Alaska Northern Lights
Alaska Northern Lights and Winter Wildlife Viewing Tour
Highlights:
- Seeing the northern lights and winter wildlife in Alaska
- Taking the Alaska Railroad to Fairbanks and back
- Staying at the Captain Cook Hotel in Anchorage
Printable Bird List
(This is a checklist of birds that we have seen on this trip)
- Travel Dates:
- January 15 - 21, 2025, spots left = 1
- January 15 - 21, 2026, spots left = 6
- Group Size: 6 travelers
- Trip Length: 7 days
- Rates Rate per person = $4,525 double occupancy, an extra $825 for single
- Rates include: All-inclusive from airport pick-up to airport drop off. All meals, lodging, tours, and transportation.
- Not included: Airfare to Anchorage (ANC), snacks, alcohol, and trip insurance not included
- Adventure level: Easy, please check the "Welcome" page for definition
- Reservations: To reserve a spot on the trip, a non-refundable $800 deposit is required, and the non-refundable balance is due 6-months prior to trip.
Lodging: In Anchorage we will be staying at the Captain Cook Hotel, which is the finest hotel in Anchorage. Rooms for this tour are "Junior Suites".
Train: We will be taking the Alaska Railroad Aurora train to Fairbanks, (round-trip), for a 1-night stay in Fairbanks. Along the way route there will be views of the Alaskan wilderness and the northern lights. The train trip will start and end in the dark, but there will be 5-hours of sunlight during the day. During winter months, only the Adventure Class seating is available.
Sunrise/Sunset: On January 18th in Fairbanks sunrise at 10:15am and sunset at 3:45pm: 5 hours of daylight. The latitude of Anchorage is 61 degrees north. It latitude lies south of Iceland and at almost the same latitude of Stockholm.
Temperature: During the month of January in Anchorage, the average low temperature is 18 degrees F, and the average high temperature is 24 degrees F. In Fairbanks, the average low temperature is -13 degrees F, and the average high temperature is 3 degrees F.
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Anchorage
Arrival day at the Anchorage airport (ANC). Staying 3-nights at the Hotel Captain Cook, which is the finest hotel in Anchorage. Activities for the day depend on your arrival time.
Arrival day at the Anchorage airport (ANC). Staying 3-nights at the Hotel Captain Cook, which is the finest hotel in Anchorage. Activities for the day depend on your arrival time.
Day 2: Anchorage
In the morning, a daytime 3-hour Anchorage Tour of the area in and around Anchorage. Stops include Earthquake Park, Lake Hood Seaplane Base, Beluga Point, Potter's Marsh, and Flattop Mountain, (sites visited depend on weather and snow conditions). After dinner, an evening Northern Lights Tour for up to 8-hours. Our local tours guides are total pros about finding the northern lights. It is possible we will drive several hours outside of Anchorage to view the most spectacular northern lights you will ever see. Our local guides are also experts on Photography so you will get the best photos possible.
In the morning, a daytime 3-hour Anchorage Tour of the area in and around Anchorage. Stops include Earthquake Park, Lake Hood Seaplane Base, Beluga Point, Potter's Marsh, and Flattop Mountain, (sites visited depend on weather and snow conditions). After dinner, an evening Northern Lights Tour for up to 8-hours. Our local tours guides are total pros about finding the northern lights. It is possible we will drive several hours outside of Anchorage to view the most spectacular northern lights you will ever see. Our local guides are also experts on Photography so you will get the best photos possible.
Day 3: Anchorage
Because the northern lights tour on "Day 2" might possibly last until 3 or 4am in the morning, there are no scheduled morning activities this day. You will have free time this morning. You can sleep-in and get some rest or going for a swim and use the in-house Athletic Club facilities. Our hotel is located in downtown Anchorage and close to the waterfront. Besides beautiful walking trails along the waterfront for birding, there are several museums and cultural sites to be visited: The Anchorage Museum is excellent for learning about the history, culture, and art of Alaska. In the afternoon there will be a group activity to be determined on that day.
Because the northern lights tour on "Day 2" might possibly last until 3 or 4am in the morning, there are no scheduled morning activities this day. You will have free time this morning. You can sleep-in and get some rest or going for a swim and use the in-house Athletic Club facilities. Our hotel is located in downtown Anchorage and close to the waterfront. Besides beautiful walking trails along the waterfront for birding, there are several museums and cultural sites to be visited: The Anchorage Museum is excellent for learning about the history, culture, and art of Alaska. In the afternoon there will be a group activity to be determined on that day.
Day 4: Fairbanks
The Alaska Railroad Aurora train leaves Anchorage at 8:30am and arrives in Fairbanks at 8:00pm. During winter months, only the Adventure Class seating is available. Along the way route there will be spectacular views of the Alaskan wilderness and wildlife. Along the way route there will be views of the Alaskan wilderness and the northern lights. The train trip will start and end in the dark, but there will be 5-hours of sunlight during the day. Once we arrive in Fairbanks, we will be staying at the Best Western Plus Pioneer Park Inn located along the Chena River for 1-night.
The Alaska Railroad Aurora train leaves Anchorage at 8:30am and arrives in Fairbanks at 8:00pm. During winter months, only the Adventure Class seating is available. Along the way route there will be spectacular views of the Alaskan wilderness and wildlife. Along the way route there will be views of the Alaskan wilderness and the northern lights. The train trip will start and end in the dark, but there will be 5-hours of sunlight during the day. Once we arrive in Fairbanks, we will be staying at the Best Western Plus Pioneer Park Inn located along the Chena River for 1-night.
Day 5: Anchorage
The Alaska Railroad Aurora train from Fairbanks to Anchorage departs at 8:30am and arrives in Anchorage at 8:00pm. During winter months, only the Adventure Class seating is available. Along the way route there will be views of the Alaskan wilderness and the northern lights. The train trip will start and end in the dark, but there will be 5-hours of sunlight during the day. We will be staying at the Hotel Captain Cook for 2-nights.
The Alaska Railroad Aurora train from Fairbanks to Anchorage departs at 8:30am and arrives in Anchorage at 8:00pm. During winter months, only the Adventure Class seating is available. Along the way route there will be views of the Alaskan wilderness and the northern lights. The train trip will start and end in the dark, but there will be 5-hours of sunlight during the day. We will be staying at the Hotel Captain Cook for 2-nights.
Day 6: Anchorage
A trip to Willow, Alaska for a Dog-Sledding Tour. You have the option to ride a sled, or simply learn about the sport of dog sled racing. The local guide team will provide extra warm snowsuits to wear. If you choose not to ride a sled, you have the option to go for a walk and looks for birds and wildlife. In the Willow area, there are resident wolves, and we hope to see a few. There are also arctic hares, which look a lot like really big snowshoe hares. And of course, birds and other wildlife as well. All the bears are hibernating during January.
A trip to Willow, Alaska for a Dog-Sledding Tour. You have the option to ride a sled, or simply learn about the sport of dog sled racing. The local guide team will provide extra warm snowsuits to wear. If you choose not to ride a sled, you have the option to go for a walk and looks for birds and wildlife. In the Willow area, there are resident wolves, and we hope to see a few. There are also arctic hares, which look a lot like really big snowshoe hares. And of course, birds and other wildlife as well. All the bears are hibernating during January.
Day 7: Departure
Shuttle to airport for your flight home. Depending on your flight time for departure, there will be optional activities for the day.
Shuttle to airport for your flight home. Depending on your flight time for departure, there will be optional activities for the day.
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