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Northern Lights of the Last Frontier

Alaska Northern Lights Cultural Walking Tour

6 DaysStarting at $6,599
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Overview

Nothing can prepare you for your first sighting of the Northern Lights. The way they swirl through star-studded skies. The neon colors. The majestic silence. And the same goes for Alaska’s winter landscape. The Last Frontier state is a wildlife wonderland—wolf packs, grizzlies, foxes and hares roam free while eagles soar overhead—and from electric blue glaciers to cinematic fjords and bubbling hot springs, Mother Nature has truly outdone herself (no wonder Santa chose to live here, we wish we did too).

Classic Journeys provides unbeatable access to experiences around the globe.”
Travel + Leisure

Itinerary Highlights

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  • Ride to the Summit: Soar by tramway to Mt. Alyeska’s peak for jaw-dropping views of glaciers, rugged peaks, and Alaska’s wild coastline.
  • Wildlife Up Close: At the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, meet orphaned, injured, and endangered animals—from playful bears to massive wood bison—and hear daring rescue stories.
  • Walk on a Glacier: Take a helicopter flight over the jaw-dropping Matanuska Valley, then step onto a 27-mile river of ice. With your expert guide, explore slot canyons, sparkling blue caves, and towering ice spires—capped off with a hearty local lunch.
  • Meet the Mushers: Swap trail tales with Iditarod champions and cuddle their roly-poly puppies before an exhilarating dogsled ride.
  • Snowshoe the Wilds: Follow your naturalist guide in search of wolves, moose, and Dall sheep, along with hundreds of bird species.
  • Chase the Aurora: From your boutique lodge, watch ribbons of green and gold sweep across the night sky in one of the world’s best places to see the Northern Lights.
Download Full Daily Itinerary

Map

  • Starting Point:

    Fairbanks – 1:00 pm – Lobby of Pike’s Waterfront Lodge

  • Ending Point:

    Anchorage – 9:30 am – Lobby of Hotel Captain Cook
Itinerary Map

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Walking Level

  • Daily Mileage Options: 2-5 miles

  • Route Notes:

    The terrain on this trip includes a mix of paved streets in Anchorage and the Kenai Peninsula villages; as well as well-maintained mountainside, countryside, riverside and coastal trails of compressed dirt and stone, glaciers, and even snow (accomplished with snowshoes provided for you). The footpaths offer a selection of level, rolling and hilly terrain with some elevation gain and loss.
To See Mileage Daily, Download Full Itinerary

Dates & Prices

The earlier you book, the more choice you’ll have and the lower your price. And you can always change your mind — you won’t be charged to transfer to a different trip before your final payment is due. Talk with one of our travel experts at 800-200-3887.

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Family Departure

Select our “Family Departure” to travel with other families.

Internal Airfare

$250: This tour includes an internal flight for a supplemental cost. (subject to change)

Hotels

We spend years cultivating personal relationships with our hoteliers to provide you thoughtfully selected accommodations that reveal the true character of the region. Here is a sampling of our favorite hotels on this tour. 

Sheep Mountain Lodge

The Sheep Mountain Lodge is surrounded by Alsaka wildlife and offers stunning views of the nearby mountains. Enjoy a cozy room in a handcrafted cabin, modern amenities and warm Alaskan hospitality.

Marriott Anchorage Downtown

Perfectly located downtown, Marriott Anchorage offers spacious rooms with picturesque city and mountain views. Enjoy all the modern amenities including a fitness center, indoor pool, restaurant and bar for a comfortable stay.

Borealis Basecamp

Located on 100 acres of pristine forest outside of Fairbanks, Borealis Basecamp immerses you in the Alaskan wilderness. At night, enjoy prime viewing of the Northern Lights while staying cozy with all the modern amenities.

What’s Included

  • Meals: All breakfasts, three lunches, and four dinners.
  • Hotels: Award-winning boutique properties, thoughtfully selected for their exceptional location, design, history, and regional character.
  • Tour Leader(s): Expert guides who are your well-connected local friends and provide you access to people and places you wouldn’t find on your own.
  • Supplemental Experts: Additional regional guides and specialists on select tours.
  • Transportation: All land transportation as listed in the daily itinerary, including fares for trains, ferries, and other modes of travel.
  • Privileged Access Events: One-of-a-kind access to remarkable people, places, and experiences arranged just for you, as noted in the daily itinerary.
  • Admissions & Entry Fees: Entry to tastings, historic sites, and other scheduled activities listed in the daily itinerary.
  • Baggage Transfers: Upon arrival, we whisk you and your bags directly to your room—no waiting, no tipping.
  • Gratuities: All gratuities at hotels, restaurants, and for baggage handling.
  • Dedicated Guest Services Coordinator: Your pre-trip concierge and tour expert, available to answer questions and ensure you’re fully ready to get the most out of your tour.
  • Equipment: Premium gear and expert guides for kayaking, rafting, glacial hiking, and snorkeling as outlined in the daily itinerary on select tours.
Not Included: Tour Leader gratuities, travel to and from your trip’s start and end points, and any meals or activities taken independently.

Why Choose Classic Journeys

Travel + Leisure has awarded Classic Journeys the #1 World’s Best Tour Operator multiple times and says, “Classic Journeys provides unbeatable access to experiences around the globe.” Here’s what that access means for you.
  • Experience the world on foot and at eye level. Each day, join your guide on the most cinematic footpaths in the region.
  • Exceptional full-time local guides who become your well-connected friend. Our amazing guides are with you throughout each day of the tour, share their lifelong connections as well as engaging anecdotes about the history and culture of the region.
  • Small groups that provide you unrivaled access. An average of fewer than 10 guests per departure means we can offer you special access to sites like Stonehenge so you experience the stone circle when it’s closed to the general public, a guided visit to Zion Narrows that other companies cannot arrange because of larger group sizes, and vineyard walks with a count and countess in Tuscany.
  • Award-winning hotels are waiting for you at the end of every day. Luxuriate in the finest and most distinctive accommodations in the region you’re exploring, including rainforest lodges, 16th century villas, and award-winning properties that show up on World’s Best and Gold lists.
  • Eat like (and with) the locals. Food is a foolproof way into the hearts, homes and history of the places you visit with us. From gourmet picnics to coveted local restaurants, our meals offer you opportunities to explore native food traditions and fine dining.
  • Handcrafted itineraries with all activities included. With our long-term friendships, we know our walking tour regions more personally than anyone else. So you get thoughtfully curated itineraries that combine explorations of the villages, organic farms, archeological sites and the people who know them best.
  • Sustainable travel that supports the places you’re visiting. We put our local currency into the pockets of the people who live where we travel. It’s your guarantee that you’ll have authentic, up-close experiences on your trip. Best of all, our person-to-person approach helps sustain their ways of life.

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FAQs

Why is Classic Journeys the best tour company for Alaska northern lights tours?
Classic Journeys whisks you right into Alaska’s magical winter—with expert guides (your well-connected local friends), exclusive access to dark-sky lodges, and cinematic walks that put you beneath the aurora’s swirling lights. Each day is handcrafted to maximize northern lights sightings and unforgettable wildlife encounters along the way.
When is the best time to see the northern lights in Alaska?
Alaska’s northern lights dance brightest from late fall into early spring—especially November through March, when long nights and crisp skies set the stage for dazzling aurora displays. Your Classic Journeys team times every moment to help you catch the show at its most dramatic for an unforgettable trip in the Last Frontier State.
What does the Classic Journeys Winter Alaska itinerary include?
Your journey sparkles with bucket-list moments: gondola rides to Mt. Alyeska’s summit, wildlife meetings at the Alaska Conservation Center, flight-seeing and glacier walks, dogsledding with Iditarod mushers, snowshoe adventures, and nightly aurora watch from a boutique lodge. Every day blends wild landscapes, local stories, and exclusive access you’d never find on your own.
Where is the best place in Alaska to see the northern lights on this tour and do lodges offer dark-sky access and aurora wake-up calls?
The adventure begins in Fairbanks—one of the world’s top aurora hotspots—where your boutique lodges offer panoramic dark-sky views and can wake you when the northern lights appear. With Classic Journeys, you’re always in the right spot at the right moment to experience the magic with your expert local guide leading the way.
How many travelers are on the Winter Alaska Tour?
You’ll share incredible experiences in Alaska with a small group—usually with 8-12 guests—so every moment feels personal, friendly, and flexible. With no more than 18 travelers together on tour, this cozy size allows special access and genuine camaraderie with fellow travelers and guides.
Is this Alaska northern lights tour suitable for families and first-timers?
This winter Alaska adventure is perfect for families and first-time aurora chasers. With a range of walks and activities (and time indoors at museums to manage time outside in colder temperatures), guest-friendly terrain, and seasoned guides who make every experience approachable, it’s easy to fall in love with Alaska’s enchanting winter—whatever your age or experience.
What about your guides?
All of our guides are local experts, so you’ll be with a well-connected friend while on tour. They’ll help you spot wildlife and show you the best places to catch the Northern Lights, with generations of knowledge to share. Their stories, humor, and personal connections turn every walk into a deep dive into both natural and cultural worlds that you’ll explore.