Anchorage Aurora Tour and Northern Lights Photo
Recommended by 91% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Anchorage, USA
- 6 hours (approx.)
- Pickup offered
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Set out on a nocturnal adventure in search of the elusive northern lights with this photography-focused tour departing from Anchorage. Get picked up at your hotel and go in search of the aurora borealis with a small group. Learn new photography skills and try your hand at capturing the dazzling light show of the northern lights with your camera.
- Discover the beauty of the northern lights in Alaska
- Search for one of nature’s most dazzling displays
- Get personalized advice for new photography skills
- Round-trip transportation is included
What's Included
- Coffee and/or Tea
- Snacks
- Tripod
- State park admission fees
- Professional photographer guide
- Blanket
- Aurora portraits
- Gratuities
Meeting and Pickup
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
Pickup details
We pick up at hotels within the city of Anchorage. We also may possibly pick up at an Airbnb if it is not too far off our typical route within Anchorage. To be clear, we DO NOT pick up at the Alyeska Resort or any other lodging in Girdwood. We also cannot guarantee pick up in Eagle River. Travelers staying in those areas will be directed to meet at a designated location in Anchorage. Timing of pick up will depend upon how many travelers are on the tour that evening, and how cloud cover affects our tour route for the night. A schedule is sent out the day of the tour with times and locations for pick up. Pick up times for this tour have varied from 8:00 p.m. to midnight.
Operating hours.10:00 pm
Itinerary
1
Chugach State Park
45 minutes • Admission Ticket Included
2
Eagle River
45 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
3
Palmer
3 hours • Admission Ticket Free
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
- Infants must sit on laps
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Most travelers can participate
- Not recommended for small children
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 10 travelers
Supplied by
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
4.6
based on 171 reviews
Theresa_D, Mar 2026
It was amazing and the guides were very helpful and attentive. Colin and Nichole were great. I would defiantly use this tour again.
Response from Host, Apr 2026
We're so glad to hear that you had a good time out with us during your visit to Anchorage, Theresa! Please visit us again someday, and until then, best wishes and safe travels —
Anna & the APT Team
Ravee_T, Mar 2026
We had a wonderful experience on the Anchorage Aurora Tour and Northern Lights Photo Tour. Everything was well organized, and the experience felt very special from start to finish.
Our guide, Erica, was amazing. She was kind, patient, knowledgeable, and very supportive throughout the tour. It was very cold (-18 F), but she still took great care of us the whole time. We especially appreciated the calendars and the hot chocolate, which made the experience even more thoughtful and comforting.
She helped make everyone feel comfortable and did a great job guiding us during the photo experience. Her encouragement and professionalism really made the night even better.
The scenery was beautiful, and the whole tour was memorable. We really appreciated all the effort that went into helping us enjoy the northern lights and capture great photos.
Highly recommend this tour, especially if you have Erica as your guide.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Hi, Ravee —
We're so glad to hear that you had a wonderful experience out on your northern lights tour with Erica despite the (very!) cold weather. And we certainly agree that Erica is amazing! We hope you're able to visit Anchorage and join us for a tour again someday. Until then, best wishes and safe travels —
Anna & the APT Team
Gabriel_Q, Feb 2026
A breathtaking and beautiful experience we will never forget. Ben was extremely patient and helpful with taking our photos, providing us tips on how to capture the lights on our cameras and providing us with knowledge on the northern lights. Erica was extremely helpful with setting up the tripod for us to take photos, as well as offering us items to keep warm. I will definitely recommend this tour and attraction to my family and friends because I had an amazing time with my girlfriend (now fiancé). We will never forget such a beautiful and wonderful time we had. Every second of it was worth it.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Congratulations on your engagement, and thank you for trusting us to share in your special moment! We're so glad to know that you and your fiancée had an unforgettable experience out chasing auroras with Ben and Erica, and we wish you both all the happiness in the world. Please visit again soon!
Best wishes and safe travels –
Anna & the APT Team
Judith_F, Oct 2025
Erica was an amazing guide. She helped with everything from start to finish, and the result was so amazing shots of the little bit of the aurora that we saw. We went to several locations and set up and got some awesome photos. It was wonderful to have someone else drive a van, provide handwarmers and tripods and advice on settings. She was also there to make sure there was no bears or moose in the dark wilderness. What a relief.
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Thank you for your review, Judith! We're so happy to know that you had a good time out aurora chasing with Erica — and that there were no surprises from bears or moose! We're very fortunate to have Erica on our team, and we hope you'll be able to visit us again sometime. Until then, best wishes and safe travels!
Anna & the APT Team
Sherille_J, Sep 2025
The organization was very professional, the tour was canceled due to poor conditions. But we were aware that was the policy. Appreciated their honesty and timeliness. Our payment was refunded without event.
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Hi, Sherille --
Thank you for understanding that the weather doesn't always cooperate with our aurora chasing plans! We hope that you will be able to join us on a tour the next time you visit Anchorage, and until then, best wishes and safe travels.
Patricia_M, Sep 2025
We gave this a 4 star only because our tour was canceled due to poor weather. The tour contacted us to notify us of the reason and offered for us to rebook or refund.
Opted for refund as we won't be in the area for 10 days. But when we get back will certainly try to rebook.
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Thank you for letting us know who much you appreciated our communication. We have a very rigorous process with evaluating both the weather and aurora forecasts when deciding whether to run a tour. We are most interested in giving you a good chance to see the aurora. We hope you come back and give us a try in the future.
Marie_A, Mar 2025
It was a great experience chasing the aurora.
Ben and Collin were excellent tour guides.
The tour was a once in a lifetime experience.
Response from Host, Apr 2025
I am so glad that you enjoyed the tour! Thanks for letting us know that our guides took good care of you.
Amy_N, Mar 2025
First of all, it was a tricky evening for Aurora, but I tell you, Chad went for it! Patient, super fun guide with tons of knowledge and great to kick it with and willing to go the extra mile! Picked us up at air bnb and dropped us off safe and sound. So fun and good vibes! Oh, and hot cocoa!! We ❤️ Chad!!!
Response from Host, Apr 2025
I am so glad that you enjoyed the whole experience so much - from Chad taking such good care of you down to the hot chocolate! Thanks for letting us know.
Kenna_S, Mar 2025
Great company. We did the tour two nights. Passionate guides who were able to get us views of the northern lights! For someone who has never seen the lights, I am very grateful we booked a tour to go see them. I don’t think we would’ve ever known what to look for or where to go otherwise.
Response from Host, Mar 2025
Thank you so much for letting us know that we did a good job! Our guides love what they do, and they love sharing it. I am so happy you got to see the northern lights and found the tours so valuable.
Patrick_E, Feb 2025
Amazing night out chasing the Auroras on our first trip to Anchorage. Ben and Erica were amazing guides and very knowledgeable. Also, they were amazing photographers and the photos are even more spectacular. Great experience. Dress warmer than you think you need to! Especially if you go in the winter!
Response from Host, Mar 2025
Thank you so much for letting us know that our guides took such good care of you. I am so glad that you enjoyed the tour so much! And thanks for that great tip to visitors - be prepared for the cold. We do have parkas available upon request, and have blankets, hand warmers, and toe warmers in the van. We also keep the van running with the heater going so you can warm up as much as needed.
We hope to see you again in the future!
Carla_M, Oct 2024
My mom and I absolutely loved this tour. Our guide did everything he could to find some of the lights despite the brightness of the moon. We found a few places where the lights were visible, but we were awed even more by the beauty of the snow covered mountains in the moonlight!!
sls1706, Sep 2024
Impressed. The tour cancelled of tour for the previous night as conditions weren't favorable for viewing (I sure some companies run regardless and get your money). This group cancelled and we were able to reschedule for a "favorable" night. We were picked up at 10pm and off in search of aurora's. While driving our guide "Chad" knew everyone about auroras and taught us the fundamentals about them learning what and how they are caused. Magnetic energy at the poles and the charger protons emitted by the sun. We got, many, many pictures of auroras. Our guides taught us the best camera setting and adjustments needed. This was awesome. Would definitely do this tour again. Thanks Ben and Chad.
-steve
Debra_Z, Sep 2024
It’s been a bucket list item to see the Aurora Borealis and did this tour deliver (with a little luck from the weather). Our tour guide, Colin did a great job explaining and finding the best locations. Our other guide Ben did a great job taking professional pictures of our group with the Northern Lights in the background. The warm van and hot chocolate were fantastic during those moments when we needed to warm up! Great tour and highly recommend for your bucket list!
Larissa_B, Jun 2024
Great experience! We didn’t have the best luck seeing the northern lights but the guides made it super fun. Having photographers capture family photos and the northern lights was amazing!!
Response from Host, Sep 2024
Thank you so much for your feedback. The northern lights do not always cooperate as forecasted, so we want to make sure that our guests have a fun experience no matter what. I am so glad you enjoyed the experience!
Ohseeyah, Apr 2024
Well I wish I had a story to tell. Our excursion was cancelled due to weather visibility. Those are the chances you take I guess. We onlu had a short window of time to witness the aurora borealis. We travelled to Anchorage to provide free dental treatment to the underserved. We were hoping to get the chance to see it the night before we prepare for the 12 hour marathon on Saturday, that begins at 6:00am. We are more disappointed about the weather and not the group. Using the word terrible only expresses our disappointment and not our experience.
Response from Host, Sep 2024
I am sorry that the weather did not cooperate. We would love to have a chance to show you the northern lights again.
Lauren_W, Mar 2024
Our guide Ben, was fantastic. He made this trip what I was wishing for. The Aurora/Birthday Gods were kind. We had lights!!!
Jiayi_S, Mar 2024
Love the experience! Our guide was great and helped us took a lot of pictures. We didn’t see much light but it was totally unforgettable.
Response from Host, Sep 2024
We know that the northern lights sometimes do not cooperate and we want to make sure our guests enjoy the experience no matter what. I am glad that you had such a good time - we hope to see you again someday.
Colette_J, Mar 2024
Ben was wonderful. He took us to all the perfect spots. He was knowledgeable about the northern lights and this made a lasting impact!
Erik_F, Jan 2024
Our guide was awesome. He had a lot of knowledge and was happy to share. Only problem was the lights didn’t really come out that much. Hoping on the pics he took we will see something. AND it was -26 degrees for the entire night!!?!?! Not on them though. Had fun and would do it again. Thank you!
Response from Host, Feb 2024
Hi. Thank you so much for letting us know you enjoyed the tour despite the cold, and that Ben took such good care of you. On the next night, our tour experienced -34. We've had a solid week or so of really cold weather!
We hope to see you again on another aurora-chasing adventure!
Qiaoran_L, Jan 2024
During our tour, we missed visiting two “potential” stops mentioned in the description, and unfortunately, we didn't witness the aurora. It seems Anchorage might not be the best location for aurora viewing, which was a key interest for us.
However, the hot cocoa and cider provided were enjoyable.
Response from Host, Feb 2024
Hi. We are sad you did not see the northern lights, either. Anchorage can be a good location; we have an 80% success rate in seeing the northern lights during our tours through the whole season. January, however, is one of the lowest months for aurora activity (based on a study of 75 years of aurora activity).
That said, we also do not know which night you went (as your profile name does not match our records). The four tours that proceeded immediately prior to the date of your review were all successful in seeing the northern lights.
As for the stops, we use four different routes, and where we go is dictated by the weather and aurora conditions in the field.
I am glad that the guide took good care of you during the tour.
Bopha_P, Jan 2024
It was a wonderful experience! Ben, our guide, was so helpful and he had such a great energy and gave us a lot of information about the town and the lights. We weren’t expecting to see much, but we were able to see the lights and they danced around and it was amazing! I highly recommend this!!
Response from Host, Feb 2024
I am so happy you had such a good time! Ben does a great job with our guests, and we are super proud to have him on our team. Thank you so much for the feedback.
Bridget_S, Dec 2023
Incredible tour guide! He made the experience well worth the cost and effort even in cloudy conditions.
Response from Host, Feb 2024
I am so glad that you enjoyed the experience and that your guide took such good care of you. We choose our personnel carefully to ensure that they help you enjoy the experience. Thank you for the feedback!
Isabel_M, Nov 2023
Our tour guides, Colin and Cory, were great! My family and I are from Texas, and they made sure we warm. It was an amazing experience being able to see the lights!
Response from Host, Feb 2024
Thank you for the feedback! I am happy that you enjoyed the experience. We hope to see you again sometime!
Abdulrazak_A, Oct 2023
Very nice group in avery cold weather top of all this the great guide Mr chad,, spend lovely time up there , want to repeat it again
Response from Host, Oct 2023
Thanks for braving the cold to have a good time! I am glad that Chad took good care of you. We hope to see you with us again!
Bruce_P, Sep 2023
We traveled all the way from Williamsburg, VA, as seeing the Northern Lights in Alaska was at the top of my husband’s lifetime “bucket list”. Ben was a very knowledgeable and wonderful guide. He made this excursion so much fun….this experience exceeded our expectations. Thank you Viator and Ben for a most memorable night! Bruce and Jenny ❤️
Response from Host, Sep 2023
First of all, thank you so much for taking time to provide a review. We appreciate it! I am so glad that you were able to get the experience that brought you up to Alaska. The northern lights can be unpredictable, and I am glad they cooperated on the night of your tour. Ben does a great job, and we are so happy to have him on the team. We at Alaska Photo Treks love sharing the beauty of Alaska with our guests.
jeff_d, Sep 2023
Tour did not happen due to questionable weather! Very little communication before hand had to call to find out may be cancelled.
Response from Host, Sep 2023
Hi. Yes, unfortunately, this is a weather-dependent tour. Unlike other tour operators, we will not run this tour if the weather will prevent seeing the northern lights.
We provided you two specific communications in advance of the tour about weather. First, on the day before the tour, you were notified the following: "This is not a confirmation that the tour is proceeding; that is dependent upon weather. You can check the Upcoming Tour Status on the [tour page link] to see our estimate for whether the tour is proceeding." Had you clicked that link, you would have seen the status as "Tour Will Not Likely Run." Then, on the day of the tour at 3:01 p.m., you were notified through the Viator messaging system that the tour was not running due to weather and offered the chance to reschedule. You responded to that message one hour later and indicated you were not able to reschedule. Thus, you did not have to call to find out the status of the tour - we informed you in accordance with our statement the day before that you would receive a confirmation of tour status by 3:00 pm.
In the next week after that, the tour ran six nights in a row with good weather conditions and visible aurora each night. We always recommend that people book the northern lights tour toward the beginning of their visit, not the end, so they have more availability to reschedule.
We apologize if you found our communication lacking. When you book through Viator, we are forced to use their messaging system. We do not have the ability to email you directly.
pomposoo, Sep 2023
Tour was canceled . I need to get my moneys refunded asap . Need to get refund applying back to the credit card
Response from Host, Sep 2023
Hi. Yes, unfortunately, this is a weather-dependent tour. Unlike other tour operators, we will not run this tour if the weather will prevent seeing the northern lights.
As per our policy, all tours cancelled due to weather have been refunded. It takes Viator up to five business days to refund your tour. You were notified of this when the tour was cancelled. There was no need to leave a one-star review. Had you called us or messaged us, we would have happily provided you that information. Unfortunately, as you did not provide a real name with your review, we cannot follow up on the specifics of your refund. We suggest you contact Viator and see what the delay is. (That is, if you have not already received your refund.)
Laura_F, Sep 2023
Seeing and learning about the northern lights. It was a dream come true! Our driver and guide Ben was outstanding and made our journey very enjoyable!
Response from Host, Sep 2023
I am so happy that you were able to experience your dream of seeing the northern lights! Thank you so much for the specific feedback about Ben - he does a great job.
Julie_P, Sep 2023
Colin was great- had great knowledge of the northern lights and chased the open clouds so we could find them!
Response from Host, Sep 2023
I am so glad that you enjoyed the tour! Thank you so much for the review and the specific feedback on your guide. Colin is an avid aurora chaser, and he really works hard to make things work. We are glad we could make this happen for you.
Schenelle_N, Sep 2023
Colin was a great guide! He educated us on the Aurora Quest in a way we could understand, waited for us when the train into Anchorage was running late and found an awesome location to take beautiful pictures :)
Response from Host, Sep 2023
I am so glad that you enjoyed the tour! Thank you so much for the review and the specific feedback on your guide. We are glad we could make this happen for you.
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