Why Visit Fairbanks For Alaska Borealis Tours?

Seeing the Northern Lights is a bucket list item for many people planning a trip to Alaska. But before they make their reservations, most want to know how to see Northern Lights in Alaska! One of the easiest ways to ensure that you see the Aurora during your time in Alaska is to reserve a spot with a tour company that specializes in Northern Lights viewing adventures! There are many tour operators in Alaska to choose from, so keep the following things in mind when selecting one.

Location, Location, Location!

 Many of the best tours to Alaska to see Northern Lights use Fairbanks as their base camp. Why? The location! Fairbanks is one of the best places to view the Aurora Borealis in Alaska because it is located under the Auroral Oval. This ring-shaped zone hovers over the far northern region of the state and is where aurora activity is concentrated. The low amount of precipitation and light pollution in and around the city also makes Fairbanks a top destination for Northern Lights viewing. Plus, as anyone who has gone on Alaska Borealis Tours will tell you, Fairbanks also has an incredible selection of activities for visitors to take part in during the day. Spend your nights searching the sky for the Northern Lights, but enjoy all that Alaska has to offer during the day!

Specialty Tours For The Avid Photographer

One of the most popular ways to see the Northern Lights in Alaska is on an Alaska Northern Lights Photography tour. Taking a souvenir photograph of the Aurora Borealis is a lot more difficult than pointing your iPhone at the sky or using a point-and-shoot camera. There are more than a few tricks to capturing the Northern Lights on film (as well as digitally) that a first-time visitor needs to learn in order to get the best picture possible. Alaska Borealis tours that have an experienced photographer on staff to teach you how to compose images using the night sky as a backdrop are a great option for those who want to record the amazing phenomenon to share with others.

When researching the best tour company for your photography tour, consider asking these questions:

• Is the tour limited to a small number of participants so that you have one-on-one time with the guide to ask questions about photography techniques?
• Will the tour be led by an experienced photographer who can work with each member of the group to get the best possible photograph and some hands-on training?
• Did the tour company advise you on a list of equipment to bring in order to photograph the Northern Lights?
• Will you have the opportunity to learn techniques during a workshop to enhance your photography experience prior to your first night under the dark Alaska sky?
• Will the tour company take you to multiple locations on different nights in order to capture the Northern Lights against different backdrops?

Go Local For Insider Information!

If you are wondering how to see the Northern Lights in Alaska, one of the best recommendations we can make is to find a tour company that employs local guides. A local Alaskan will have insider knowledge and resources that people who have not grown up in Alaska will not have. They are generally more knowledgeable about the weather and have contacts in various places to help them figure out where the skies will be clear and which location will be best for Northern Lights viewing on any given night. Many times, local guides also have insider information about some of the best Aurora Borealis viewing sites that are more out of the way and not as easily accessible to tourists – and can help get you there for a truly unique experience.

Where To Go To See The Northern Lights?

As we mentioned above, Fairbanks is one of the best places in Alaska to see the Northern Lights. The city’s low light pollution and tendency toward clear skies make it possible to stay close to town to see this natural phenomenon. If you are not up to a long drive, here are a few suggestions for less strenuous Alaska Borealis tours that will please even the most discerning photographer:

• Creamer’s Field – this bird sanctuary is located within the town of Fairbanks. This open area is on the north side of Fairbanks and features great visibility and very little man-made light, which makes it excellent for Aurora viewing. Just take a headlamp or flashlight with you!
• Chena Lakes – The Chena Lake Recreation area is a 2,000-acre park featuring wide open areas and a large lake. This location is perfect for aurora viewing and for capturing a dramatic photograph of the Northern Lights over the open water.
• Steese Highway to Cleary Summit – there are many wide areas along the Steese Highway where you can pull over and park for an aurora sighting. The following mile markers indicate where areas to pull over are marked off: miles 16.6, 17, 19, and 20.
• Murphy Dome – this location is the highest point that is close to Fairbanks. To get there, you will drive through lowland forest on your climb up toward the dome. Once at the top, you’ll be able to enjoy unobstructed views of the night sky for excellent aurora viewing and picture taking.
• Chena Springs Resort – located an hour outside of Fairbanks, this popular resort is a hot viewing area for tourists. Soak in the hot springs while searching the skies for the Northern Lights. Or, gear up and trek to a nearby viewing spot with your guide and camera equipment to capture this amazing light show on film!

Get Outside Your Comfort Zone To See The Northern Lights!

If you really want a unique experience, many tours to Alaska for Northern Lights offer the option of traveling to Denali National Park for an Aurora viewing experience. The park is Alaska’s best-known attraction and should definitely be on your list of things to do if you are staying near Fairbanks. Combining an Aurora Viewing tour with a trip to Mount Denali is a great idea – there is nothing like seeing the Northern Lights dance across the sky or hover above Mount Denali’s snow-covered peak! Try to find an Alaska Northern Lights Photography tour that includes a trip to Denali so that you have the opportunity to experience the park and the Aurora in a truly unique way.

A photography tour is a great way to capture memories of your Alaskan adventure. And, when you book with a tour company that has a professional photographer on staff, you know that you will get the hands-on training you need to take quality photographs for your souvenir book. So, dust off that Nikon and get ready to look at the Northern Lights through the lens of your camera!