Anchorage Northern Lights Tour
Recommended by 91% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Anchorage, USA
- 6 to 9 hours (approx.)
- Pickup offered
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Increase your chances of viewing the magical aurora borealis on this guided tour in Anchorage. Enjoy expert photo instruction, portraits under the northern lights, and warm drinks while learning about the science behind the aurora. With snacks, hotel pickup, and forecasting services included, this unforgettable experience lets you witness nature’s most stunning light show.
- Receive tips on how to photograph the northern lights
- Stay warm with provided hot drinks and clothing
- Round-trip transport provided from Anchorage
- Convenient hotel pickup and drop-off
What's Included
- Services of a professional Alaskan Aurora Guide
- Aurora Forecasting Service prior to your tour
- Web quality photographs and portraits
- Aurora science education
- Snacks
- Coffee and/or Tea
- Hotel Pickup/Drop Off
- Gratuities
Meeting and Pickup
You can head directly to the meeting point, or request pickup
Operating hours.8:00 pm
Itinerary
Greatland Adventures (Pass By)
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Most travelers can participate
- Minimum age 13. For groups with younger children please inquire about our private northern lights tour.
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 8 travelers
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Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Featured review
kameliamckinney
Our guide was very friendly. I forgot her name but she was very enthusiastic and knowledgeable about the aurora. We were able to see it come alive at the 1st spot and didn't have to chase it. It was spectacular.
Reviews
4.7
based on 133 reviews
Victoria_P, Mar 2026
If you are to see the northern lights, go with Dana. She is like a dog with a bone. She just won’t quit. She explains the lights. She studies the lights. She photographs the lights. She loves the lights and she wants to share them with all of us. It is a wonderful experience and I highly recommend it. Just try to nap before!!
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Thank you so much for the wonderful review of our Anchorage Northern Lights Tour! We love that description of Dana, “like a dog with a bone” is spot on. Her passion, determination, and knowledge truly make the experience special, and she’s always doing everything she can to give guests the best possible chance to see the lights. We’re glad you had such a great time, and that’s great advice about getting a nap in beforehand! Thanks again for the recommendation, we really appreciate it!
kameliamckinney, Mar 2026
Our guide was very friendly. I forgot her name but she was very enthusiastic and knowledgeable about the aurora. We were able to see it come alive at the 1st spot and didn't have to chase it. It was spectacular.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Thank you so much for this wonderful review of our Anchorage Northern Lights Tour! We're thrilled you had such a magical experience. We believe your guide may have been Dana — she truly embodies the enthusiasm and deep knowledge of the aurora that you described, and we'll make sure she sees your kind words! It's always special when the lights put on a show right at the first stop without any chasing needed. We hope the memory of that spectacular display stays with you for years to come, and we'd love to welcome you back under the Alaska skies anytime!
Whitney_S, Mar 2026
We chased the lights but didnt catch them. Nonetheless, it was a great experience. My tour guide, Dana, was friendly and knowledgeable. I would book this again.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Thank you so much for your kind words and for keeping such a great attitude about the night! The aurora can be elusive, but we love that you still had a wonderful experience despite the lights not making an appearance.
Dana is a fantastic guide and we're so glad her warmth and knowledge made the tour enjoyable regardless. That's exactly the kind of experience we strive to provide every guest!
Susan_L, Feb 2026
Good communication, got the experience I was hoping for, guide was friendly and went above and beyond sharing his own pictures / videos.
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Thank you so much for your kind words! We’re so glad to hear the communication was smooth and that you got the experience you were hoping for. That’s exactly what we strive for. It’s great to know your guide made the night even more special by sharing his own photos and videos. Our team loves going the extra mile to make sure guests leave with incredible memories to look back on. We truly appreciate you joining us on our Anchorage Northern Lights Tour and hope to see you again on your next Alaska adventure!
Susan_C, Feb 2026
It’s a fairly long drive but well worth it! Dana did a great job making sure we had a good time from seeing the lights, photos & hot cocoa!
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Thank you so much for your kind words! We’re happy to hear you felt the drive was well worth it. The journey is all part of the adventure here in Alaska! We truly appreciate you joining us for an Anchorage Northern Lights tour and hope to see you again!
Tomomi_M, Feb 2026
Dennis was a wonderful guide full of knowledge and enthusiasm. He was very thoughtful and made sure we were comfortable. Although we didn’t get to see the northern lights this trip it was certainly a memorable tour.
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Thank you so much for your kind words! We’re so glad to hear that Dennis made your evening memorable with his knowledge, enthusiasm, and thoughtful care. While the northern lights don’t always cooperate, we’re happy you still had a great experience with us. Thanks again for chasing Alaska's Northern Lights with us!
Marissa_m, Jan 2026
1 million percent worth it! Dana was amazing and drove us to a beautiful location where we got to see Aurora dance in the sky. It was so great getting to share her passion for the lights with an evening under the stars and the perfect Aurora show! I can’t wait to see the photos she took!
Response from Host, Jan 2026
Thank you so much for this amazing review! We’re thrilled you had such a magical night under the stars. Dana truly loves sharing her passion for the aurora, and she’ll be so happy to hear how much you enjoyed the experience. Seeing the lights dance is unforgettable, and we’re glad you got a spectacular show! We can’t wait for you to see the photos—thank you for choosing to chase the aurora with us. We hope to welcome you back again someday!
J_D, Dec 2025
It’s cold but beautiful, our tour guide is super nice and professional. We see the aurora several times. It’s worth the wait and money.
Response from Host, Dec 2025
Thank you so much for the 5-star review! We’re thrilled you enjoyed the experience and got to see the aurora multiple times. We’ll be sure to pass your kind words along to your guide. Thanks for braving the cold with us, and we’re so glad you felt it was worth the wait and the journey. Hope to see you again under the northern lights!
stalliontrucks, Dec 2025
it was a great experience, our guide CHRIS did all his best and at last we saw the aurora ,,,wonderful
Response from Host, Dec 2025
Thanks for the 5-star review! Glad to hear that our guide Chris set you up for a successful aurora experience! Thanks for traveling with us on an Anchorage Northern Lights Tour.
Sarah_C, Oct 2025
Dennis was great, very informative and eager to make sure that we were all pleased! Can’t wait to see the pics!
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Thank you for your kind review of our Anchorage Northern Lights Tour! We're so glad you enjoyed your time with Dana! We hope to have you back for another adventure in the future!
Montserrat_M, Oct 2025
Dennis was awesome, he was on a mission to get us good pics and share with us his knowledge! Very attentive and made me feel safe as a solo traveler.
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Thank you for sharing your experience on our Anchorage Northern Lights Tour! We're so glad to hear you felt comfortable and well taken care of on your tour. Dennis will be thrilled to know his efforts to capture great photos and share his knowledge made your tour memorable. We appreciate you joining us and hope to see you again on another Alaska adventure!
Elizabeth_R, Oct 2025
We were lucky enough to get a clear night. Our guide Dana was AMAZING, she helped and provided us with everything we needed.
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Thank you for your review of our Anchorage Northern Lights Tour! We’re so happy you had a clear night and got to enjoy the experience with Dana. She’ll be delighted to know her guidance and support made your night so special. We appreciate you joining us and hope the aurora memories stay with you for years to come!
Lynn_P, Sep 2025
Honest company. Was rainy, they let us know poor chances of seeing the lights. Appreciated that they didn’t take our money!
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Thank you for sharing your experience! We do our best to be transparent with our guests so you can make the decision that feels right for you. We’re glad you appreciated our honesty, and we hope to welcome you back for clear skies and northern lights in the future!
John_H, Sep 2025
A long drive but we'll worth it. Exceeded our expectations! The best experience we had in Alaska. Go on...Do it!
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Thank you so much for your kind words! We're thrilled to hear that your night with us was a once-in-a-lifetime experience and that it exceeded your expectations. Our guides and photographers will be so happy to know they helped make your time in Alaska truly unforgettable. It means the world to us that this was the highlight of your trip. Thanks again for the high recommendation
Subram_B, Sep 2025
You will not always be fully see Aurora so don't get your hopes up. If the tour operator does not recommend the trip don't go. If thry recommend it is your call.
In our case Steve thought we had as good as a chance as any of the following days to experience Aurora.
Unfortunately we were not able to see Aurora with our plain eyes. Only through the iPhone camera. We had our pics taken with hands pointing at the sky and we were able do see the lights only in the photo
Steve and Dana were very friendly informative, helpful, and accommodating
While Steve and Dana went overboard trying to chase down elusive Northern Lights we were disappointed not to see the lights directly. Seeing via the camera was not as rewarding. We did feel the price of the tour was very much on the high side especially compared to what was being charged at Fairbanks. In the end it probably comes down to if we are fully able to experience Aurora or not. In our case the price we paid for the tour was not worth it.
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Thank you for sharing your experience with us. We’re glad to hear you found Steve and Dana to be friendly, informative, and accommodating during your tour. Our guides fully dedicate themselves to giving each guest the best possible chance to experience the Northern Lights.
That said, the aurora is a natural phenomenon and can never be guaranteed. Our team spends countless hours forecasting conditions, studying data, and using their expertise to maximize opportunities for sightings. Even with the best preparation, sometimes the lights are faint to the naked eye and more visible and colorful through cameras. While this can feel less rewarding than a vivid display, it is still a genuine aurora event—one that sensitive cameras often capture more strongly than our eyes.
We understand the disappointment when the aurora doesn’t meet expectations, but our pricing reflects the value of small-group experiences, expert local guides, safe transportation, and the extensive effort we put into chasing the lights. We also keep our tour sizes at maximum of 8 guests to allow a more comfortable and higher-quality service. Behind the scenes, our photo editor prepares the photos early each morning. All these facets, in addition to forecasting and carrying out our 8-hour tour, reflect our tour price.
Fairbanks tours often operate differently; however, our focus is on personalized service and maximizing your chances to see the northern lights in the Anchorage region.
We appreciate your feedback and hope you enjoyed the other aspects of your tour, even if the aurora was elusive that night.
Aditya_M, Sep 2025
This was incredible!! Dana, our guide, was amazing! She is super knowledgeable, entertaining, a great host, and managed to give us a spectacular vista of the northern lights! We spent over an hour taking photos of the aurora. She took photos of us with the aurora using her hi tech camera setup but also taught us how to properly photograph it on our iPhones.
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re thrilled to hear you had such an incredible night with Dana. She truly enjoys sharing her knowledge, capturing special memories, and helping guests learn how to photograph the aurora. We’re glad the northern lights put on a great show for you and that you were able to enjoy both the experience and the photos. We hope to welcome you back on another Alaska adventure!
Donna_B, Sep 2025
Jacob was an excellent guide, so informative and accommodating. We learned about the aurora AND how to photograph it. We were all glad he was our guide!
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Thank you so much for your kind words! We're thrilled to hear that Jacob provided such an excellent and informative experience for your Anchorage Northern Lights Tour. We'll be sure to pass along your praise to him. We hope to see you again on another tour!
Michael_G, Aug 2025
Great tour. Chris was fantastic and very passionate about this tour and this field of work in general. Not an easy task to perform but he is a 5 star guy. Loved the aurora borealis and would probably do this tour again.
Response from Host, Aug 2025
Thank you so much for your kind words and 5-star review! We’re thrilled to hear you enjoyed your Northern Lights tour with Chris—his passion for sharing Alaska truly shines through, and we’re glad it made your experience so memorable. It’s wonderful that you were able to enjoy the magic of the aurora borealis.
Jennifer_D, Apr 2025
We got lucky. We saw the lights pretty early. Got a second spectacular show on the side of the road on the way back also.
Dana our guide/photographer was exceptional. Her enthusiasm and knowledge made this a very enjoyable tour.
Response from Host, Apr 2025
Thank you for your wonderful review! We're thrilled to hear that you had such an incredible night and were able to see not just one, but two spectacular aurora displays! Dana will be so happy to know that her enthusiasm and knowledge made your experience even more enjoyable. We truly appreciate you choosing us for your Anchorage Northern Lights Tour and hope to adventure with you again in the future!
Jamie_S, Mar 2025
That you can not see the lights. The driver was very nice and knowledgeable however, she was an hour late picking us up leaving us waiting in the cold. The drive is a 2.5 hour drive, you stay for an hour then drive back. Not worth the money. We couldn't even take pictures. We paid 50.00 more than other tours and not sure for what.
Response from Host, Mar 2025
Dear Guest,
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback about your recent Aurora viewing tour. We sincerely apologize that your experience did not meet your expectations, and we understand your disappointment regarding the late pickup, the length of the drive, and the perceived value of the tour.
We acknowledge the late pickup and sincerely apologize for the inconvenience. While we maintained constant communication with you regarding the delay, this does not excuse the fact that the pickup was ultimately an hour late. This was an unfortunate consequence of human error, and we have taken steps to prevent such occurrences in the future. We understand that even with communication, the delay impacted your experience, and we are truly sorry.
Regarding the 2.5-hour drive each way, this is often necessary to reach locations with minimal light pollution, which is essential for optimal Aurora viewing. We strive to provide accurate information about the tour duration beforehand, and we regret if this was not clearly communicated.
We understand your frustration regarding your personal observation of the Northern Lights. However, we want to clarify that our guide, numerous other guests on your tour, and our photographic documentation all confirm the presence and visibility of a significant aurora display that night. The optics of the Aurora Borealis can be complex. Its appearance can vary greatly depending on individual eyesight, the angle of observation, the specific time within the display's activity, and the sensitivity of the viewer's eyes to subtle light variations. While you may not have perceived it as clearly as others, the objective evidence, including our photos and observations from others, indicates a successful aurora viewing.
We also take your concern about the price difference seriously. Our pricing is carefully calculated to cover the costs associated with providing a safe, comfortable, and informative tour. These costs include transportation, experienced guides, fuel, equipment, the effort to find optimal viewing locations, and crucially, our commitment to an industry-leading small group size, with a maximum of 8 guests. This smaller group ensures a more personalized and intimate experience, maximizing viewing opportunities and allowing for individual attention from our guides, which contributes to our pricing structure. We continually review our pricing to ensure it reflects the quality of our service and the expenses involved.
We appreciate your kind words about our driver's knowledge and friendliness. We will pass along your compliments.
Given the significant delay in pickup, we would like to offer you a full refund for your tour. Additionally, we would like to invite you back for a complimentary Aurora viewing tour in the future, hoping to provide you with the exceptional experience we strive for.
We value your feedback and hope that you will give us another opportunity to provide you with a more positive experience in the future.
Rena_R, Mar 2025
Dana was an absolute gem. Her energy, excitement, and knowledge of the northern lights was phenomenal. Hands down the best birthday gift 🥳
Response from Host, Mar 2025
We are so happy you enjoyed chasing the northern lights in Anchorage with Dana! Thanks for leaving a review and Happy Birthday!
Lucy_W, Mar 2025
Aaron, thank you so much for this impeccable experience! The northern lights were even more breathtaking than we imagined, and you made sure we were able to see them in their full glory. The whole tour—from your explanations of aurora science and forecasting, to your photography, to the snacks and hand warmers and luxury vehicle—made for such a wonderful experience. We couldn’t be more grateful!
Response from Host, Mar 2025
Thanks, Lucy! Your detailed review will help other travelers decide if this northern lights tour is right for them. We appreciate you traveling with us and glad you were able to see the aurora in Alaska!
Lucia_M, Mar 2025
It takes an expert guide to chase the northern lights. Thanks to Chris Moss, our tour guide, who worked very hard and drove us to many places so we could see the various shapes and colors of northern lights. The SUV was large, comfortable and warm. Chris took lots of pictures of us and of the northern lights. Great experience. I strongly recommend it.
Response from Host, Mar 2025
Thanks for your kind words, Lucia. I'm glad you had a great night chasing the northern lights with our guide Chris. Thanks for traveling with us!
Celeste_C, Feb 2025
No guarantee We didn’t see anything but darkness. It was a long time of nothing. Very disappointing.
Response from Host, Mar 2025
We're sorry to hear our tour didn't meet your expectations and appreciate you sharing your feedback. We understand your disappointment with the aurora's visibility.
Our team makes tour decisions based on the best available weather forecasts, which are unfortunately not always 100% accurate. On the night of your tour, we faced challenging cloud cover in all directions outside of Anchorage. While the aurora may not have been as vibrant as you hoped, our team, including guide Chris, worked diligently to find clearings in the clouds, and we were able to capture photographic evidence of the aurora.
We stand by our guarantee and, despite having photographic proof of the aurora's presence, we contacted you the following day to offer you a complimentary tour. We understand you declined this offer, even though the subsequent night had clearer skies and a brighter aurora display.
As you know, the aurora borealis is a natural phenomenon, and its intensity and visibility are beyond our control. We do everything we can to maximize our chances of seeing it, but we can't guarantee a specific level of brightness. We regret that the aurora's display on your tour wasn't as strong as you'd hoped, and we hope you'll reconsider joining us again in the future.
dougteri, Feb 2025
Tim was our guide. Very sweet and friendly. Quite knowledgeable about Northern lights. We only saw a little aurora which was disappointing but no fault of Tim
The experience was great
Response from Host, Feb 2025
Thank you for taking the time to share your experience. We are glad we could find Aurora for you on your tour and that you enjoyed your time with Tim. Unfortunately, there is no way for any human to know what the northern lights will do more than 1 hour in advance after we get the solar wind readings from the Discover satellite. Our job is to comfortably and safely get you in the right place at the right time to have the best chance to see them. After that, it is up to nature. Thank you again for joining us. We hope you can come back and try again for a bigger show. We always tell anyone who will listen that they must keep trying if they haven't witnessed a strong aurora display. There is no way to know in advance when these will happen and the more times you are looking, the better your chances are to witness the magic!
Ronald_S, Feb 2025
I had a wonderful experience! Dana was super thoughtful and her excitement and positive energy is contagious! I highly recommend this tour whether you’re traveling with friends or solo. Thank you!!!
Response from Host, Feb 2025
Thank you for joining us on the Anchorage northern lights tour and for taking the time to leave a review! We are so happy you had a wonderful experience chasing the aurora with Dana.
Samuel_R, Jan 2025
Our guide, Aaron, was a fantastic guy. He seemed genuine and very knowledgeable about the Aurora Lights. He did a great job talking to us, explaining the process of how the lights occur and the best ways to see them.
With that being said; we unfortunately didn’t get to see the lights. Aaron was driving us to different locations and trying to chase openings in the clouds but because of how cloudy it was; we were just unable to really see anything. Apparently the lights were in full brightness but cloud coverage was too strong. It was disheartening to see Aaron swipe through the gallery on his professional camera and see how beautiful the Aurora lights are; only to look up and be met with dark clouds and the slightest green tint from the auroras attempting to peek out.
Aaron drove all night to different locations and on one particular instance before 4am that I found kinda cute was everyone in the bus was sleeping soundly. It’s unfortunate that my bucket list item of seeing the Auroras will still remain. I’m sure the tour is generally amazing but that particular night wasn’t so.
Response from Host, Jan 2025
Thanks for taking the time to leave detailed feedback, Samuel. I'm glad you were happy with our guide, Aaron, and sorry we didn't meet your expectations on this tour. We always aim to be transparent with our forecasting and this is the reason we discussed the conditions of the night in detail with you and each guest a few hours before the tour left. On your particular night, we were challenged with heavy cloud cover in all directions outside of Anchorage. We gave each guest an opportunity to go on an alternate night or receive a refund if they thought their chances to successfully view the northern lights were not to their liking. You opted to join the tour this night despite the less than 50/50 chances of success and our tour did, in fact, produce photographic evidence of the aurora. It may not have been very bright with the naked eye, but our aurora team worked together with Aaron to find a break in the clouds and see the northern lights. Furthermore, the aurora is a natural phenomenon which we have no control over. On this night we were able to get you to the right place at the right time and delivered a successful tour based on the challenging conditions.
George_A, Dec 2024
It was beautiful and cold! Chris was a great team leader. Excellent pictures and explanation of the northern lights!
Response from Host, Dec 2024
Hi George, Thanks for joining us on an Anchorage Northern Lights Tour and taking the time to leave a helpful review. Glad you had a memorable night chasing the aurora with guide Chris!
Venencia_M, Dec 2024
Even though it was not meant to be for us to see the lights - our guide Chris - made it all worth while with great pictures and a picnic stop with chairs, hot soup and hot drinks. What a lovely experience!
Response from Host, Dec 2024
Thank you so much for sharing your experience! While it's always our hope that the northern lights make an appearance, we're thrilled to hear that Chris made the tour memorable for you. We hope you’ll join us again in the future for another Northern Lights chase! Safe travels, and thank you for choosing Greatland Adventures!
Nicole_D, Dec 2024
The guide was extremely knowledgeable and kind. He took us a long way - extra ways- to try make us see the lights. Sky was on and off covered and the moon was full … so we could see some lights on the pictures taken of us … but none with the naked eye. It is clearly not up to them but to Mother Nature… regardless the places and the landscape was breathtaking to say the least. Nice group and had fun anyway!
Response from Host, Dec 2024
Thank you for taking the time to share your experience with us! Yes, the night you went out with us was difficult due to clouds, a bright moon, and a faint aurora. We were proud to be able to find the lights that night given the conditions. We are happy that you enjoyed your guide and group and had fun during your tour! Sometimes life is more about the journey than the destination. We hope you can join us again in the future.
From $354.25
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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