Northern Lights & Arctic Circle Tour

Chase the Northern Lights and cross the Arctic Circle on a guided night tour with round-trip hotel transfers.

Getting started

Begin with hotel pick-up using the included round-trip hotel transfers and board one of the climate-controlled vans. After meeting your expert guide, you head out of town toward the Dalton Highway. The guided tour sets expectations for winter conditions and flexible timing, then you continue north into darker skies in search of aurora activity.

What to expect

Dalton Highway route to the Arctic Circle

You travel along the remote Dalton Highway toward the Arctic Circle, leaving cell phone coverage behind for an off-grid night in Alaska's far north.

Features

• Watch the landscape shift into open tundra as you head north toward the Arctic Circle, with your guide pointing out tundra viewpoints and sharing context on the surrounding wilderness.

• Planned stops include photo opportunities at the Yukon River, sweeping tundra viewpoints, and the Arctic Circle sign so you can document each stage of the journey.

• CB radio communication with truck drivers keeps your guide informed about road conditions and traffic on this active haul route.

• Emergency preparedness equipment is carried on board, and vehicles also use satellite phones for emergency communication since cell phone coverage is essentially non-existent along the Dalton Highway.

Yukon River

The tour includes a stop at the Yukon River, one of Alaska's key natural landmarks and a major milestone on the way to the Arctic Circle.

Features

• Spend time at the Yukon River to take photos and experience the scale of this major waterway in Alaska's interior.

• You can purchase lunch and dinner at Yukon River Camp at your own expense or use your own personal snacks that you have brought along.

• Hot drinks are provided during the tour, giving you a warm option while you are outside in cold temperatures near the river.

Arctic Circle and aurora viewing areas

Reaching the Arctic Circle is a central focus of the tour, with time dedicated to viewing the Northern Lights when conditions allow.

Features

• Stop at the Arctic Circle sign to mark your crossing of the latitude line, with photo opportunities and time to appreciate the location.

• Your knowledgeable guide monitors changing weather, road conditions, and aurora activity, adjusting the timeline so you maximize your chances to see the Northern Lights, although sightings are never guaranteed since they are a natural phenomenon.

• Winter temperatures during aurora viewing can range from 20°F to –40°F, so guests are expected to arrive with their own winter clothing and gear, including layered clothing and proper cold-weather footwear.

• At the Arctic Circle, you receive a personalized Arctic Circle certificate that documents your journey and serves as a keepsake from the trip.

Onboard experience

Much of the adventure takes place inside the vehicle as you cover significant distance through remote Arctic territory.

Features

• Climate-controlled vans provide a stable interior temperature during the long drive through cold conditions, giving you a consistent base between outdoor stops.

• The guided tour with an expert, professional guide includes commentary about the Arctic environment and practical information about traveling in such an isolated region.

• Hotel pick-up/drop-off services at eligible locations are included, while transportation to unconfirmed or ineligible pickup locations is not part of the service.

• The tour is not fully wheelchair accessible and guests should be moderately mobile, since getting in and out of the vehicle and moving around icy or snowy surfaces is part of the experience.

Wrapping up

After completing your time at the Arctic Circle and any final aurora viewing, you return along the Dalton Highway in the climate-controlled van. The tour concludes back at your hotel with drop-off using the included hotel pick-up/drop-off services.