
Northern Lights and Chena Hot Springs Night Tour from Fairbanks
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September 2026
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Adults
Age 13 and over
Children
Age 12 and under
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Non-refundable booking. Same price on Viator, Outty earns a commission.
Traveler rating
4.4/5
Based on 129 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is Northern Lights and Chena Hot Springs Night Tour from Fairbanks worth booking?
Northern Lights and Chena Hot Springs Night Tour from Fairbanks is a 10.5-hour experience in Fairbanks, United States, from $240 per person. It scores 57 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Worth a Look”, based on a 4.4/5 rating across 129 reviews. This booking is non-refundable, so pick your date carefully. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 57 / 100
- Rating
- 4.4/5 (129)
- Duration
- 10.5 hours
- From
- $240 per person
Travel with expert guides in comfortable transportation and relax in the famous Chena Hot Springs. Be amazed by the Fairbanks Ice Museum's handcrafted chandeliers and bars, and spend the evening gazing in awe at the myst
What you get
About this experience
Travel with expert guides in comfortable transportation and relax in the famous Chena Hot Springs. Be amazed by the Fairbanks Ice Museum's handcrafted chandeliers and bars, and spend the evening gazing in awe at the mysterious Northern Lights.
What's included
Included
- Driver/guide
- Live commentary on board
- Hotel pickup and drop-off (selected hotels only)
Not included
- Alcoholic drinks (available to purchase)
- Gratuities
- Dinner
What you'll see and do
Chena Hot Springs Resort
Only 60 miles from Fairbanks, this world renowned resort offers a day of rest and relaxation in the historical location discovered by natives and early miners. Enjoy the mineral hot springs in a beautiful natural setting and experience the dancing of the northern lights. Itinerarly: 5:00pm Departure from Fairbanks 6:45pm Arrival Chena Resort 7:00pm Guided Ice Museum 8:00pm Soak in hot springs rock lake (must be 18 or older) or indoor pool 12:00am Waiting for Northern Lights 2:00am Leaving Chena Hot Springs 4:00am Arrival back in Fairbanks
360 minutes here · Admission included
Where it starts and ends
Hotel pickup
Pickup is included for all travelers. Pickup begins about 45 minutes before departure.
Options you can book
Winter Chena w/ Aurora
Relax at Chena Hot Springs, sip a drink in the famous Ice Museum bar, soak in the hot springs and witness the Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights) on this spectacular evening adventure. Pickup included
Autumn Chena w/ Aurora
Relax at Chena Hot Springs, sip a drink in the famous Ice Museum bar, soak in the hot springs and witness the Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights) on this spectacular evening adventure. Pickup included
Before you book
- Cancellation
- All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.
- Languages
- en
- Ticket
- Mobile Only
- Runs on
- Every day
- Group size
- Up to 12 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- 1st Alaska Outdoor School
Know before you go
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Minimum age is 5-year-old and older.
- Please note the Aurora is a natural occurrence. We can NEVER guarantee that guests will see the aurora.
- Chena rock lake pool only allows age 18 and older.
Photos






What travelers are saying
Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 127 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.
The guide
9 mentionsTravelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
Knowledge and storytelling
5 mentionsReviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.
Photo opportunities
5 mentionsThe views and photo stops come up again and again.
Traveler reviews
127 verified traveler reviews for Northern Lights and Chena Hot Springs Night Tour from Fairbanks. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Lemonade out of lemons.
Paul was a very knowledgeable guide and we enjoyed the experience very much! Even though the weather didn’t cooperate we had a great time!
via Tripadvisor
Great way to relax!
This was our second tour with 1st Alaska Tours and it was another great experience! Our guide, Tanner, was entertaining, friendly, helpful, and professional. He helped us spot moose on the way up to the hot spring and did his best to ensure we all had an interesting drive up. Before even going to the spring, we toured the Ice Museum on premises. Small, but interesting in the diversity of the ice items they had. There was also an early escape if the cold got to be too much. The locker room at the spring was pretty much what you would expect from any locker room: lockers squeezed together in small areas, tight fit for heavy clothing in the locker, tight fit for women changing by lockers. However, it was clean and comfortably warm. Bring your own towel to avoid paying for one and bring quarters for the lockers! I was a little nervous about the locker key as there was no way to attach it to me, but I just left it on my flip flop, and it was fine. It was recommended that we go into the hot tub before going to the hot spring, but the tub was pretty crowded so we took our chances. Street shoes had to be left in the lobby so flip flops or slides are highly recommended and can be left close to the entry to the spring. Many of us wore hats since any part of you that was wet and not under water was subject to freezing (eyelashes, eyebrows, hair, etc). The short walk from the locker room to the spring was chilly but it was not difficult to transition from the walkway to the heat of the spring. There were pockets of intense heat in the spring and also some rocks around the edges so walking gingerly is recommended. The heat felt wonderful and we had more than enough time to enjoy it before getting dressed for heading outside to view the northern lights. We stopped a couple of places on the way back to town and the lights did not disappoint. Tanner knew where to find dark skies for us! A memorable night to be sure and I would highly recommend this tour.
via Tripadvisor
Northern Lights and Chena Hot Springs Tour. If you visit Fairbanks I highly recommend this tour!
It was a wonderful, once in a lifetime experience. Our guide, Colleen was friendly, knowledgeable, and really went out of her way to ensure we got an amazing experience. She showed us how to set up the cameras on our phones to get AMAZING pictures. Seems straightforward to set up, it's not. Phones can be finicky when trying to get northern lights pictures. I would highly recommend this trip to anyone looking for an amazing adventure in chasing the northern lights. The Chena Hot Springs and Ice Museum were also wonderful, unique experiences and Colleen ensured we knew where to go, what to expect, and how to maximize the experience. That being said, the northern lights portion is something my wife and I will never forget. All pictures were taken with a plain Samsung S22+...not anything new or high-end and they turned out great! Thanks 1st Alaska Tours and Colleen for the experience of a lifetime and memories I will always cherish.
via Tripadvisor
A Great Night for Fun and Northern Lights
This was a fabulous experience! Tanner, our tour guide, went out of his way to make sure we got to experience Chena resort. We were also fortunate to have a great night of northern lights. Tanner made sure we visited spots with great viewing, and was a huge help with settings on our phone cameras.
via Tripadvisor
Great Northern lights experience with a wonderful guide
Tanner was our guide. He was wonderful. He picked us up on time, gave tour details. He added a brief pull over to see the Alaska pipeline. After arriving at Chena Hot Springs he again provided details to the evening events and where to find him if necessary. He monitored the solar activity and when we would meet him he gave an update. During the Aurora showing he was on the lookout for flares that popped up and which way to look. On our trip back he added a couple pull offs with less lights to again get better views and pictures of Aurora. Above and beyond. He has knowledgeable about the Northern Lights and viewing. He was very personable with our group and great to get to know. He didn’t bring the lights but made the experience the best.
via Tripadvisor
Good to know
- Duration
- 10.5 hours
- Free cancellation
- Non-refundable
- Minimum age to book
- All ages
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Every day
- Hotel pickup
- Included for all travelers
- Booked in 30 days
- 45
- Verdict
- Worth a Look
Why this scores 57
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
Northern Lights and Chena Hot Springs Night Tour from Fairbanks: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Fairbanks.
How much does Northern Lights and Chena Hot Springs Night Tour from Fairbanks cost?
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Prices start at $240 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Fairbanks usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.
How long does Northern Lights and Chena Hot Springs Night Tour from Fairbanks take?
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Plan for about 10.5 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in Fairbanks is not rushed.
Is Northern Lights and Chena Hot Springs Night Tour from Fairbanks worth it?
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It holds an Outty Ranking of 57 out of 100, which we label "Worth a Look". That score blends traveler sentiment (4.4/5 across 129 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable most popular in Fairbanks, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.
Can I cancel or reschedule Northern Lights and Chena Hot Springs Night Tour from Fairbanks?
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No. This experience is sold on a non-refundable basis, so only book a date you are confident about. Similar experiences in the city do offer free cancellation if flexibility matters more than price.
Is Northern Lights and Chena Hot Springs Night Tour from Fairbanks suitable for kids and families?
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Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 10.5-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.
How far in advance should I book Northern Lights and Chena Hot Springs Night Tour from Fairbanks?
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Around 45 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in Fairbanks can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.
What should I bring or wear?
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Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in Fairbanks and add a light layer if any part of the 10.5-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does Northern Lights and Chena Hot Springs Night Tour from Fairbanks start and how do I get there?
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The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central Fairbanks within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.
What are the best things to do in Fairbanks?
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Fairbanks is the aurora capital of interior Alaska: heated viewing lodges, late-night chase tours, Arctic Circle day drives up the Dalton Highway, dog sledding and summer riverboat cruises. On Outty we rank every Fairbanks experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include Northern Lights - Aurora with FREE Photos - Arctic Night Tours, Dog Sledding and Mushing Experience in North Pole, Fairbanks Ice Fishing Expedition in a Heated Cabin with Fish Cookout. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.
When is the best time to visit Fairbanks?
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Late August to April for aurora, June to August for midnight-sun river trips. Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.
How many days do you need in Fairbanks?
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Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.
Do I book through Outty or through the operator?
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Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.
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