Today you will enjoy a leisurely day in Fairbanks. You can make your own arrangements or choose an optional activity to participate in for an additional fee. At 10 pm, to escape the urban light pollution, take the Aurora Shuttle to our carefully selected Aurora-Viewing Lodge, in an excellent location that will increase your chances of observing the Northern Lights. Our professional guides will introduce you to the Northern Lights and instruct you in camera parameter set-up and aurora borealis shooting techniques to help you take stunning aurora photos. Free hot drinks, coffee, and a Northern Lights monitoring screen are available in the Lodge, where you can warm up after watching the aurora (2nd Aurora Viewing). You will return to the hotel to rest at around 2 am the next morning.

Optional Program 1: Chena Hot Springs Resort Tour (approximately 7 hours round trip)
Depart from your hotel around 11 am and travel to Chena Hot Springs Resort, famous for its century-old hot spring, interesting ice sculpture museum, and an advanced renewable energy project, making it one of the must-see attractions for almost every visitor to Fairbanks! You can relax in the outdoor natural hot springs, a particularly incredible experience when the surroundings are snow-covered. You will also have the opportunity to visit the year-round ice sculpture museum (at additional expense), which exhibits the work of world-class ice sculpture champions, including tables, chairs, and so on all made of ice. Those interested can visit the ice bar to sample an Apple Martini in a cocktail glass made of ice (at additional expense, must show ID and be at least 21 years old).

Notes***: 1) Swimwear is mandatory for hot spring bathing. Please come prepared with your own. 2) For safety reasons, minors under age of 18 may not enter the outdoor natural rock pool, but they may use the indoor pool and the hot tub. 3) If you choose not to enter the hot springs for your own reasons, the fee is not refundable.

Optional Program 2: Denali National Park walking tour (about 7-8 hours round trip)
Depart from your hotel around 10 am and travel by car to Denali. The drive from Fairbanks to Denali is very beautiful, with views of the magnificent Alaska Range mountains to the South, and colorful forest flanking the road. If you are lucky, you may even see some wildlife on the way. Denali National Park is one of the longest-protected ecological preserves in the world. Weather permitting, your guide will take you on a short hike in the park.

Optional Program 3: Castner Glacier Ice Cave Discovery Tour (approximately 8 hours round trip)
Expect to depart from Fairbanks in morning and drive south along the Richardson Highway to Castner Glacier Ice Cave, which is beautiful. After getting off the bus, you will follow your guide on a hike of about 2 miles before reaching the largest valley ice cave in North America.

Note***: There is no weather station in the vicinity of Castner Glacier Ice Cave. Therefore, it is difficult to predict local weather or trail conditions when departing Fairbanks, the origin of the Tour. Once reaching the trailhead, our guides will determine whether local conditions are safe enough for hiking to the Ice Cave or not. There will be no refund in the event of hazardous conditions that prevent guests from reaching the Ice Cave safely. However, guests will be fully refunded if the tour is cancelled before leaving Fairbanks due to unsafe Road conditions.

Hotel: Hyatt Place Fairbanks or Bridgewater Hotel or equivalent
Meals: Breakfast 

Today you'll enjoy a leisurely morning at the hotel.You will depart at 1 pm for the famous "Santa Claus House" in the town of North Pole, which, in order to create a strong Christmas atmosphere in Santa's hometown, features a huge 16-meter-tall Santa statue and 2-meter-tall polar bear and moose statues. Many of the surrounding public facilities are also decorated with a Christmas theme. Later, you'll follow your guide to the Museum of the North on the University of Alaska's Fairbanks campus, the best place for visitors to discover the mysterious Arctic world and the real life of early locals. With its unique architecture, the museum is one of Fairbanks' landmarks. The museum is divided into different exhibition halls, which not only give a detailed introduction to the local environment and history, but also display some rare arctic animal specimens (“Blue Babe”, mammoth bones, a nearly 3-meter-tall brown bear, etc.). Afterwards you will return to the hotel for a rest. (If the Museum is closed, you will visit the Morris Thompson Cultural Center and be refunded your $15 Museum of the North ticket fee on site).

At 10 p.m. follow a professional guide to take the Aurora Shuttle to the area outside Fairbanks, away from the interference of urban light pollution, which will greatly increase your chances of seeing the aurora. Our professional aurora guides will take you to the most powerful aurora viewing area to chasing the aurora according to the weather conditions, the direction of the aurora and their rich experience in light chasing and will introduce you to the Northern Lights and instruct you in camera parameter set-up and aurora borealis shooting techniques to help you take stunning aurora photos (3rd Aurora Viewing). You will return to the hotel to rest at around 2 am the next morning.

Optional Program:  Dog Sledding/ATV Experience (approximately 2 hours total)
Visit Alaskan local Leslie's sled dog kennel. Income from tours allows Leslie to continue the grand tradition of dog sledding by training young mushers and helping them raise funds to compete in the annual Alaskan dog sled races that have become so popular all over the world. Two passengers in the sled husband's company ride the same sled, sledding in the forest road, splashing white snowflakes, the process is quite thrilling (experience about 20-25 minutes)! While waiting for a ride, you'll also have the opportunity to get up close and personal with the cute dogs. (From September to early November, in case of insufficient snowfall, the dog sled will be replaced by a dog pull ATV experience, about 10 min)

Hotel: Hyatt Place Fairbanks or Bridgewater Hotel or equivalent
Meals: Breakfast 

Today you will enjoy a leisurely day in Fairbanks. You can make your own arrangements or choose an optional activity to participate in for an additional fee. Due to limited time, it is only possible to choose one out of the three optional activities below.

Optional Program 1: Overland Adventure Across the Arctic Circle (drive both ways, round trip about 16 hours)
Depart in the morning and take an Arctic bus along the Dalton Highway, one of Alaska's most remote and challenging roads. The whole road is 414 miles long and is one of the world’s ‘Ten Roads of Death.” On the way you can observe the Arctic tundra wilderness, with the possibility of seeing wildlife such as caribou, foxes, wolves, bears, or musk ox. You’ll also pass over one of North America’s five largest rivers, the Yukon River, and see an incredible product of human engineering, the Trans-Alaska Pipeline, which crosses the state from north to south. Finally, you will arrive at the sign indicating you’ve reached the Arctic Circle (66°33’ north) and receive a special “Arctic Circle Exploration Certificate” to remember your trip. You’ll return to Fairbanks between 2 to 3 am. If you need to depart Fairbanks the following day, please book your flight for no earlier than 7 am, to avoid risking missing your flight.

Optional Program 2: Aurora Viewing Lodge /Aurora chasing (approximately 4 hours round trip).
At 10 pm, to escape the urban light pollution, take the Aurora Shuttle to our carefully selected Aurora-Viewing Lodge. Or you can choose the Aurora Chasing Explore with guide. You will return to the hotel to rest at around 2 am the next morning.

Hotel: Hyatt Place Fairbanks or Bridgewater Hotel or equivalent
Meals: Breakfast

Today you'll end your trip and bid farewell to beautiful Alaska. You can choose an optional activity to participate  if your flight takes off in the evening.(Available for guests joining tours after November 20, 2025. The exact start date will depend on local snowfall conditions.)

Optional Program 1: Snow Mobile Tour (approximately 2-4 hours total)
Join the snowmobile in Alaska, one of the hottest snow and ice events in the region, you can choose 30 minutes or 60 minutes for ride, accompanied by an experienced guide.
    
Optional Program 2: Ice Fishing Tour (approximately 4 hours total)
Ice fishing is a winter favorite for Alaskans. You’ll learn fishing skills with a fishing expert. After catching the fish, the guide will also process a grilled fish for each guest on site, allowing you to taste the freshest fish, and then release the extra fish back to the snow lake.

Note***:1. The check-out time for most hotels in Alaska is 12:00 p.m., but please confirm the check-out time with your hotel.
2. For flights within the U.S., please arrive at the airport at least 2 hours in advance.
3. To avoid the risk of a missed flight, please book a flight that leaves after 7:00 a.m. on the last day of your trip.
4. If you plan to continue your stay in Fairbanks after your tour, you can book a hotel extension in advance.
5. Each booking includes one complimentary airport drop-off service. Please provide your flight details at the time of booking, as this service cannot be arranged without prior notice or flight information. We kindly
ask for your cooperation to ensure a smooth arrangement.

Meals: Breakfast