5-Day Aurora Tour:Fairbanks, Arctic Circle, 2 Aurora Viewing Lodge Tours & Optional for Chena Hot Springs

The first day itinerary is for your reference only; the schedule is subject to change upon your arrival.
Fairbanks is the 2nd largest city in Alaska. Of Alaska’s total population of 100,00 people, around 30,000 live in Fairbanks. The city is located in interior Alaska and is a hub in the road between the coast and the Arctic. Fairbanks is sometimes called the “Aurora Capitol” of the world since the Aurora can be seen here on average 243 days a year. It lies 310 kilometers from the Arctic Circle and is surrounded by low-lying mountains.
After arriving, if you have chosen our free shuttle bus, a tour guide will take you to the hotel and help you get settled in.
Dinner Included: Asian style hot pot dinner. We will meet up at 19:50 and head to dinner restaurant at 20:00.
After 21:30 we will leave the lights of the city behind and journey towards the mountain top, where our small Aurora Viewing Lodges wait for us. The whole trip takes about 40 minutes depending on road conditions. Upon arrival, you can enjoy the cozy atmosphere of the lodge while sipping on hot cocoa, coffee or tea and waiting for the Aurora to come out. When you are ready to venture outside, the crisp night air and natural scenery will lend itself to great photos. When you need to warm up, come back inside for another round of warm drinks. You will have about 3 hours to watch for the Aurora after which, your guide will drive you back to the hotel by 3:00 am. (Service fee $8/person not included)

**Please note that the Aurora Borealis are a natural phenomenon. They will be affected by the weather and other natural occurrences. We will take you to the spots most likely to guarantee a good Aurora viewing, but we cannot guarantee they will come out.
**If you choose the 23:30 free airport transfer, our tour guide will take you directly to the hotel. There would be no refund for Asian style hot pot dinner and Aurora Viewing of the night.
**If you cannot attend the Aurora Viewing due to flight delay or missed flight, there would be no refund. We strongly suggest you to book flights arrival earlier than 18:00.

You may enjoy a leisure day with optional tour of Chena Hot Springs.
After 21:30 we will leave the lights of the city behind and journey towards the mountain top, where our small Aurora Viewing Lodges wait for us. The whole trip takes about 40 minutes depending on road conditions. Upon arrival, you can enjoy the cozy atmosphere of the lodge while sipping on hot cocoa, coffee or tea and waiting for the Aurora to come out. When you are ready to venture outside, the crisp night air and natural scenery will lend itself to great photos. When you need to warm up, come back inside for another round of warm drinks. You will have about 3 hours to watch for the Aurora after which, your guide will drive you back to the hotel by 3:00 am. (Not included service fee $8/person)
Self-Pay Option Tours: (Require to reserve when you book the tour)
Fire and Ice: Chena Hot Springs One-Day Tour
Price: $120.00 ／per person
Day Tour-8/21/2017- 4/15/2018
(Day Tour doesn’t include Ice Museum pass which can be purchased on site for $15.)
Tour Contents：
Our destination on this tour is Chena Hot Springs, famous for its soothing waters, its ice museum with carved ice sculptures and at night, more chances to see the Aurora.
Chena has indoor and outdoor pools. In the summer, enjoy the bustle of its resort town life. During the winter, experience the thrill of soaking in steaming water while enjoying the gorgeous fairytale views of snow around you. Sometimes ice crystals will form on your eyelashes and hair while your body is completely warm! This is one of the most interesting hot springs in the world.
Chena Hot Springs’ Ice Museum is open year around and allows you to see the ice-sculptures of world famous sculpting masters. Explore “rooms” made out of ice as well as free standing sculptures. For an extra fee of $15, you can choose to drink an Apple Martini at their ice bar out of a cocktail glass made of ice. Experience a drink like no other!
*Please note：The outdoor pool is closed to children under 12 years of age.
Inclusions：
Round trip transportation, entrance ticket to the hot springs, 1 bottle of water, multi-lingual guide. (To guarantee a Chinese speaking guide, the group booking the tour must be at least 6 people.)
Exclusions：
Food and drink at the site, ticket to ice museum (may be purchased on site for $15) Apple Martini, wifi, 25 cents for a locker, swimwear, towel, (these can be purchased on site if necessary), tips for driver and guide ($8 and above is the suggested tip per guest per activity.)
Tour Schedule:
Tour pick-ups begin at 11:00 am. Depending on the condition of the road, the drive to Chena will last about 1 hour and 15 minutes. After you arrive, please remain in the vehicle for a few short minutes while your guide collects the ticket. Then you will have about 2 hours to enjoy the wonderful waters of the hot springs and you can also check out the gift shop, café’ or take a look at the reindeer next to the pool. At 17:00 you will meet up with your guide to return to Fairbanks and will reach your hotel about 18:30. (If you wish to take a tour of the Ice Museum, you can purchase tickets for a 13:00 tour or a 15:00 tour)
*Please note that pick-ups are at various hotels. Your exact pick-up time will be determined by our office and you will be notified 1-2 days before your tour. Make sure to leave contact information.

Leave the city of Fairbanks behind and travel one of the “loneliest roads in the world”- the Dalton Highway. Along the way, see Alaska’s famous oil pipeline, the mighty Yukon River, and the amazing storybook scenery as you journey towards the Arctic Circle. Keep your eyes peeled for an Arctic Fox! On your return from the Arctic Circle, you will stop at various locations for Northern Lights viewing. Upon completion of your journey, you will be presented with two certificates certifying that you have seen the Aurora and that you made it to the Arctic Circle.

Please gather at 12:00pm in your hotel lobby. You will leave Fairbanks by 13:00; continue your journey north. Your first stop will be to see the Alaska Pipeline viewing site. Next there will be a stop to add gas (due to the fact there are very few gas stations on this road, it is better to top off first) and use the restroom. At 14:30 you will reach a ridge where the White Mountains will be laid out before you. Take some photos and continue to the Yukon River Camp which you will reach about 17:30 depending on road conditions. Enjoy a quick, hot meal and continue 2 more hours before reaching the Arctic Circle. On the return trip, we will stop once more at Yukon River as well as other locations to see the Aurora and to stretch our legs. Estimated arrival back in Fairbanks is 3:00 am.

Today you have the chance to choose an optional add-on activity of dogsledding in the morning, followed by a tour of the city of Fairbanks in the afternoon.
For the included activity of the city tour, please meet in the hotel at 12:00pm noon.
We will depart at 12:30 for the Golden Heart Park in the center of town. Following a quick stop there, we will head to the Morris Thompson Visitor Center to learn more about local culture. We will stay about 50 minutes and at 14:00 depart for the University of Fairbanks to tour the Museum of the North. At 15:30 we will meet up and head to the Santa Clause house in North Pole where you can buy gifts, take pictures and enjoy the feeling of Christmas. You will return to the city around 18:00. After dinner, you can return to the hotel to get some rest.

Self-Pay Option Tours: (Require to reserve when you book the tour)
A) Dog Sledding and Kennel Tour
A1: Dog Sled Price- $145.00/per person (11/16/2017- 4/15/2018)
A2: Dog Cart Price-$135.00/per person (9/1/2017-11/15/2017)
Tour Contents：
Before Europeans arrived in Alaska, dogsledding was already a very important part of Alaskan local life. Dog sleds were the most convenient way to travel and to deliver important supplies between local villages in the dead of winter. Even today, dogsleds continue to be used in remote portions of Alaska for daily travel needs. On this tour, snuggle under a warm blanket with a friend and enjoy the rush of a brisk 30-minute sled ride through the beautiful forests of Alaska. Your musher will happily take photos for you and with you. You will be won over by both these enthusiastic Alaskan Huskies and their mushers.
*Please note, the sleds on this tour variously accommodate 2-4 people and are assigned by weight and the musher’s knowledge of the dogs. You will need to share your sled with other people. Please follow the musher’s guidance when he assigns seating.
Inclusions：
Round trip transportation, musher service and driving, hot drinks, a blanket for your legs. (To guarantee a Chinese speaking guide for your drive to the sledding site, the group booking the tour must be at least 6 people.)
Exclusions：
Warm clothes, meals, tips for driver and guide ($8 and above is the suggested tip per guest per activity.)
Schedule：
Tour pick-ups begin at 9:00 am. Please be ready in the lobby of your hotel. You will travel to the outskirts of town, a journey which will last about 40 minutes depending on road conditions. After arrival, you will be able to take photos with the dogs, enjoy some hot drinks while being assigned to a sled. Your ride will last 30 minutes. Depending on the size of your group, there may be more than 1 round of sleds that go out before you depart to return to Fairbanks. Usually time on site is about 1 hour, after which you will return to your hotel where you can rejoin and the Fairbanks City Tour in the afternoon.

B) Aurora Viewing Lodges
Price: $105.00/per person (8/21/2017- 4/15/2018)
Tour Contents：
Away from the lights and noise of the city, our small lodges and cabins sit on the mountain ridges surrounding Fairbanks. From the warmth of a cozy sofa watch the magical Aurora while drinking a cup of cocoa or some hot tea or coffee. We have large windows perfect for accommodating Aurora viewing. And if it’s a 365* view you want, go outside and get those magical photos you’ve been longing for. If you listen carefully, you might hear the Aurora singing to you.
Inclusions：
Round trip transportation, entrance to the lodge, small snacks and warm drinks. (To guarantee a Chinese speaking guide, the group booking the tour must be at least 6 people.)
Exclusions：
Meals, tips for driver and guide ($8 and above is the suggested tip per guest per activity.)
Schedule：
Your Aurora journey begins when our hotel pick-ups start at 21:30. We will pick you up in a comfortable bus or high-topped van. The van will leave Fairbanks at 22:00. The drive to the lodges lasts about 40 minutes depending on the road conditions. Upon arrival at the lodge, you will enjoy 3 hours of free time to watch for the Aurora, take pictures and enjoy a cozy Alaskan home setting. Depending on the Aurora’s condition, we will leave for Fairbanks around 3 am.
** The Aurora Borealis are a natural phenomenon. There is no way for us to guarantee that you will see the Aurora. We do our best to provide premier locations for viewing, should the Aurora come out. Please check weather and Aurora reports before booking your tour with us. If the Aurora does not appear, your money will not be refunded.