Northern Lights & Chena Hot Springs Tour
Overview
Available languages
10 hours
Mobile ticket
Embark on one of our most popular evening adventures to Chena Hot Springs Resort, a renowned Alaskan getaway just 60 miles from Fairbanks. Keep an eye out for moose, foxes, or beavers as you travel through the scenic interior.
Your night begins with a guided tour of the Aurora Ice Museum, home to stunning ice sculptures and the famous ice bar, where you can optionally enjoy an Appletini in a hand-carved ice glass (21+). Then relax with dinner or a drink in the cozy resort restaurant, featuring fresh, locally sourced produce (meal not included).
Afterward, soak in the outdoor mineral hot springs, a rejuvenating experience under the stars, or explore the snowy grounds while waiting for a chance to witness the magical Aurora Borealis. Your guide will point out the best spots for viewing and provide tips to make the most of the night.
Return to Fairbanks just after midnight, with a final chance to glimpse the aurora along the way.
Additional Info
Wheelchair accessible
Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Operates in cold weather conditions; please dress appropriately
Please don't forget to bring bathing suits, bath towels, at least 2 quarter for each locker and photo ID for purchases at the bar.
The outside rock pool is only allowed for adults 18 years and up. However, children are allowed in the inside pool.
Pregnant travelers are not allowed in the outside rock pool.
We have enough room for a foldable wheelchair. The hot springs are wheelchair accessible.
We can only pick up from inside the city limits of Fairbanks or North Pole. For other locations, you will need to go to an agreed location (eg Walmart), please contact our office to discuss if you are staying outside the city limits.
Water is not supplied for this tour. We recommending bringing a refillable water bottle.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What‘s Included
Admission to the Aurora Ice Museum
Resort Pool-Passes (outdoor hot springs, hot tubs & swimming areas)
Hotel Pick-Up/Drop-Off Services
Local Guide
Standing Dinner Reservation
Gratuities
Resort Restaurant Meal Cost
Towels
Meeting and Pickup
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
What To Expect
Aurora Ice Museum
After being picked up, sit back, relax and enjoy the 60 mile (97 kms) journey out to Chena Hot Springs Resort. Keep a lookout for wildlife that might include a moose, beaver or fox. Upon arrival, you’ll be given a guided tour of the Aurora Ice Museum, constructed of over 1000 tons of ice and snow. Marvel at magnificent ice-sculptures created by world-renowned ice carvers, sit at the ice bar on a caribou-hide covered bar stool or indulge in an appletini served in a hand-carved ice glass (optional-not included in price). You will then be shown to our table in the restaurant where you can enjoy some dinner and hot or cold beverages (optional and not included in price). Rejoin your group a little after midnight and head back to Fairbanks. Your guide may make a few stops along the way for further aurora viewing if it is active. Please note the aurora is an act of nature and it's appearance cannot be guaranteed.
Chena Hot Springs Resort
After arriving at the resort, you'll be taken to the restaurant where you can sample some home grown Alaskan fare (optional and not included in price). Enjoy a hot or cold beverage at the bar or don your bathing suit and head to the hot springs. The revitalizing mineral water soothes muscles with its warm temperatures of 106 degrees F (41 degrees C) year-round. You can soak under the stars in an outdoor hot tub, or indoors in the heated pool. When ready, join your expert guide for a small-group outing to view the Aurora Borealis. Your guide will lead you through one of the best places on earth to witness the green and purple illuminations loop across the night sky. Wait and witness the celestial wonder in the late evening, when viewing opportunities are the highest. The lights are also visible inside the cafe's Aurora Room, which serves as a comfortable and warm location for viewings. Note: We can never guarantee the Northern lights sighting.
Options
Northern Lights & Chena Hot Springs Tour
Pickup included
Reviews
1,222 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Chena Lodge Restaurant Needs Improvement
887cherylh,
Nov 28, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
4.00Ryan, our guide, was excellent! He took good care of us from the moment he picked us up until he dropped us off at the end of the night. We were able to see the northern lights and he took great photos of us with the lights in the background. We definitely enjoyed talking with Ryan and learning about Alaska. However, our meal at the Chena Lodge wasted two hours of our time. Although our fees included restaurant reservations at 8 pm, it seemed like we were ignored for quite some time. The timeliness of the service was terrible as it took 2 1/2 hours for us to be waited on, served our meal and pay the check. That left us with about an hour to enjoy the Hot Springs before they closed. It seems like the restaurant should have made us more of a priority since the group had reservations. By the way, the cost of the meal was not included in the tour - I can accept that, but expect excellent service from the restaurant.
Avoid Chena Hotsprings Restaurant
Z1866JLtimr,
Nov 27, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Ryan was fabulous, the lights were out and awe inspiring. Chena hot springs leaves a lot to be desired. Do No eat there, took 2.5 hours to be served. The staff treats groups as hostages, service is terrible and rude. This was not Alaska Wildlife’s issue, their service was stellar. Because the staff at Chena was so bad we only had 30 minutes on the hot springs. We would recommend Alaska Wildlife’s but not Chena Hot Springs.
Winter Adventure in Fairbanks! :)
stoneys184,
Nov 23, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00The Northern Lights and Chena Hot Springs tour was our second tour while visiting Fairbanks, and we thoroughly enjoyed our tour and guide with Shannon! She was very knowledgeable about local Fairbanks culture and the Northern Lights tips and things to keep an eye out for. The Ice Museum and Chena Hot Springs was a lot of fun! While we didn’t see the Northern Lights due to weather conditions, we still had a wonderful time. Thank you Shannon for being a great guide throughout our tour. You helped make our winter adventure a trip to remember.
Enjoy Chena Hot Springs at Night!
Sharleen C,
Nov 23, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Our tour guides Kathy and Kenneth made this a truly memorable experience! Kathy was engaging and had so much great information to share with us, and Kenneth added in quite a few interesting stories about Alaska. The tour itself was as described. We got to take a stroll through the Chena Hot Springs resort, enjoyed a tour of the ice-museum, had a lovely dinner (meals not included in the tour price), and then got to enjoy the hot springs for a while. Everyone in our tour group got along really well, so we had a lot of fun exploring and chatting throughout the night while we waited to see if the aurora would appear. We didn’t get to see a full display of the northern lights, but Kathy tried her best to find a spot with a clear view for us. Overall, this tour was a great value for everything included, and I’d highly recommend it for anyone that would like to combine a bit of time searching for the aurora after a relaxing soak in the Chena Hot Springs.
Aurora at last
Jerry T,
Nov 22, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00We planned our trip to Fairbanks in order to see the northern lights. As the time came near it was apparent that it was too cloudy. We did the chena hot springs tour and enjoyed the dinner (a bit pricey but a good value) and the ice museum was a kick. The hot spring pool was wonderful, welcoming accommodations and a large open outdoor pool, with nice atmosphere lighting (green red and blue lights). What made this excursion next level was our guide Shannon. As we returned to Fairbanks it continued to be overcast but she was determined to get us to experience the Northern lights. Twice she had found clearings on the way home and waited for the sky to open and for the lights to appear. I had given up hope, but not Shannon! At about 1:30 (as we all were pretty much asleep) she pulled over and screamed “we got them!!” We awoke and got out, the clouds thinned out and we had a wonderful aurora display. Shannon was volunteering to take pictures of us and share in our joy of witnessing the northern lights!! Shannon was a great tour guide, sharing her knowledge. Her enthusiasm and relentless pursuit of providing the experience we wanted was next level!!! Ask for her when you reserve your trip. You won’t be disappointed.
Hot springs and Aurora
amdufrn,
Nov 21, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had the best experience on our tour. Our guide Shannon shared interesting tidbits of information about Alaska in general, the people, and places. Shannon ensured we were all in the right places at the right times and saw to folks who had a slightly different itinerary. AND she spotted the Aurora on our way back to town stopped and made sure we all got pictures (and were in our pictures) as memories to take home. Thank you Shannon for an incredible experience!!
Loved our time there!
akuarella l,
Nov 21, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Shannon was our guide, and she was absolutely delightful. Such an incredible energy, and love for what she does. We loved her!
Chena Hot Sorings
jodyk565,
Nov 20, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00The hot springs experience was amazing and we saw lights! Our guide was very knowledgeable and friendly. The restraint was delicious.
Magical time at the hot springs
Amy D,
Nov 19, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Although the northern lights weren’t visible, we had a lovely time at the ice museum, restaurant and hot springs. It was a magical and very cold night. Savvy did a great job as our tour guide.
Rachel made our trip extremely enjoyable!!
H3653MYscottl,
Nov 19, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Rachel was the best guide ever!! She was very upbeat, she answered all of our questions, she shared personal experiences, and we all had very pleasant conversations with her. She definitely made our trip extremely enjoyable.
From US$250.00
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Operated by Alaska Wildlife Guide LLC