
Relax in mineral-rich waters and explore the Aurora Ice Museum on a guided day trip from Fairbanks
7.5 hrs
Up to 5 People people
Hotel pickup, Hot springs, Ice tour
Spend a full day at Chena Hot Springs Resort, 60 scenic miles from Fairbanks, combining soothing mineral pools with ice art and renewable energy insights.
Travel with a guide who handles transport and admissions so you can simply soak, explore and enjoy the Alaskan countryside.
Children under 18 may not enter the outdoor rock pool but can use the indoor pool with adult supervision. Towels and lockers incur small fees. Alaska law requires federally approved child restraints for guests under 5 while in the vehicle.
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure. Private tours or groups of eight or more require 30 days' notice for a full refund. Full refunds are issued if the operator cancels due to minimum capacity, weather or other emergencies. No refund for no-shows; guide waits a maximum of 15 minutes at pickup.
The guides here consistently steal the show. Travelers rave about personalities like Guy, Kendall, Jessica, Jodi, and Gina who bring Alaska to life through storytelling, local knowledge, and genuine passion for the land. These aren't just drivers getting you from point to point—they share poems about rivers you cross, play fascinating podcasts about Alaskan life, and draw on personal experiences to make long journeys fly by. The Arctic Circle tour is particularly popular, with guests appreciating the many photo stops, historical insights, and the guides' skill navigating challenging road conditions on the Dalton Highway. The Northern Lights tours operate from a cozy lodge with indoor warmth and outdoor fire viewing, plus games and snacks to pass the time. Here's the reality check though: nature doesn't guarantee a show. Several reviewers mention cloudy nights or conditions that prevented sightings, and one frustrated guest points out that rain, snow, or a full moon will likely mean no aurora. The guides do chase clear skies when possible, but weather is unpredictable. If you book, understand you're paying for the experience and expertise, not a guaranteed light display. The vans can apparently get uncomfortably hot in back seats too.
Had the tour on 9/25/25. It is a long day but the scenery and breathtaking views are well worth it. Our guide, Guy was outstanding. He pointed out all the great spots on our stops. Stopped at the remote Yukon River Camp about halfway to the Arctic circle for lunch got some great photos there thanks to Guy. He did make the long drive from Fairbanks as pleasant as possible especially playing the podcasts from Dark Alaska Nights. That was very interesting listening to the actual stories from people living there. Getting to the Arctic Circle sign we spent a very appropriate amount of time there for plenty of pictures. On the way back we stopped a couple times to view the aurora and what a view we did get. On top of all of this it was a challenging drive as the weather went from rain to snow to finally dry above the Yukon River. The Dalton Highway was a bit muddy for quite a bit. Guy was extremely careful and got us there and back safely even in the challenging changing conditions.
Rick J
October 7, 2025
Had the tour on 9/25/25. It is a long day but the scenery and breathtaking views are well worth it. Our guide, Guy was outstanding. He pointed out all the great spots on our stops. Stopped at the remote Yukon River Camp about halfway to the Arctic circle for lunch got some great photos there thanks to Guy. He did make the long drive from Fairbanks as pleasant as possible especially playing the podcasts from Dark Alaska Nights. That was very interesting listening to the actual stories from people living there. Getting to the Arctic Circle sign we spent a very appropriate amount of time there for plenty of pictures. On the way back we stopped a couple times to view the aurora and what a view we did get. On top of all of this it was a challenging drive as the weather went from rain to snow to finally dry above the Yukon River. The Dalton Highway was a bit muddy for quite a bit. Guy was extremely careful and got us there and back safely even in the challenging changing conditions.
Rick J
October 7, 2025