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Private Aurora Tour

  • STARTS AT $1,295
  • August 17 to April 24
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Description

Private aurora tour perfect for couples and families. High-end, intimate aurora experience designed to maximize northern lights viewing opportunity. Pick up available generally within 2 hours of Anchorage. Includes meal, complimentary camera, aurora portrait session.

Summary

Hotel Pickup

Anchorage, Girdwood, Eagle River, Talkeetna, Palmer/Wasilla

Duration

8 hrs

Fitness Level

Easy

Minimum Age

1+

Best For

Sightseers, All Photography Levels

Includes

Snacks, Drinks, Meal, Aurora Potraits, Photo Guide

Cancellation Terms

Booking Policy

Frequently Asked Questions

See FAQS

What’s Included

Private Guide
Hotel Pickup & Dropoff
Aurora Science Narrative
Hot Drinks & Snacks
Soup And Rolls
Hand & Toe Warmers
Photography Instruction
Aurora Portrait Session
Parka Loan Available
Camera Rental Complimentary

What’s Not Included

Personal Camera Equipment
Gratuities

What To Bring

Camera with manual settings
wide angle lens 14–70mm f/2.8
64gb+ Memory Card
extreme cold weather gear
headlamp

Potential Locations

Matanuska Valley

Knik River Valley

Turnagain Arm

Talkeetna

Hatcher Pass Management Area East

Schedule / Departure Information

Fall/winter/spring (Aug–Apr)
Evening departure ~ 9–11pm
Only runs when aurora conditions favorable
Tour status and pickup time confirmed by 3pm day of tour

Conditions

Short walks on uneven and potentially icy terrain
Nighttime temps 10–35°F (-12 to 2°C)

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

When to see the northern lights depends on location. Due to our northern latitude, the farther north you travel, the more daylight there is during the summer months. In order to see any level of aurora borealis, it needs to be as dark as astronomical twilight. For Anchorage, that is the period from August 6 through May 6. For Fairbanks, that is August 18 through April 24. The aurora is most active around the fall and spring equinoxes.

As with aurora viewing in general, the farther north you go, the better chance you have to see the northern lights. Contrary to popular belief, Fairbanks is not the only place to see the northern lights in Alaska. We have regular aurora viewing in the Anchorage area, and a longer viewing season than what they experience in Fairbanks. While historically Fairbanks has experienced more clear skies than Anchorage during aurora season, climate change has produced increasingly cloudy skies for Fairbanks, reducing that advantage. The aurora oval at Kp0 lies directly over the communities of Coldfoot and Wiseman in the Brooks Range. Being located on the road system, that makes this area the best location in Alaska to see the northern lights, and is why we base our Brooks Range Landscapes & Aurora trip out of Wiseman.

The best way to photograph the aurora is with a digital camera. While modern smartphones with their “night mode” settings can take pretty good photos of the aurora, a traditional digital camera (either DSLR or mirrorless) produces superior photos. Check out our blog post How to Photograph the Aurora Borealis – Eight Essential Steps for specific camera settings.

Despite what some conspiracy theorists claim about HAARP, humans do not control the appearance of the aurora borealis. It is a completely natural phenomenon, sometimes seemingly operating with a mind of its own. No responsible northern lights tour operator can honestly guarantee seeing the northern lights, and we do not. Just like with regular weather forecasts, the space weather forecasts that we rely on to determine whether to run a tour can sometimes be wrong.

Throughout an evening, the aurora borealis may take on several shapes and sizes. The aurora may begin as Diffuse or an Arc, then become more active as Bands or Curtains, sometimes Pillars will appear, then during very active periods perhaps appear as a Corona, and following a substorm may appear Pulsating. It may occupy only the part of the sky above the northern horizon or fill the sky.

The aurora appears in many colors: green, red, pink, purple, blue, and sometimes even white. While a camera may detect these colors, our eyes most frequently can only perceive the green. To learn more, read our blog post about the colors of the aurora borealis.

Aurora viewing is dependent on both space and Earth weather. While forecasts for the former are based on much scientific data coming from many tracking stations, space weather tracking and research is still in its infancy, and data is available only from a limited number of satellites. It’s best to expect the unexpected. Based on the previous years’ statistics, conditions were right to run approximately 50% of the scheduled tours. Over the last several years, guests saw the aurora borealis with the naked eye 80% of the time. So, you should be aware that although we only run our Anchorage northern lights tour when conditions are good for viewing the aurora, approximately 20% of the time the aurora is not visible with the naked eye. Your chances increase greatly the more nights you have available to tour. This is why our four-night pass is a great option!

There are three factors that will affect aurora viewing: phase of the moon, brightness/activity of the aurora, and cloud cover. Unlike many tour operators, we will not run one of our aurora day tours if we do not think there is any chance of seeing the northern lights with the naked eye. We will also not run a tour if the National Weather Service has issued warnings or advisories that indicate travel may be dangerous. If either of these happens, you will be provided an opportunity to reschedule your tour. If you cannot reschedule, then a full refund is provided when the tour does not run due to weather conditions. If the day tour proceeds and the weather is cloudier than forecasted and prevents aurora viewing, then you will be provided the opportunity to have a free make-up tour.

Our destination each night will vary according to conditions, but we usually travel within a 100-mile radius and visit 1-3 locations. Regardless of how long we drive, we typically will spend up to four hours in the field.

Up to 1 hour. There are some locations where we may stay within close range of the vehicle, and others where we may walk up to a half of a mile. Much depends on conditions and capability of the group.

Not many. Most State Park restrooms are closed this time of year and there are few other options available in the wee hours of the night, other than a bush or tree. Depending on the route, we may stop at a gas station for a bathroom break.

Yes! This Anchorage northern lights tour is guided by a professional photographer who will help you set your camera in advance and explain what the settings do. We want you to enjoy seeing them and photographing them!

No! We have many guests who join us just to see the northern lights. If you have a smartphone, we will still work with you to learn how to take pictures of the aurora with it. Your guide will take a complimentary portrait of you with the aurora, and it as well as scenic photos taken by your guide are complimentary parts of the tour.

Anchorage is within the aurora oval (region on earth where auroras are most frequently seen) and has its fair share of viewable nights. In each season, the aurora borealis is visible on 75% of the nights the skies are clear. There are also some distinct advantages for aurora chasing in Southcentral Alaska, such as a longer viewing season, warmer temperatures, and mountain landscapes to view with the aurora.

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

In addition to standard tour business expenses, the cost of our tours includes comfortable high-quality transportation, a local skilled photography guide, personal photo instruction, snacks and drinks, trip planning and logistics, entry fees as required for state or national park units, complimentary use of a tripod as needed, and guide meal (for full-day tours).

Costs that are in addition to the base price for a private tour will include any client meals that may occur during the timing of the tour, additional transportation (air-taxi, helicopter, boat, etc.), any additional guiding services (i.e., glacier hiking guide), or any lodging that may be required (for multi-day private tours).

Group tours can provide lower costs per person because the costs are distributed through several clients. The fewer the number of travelers, the more an individuals’ share of the costs will increase. Additionally, with a private tour, you receive more time and attention from your guide.

Yes! For all our private tours, we pick up within a two-hour radius of Anchorage. However, for pick-ups outside of Anchorage, driving time is counted against total tour time. For example, if you are staying in Seward, then the four-hour round-trip time counts against the ten hours of a full-day private tour. That is the same as if you were staying in Anchorage and going to Seward for a full-day private tour.

Private tours are perfect for families or older adults. With a private tour, we can specifically tailor the activities to the physical capabilities of our participants.

Yes, private tours are available year-round. In many respects, they are one of the best ways to fit a guided photo tour into your schedule, whether you are here for business or on vacation.

Yes, our private tours allow us to tailor an itinerary to meet the specific needs and interests of our guests. This includes locations, subject matter, photo tips you wish to learn, and photo goals you wish to meet.

Yes, we absolutely recommend that non-photographers join us for a private tour. Since our guides are all locals and photographers, they know the great locations to go for photography year-round. This means they also know the interesting places to go simply to observe nature – see wildflowers, enjoy scenery, observe wildlife, or do some bird watching. And even though you may consider yourself a non-photographer, the odds are pretty good that you possess a smartphone with a camera. We will still take the opportunity to provide you with some photo tips to learn how to use that camera to take great photos.

We want to know exactly what your goals are for your private tour. In the “Booking Notes” field at the bottom of the booking form, let us know what subjects you want to photograph (wildlife, waterfalls, mountains, glaciers, etc.), what specific techniques you want to learn, if you need any help in improving your composition, if you just want to see what the hidden gems are, or whatever else you want to share. We want to make sure that this tour is tailored to your specific interests.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Our tours start and end at your Anchorage accommodations. We pick up at any hotels within the main city of Anchorage, but not the entire Municipality of Anchorage (not Girdwood, Eagle River, Chugiak, etc. unless with a private tour). We will pick up at Anchorage Airbnb locations, but only if they are near established hotels – no pick ups in Bear Valley or other remote parts of Anchorage.

We are not a transportation service company. We will only pick up or drop off at a hotel or the airport if it is in connection with a booked tour, on that tour date. For example, we provide transfer tours for cruise ship passengers disembarking in Whittier and Seward. Those guests can be dropped off at their location of choice at the end of the tour.

In addition to standard tour business expenses, the cost of our tours include comfortable high-quality transportation, a local skilled photography guide, snacks and drinks, entry fees as required for state or national park units, and complimentary use of a tripod as needed. For our group northern lights tours, the price also includes access to blankets, hand and toe warmers, a parka, and s’mores. Our prices also reflect that we typically operate with small groups (10 and under).

We have accommodated many family combinations in the past, but generally our tours are not suitable for children under 12, with some exceptions. For toddlers and infants, the only tour that would be suitable is our Private Aurora Tour or a half-day private tour. For larger family groups up to ten people, any one of our Day Tours can be booked as a private option at no extra charge. We also accommodate many older adults of varying ages on our tour. The key issue is whether the guest has any mobility challenges – see next question.

Most tours involve light to moderate walking, often on uneven ground or short trails. Generally speaking, the farthest walk on a day tour is a quarter mile on a paved trail, with some shorter walks on dirt trails. We design routes for a wide range of fitness levels and can adapt the pace to your comfort. If you have mobility limitations, contact us — we’re happy to recommend tours that suit your needs. Look for the Fitness Level icon at the top of the tour page for information on that tour. “Easy” means walking short distances on established trails. “Moderate” means you may walk up to a half mile on terrain that excludes trails. “Difficult” means hiking at distances of more than a mile on trails, but with some potential elevation gain.

If your goal is to photograph the midnight sun, then join us on our Sunset Photo Safari, which runs from April 1 to October 31, but particularly during the period from late May through early August. To photograph the aurora borealis, we have several options. For day tours in the Anchorage area, try our Anchorage Aurora Quest or our Private Aurora Tour. For multi-day options, check out some options in our Experience Alaska series or our suggested private itineraries.

When to see the northern lights depends on location. Due to our northern latitude, the farther north you travel, the more daylight there is during the summer months. In order to see any level of aurora borealis, it needs to be as dark as astronomical twilight. For Anchorage, that is the period from August 6 through May 6. For Fairbanks, that is August 18 through April 24.

We set our daily maximum booking for day tours at 10 people. For our multi-day trips, group sizes are capped at six people. We strive to achieve a guest-to-guide ratio of 6:1.

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