Chasing the Northern Lights in Fairbanks, Alaska: My Magical Stay at Borealis Basecamp ❄️🌌
If seeing the Northern Lights is on your bucket list (and let’s be honest, it should be!), there’s no better place in North America to witness this natural phenomenon than in Fairbanks, Alaska. I recently stayed at Borealis Basecamp, one of the most unique stays in Alaska — and it was incredible.
From glass-domed igloos to aurora alarms that wake you up when the lights are out, this trip was straight out of a winter wonderland. Here’s everything you need to know about why Fairbanks is one of the best places in the world to see the Northern Lights, and why Borealis Basecamp is the place to experience it.
**Photos below taken by Jake (a photographer at Borealis Basecamp)
🌠 Why Fairbanks, Alaska Is the Best Place to See the Northern Lights
Fairbanks, Alaska sits perfectly under the Auroral Oval, a ring-shaped zone around the magnetic poles where auroras are most active. That means your chances of seeing the Northern Lights here are seriously high when you visit during the peak months.
📍 Location location location:
Located just 150 miles south of the Arctic Circle, Fairbanks is one of the most reliable viewing spots in the world to see the Northern Lights
You can often see the lights 200+ nights per year between late August and mid-April.
The area’s dry, clear nights make for excellent visibility and conditions
See below for my best Northern Lights photos I took on my Iphone 15 when visiting Borealis Basecamp for 4 nights!
💡 Best time to visit:
Plan your trip between September–April, with March often being peak viewing season for clear skies and long nights. We visited in October and we saw the lights 3 nights in a row!
Winter months (December–February) are extra magical if you want that snow-globe scenery.
🏔️ review of our stay at Borealis Basecamp:
Borealis Basecamp, just 25 miles from downtown Fairbanks, was one of the most unforgettable experiences of my life.
Imagine falling asleep in a cozy cube with floor-to-ceiling windows— and waking up to the aurora dancing in front of your bed!
✨ What makes Borealis Basecamp special:
🛏️ Glass-domed igloos and cubes for front-row aurora viewing from bed. We stayed in a cube, which was also amazing since we had floor to ceiling windows to see the aurora. See below for some photos of our cube:
🔔 Aurora alarm that notifies you when the lights appear (no need to stay up all night!) I will say though some nights we woke up 3+ times and the adreniline of that was so much fun!
❄️ Winter wonderland setting — surrounded by silent snow-covered forests, I’ve actually never heard anything more quiet than being out in the forest around basecamp
🍽️ On-site restaurant called Latitude 65 that had cozy, delicious meals. We had breakfast every morning here and also dinner, and the food was incredible! Andy our server for breakfast was the absolute best!
🔥 Sauna sessions which was the perfect way to warm up after a day in the snow.
BEST Things to Do at Borealis Basecamp
Beyond chasing the lights, there’s so much to do here that captures the spirit of Alaskan winter adventure:
🐕 Dog Sledding: Glide through snowy trails led by friendly Alaskan huskies. Pro tip- dress warm!!
🏎️ UTV Tour: Cruise through the snow on a winter UTV adventure for epic views. Our guide Conrad was great and we had a lot of fun on this adventure!
🔥 S’mores by the Fire: Had S’mores at least 3 times a day which was amazing and something we rarely get to do living in Los Angeles. Having smores at 3 am watching the Northern Lights above us was also a moment I will never forget!
✨Sunset Tour: Borealis Basecamp Adventures takes you up the mountain to the most beautiful Sunset spot overlooking a valley. We had smores, hot cocoa, wine, and it was such a lovely time.
📸 Aurora Photography: Bring your tripod and camera — the skies here are unreal for night photography.
Shoutout to Evan and Jake, the on-site photographers during our stay, who taught us the correct settings to take the best photos of the lights. Highly recommend booking an aurora portrait session with them at Basecamp as well!
🌌 Tips for Seeing the Northern Lights
Want to boost your chances of catching the aurora? Here’s what worked for us:
✨ Tips & Tricks:
Check the aurora forecast on apps like “Aurora” or “My Aurora Forecast.” Please note though this is not always accurate and the best way is to just keep checking outside yourself.
Stay multiple nights — the lights are unpredictable, so 3+ nights gives you better odds!
Dress warm! Layers are everything. Think thermal base, fleece mid-layer, snow pants, and a heavy coat.
Use the aurora alarm (the best invention ever). Trust me, you’ll thank yourself when it goes off at 2 a.m. and the sky is glowing green and pink. Make sure to get outside as soon as it goes off!
Avoid light pollution — Borealis Basecamp is perfectly dark for the best viewing conditions.
Fly into Alaska late at night— we flew in at 12:30 am and saw the lights on the plane
❄️ Final Thoughts
Seeing the Northern Lights in Fairbanks was one of the most magical experiences of my life. From the moment Borealis Basecamp’s aurora alarm woke me up and I watched the sky ripple with color, to the cozy nights roasting s’mores and dog sledding through the snow — this trip was pure winter magic.
If you’ve ever dreamed of seeing the Northern Lights, Borealis Basecamp is the place to do it. Between the cozy cubes, unforgettable activities, and the unreal Alaskan skies, this is one bucket-list destination you’ll never forget! 🌌✨
