After heading to Fairbanks, Alaska as a Tourist to see the Aurora, I went back as a Tour Guide ! I learned a few things on how to best plan your trip to Fairbanks, so keep read the blog for some tips to up level your trip
Fairbanks, Alaska is one of the best places in the world to see the Aurora! Now I am a Fairbanks tour guide after going for a visit and loving it! My blog post is based on my research and first-hand experiences as a guide. I listened to guests and my trainers, and I learned so much in the month of March while there! Now I just want to pass on the goods
Now for the Goodies, I have for you. ↓
The Aurora Season
The best time to go is anytime from September – March!
- September – October – this is a good fit for those who do not like subzero temps but want to see the lights. If you would rather rent a car, this is a good time to do it.
- November – December – this is a good fit for those who want to experience the North Pole, Santa’s village, to make the Holidays magical –Tour guide is highly recommended.
- December – February – this is great if you want to be there in the darkest months and want to do some snow adventures such as Snow Machining, Dog sledding, ice fishing. – Tour guide highly recommended.
- February – March – These are the months you can do the snow adventures and maybe see the Iditarod, the Yukon Quest, or the World Ice Sculpture competition. – Tour guide is highly recommended.
If you are not so much into subzero temperatures and cold, go in September or early October before the snow starts! The driving conditions are good, and you will feel more at ease road-tripping round Fairbanks.There are loads of places to see, do some ATV tours, go on some hikes, tour some caves, and enjoy the nature around the area.
How I got started as a Fairbanks Tour Guide
On my first visit to Fairbanks to see Aurora, I had help from locals who made our trip so magical.
Trusting locals has been my go-to for years, and I would not have it any other way! I used a guide on my first trip, and I had a much better experience than I would have if I had not used one! You have to be fluid with your plans and be ok to pivot and be sleep-deprived because the hours you keep can be very tiring!
Fairbanks locals help you pivot your plans based on the Aurora/ weather conditions, which can make or break your Aurora experience. I loved every moment of it, and I loved it OH SO much that I returned a month later to be a tour guide myself! I trained for a month, learned a ton, and can not wait to return next year!!
Planning for you best chances to see the Aurora
Now I am helping others have an amazing experience while chasing Aurora in Fairbanks. The Aurora is science, and with science having some baseline knowledge of how to read the data, what to look for, and where to go really kicks up your experience 100 notches.
The Aurora is out most nights, but if you are doing an Aurora viewing and the clouds roll in, you may have to pivot to an Aurora chase! Guides can help execute a plan for seeing Aurora at a moment’s notice! They also know how to read the data and can sometimes have an idea of what time the Aurora will peak! Sometimes it is right after dusk, and sometimes it is 3 am! So Unpredictable. There were plenty of times we picked up clients hours before their original times because the lights peaked early. If it was a cloudy night, we would arrange to pick them up another night, and it worked out on our schedules.
Location tips for seeing Aurora in Fairbanks
Fairbanks guides know the genuinely amazing places to see Aurora that you will not find on a Google search. They know the best locations and can take you to awesome less crowded locations with better viewings. Like Murphy Dome, everyone goes there, so we avoid it, LOL!
Here is another thing I did not realize until after my first trip, the hours you keep looking for Aurora can be tiring. Having a driver at 3 am, when it is cold, and you’re driving on icy roads, is not only a great idea but a safer idea. These roads are no joke! Sometimes the best places are in areas you may not have phone reception in, so above everything, it is a safe way to go.
Hiring a tour guide in the winter months – these are things we learned after our first trip
Fairbanks local guides know the history of the locations and tell you all about the area. You will miss a lot of pretty awesome knowledge and fun tidbits if you do not have a guide!
Hiring a transport is a pretty sweet deal to chill, relax and enjoy the beautiful views in a safe 4-wheel drive vehicle with snow tires and experienced drivers.
The safety factor for chasing Aurora in Fairbanks
You are in Fairbanks, which is the most northern city in Alaska to see the Aurora.
In the dead of winter you expect to be cold and the roads to be icy! The weather and road conditions are different from what most of us are used to. Alaska has wildlife roaming around, like Moose, which can be dangerous. That is why most people will hire Transportation instead of renting a car!
Other things to consider when visiting in Subzero temps
- Unknown weather conditions
- Unknown road conditions
- Wild game, such as Moose, roam around and can hit or slide into your vehicle
- Unknown locations – where are the best spots to see Aurora without huge crowds in safe places? You would be surprised how many people get stuck in ditches in remote areas without cell reception
- How to pivot your schedule if changes need to be made
Taxis and Lyft can be unpredictable and unreliable, and they do not always go to far-off places like Ice fishing at 3 am or Chena Hot Springs.
If you are thinking about renting can be a toss-up; you’re probably not going to get a 4 W/ drive with studded tires, even if that is requested.
Want to plan your trip and not have to worry about pivoting and what to when something comes up? Let locals help plan your Fairbanks trip! Check out Cafego Alaska will plan your trip for you.
They will help you with things such as:
- Book your accommodations (location matters)
- Book your Winter adventures such as ice fishing, Reindeer farms, snow machining, dog sledding, snowshoeing,
- Taking a plane to Coldfoot
- Aurora newing and Chasing
- Making sure you have transportation to your destinations
I would be more than happy to answer any questions, send a message on social media or email me at hello@aimeedanielson.com
After heading to Fairbanks, Alaska as a Tourist to see the Aurora, I went back as a Tour Guide ! I learned a few things on how to best plan your trip to Fairbanks, so keep read the blog for some tips to up level your trip
Fairbanks, Alaska is one of the best places in the world to see the Aurora! Now I am a Fairbanks tour guide after going for a visit and loving it! My blog post is based on my research and first-hand experiences as a guide. I listened to guests and my trainers, and I learned so much in the month of March while there! Now I just want to pass on the goods
Now for the Goodies, I have for you. ↓
The Aurora Season
The best time to go is anytime from September – March!
- September – October – this is a good fit for those who do not like subzero temps but want to see the lights. If you would rather rent a car, this is a good time to do it.
- November – December – this is a good fit for those who want to experience the North Pole, Santa’s village, to make the Holidays magical –Tour guide is highly recommended.
- December – February – this is great if you want to be there in the darkest months and want to do some snow adventures such as Snow Machining, Dog sledding, ice fishing. – Tour guide highly recommended.
- February – March – These are the months you can do the snow adventures and maybe see the Iditarod, the Yukon Quest, or the World Ice Sculpture competition. – Tour guide is highly recommended.
If you are not so much into subzero temperatures and cold, go in September or early October before the snow starts! The driving conditions are good, and you will feel more at ease road-tripping round Fairbanks.There are loads of places to see, do some ATV tours, go on some hikes, tour some caves, and enjoy the nature around the area.
How I got started as a Fairbanks Tour Guide
On my first visit to Fairbanks to see Aurora, I had help from locals who made our trip so magical.
Trusting locals has been my go-to for years, and I would not have it any other way! I used a guide on my first trip, and I had a much better experience than I would have if I had not used one! You have to be fluid with your plans and be ok to pivot and be sleep-deprived because the hours you keep can be very tiring!
Fairbanks locals help you pivot your plans based on the Aurora/ weather conditions, which can make or break your Aurora experience. I loved every moment of it, and I loved it OH SO much that I returned a month later to be a tour guide myself! I trained for a month, learned a ton, and can not wait to return next year!!
Planning for you best chances to see the Aurora
Now I am helping others have an amazing experience while chasing Aurora in Fairbanks. The Aurora is science, and with science having some baseline knowledge of how to read the data, what to look for, and where to go really kicks up your experience 100 notches.
The Aurora is out most nights, but if you are doing an Aurora viewing and the clouds roll in, you may have to pivot to an Aurora chase! Guides can help execute a plan for seeing Aurora at a moment’s notice! They also know how to read the data and can sometimes have an idea of what time the Aurora will peak! Sometimes it is right after dusk, and sometimes it is 3 am! So Unpredictable. There were plenty of times we picked up clients hours before their original times because the lights peaked early. If it was a cloudy night, we would arrange to pick them up another night, and it worked out on our schedules.
Location tips for seeing Aurora in Fairbanks
Fairbanks guides know the genuinely amazing places to see Aurora that you will not find on a Google search. They know the best locations and can take you to awesome less crowded locations with better viewings. Like Murphy Dome, everyone goes there, so we avoid it, LOL!
Here is another thing I did not realize until after my first trip, the hours you keep looking for Aurora can be tiring. Having a driver at 3 am, when it is cold, and you’re driving on icy roads, is not only a great idea but a safer idea. These roads are no joke! Sometimes the best places are in areas you may not have phone reception in, so above everything, it is a safe way to go.
Hiring a tour guide in the winter months – these are things we learned after our first trip
Fairbanks local guides know the history of the locations and tell you all about the area. You will miss a lot of pretty awesome knowledge and fun tidbits if you do not have a guide!
Hiring a transport is a pretty sweet deal to chill, relax and enjoy the beautiful views in a safe 4-wheel drive vehicle with snow tires and experienced drivers.
The safety factor for chasing Aurora in Fairbanks
You are in Fairbanks, which is the most northern city in Alaska to see the Aurora.
In the dead of winter you expect to be cold and the roads to be icy! The weather and road conditions are different from what most of us are used to. Alaska has wildlife roaming around, like Moose, which can be dangerous. That is why most people will hire Transportation instead of renting a car!
Other things to consider when visiting in Subzero temps
- Unknown weather conditions
- Unknown road conditions
- Wild game, such as Moose, roam around and can hit or slide into your vehicle
- Unknown locations – where are the best spots to see Aurora without huge crowds in safe places? You would be surprised how many people get stuck in ditches in remote areas without cell reception
- How to pivot your schedule if changes need to be made
Taxis and Lyft can be unpredictable and unreliable, and they do not always go to far-off places like Ice fishing at 3 am or Chena Hot Springs.
If you are thinking about renting can be a toss-up; you’re probably not going to get a 4 W/ drive with studded tires, even if that is requested.
Want to plan your trip and not have to worry about pivoting and what to when something comes up? Let locals help plan your Fairbanks trip! Check out Cafego Alaska will plan your trip for you.
They will help you with things such as:
- Book your accommodations (location matters)
- Book your Winter adventures such as ice fishing, Reindeer farms, snow machining, dog sledding, snowshoeing,
- Taking a plane to Coldfoot
- Aurora newing and Chasing
- Making sure you have transportation to your destinations
I would be more than happy to answer any questions, send a message on social media or email me at hello@aimeedanielson.com
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Would you comment on clothing to wear if you are aurora chasing in winter near Fairbanks? Thank you!
You need subzero clothing if you are going in the Winter months. I am working on a blog that goes into more details 🙂