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From Fairbanks: Chena Hot Springs Northern Lights Tour

1. From Fairbanks: Chena Hot Springs Northern Lights Tour

The Northern Lights are one of the most spectacular natural phenomena on the planet and on this night tour, you will have the chance to see these marvels of nature for yourself. Your evening begins between 4~5pm when you will be collected from your hotel in Fairbanks and head approximately 60 miles (100 kilometers) to the Chena Resort. Here you will first have a chance to cool off (before heating up) in the spectacular Ice Museum. This building, built entirely out of ice, boasts a full Ice Bar and chandeliers built painstakingly out of hand-crafted ice.  At 8pm, you can soak your cares away in the warm and inviting Chena Hot Springs. You'll be pleased to know that the resort makes use of the first low-temperature binary geothermal power plant built in Alaska and is working on several alternative energy projects, including production and use of hydrogen and vegetable oil for fuel. The resort is conducting collaborative experiments in greenhouse production of vegetables with the University of Alaska Fairbanks Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station. All in all, the resort is absolutely beautiful and you can soak in its natural springs for at least two hours. By 12:00 midnight, you can begin to look out for the Northern Lights. Soon, if you are lucky, the Aurora Borealis will appear. This natural light display is caused by the collision of energetic charged particles with atoms high in the atmosphere. The result is a breathtaking display of light that can be bright enough to read a newspaper by. Around 2:00 AM, depart back to Fairbanks and arrive around 3~4am. The night will surely be one you will never forget.

Northern Lights & Chena Hot Springs Tour

2. Northern Lights & Chena Hot Springs Tour

Located 60 scenic miles from downtown Fairbanks, experience the Aurora Ice Museum and the Chena Hot Springs Resort on a guided tour. Get the chance to spot the famed northern lights. Start your trip with a guided tour through the Aurora Ice Museum, displaying magnificent ice sculptures that will leave you amazed. Enjoy a cocktail in a glass made of ice (optional and not included in price). Then, head over to the resort. Enjoy a meal at the restaurant that offers locally cultivated vegetables and Alaska caught wild salmon (not included in price and dining is optional). Afterward, soak in the Chena Hot Springs' legendary healing mineral waters. Take a short stroll up to the Aurorium to watch the beautiful and breathtaking Aurora Borealis dance overhead in the dark nights (visibility of northern lights not guaranteed). The activity center is a great location to warm up while waiting for the northern lights. There will be plenty of time for photography to ensure you will not forget this experience.

Full Day Ice Museum and Chena Hot Springs Tour

3. Full Day Ice Museum and Chena Hot Springs Tour

Your worries slip away as you step into the warm and calming pools of Chena Hot Springs. On this rejuvenating day trip from Fairbanks, your senses will be reawakened by a day of rest and relaxation at the Chena River State Recreation Area. Chena Hot Springs are not your ordinary hot springs. The resort makes use of the first low-temperature binary geothermal power plant built in Alaska, and you will be comforted to know that the area provides several alternative energy projects to those big oil pipelines you've seen sprawled out around the state. The warming waters will sooth your body and soul with its powerful effects. The day begins around 11 AM in Fairbanks, where you will be driven first to an Ice Museum, complete with an ice bar and chandeliers made entirely of ice! Here you will have a guided tour of the museum before venturing on to the Geothermal springs of Chena. Before slipping into the pools, enjoy another guided tour and learn about all the possibilities of Geothermal Energy. You're now ready to slip into the waters, where you'll have several hours to lounge and relax before we depart back for Fairbanks. If you're hungry, make sure to stop by the local restaurant for some food and drink. Your drive back is a calming one, and along the way we almost always spot moose, so keep your eyes open! We arrive back in Fairbanks around 6:30 PM.

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What people are saying about Alaska

Overall rating

4.5 / 5

based on 6 reviews

Our guide Lauren was awesome. We were picked up at our hotel and driven safely to Chena. We got to enjoy a nice soak in the hot springs and dinner at the restaurant located there. Afterwards we drove around looking for the auroras but unfortunately luck was not on our side. Great experience for our first time out visiting Alaska.

Incredible place, swimming outdoors in -10F temps. Ice sculptures were nice as well. Guide Ryan had interesting information about the area and when we couldn't see the aurora at the viewing are he took us to an alternate location where we did see it.

Our tour guide Ed was excellent! Very knowledgeable and responsive. The tour to the resort was well worth the price and we got to see the Auroras!

easy, friendly and overall great fun! Aurora John was the best! we felt safe and well tended to. And the sky! What a show!

Claire was really nice and lovely Thank you for everything it was amazing