepost 56
Finger Mountain tundra viewpoint at milepost 98
Arctic Circle sign at milepost 115, 66 degrees 33 minutes north, with an original certificate
Aurora hunt on the return from August 21 to April 21, with free photos by the guide
Minivan tour, maximum 10 travelers

What's Included

✓ Hotel pickup and drop-off in Fairbanks
✓ Snacks and water
✓ Hot and cold drinks
✓ Free professional photos of your group and the aurora
✓ Original Arctic Circle Certificate
✓ Small group, maximum 10 guests

Not Included

Full meals (only snacks and drinks are provided)
Winter clothing and thermal gear
Alcohol, cannabis and tobacco (none are allowed on the trip)

What to Bring

Warm layered clothing and thermal underwear in winter
Insulated boots, hat and gloves for the outdoor stops
Your own camera if you want more than the guide's photos
A phone power bank for a 14 to 17 hour day
Any extra food you want beyond the snacks provided

Good to Know & Caveats

The aurora is only possible from August 21 to April 21 and is never guaranteed; a cloudy night is not refundable
Free cancellation: full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time, no refund inside 24 hours. The operator may cancel for bad weather with a full refund
Minimum age is 5
Hotel pickup in Fairbanks is included; the exact time is confirmed after booking
The day runs 14 to 17 hours and can end in the early hours of the morning
Most of the drive is on the Dalton Highway, a gravel road with no cell service
No alcohol, cannabis, chewing tobacco, smoking or vaping on the trip
The tour needs a minimum number of participants to run

Not Suitable For

Children under 5
Anyone who cannot sit for long stretches on a rough gravel road

Meeting Point

Pickup and drop-off at your Fairbanks accommodation is included; the pickup time is confirmed after booking.

What Travelers Say

Rated 4.6/5 by 21 verified Viator travelers.

One of the best tours I've ever experienced. Hands down. They were super accommodating, and the whole experience felt complete and well thought out.
— Katherine C, Feb 2026

Not sure what I expected, but it certainly wasn't driving 6 hours one way, with 2 stops for cold food or toilet in a freezing van that had ice on the insides of the windows with -25° weather.
— Christina K, Feb 2024

Sultan (our guide) is very knowledgeable and considerate. This tour starts late in the day so you can avoid large tourist buses in the arctic circle and no other people or line at the sign! It also ends very late. We came back around 2 am after chasing the aurora.
— Bo L, Dec 2023

Frequently Asked Questions

Are the photos really free?

Yes. The guide takes photos of your group at the stops and of the aurora if it appears, and they are included in the price. You are welcome to bring your own camera too.

Can we see the Northern Lights on this tour?

Only between August 21 and April 21, and only if the sky and the aurora cooperate. The guide hunts for clear sky on the return, but no sighting is guaranteed and a cloudy night is not refundable.

Is hotel pickup included?

Yes. Pickup and drop-off at your Fairbanks accommodation are included, and the time is confirmed after you book.

Is food included?

Snacks, water and hot and cold drinks are included. Full meals are not, so eat before you go or bring extra food for a 14 to 17 hour day.

What is the cancellation policy?

Full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time; no refund inside 24 hours. The operator may also cancel for bad weather, in which case you are refunded in full.

Is there a minimum age?

Yes, 5 years. The group is capped at 10 travelers in a minivan.