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If you're going to be in Fairbanks, however, you have excursion choices to make. The Northern Alaska Tour Company runs round-trip van tours 60 miles north of Fairbanks to the town of Joy for an increased chance of seeing the northern lights. And 1st Alaska Tours runs nightly trips to Chena Hot Springs 60 miles north and to Murphy Dome, one of the highest peaks in the Fairbanks area, which has a 360-degree view of the horizon. SolarHam gives a reliable three-day geomagnetic forecast that's often used by aurora hunters, while the Aurora Forecast app shows travelers the position of the auroral oval around the Arctic Circle. It also indicates the probability of seeing the northern lights where you are (green, not so much; red, and they're probably happening right above you).
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If you don't have two or three weeks to take off work to go northern lights watching, consider Oceanwide Expeditions' eight-day aurora borealis sailings from Iceland to Greenland and back. The adventure begins in Akureyri, the unofficial capital of north Iceland, before heading for Greenland's breathtaking Scoresby Sund, the largest fjord system in the world. If you do have a little more time, you can opt for the 13-day Spitsbergen - Northeast Greenland - Aurora Borealis itinerary, which embarks in the Svalbard archipelago before sailing to Greenland and down to Iceland. Both take place in the late summer into early fall, as darkness returns to the skies in the Arctic. Rates for the eight-day itinerary start from $4,600 per person for the 2023 sailings.
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Beyond the rewards of seeing the northern lights, the bonuses of winter season Northern Lights cruises are the stunning contrasts of scenery and the variety of onshore activities. Ports vary greatly from industrial centers and fjord villages to picturesque coastal towns and remote outposts on barren, frozen coasts. Iceland, Greenland, and polar regions around the Northwest Passage promote some of their active, adventurous cruises around the equinoxes in September and March as northern lights viewing opportunities as well. Lines cruising in these regions include Hurtigruten, Silversea, Lindblad Expeditions, Viking Cruises, Quark Expeditions, Adventure Canada, and others.
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9 Alaska Cruise Tips and Tricks (Including What To Pack and Expect).
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Alaska Cruise Destinations and Cruisetours
Step away from the city lights and into a cozy yurt where you can view the aerial performance from the comfort of your own space. Or, head outside, set up your camera and capture postcard-worthy photos to share with your loved ones. Select ships also offer an onboard viewing experience with the indoor planetarium located in the Princess Theater. Venture on a cosmic voyage with a Stargazing specialist and uncover the secrets of the skies above. While the winter months offer the best opportunities for seeing the Northern Lights, it’s important to consider the extreme weather conditions and the limited daylight hours during this time.
Alaska Wildlife Guide: Chena Hot Springs Northern Lights Tours
At nearby Chena Hot Springs Resort, you can even watch the show from an outdoor hot tub. By day, try your hand at either cross-country skiing or ice fishing through pre-drilled ice holes. Please share your name and email address with us to receive news of special offers and events.
DAY 3 Glacier Bay National Park
Yes, there are several apps and websites that provide real-time and forecast data on aurora activity. Some popular options include the Aurora Forecast, Space Weather Live, and the NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center. Most ships operating Northern Lights cruises have an aurora alert system. This might be a shipwide announcement, a special buzzer in the cabins, or even a wake-up call if you request it.
Aurora Expeditions: Northern Lights Explorer
No cruise can guarantee sightings as the aurora is a natural and unpredictable phenomenon. However, cruises specifically tailored for aurora viewing will optimize the chances by choosing routes and timings with historically higher success rates. Yes, several cruise lines offer itineraries specifically tailored for aurora viewing, often incorporating experts, lectures, and workshops related to the phenomenon. The northern lights and aurora borealis are one and the same — most people call them northern lights, while the scientific name is aurora borealis. The northern lights happen when charged particles from the sun enter the atmosphere and collide with gas atoms in Earth's atmosphere. They occur all year long but are only visible when the sky is dark and clear.
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It’s worth noting that the Northern Lights are a natural phenomenon and can be affected by various factors such as solar activity, weather conditions, and geomagnetic storms. Planning your trip during periods of high solar activity, when the sun is generating more charged particles, increases your chances of experiencing a more vibrant and active display of the Northern Lights. Small ship cruises tend to offer more adventure-focused shore excursions alongside personalized service and luxurious accommodations and amenities.
The northern lights, or aurora borealis, have enchanted humanity for millennia. Their ethereal dance across the night sky tells a tale as old as time, combining science, legends, and raw natural beauty. Viewing the Alaska northern lights takes the right timing, the right location, and the right conditions. The supernal shimmer of emerald and violet begins with a few streaks, and then breaks out into a graceful ballet. Spectators gaze at the sky in awe, or snap photos well into the middle of the night. The northern lights, or aurora borealis, is a top-listed experience on many travelers’ bucket lists.
Although the full viewing season spans from March to September, you'll have the greatest chance of witnessing the Borealis' emergence in September, when skies are so much darker than during the summer cruise season. Incidentally, this is also the time when you'll find cost savings on your cruise since most families tend to vacation while school is out. Dedicate at least 3 nights to looking for the lights, so that you, too, will have a 90% chance of seeing them. It can work as a three- or four-day trip centered on a weekend, but then you will need to be more focused. Traveling with UnCruise also grants exclusive access to remote areas, as their ships, with capacities ranging from 22 to 86 guests, navigate areas where larger vessels can’t. UnCruise guests visiting Glacier Bay National Park get a rare opportunity to set foot on land and explore the “outback,” a privilege granted to less than one percent of total park visitors.
If the stars align and the conditions are ripe for the show, try to find a clear viewing path, free of buildings and forest and facing north, as that’s where the activity starts. Fairbanks is the best place to see northern lights in Alaska for visitors. It consistently tops the list of places in Alaska and the world to catch the dazzling display and it’s not because the dancing green lights just happen to favor this gold rush boomtown.
However, the magical display of the Aurora Borealis dancing across the night sky makes these challenges well worth it. Planning your Alaskan cruise around the Northern Lights offers a unique way to explore the rugged beauty of the Last Frontier while chasing the ethereal glow that illuminates the night sky. Whether you’re a nature enthusiast, a photography enthusiast, or simply someone captivated by the beauty of celestial displays, an Alaska cruise will provide you with an unforgettable experience. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has a Space Weather Prediction Center, which is a great resource for a short-term forecast of northern lights activity. Fairbanks also happens to be the headquarters of the Geophysical Institute at the University of Alaska, which issues a nightly forecast on Aurora viewing alongside a 27-day forecast. It’s easy when the inky night sky comes alive with an amazing light show like the aurora borealis.
