Aurora in winter. Wilderness in summer.
Winter journeys run September to April and include three aurora nights each. Summer journeys, May to August, are planned around your group. Ask AEX for departure dates and pricing.
The Classic Aurora
Three aurora nights from Fairbanks: one in a warm log lodge, two driving out into the wilderness with your guide. By day, the Santa Claus House in North Pole and an outdoor soak at Chena Hot Springs.
- Length: five days, four nights
- Aurora: three nights (1 at the lodge · 2 chasing)
- Stay: selected city hotels, 4 nights
Day by day
- Day 1Arrive · Aurora at the lodge
Arrive in Fairbanks and check in. In the evening: We drive out to a heated log lodge to wait for the aurora, with snacks and hot drinks.
- Day 2Santa Claus House · Chena Hot Springs · Aurora chase
Morning at the Santa Claus House in North Pole, then an outdoor soak at Chena Hot Springs. The Aurora Ice Museum can be added on site. In the evening, your first aurora chase.
- Day 3Free day · Aurora chase
A free day. In the evening: Your guide drives away from the city lights, reads the night's weather and cloud, and finds the clearest sky. When the aurora appears, we stop to watch and photograph it, and your guide helps set up your camera.
- Day 4A day of your choosing
A free day. Add the Arctic Circle, a Denali hike, the ice cave, or dog sledding and snowmobiling.
- Day 5Departure
Check out and take the hotel shuttle or your booked transfer to the airport.
Included
- Four nights in selected city hotels, with breakfast
- Three aurora nights (one at the lodge, two chasing)
- Santa Claus House and Chena Hot Springs admission
- Transport within the itinerary
- One free airport pickup (set hours)
Not included
- Flights to and from Alaska
- Lunch and dinner
- Guide service fees
- Optional day tours and the Ice Museum
- Personal expenses
Itineraries may change with weather, road conditions and operations. Ask AEX for departure dates and pricing.
Glacier, Rail & Aurora
Begin in Anchorage on the blue ice of Matanuska Glacier. Then board the Aurora Winter Train and give a whole day to the window as the Alaska interior slides past. Fairbanks, and three aurora nights, wait at the end of the line.
- Length: seven days, six nights
- Aurora: three nights (1 at the lodge · 2 chasing)
- Stay: selected city hotels, 6 nights
- A version that flies instead of taking the train is available
Day by day
- Day 1Arrive in Anchorage
Arrive in Anchorage, Alaska's largest city, and check in. The rest of the day is yours.
- Day 2Matanuska Glacier walk
An early start through the Matanuska Valley to the glacier, where a glacier guide leads you on a walk across the ice. Crampons and safety gear are provided.
- Day 3North by train · Aurora at the lodge
An early transfer to the Anchorage depot for the Aurora Winter Train: a full day north through the Alaska interior, arriving in Fairbanks in the evening. A version that flies instead of taking the train is also available. In the evening: We drive out to a heated log lodge to wait for the aurora, with snacks and hot drinks.
- Day 4Santa Claus House · Chena Hot Springs · Aurora chase
Morning at the Santa Claus House in North Pole, then an outdoor soak at Chena Hot Springs. The Aurora Ice Museum can be added on site. In the evening, your first aurora chase.
- Day 5Free day · Aurora chase
A free day. In the evening: Your guide drives away from the city lights, reads the night's weather and cloud, and finds the clearest sky. When the aurora appears, we stop to watch and photograph it, and your guide helps set up your camera.
- Day 6A day of your choosing
A free day. Add the Arctic Circle, a Denali hike, the ice cave, or dog sledding and snowmobiling.
- Day 7Departure
Check out and take the hotel shuttle or your booked transfer to the airport.
Included
- Six nights in selected city hotels, with breakfast
- Matanuska Glacier walk with admission and gear
- Aurora Winter Train, one way (train version)
- Three aurora nights
- Santa Claus House and Chena Hot Springs admission
- Transport within the itinerary
Not included
- Flights to and from Alaska, plus the Anchorage–Fairbanks flight on the no-train version
- Lunch and dinner
- Guide service fees
- Optional day tours and the Ice Museum
- Personal expenses
Itineraries may change with weather, road conditions and operations. Ask AEX for departure dates and pricing.
A Night in the Igloo
The classic journey, with one night given to Borealis Basecamp. The roof above your bed is a window, and the aurora, if it comes, finds you already lying down. The other nights bring a lodge night, an aurora chase and Chena Hot Springs.
- Length: five days, four nights
- Aurora: three nights (lodge · chase · igloo)
- Stay: selected city hotels, 3 nights + 1 night at Basecamp
Day by day
- Day 1Arrive · Aurora at the lodge
Arrive in Fairbanks and check in. In the evening: We drive out to a heated log lodge to wait for the aurora, with snacks and hot drinks.
- Day 2Santa Claus House · Chena Hot Springs · Aurora chase
Morning at the Santa Claus House in North Pole, then an outdoor soak at Chena Hot Springs. The Aurora Ice Museum can be added on site. In the evening, an aurora chase.
- Day 3A day of your choosing
A free day. Add the Arctic Circle, a Denali hike, the ice cave, or dog sledding and snowmobiling.
- Day 4To the igloo
The camp shuttle takes you to Borealis Basecamp. By day you can book dog sledding, snowmobiling or a reindeer walk at camp; at night you wait for the aurora from your bed, under the window overhead.
- Day 5Departure
Take the camp shuttle back and on to the airport. Allow about 1.5 hours from camp to the airport when choosing your flight.
Included
- Three nights in selected city hotels, with breakfast
- One night at Borealis Basecamp
- One lodge night and one aurora chase
- Santa Claus House and Chena Hot Springs admission
- Transport within the itinerary, including the camp shuttle
- One free airport pickup (set hours)
Not included
- Flights to and from Alaska
- Lunch and dinner
- Guide service fees
- Camp activities, optional day tours and the Ice Museum
- Personal expenses
Itineraries may change with weather, road conditions and operations. Ask AEX for departure dates and pricing.
The Whole Alaska Winter
Everything, in one unhurried week: the glacier, the train, the hot springs, and a night under the igloo's glass.
- Length: seven days, six nights
- Aurora: three nights (lodge · chase · igloo)
- Stay: selected city hotels, 5 nights + 1 night at Basecamp
- A version that flies instead of taking the train is available
Day by day
- Day 1Arrive in Anchorage
Arrive in Anchorage, Alaska's largest city, and check in. The rest of the day is yours.
- Day 2Matanuska Glacier walk
An early start through the Matanuska Valley to the glacier, where a glacier guide leads you on a walk across the ice. Crampons and safety gear are provided.
- Day 3North by train · Aurora at the lodge
An early transfer to the Anchorage depot for the Aurora Winter Train: a full day north through the Alaska interior, arriving in Fairbanks in the evening. A version that flies instead of taking the train is also available. In the evening: We drive out to a heated log lodge to wait for the aurora, with snacks and hot drinks.
- Day 4Santa Claus House · Chena Hot Springs · Aurora chase
Morning at the Santa Claus House in North Pole, then an outdoor soak at Chena Hot Springs. The Aurora Ice Museum can be added on site. In the evening, an aurora chase.
- Day 5To the igloo
The camp shuttle takes you to Borealis Basecamp. By day you can book dog sledding, snowmobiling or a reindeer walk at camp; at night you wait for the aurora from your bed, under the window overhead.
- Day 6A day of your choosing
Take the morning camp shuttle back to town. A free day. Add the Arctic Circle, a Denali hike, the ice cave, or dog sledding and snowmobiling.
- Day 7Departure
Check out and take the hotel shuttle or your booked transfer to the airport.
Included
- Five nights in selected city hotels, with breakfast
- One night at Borealis Basecamp
- Matanuska Glacier walk with admission and gear
- Aurora Winter Train, one way (train version)
- One lodge night and one aurora chase
- Santa Claus House and Chena Hot Springs admission
- Transport within the itinerary
Not included
- Flights to and from Alaska, plus the Anchorage–Fairbanks flight on the no-train version
- Lunch and dinner
- Guide service fees
- Camp activities, optional day tours and the Ice Museum
- Personal expenses
Itineraries may change with weather, road conditions and operations. Ask AEX for departure dates and pricing.
Alaska in summer, at your own pace.
Summer in Alaska brings long days of light, made for mountains, national parks and glaciers. Our summer journeys are planned around each group: tell us your dates, group size and where you would like to go, and we will shape the itinerary.
Tell us which to take.
Share your travel dates and group size, and we will send a suitable itinerary and quote.