Types of Northern Lights Tours in Alaska

Witnessing the magical northern lights dancing in the night sky is at the top of many peoples’ must-see lists for their Alaska vacation – and for good reason. This stunning natural phenomenon can be seen in Alaska from mid-August through mid-April. While you can catch the lights independently by tracking the northern lights forecasts and visiting northern lights viewing spots on your own, you can maximize your chances of seeing the aurora by joining one of the many guided northern lights viewing tours in Alaska. Experienced guides take the guesswork out of aurora viewing by paying close attention to the forecast, taking you to the best viewing spots, providing expert advice, and giving you an unforgettable northern lights viewing experience. Most northern lights tours take place in the Interior, Arctic, and Southcentral regions. Here are the different types of northern lights tours that await you in Alaska:

Evening Aurora Tours

The most popular type of northern light tour is an evening tour, where guides take you to their top northern lights viewing spots away from city lights for an evening of aurora viewing and photography. These tours last anywhere from four to eight hours and usually depart around 9:00 or 10:00pm – so be prepared to stay up late! Aurora tour operators are experts at tracking and understanding the aurora and weather forecasts, and many only operate tours when the chances of seeing the aurora are high. 

Most tours offer hotel pick-up and include transportation to top viewing destinations with clear views of the night sky away from ambient light. Local guides will be with you all evening to provide viewing tips, answer your northern lights questions, and some even capture amazing aurora portraits for you. In addition to prime aurora viewing, they take care to keep you warm and comfortable by providing hot beverages along with a place to keep warm – with some operators offering warming huts, yurts, cabins, or firepits. These aurora evening tours are ideal for those who have limited time to view the lights and want to take the guesswork about when and where to go, and those who don’t have their own transportation.

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Aurora Photography Tours

Photographing the northern lights is an art, and northern lights photography tours are available to help you capture the most amazing northern lights photos. Experienced guides who are also northern lights photographers will provide tips and coaching for capturing the aurora. There’s something for everyone, with some tours offering camera rentals, some geared towards photographing with your phone, and others requiring specific types of cameras. Be sure to do your research to find a tour that aligns with your photography experience level. Photography tours include transportation and often visit more than one northern lights viewing hotspot so you can capture the lights from multiple vantage points. 

For more experienced photographers who want to spend several days honing their skills, multi-day photography workshops are also available, usually spending several nights at accommodations in remote locations in the Interior and Arctic regions of Alaska. 

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Aurora Overnight Tours & Packages

For the best chances of seeing the aurora you should dedicate more than one night to northern lights viewing, and there are a variety of aurora overnight tours & packages for those who want to maximize their opportunities. These overnight tours last from two nights to over a week. Some stay at one accommodation while others include multiple stops along multi-day itineraries. Most feature overnight stays at accommodations that are specifically built for aurora viewing – with amenities like aurora wake-up calls, private igloos with glass-domed ceilings, floor-to-ceiling windows, outside viewing decks, and heated common areas for aurora viewing. Many of these accommodations make it possible to view the lights without even having to leave your room!

When you do want to venture from your cozy accommodations, you can join guided activities like dog sledding, skiing, snowshoeing, snowmachine tours, and of course – northern lights tours. Most multi-day overnight packages include activities and meals, making them ideal for those who are looking for an all-inclusive winter tour that maximizes northern lights viewing. 

You’ll also find plenty of unique northern lights overnight tours including hut-to-hut dog sledding tours, northern lights viewing from hot springs, UTV northern lights tours, and yoga retreats under the aurora. No matter how you choose to catch the lights, you’re sure to be awed by Alaska’s stunning celestial display.

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