For travelers dreaming of seeing the Northern Lights, Gondwana Ecotours is offering an eight-day Alaska adventure designed to maximize opportunities to witness the Aurora Borealis while exploring the culture and landscape of Interior Alaska.
The Alaska Northern Lights Adventure operates annually from September through April and has recorded a 99 percent guest sighting rate over the past three seasons, according to the company. The itinerary combines specialized lodging, nighttime aurora monitoring and guided excursions designed to give visitors multiple opportunities to experience the natural phenomenon.
The trip is based at countryside lodges outside Fairbanks, away from urban light pollution and positioned beneath the Auroral Oval, an area known for frequent aurora activity. A dedicated nighttime guide monitors geomagnetic conditions and local weather throughout the night and provides wake-up calls when the lights appear.
Guests can also receive assistance with photographing the aurora. Guides help travelers adjust camera and smartphone settings for low-light photography, while rental camera kits and tripods are available on site.
During the day, the adventure shifts from sky watching to exploring Alaska’s winter landscape and local communities. Travelers can go dog sledding through snowy forests, visit Running Reindeer Ranch and walk alongside reindeer, and take a private curling lesson with local players.
The itinerary also includes a visit to Chena Hot Springs, where guests can relax in outdoor thermal waters, as well as a trip to the Museum of the North. Home-cooked breakfasts and meals shared with local homesteaders add a cultural component to the experience.
Gondwana Ecotours founder Jared Sternberg said the relationships developed during the trip are an important part of the experience, including visits with an off-grid family living in the Alaskan backcountry and time spent with a family that raises reindeer.
Sustainability is another component of the program. Gondwana Ecotours operates as a certified green business and says it maintains a carbon-neutral footprint across its departures. Each group travels with three professional guides who manage daytime excursions, transportation and nighttime aurora tracking.
Packages include six nights of lodging outside Fairbanks and one night in Fairbanks, daily home-cooked breakfasts, attraction admission, local transportation and guide services.
With its combination of aurora viewing, outdoor activities and opportunities to meet local residents, the Alaska Northern Lights Adventure offers travelers an itinerary that goes beyond simply searching the sky for the Northern Lights. The eight-day experience is designed to combine Alaska’s winter environment with its communities, traditions and natural attractions.