Northern Lights Experience and Cabin Dinner

Viewing of Northern Lights from a yurt

George was our tour guide. George was wonderful, friendly and very knowledgeable about Northern Lights and things around Fairbanks. There was an unexpected incident on our tour. George picked up a passenger in a wheelchair. George was unaware that there would be a passenger in a wheelchair. George was very accommodating to this passenger and family. This was extra work needed from George. This was not a fault of 1st Alaska Tours at all. It was a fault of the family for failing to notify the tour company that a wheelchair passenger would be transported. Kudos to George. The yurt was nice perfect to get out of the windy cold weather. Viewing was ok. I with recommend 1st Alaska Tours.

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Don’t use 1st Alaska tours for Northern Lights tour

1st Alaska tours (Joseph) picked us up for Dinner and The Northern lights tour. When we arrived at the yurt there were six other people and their guide Paul. Instead of hearing stories about Alaska or the Northern Lights, we had to listen to Paul. Paul talked constantly about himself and even spoke very negative about previous guests. He spoke to Joseph about previous specific female guests being idiots. Paul was very interested in talking about all his photography equipment and showing his photos and even tried to sell them to us. The guides just announced that we could keep going outside and checking on the lights but they stayed inside to continue their conversation. At one point, I cut the light on in the porch to see where to walk. The outside was very slick and snow/ice piled uneven and not easy to walk on. Paul raised his voice and said to keep the light off. Joseph said he hoped we didn’t fall because that would be a lot of paperwork but showed no concern. Paul’s group wanted to leave an hour early. It wasn’t until I told Joseph all of my complaints and disappointments that he started to actually talk to us and be a tour guide. He even offered to take our picture. 1st Alaska tours was a waste of time and money. Save yourself the hassle and book with someone else.

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Overpriced. Underwhelming.

This takes full advantage of tourist brain. 1st Alaska isn’t the service provider. They are the shuttle. (They pick you up, they drop you off, they don’t care, they’ve already been paid). There is no “tour”. The sledding and dinner are hosted by another company. I have no problem with off the grid (peeing a bag in an unheated room with frost on the walls). What I have a problem with is paying over $300. to be served salad and dessert on paper plates and not having a bread plate; and despite two sinks being in the yurt, we were all unable to wash our hands after petting the dogs, going to the bathroom or before eating. While Aurora viewing can’t be guaranteed, decent companies will give you the chance to re-book for a different date if viewing predictions are low. 1st Alaska’s “Aurora viewing” tagline is in there for marketing purposes, to catch all the bucket list hopefuls. My tour was cut short because it was snowing and they knew chances of viewing were very low. You will have a better experience and save a bunch of money if you go with different companies for each activity, and not this bundle of disappointment.

Response from the operator: We are sorry you did not get to see the Northern Lights. We are the service provider and our guides pick you up and are there with you the whole time to help with pictures and give you a wealth of knowledge while you are there. Our bathrooms are heated and yes we are off grid so we have to haul our water up and use the sink for dishes. we provide hand sanitizer for the guests. We serve the meals on real plates not paper plates, also we serve a wonderful home cooked salmon dinner with a side salad and pie and ice cream for desert. We always recommend going out multiple nights 4-5 to increase your chances of seeing the Northern Lights.

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Great nigth!!

It was amazing!! The dinner was delicius, was perfect for the auroras expirience!! The chef was great... Dan, our tour gide was very attentive, thougful and helpful.. All this made a great expirience...

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Phenomenal sled, ride, and food

The experience was phenomenal. I would recommend it to anyone. The tour guide Paul was very knowledgeable and very thoughtful on time and kept us entertained for the entire trip. Joe was our cook. The food was sensational. Jerry was our dog guide. He was very knowledgeable about the area and the dogs. I felt safe as we were on our sled ride.

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