Where to Go: the 9 Best Northern Lights Photography Tours in the USA

1.SkyChase™ | Northern Lights Experience – Free Photography & More

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 706 reviews · 5 hours (approx.) · from $335Our pick

Leave Fairbanks in a heated van with guides such as Tony, Andrew, or Drew, then follow real-time sky data toward clear, dark viewing spots. You’ll get a campfire meal, hot drinks, camera help, tripod access, downloadable group photos, and a 360-degree time-lapse. Pickup is included within five miles of downtown Fairbanks.

“Had a very good experience, although the lights were faint it i had a great time drew was my guide he let me take so many photos 😭and taught me some poses for the pic.”

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2.Northern Lights Aurora Tour with FREE Photography

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 486 reviews · 8 to 12 hours (approx.) · from $210

Arctic Night Tours picks you up in Fairbanks around 8 p.m. and chases clear skies for up to 12 hours. Guides such as Elena and Ed explain the aurora, provide snacks and warmers, and photograph you under the lights with several cameras. Expect a small group, long waits, and serious cold.

“The wife and I took this northern lights tour. Our driver and guide was Elena. She was a great driver and very knowledgeable about the science behind the northern lights. We were simply amazed at the northern lights themselves. We had a fantastic show as the lights danced above us in colors of green, purple and gold. Elena and her crew took as many photos as we wanted with a few different camera stations to capture different angles of the sky. The transport van was kept running and allowed us to warm up whenever the cold was unbearable. The northern lights were simply amazing and wife and I will always…”

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3.Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis Viewing) Chasing with Photography in Fairbanks

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 481 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $189

Set out from Fairbanks at 10:30 pm with guides such as David, Grace, or Cole, then chase clear skies across rural Alaska. The small-group tour uses warm SUVs, stops at several viewing spots, and includes free, unedited JPG photos. There are no bathrooms, chairs, or blankets, so dress for serious cold.

“I'm such a terrible person for forgetting the name of our tour guide but he was korean and he is very patient and we are also patient with him waiting for the aurora borealis. We definitely chased and captured this phenomenal moment with the Aurora Borealis for the 1st time in extreme cold no complaints at all, he also take professional photographs with you as you are watching the lights dancing and I'm happy that he sent the URL of the pictures right away. We would definitely book again and come back for more. Thank you Sir, for your patience and for making sure we get to see aurora borealis!…”

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4.Mountaintop 360° Best Alaskan Cabin with Photography @Aurora Camp

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 322 reviews · 4 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $99Best value

At Aurora Camp near Murphy Dome, Joy and David host a 4.5-hour Northern Lights watch from a warm cabin and 10-acre yard. You get 360-degree sky views, hot drinks, snacks, live aurora monitoring, a certificate, postcard, and help taking photos. Transfers from Fairbanks are available, usually around 9:00 to 9:45 p.m.

“The camp was great. Had good snacks and hot drinks. Joy suggested us to wait another 30 minutes and the wait finally paid off. We saw amazing auroras”

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5.Northern Lights Aurora Tour with Photography

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 220 reviews · 1 day · from $210

Meet Ed, Elena, or another Arctic Night Tours guide at your Fairbanks hotel and ride into the dark countryside in search of clear skies and aurora activity. The route may stretch toward Yukon Lake, and the outing can last 8 to 12 hours. Your guide takes portraits, aurora photos, and sometimes time-lapse video while you stay focused on the sky.

“The tour was great, the guide really showed his professional and super helpful in leading us to chase the northern light. He also explained lots of information and knowledge about northern light which is really good. He drove us to a great spot and waited for the northern light, and we successfully catch the great view with massive light above our head which was super impressive. He also super helpful on taking photo for us. I will give “Prefect” to the tour and tour guide.”

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6.Aurora Glass House – Northern Lights and Photos at Cleary Summit

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 162 reviews · 5 hours (approx.) · from $99

Ride from Fairbanks to the 270° Aurora Glass House at Cleary Summit for about five hours of Northern Lights viewing. You can watch through floor-to-ceiling windows or step outside, with hot drinks, snacks, guide support, and photography included. Guides such as Michael and Stella help you spot the aurora and capture it.

“Stella was great about communicating pick up time and location! They provided salty snacks, coffee, and instant cocoa. She let us know when the Aurora seemed to be getting brighter and was patient in taking multiple portraits of each visitor. Highly Recommend!”

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7.Anchorage Aurora Tour and Northern Lights Photo

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 156 reviews · 6 hours (approx.) · from $315

Spend about six hours chasing the aurora from Anchorage toward Chugach State Park, Eagle River, and Palmer. Guides such as Ben, Chad, Colin, Erica, and Ronnie combine aurora advice with photography help, tripods, portraits, snacks, hot drinks, blankets, and round-trip hotel pickup. Routes change with clouds and aurora conditions.

“Our guide was awesome. He had a lot of knowledge and was happy to share. Only problem was the lights didn’t really come out that much. Hoping on the pics he took we will see something. AND it was -26 degrees for the entire night!!?!?! Not on them though. Had fun and would do it again. Thank you!”

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8.Aurora Borealis Northern Lights Photography Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 33 reviews · 6 hours · from $312

Spend six hours chasing the Aurora Borealis outside Anchorage with a professional photographer guide. Learn the science, practice night photography, use a complimentary tripod, and receive an aurora portrait if you want one. Hotel pickup, snacks, warm drinks, hand and toe warmers are included. Camera rental requires advance notice.

“Our guide, Chad, was fantastic! The forecast was uncertain for the night, but he did a fantastic job watching the data and finding us a great spot to catch the lights. He even extended the tour a little to make sure we could see them before heading back to our hotels. It was a great experience!”

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9.Northern Lights Adventure with Photos & HOT PIZZA

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 4 reviews · from $300

Join Nathan of Electric Moose Studios for a six-hour Fairbanks aurora hunt in a small group. Drive north in a 15-passenger van, learn night photography, warm up with fresh pizza and hot drinks, and receive aurora portraits plus landscape photos. Bring your own camera, tripod, and serious winter layers.

“I HIGHLY recommend this tour for a unique, well planned, and unforgettable Northern Lights experience! Our guide was above and beyond and the group was amazing. This tour really stands out from other Northern Lights experiences where you’re stuck waiting in a van or outside. We were treated to a cozy warming hut with heaters (it was truly warm even though it was single digits and snow) a variety of warm beverages, and an Ooni pizza oven—our guide made us five different pizzas! The hut was the perfect spot to wait for the aurora atop a viewing area away from Fairbanks city lights. We also lit compostable Chinese lanterns, which…”

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