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Spend a magical evening near Fairbanks with Get After It Guiding's Chena Hot Springs & Northern Lights tour. Enjoy warm mineral pools, an ice museum, and professional aurora photography under Alaska’s star-filled skies.
Spend a magical evening near Fairbanks with Get After It Guiding's Chena Hot Springs & Northern Lights tour. Enjoy warm mineral pools, an ice museum, and professional aurora photography under Alaska’s star-filled skies.
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Operated by Get After It Guiding · Fairbanks, Alaska
Located near Fairbanks, Alaska, Get After It Guiding offers a uniquely immersive evening that combines natural wonders and local culture into one seamless adventure. The Chena Hot Springs, Ice Museum, & Northern Lights Tour takes travelers on a 9-hour journey beginning with a scenic hour-long drive to Chena Hot Springs Resort, a famous geothermal spa known for its year-round 106°F mineral waters. These soothing pools have attracted visitors for over a century, providing the perfect escape from Alaska’s crisp air.
Upon arrival, guests settle in for dinner at the resort’s renowned restaurant, where "greenhouse-to-table" dining showcases fresh produce grown in the resort’s geothermal greenhouses. This culinary stop powers adventurers for the evening ahead. Next, the tour ventures into the world’s largest year-round ice museum, a chilly 25°F space constructed from over 1,000 tons of ice and snow. Marvelous sculptures, ice hotel rooms, and the option to sip an Appletini served in a hand-carved ice glass highlight this one-of-a-kind experience.
After warming up in the hot springs, the night shifts focus to one of Alaska’s most famous spectacles: the aurora borealis. Guide Nate, with professional forecasting and years of experience, drives guests to carefully chosen viewing spots away from light pollution. Wrapped in blankets and sipping hot beverages, visitors watch the night sky come alive with vibrant ribbons of green, pink, and purple light.
What sets this tour apart is its personalized balance of comfort, adventure, and expert photography. Nate ensures each guest leaves with stunning portraits and keeps the experience intimate with small group sizes. This tour blends iconic Alaskan elements—the natural hot springs, ice artistry, and northern lights—making it a standout offering for anyone eager to witness the state’s winter magic with local insight and care.
easy.
9 hours.
Suitable for most adults; minimal physical exertion involved beyond walking at the ice museum and in the resort area.
No, dinner at Chena Hot Springs Restaurant is not included and is paid separately on-site.
Guests must be 18 years or older to access the outdoor hot springs lake; younger visitors can use indoor pools and hot tubs.
Yes, tripods and professional photography guidance are provided to help you capture your own shots.
Warm layered clothing, a swimsuit, sturdy shoes, and insulated outerwear for cold outdoor conditions are recommended.
Yes, free pick-up and drop-off from lodging in Fairbanks are included in the tour package.
Get After It Guiding offers an Aurora Promise: you can reschedule your tour for another day or receive a partial refund if conditions are unfavorable.
Chena Hot Springs has served as a natural retreat for over 100 years, valued for its geothermal mineral waters by indigenous peoples and settlers alike.
Tour operators emphasize low-impact travel and promote sustainable use of the hot springs to protect the delicate Alaskan environment.
Get After It Guiding is a Fairbanks, Alaska-based tour operator specializing in northern lights and Chena Hot Springs excursions. The company offers signature evening experiences that combine scenic driving, local dining, guided viewing of the aurora borealis, and professional photography to document guests’ memories. Tours include a Chena Hot Springs, Ice Museum, & Northern Lights Tour; a shared Northern Lights Adventure Tour with the Aurora Promise; and a Private Northern Lights Adventure Tour led by guide Nate. Each itinerary emphasizes safety, local knowledge, and small-group attention. Vehicles and guides operate from Fairbanks, providing timely transport to secure viewing locations outside city light pollution. The Chena Hot Springs tour adds a greenhouse-to-table dinner, access to the world’s largest ice museum, and time in mineral hot pools. Shared and private aurora tours include campfire snacks such as reindeer hot dogs and s’mores while participants wait for displays. Get After It Guiding documents aurora sightings with professional photos and offers on-site guidance for guests who wish to photograph the lights. The private option delivers personalized attention from guide Nate for a tailored experience. Guests book directly for evening departures from Fairbanks and should prepare with warm clothing and layered gear appropriate for Alaskan winter conditions. The operator’s clear tour descriptions, included photography, and focus on safety and local expertise make it a reliable choice for visitors seeking aurora viewing and Chena Hot Springs access. Tours accommodate photographers and sightseers of varying experience levels, with flexible departure options, year-round availability, and professional guidance included.
Book with Get After It Guiding