7 Day Northern Lights Tour W/ Aurora Wake-up Calls, Unique Lodging/activities

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival Day, Evening Meet & Greet at Hotel in Fairbanks

Stop At: University of Alaska Fairbanks, 505 S Chandlar Dr, Fairbanks, AK 99775-0001
Upon arrival, a driver will pick you up and bring you to Springhill Suites. There will be a meet and greet that evening in the hotel lobby with your guides and other travelers.
Duration: 1 minute

No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Springhill Suites in Fairbanks

Day 2: City Tour, Chatanika (historic gold mining area), Pipeline, Settle in at Lodge, Aurora Watch

Stop At: Trans-Alaska Pipeline Pump Station 7, Fairbanks, AK 99790, USA
We will get an explanation on how the pipeline works, learn it's history and its economic and environmental impacts
Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: Chatanika Gold Dredge, Unnamed Road, Fairbanks, AK 99712, USA
We will tour the area, see old gold mining equipment, take a short hike or snowshoe and grab lunch at Chatanika Roadhouse (food not included)
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: University of Alaska Fairbanks, 505 S Chandlar Dr, Fairbanks, AK 99775-0001
We will tour Fairbanks, as well as making as stop at the University and possibly seeing some of the animals at the Large Animal Research Station.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: A Taste of Alaska Lodge, 551 Eberhardt Rd, Fairbanks, AK 99712, USA
We will check in and relax, and you will have time to explore the property and nearby hiking trails before dinner. After dinner your Aurora guide will be on hand to provide personal wake up calls when the lights appear and will be available to help with photography. This is a service you don't find on most other tours!
Duration: 2 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast: Breakfast at Springhill Suites included
Accommodation included: A Taste of Alaska, a family owned lodge with a true log cabin feel and quirky decorations. Private room w/ bathroom.

Day 3: Reindeer Hike, Art Co-Op & Antique Automobile Museum, Aurora Watch

Stop At: Running Reindeer Ranch, 1470 Ivans Aly, Fairbanks, AK 99709-6161
Meet the friendly reindeer and the family that raises them, and then take a hike through the forest with opportunities to feed the reindeer and take photos with them. And then learn more about raising them while enjoying homemade cookies and hot tea/cocoa inside the house.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Two Street Gallery LLC, 535 2nd Ave Suite 102, Fairbanks, AK 99701-4769
We will visit this arts co-operative where galleries and craftsman offer unique Alaskan souvenirs.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum, 212 Wedgewood Dr Wedgewood Resort, Fairbanks, AK 99701-1728
See the largest collection of pre-WWII antique autos in the country. Fun photo-ops!
Duration: 1 hour

Meals included:
• Breakfast: Breakfast at A Taste of Alaska Lodge
Accommodation included: A Taste of Alaska, a family owned lodge with a true log cabin feel and quirky decorations. Private room w/ bathroom.

Day 4: Dog Sledding, Native Cultural Center, Aurora Watch

Stop At: Fairbanks Dogsled rides with Two Rivers Trailblazers LLC, 4240, 4223 Chena Hot Springs Rd, Fairbanks, AK 99712, USA
We will visit a dog kennel to learn about raising the animals, mushing as a sport, and hopefully meet some cute puppies! Afterwards, we will gear up for a 20-30 minute ride on the sleds through the woods! In the fall or late spring sometimes they use a cart instead of a sled if there is not enough snow.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Morris Thompson Cultural & Visitors Center, 101 Dunkel St, Fairbanks, AK 99701-4806
After lunch we will visit the Morris Thompson Cultural Center where a native guide will walk us through the exhibits and teach us about traditions, arts and history of the people who first lived here. T
Duration: 1 hour

Meals included:
• Breakfast: Breakfast at Taste of Alaska Lodge
Accommodation included: A Taste of Alaska, a family owned lodge with a true log cabin feel and quirky decorations. Private room w/ bathroom.

Day 5: Family Farm, Ice Sculpture Museum, Hot Springs, Aurora Watch

Stop At: Chena Hot Springs Resort, 56.5 Mile Chena Hot Springs Road, Chena Hot Springs, AK 99712
After breakfast, visit Frigid Farm - an organic family farm and homestead. Megan and AJ raise their kids here, as well as sheep, chickens and more. Enjoy a light lunch with the family after a tour of their property. Then we head to the ice sculpture museum where you can enjoy the art and have a martini in a carved ice glass at the Aurora bar! Finish up the day with a tour of the geothermal plant and greenhouse, and then a soak in the geothermal hot springs. The outdoor pool is often surrounded by snow, and your hair may even frost over while you are soaking. Enjoy the healing waters, and keep your eyes peeled for Aurora. We enjoy a dinner there, and then drive back to the lodge where we can rest and watch for more Northern Lights.
Duration: 6 hours

Meals included:
• Lunch: light homemade lunch on the farm
• Breakfast: breakfast at A Taste of Alaska Lodge
Accommodation included: A Taste of Alaska, a family owned lodge with a true log cabin feel and quirky decorations. Private room w/ bathroom.

Day 6: Curling, Museum of the North, Aurora Watch

Stop At: University of Alaska Fairbanks, 505 S Chandlar Dr, Fairbanks, AK 99775-0001
After breakfast we visit the Fairbanks Curling Club, where in an exclusive Gondwana activity a local player will teach us the technique and rules of the game. Then we get a chance to try and challenge our fellow travelers. It is so much more fun than you might expect, and they have pushers in case you have trouble bending down.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: University of Alaska Museum of the North, 1962 Yukon DR, Fairbanks, AK 99775-9702
After lunch we visit the University of Alaska's famous Museum of the North, to learn about the natural history, traditions and native arts of the area. See a wooly mammoth skull, antique boats, native clothing and more!
Duration: 2 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast: Breakfast at Taste of Alaska Lodge
Accommodation included: A Taste of Alaska, a family owned lodge with a true log cabin feel and quirky decorations. Private room w/ bathroom.

Day 7: Departure

Stop At: A Taste of Alaska Lodge, 551 Eberhardt Rd, Fairbanks, AK 99712, USA
breakfast at the lodge, then we will drop you off at the airport or your preferred location
Duration: 1 hour

Meals included:
• Breakfast: breakfast at Taste of Alaska Lodge
No accommodation included on this day.