Arctic Circle Day Tour Adventure

About This Experience

Alaska Arctic Expeditions runs this Arctic Circle day tour in a climate-controlled passenger van with on-board WiFi, picking guests up from Fairbanks hotels in the morning. The route follows the Elliott Highway north to a viewing point on the Trans-Alaska Pipeline, then joins the gravel Dalton Highway at Livengood.

The van crosses the Yukon River on the bridge at milepost 56 and stops at Yukon River Camp, the only place to buy food on the route; lunch is not included, so most guests bring their own. Beyond the river the road climbs to the Finger Mountain plateau at milepost 98, a tundra stop where the guide looks for moose, fox and bear, before reaching the Arctic Circle wayside at milepost 115, about 198 road miles from Fairbanks. Each guest receives an Arctic Circle Certificate at the sign.

In winter the drive home is in the dark, and the guide stops for the northern lights when they appear; several guests describe photographing the aurora on the way back. The lights are never guaranteed, and the Arctic Circle crossing is the sure part of the day.

The tour is priced from $300 per person with a 4.6 rating from more than 80 Viator reviews, and it is one of the few Arctic Circle tours from Fairbanks with free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure. It is not recommended for pregnant travelers or for anyone with back or heart problems, since the Dalton Highway is rough for hours at a time.

Highlights

• Trans-Alaska Pipeline viewing point north of Fairbanks
• Yukon River crossing at Dalton Highway milepost 56 and a stop at Yukon River Camp
• Finger Mountain plateau at milepost 98, with a chance of moose, fox and bear
• Arctic Circle sign at milepost 115 with an Arctic Circle Certificate
• Aurora possible on the drive back in the winter months
• Passenger van with on-board WiFi and climate control

What's Included

• ✓ Local professional driver-guide
• ✓ Hotel pickup in Fairbanks
• ✓ Arctic Circle Certificate
• ✓ On-board WiFi
• ✓ Climate-controlled passenger van

Not Included

• Lunch
• Dinner (available for purchase at Yukon River Camp)
• Gratuities
• Cold-weather gear

What to Bring

• Layers for the season: a rain jacket in summer, full winter gear from October to April
• Sturdy closed shoes or insulated boots for gravel pullouts and snow
• Camera and spare batteries
• Your own lunch and snacks, plus cash or card for dinner at Yukon River Camp
• Refillable water bottle

Good to Know & Caveats

• Viator's calendar lists departures from August 25 to April 10, so this is not a midsummer tour.
• Free cancellation: cancel at least 24 hours before departure for a full refund.
• Pickup is from Fairbanks hotels in the morning; wait in your hotel lobby and look for a passenger van with the Alaska Arctic Expeditions logo. Your exact time is confirmed after booking.
• The tour is sold as 12 hours, with the rest of the time spent driving between pickup and drop-off; expect an evening return.
• The northern lights are possible on the return in winter but never guaranteed, and there is no refund for cloudy skies.
• Roughly 400 miles round trip, much of it on the gravel Dalton Highway. Guests describe the road as jarring after rain; there is no cell service north of the Yukon River.
• There is no sweeping view at the Arctic Circle sign itself; it is a forested wayside with the sign and picnic area.
• Some guests report last-minute weather cancellations, so leave a spare day in Fairbanks if the crossing matters to you.

Meeting Point

Morning hotel pickup in Fairbanks; wait in the lobby for a van with the Alaska Arctic Expeditions logo. Time confirmed after booking.