Chena Hot Springs plus Aurora Chase Tour

Chena Hot Springs is more than a quick soak. This long Fairbanks outing gives you time for the hot springs, Ice Museum, and resort grounds, then turns the ride home into a dedicated northern-lights chase. You get a full evening rather than a rushed photo stop.

I especially like the included aurora photography help and the small group limit of seven. I also like that the guide keeps watching live NOAA and NASA data instead of simply parking at one viewpoint and hoping for luck. The main drawback is the length: at 10 to 14 hours, this can be a very late, cold night, and the aurora is never guaranteed.

Key points to know before booking

• A full day and night in one outing: Leave Fairbanks around 3 p.m., spend 3 to 6 hours at Chena Hot Springs, then continue into the night for an Aurora Chase.
• Five edited aurora portraits are included: The photographer chooses the final images, so results and selection are at the photographer’s discretion.
• Small groups make a difference: The maximum group size is seven, useful when you need help with a phone, camera, tripod, or cold-weather setup.
• Chena has more than its pools: You can add the Ice Museum, geothermal tour, restaurant, deli, or a prebooked massage.
• The aurora is not promised: Clouds can block the sky, and the show may be faint even when conditions are clear.
• Extra costs add up: Hot Springs admission is $20 per person, and the Ice Museum costs another $20 if you choose to visit.

Why this combines Chena Hot Springs and an aurora chase

Many northern-lights outings begin after dinner and end when the guide gives up for the night. This one uses the afternoon well. You leave Fairbanks at about 3 p.m., drive toward Chena Hot Springs, enjoy the resort for several hours, then use the return journey for the main aurora search.

That structure makes sense in Alaska. You are not spending the whole evening sitting in a van waiting for the sky to change. You have a warm indoor stop, a meal option, and several activities before the sky gets dark enough for the northern lights.

The tradeoff is simple: this is a long commitment. The stated duration is about 10 to 14 hours, so your return time depends on weather, aurora activity, and how far the guide needs to drive during the chase. You should plan on a late night and keep the following morning flexible.

The operator says the aurora is visible around Fairbanks nine out of ten nights from August through April when it is dark. That is a useful general guide, not a promise for your date. Clouds are the biggest problem, but a clear night can still produce a faint show rather than the bright green curtains seen in photographs.

The drive from Fairbanks to Chena Hot Springs

The first leg is not just transport. The guide allows time for scenery photos and wildlife watching along the way. No particular animals are promised, so think of this as a chance to keep your eyes open rather than a formal wildlife safari.

Pickup is offered from lodging in Fairbanks or the North Pole area within 25 miles of the airport. The pickup notes also say that locations more than 10 miles from central Fairbanks may have a small fuel surcharge, and pickups within a 50-mile radius can be arranged with a fuel fee. Confirm the exact charge for your address before booking.

A 3 p.m. start gives you daylight for much of the drive, depending on the season. That matters because Alaska’s winter daylight changes sharply over the year. You can expect the guide to use the drive for basic aurora discussion, photography advice, and updates on the evening’s conditions.

The vehicle ride also gives you a chance to ask practical questions. If you are carrying a camera, tell the operator in advance if you need a rental camera or tripod. If you have a phone only, the included photography help still applies.

Three to six hours at Chena Hot Springs

At Chena Hot Springs Resort, you have roughly three to six hours for the property and its paid activities. That is enough time for a leisurely visit, but you should decide how to use it before arrival. Trying to fit every option into one stop could make the evening feel hurried.

The main attraction is the hot springs. Admission is not included in the $285 tour price, and the Hot Springs Pass costs $20 per person. The warm water can be a welcome break before a night spent outside, though you should remember that changing, drying off, and getting dressed for the cold all take time.

The Ice Museum is another option, with a separate $20 admission fee. It gives you an indoor activity and a distinctly Alaskan contrast to the geothermal pools. If you enjoy unusual attractions, it may be worth adding, but it is not essential to the aurora part of the outing.

You can also visit the Ice Hotel area, take the geothermal tour, or simply spend time around the property. The geothermal tour is a good choice if you want context for why hot water is available in such a cold setting. The available information does not give a separate price or exact schedule for that tour, so ask at the resort when you arrive.

Food is available at the on-site restaurant and deli. Simple snacks, plus makings for hot cocoa, instant coffee, or tea, are included with the outing. I would still confirm your meal plan early, since the resort stop may cover several hours and the night chase can continue well past normal dinner time.

Massages are available, but they need to be booked far in advance. Do not count on arranging one spontaneously during the tour. If that is part of your plan, contact the resort before committing to the excursion.

What the aurora chase actually involves

After your time at the resort, you return toward Fairbanks and begin the dedicated Aurora Chase. The goal is to use current conditions to find a workable viewing spot, rather than staying fixed at Chena Hot Springs regardless of cloud cover.

The guide tracks live data from NOAA and NASA. That does not make the forecast exact, but it gives the group a better basis for deciding where and when to stop. Aurora chasing is partly science and partly patience. You may get a strong display quickly, or you may spend time moving and waiting for a break in the clouds.

The two available comments about this experience point to the same strength: the guide kept working when conditions were difficult. Lindsay is specifically named as a guide who made an extra effort to find the lights on a final possible night after three nights of solid cloud cover. Another outing found a viewing spot despite a generally cloudy day.

That is the right way to think about the service. You are paying for transport, weather tracking, local decision-making, and persistence, not a guaranteed green sky. A guide cannot control clouds or solar activity. What the guide can do is keep checking the conditions and make sensible use of the available night.

The group limit of seven helps here. A small vehicle is easier to organize when the group needs to make a quick stop, adjust camera settings, or move to a better opening in the sky. It also means you are not sharing the night with a large busload of people.

Photography help and the included portraits

Photography help is included whether you bring a phone or a camera. This is valuable because aurora photos often require settings that are not obvious in the dark. The guide can help you work through basic setup, framing, and timing rather than leaving you to guess.

Five edited photography portraits with the aurora are included, at the photographer’s discretion. That wording matters. You should treat these as a welcome extra, not a guaranteed set of custom portraits in a particular style or number of poses.

If you need equipment, the tour offers rentals for a Sony A6600 mirrorless camera at $55 per booking or a Sony A7III mirrorless camera at $50 per booking. A camera tripod costs $25, while a cellphone tripod costs $15. A memory card for a rental camera costs $15.

The rental prices are per booking, not per person, according to the supplied details. Confirm what is included with each rental and reserve equipment ahead of time. You do not want to reach a remote viewing spot and discover that the camera or card you expected is unavailable.

Bring your own phone charger or power bank if you plan to take many photos. That advice is practical rather than tour-specific, since cold weather can affect battery life, and a long outing gives you plenty of chances to use your phone.

What the $285 price really covers

The $285 per-person price looks high until you separate the included services from the add-ons. You are getting a round-trip drive from Fairbanks to Chena Hot Springs, several hours at the resort, a full aurora chase, a small group capped at seven, guide-led aurora discussion, photography help, simple snacks, and hot drink supplies.

The five edited aurora portraits add value if you want a few finished images without handling every camera task yourself. Transportation is another major part of the cost. Driving to Chena, returning toward Fairbanks, and then possibly moving around to find clearer skies is a demanding route in winter conditions.

You still need to budget for the Hot Springs Pass at $20 per person. Add another $20 if you want the Ice Museum. Camera gear, tripods, memory cards, alcoholic drinks, and gratuities cost extra, and some pickup addresses carry a fuel surcharge.

For two people who plan to use the springs and Ice Museum, the basic total becomes $610 before tips, drinks, rentals, or fuel fees. That is not a cheap evening, but it may be reasonable if you want both Chena and a serious aurora search without arranging separate transportation.

The value is weaker if you only want a short hot-springs visit or a simple northern-lights photo stop. In that case, the long duration and added fees may feel excessive. The tour makes more financial sense when you want the full combination and prefer a guide to handle the driving and night decisions.

Cold, comfort, and the practical side of the night

The operator warns that very young children may have trouble with extreme cold for a full night. All ages are welcome, but that does not mean the experience feels easy for every age group. Think carefully about your family’s tolerance for long periods outside, late hours, and changing weather.

Restrooms are available at the resort. Away from the property, the tour may visit remote areas without plumbing, and bathroom breaks are generally outside. This is an important detail for anyone who expects frequent indoor facilities.

Mobility concerns should be discussed before booking. The operator says they will do their best to accommodate specific needs, but the route includes a long drive and remote viewing areas, so explain your situation clearly in advance.

Dress for waiting, not just walking. The aurora may require standing outside while the guide watches the sky, checks updates, or waits for clouds to move. Warm layers, gloves, a hat, and dry footwear matter more than looking polished for the photographs.

Alcoholic drinks are not included. The Ice Bar Martini is available only to those over 21, so treat it as an optional resort purchase, not part of the tour package.

Who this Fairbanks outing suits best

I would choose this for someone staying in Fairbanks who wants one major northern-lights night with a substantial daytime attraction attached. It suits couples, small groups, and photographers who appreciate hands-on help but do not want to manage an entire winter drive themselves.

It also fits anyone with only one realistic chance to see the aurora. The guide’s willingness to keep chasing through difficult cloud cover matters more when your schedule is tight. Still, no guide can promise success, so you should only book if you can accept that risk.

Families can take part, but the 10 to 14-hour schedule deserves careful thought. Children under 12 should be mentioned when booking, and very young children may struggle with the cold and late finish.

I would not choose it for someone who wants a quick, predictable spa afternoon. Chena Hot Springs is only the first major part of the day. The second half is weather-dependent, potentially mobile, and focused on finding the best available sky.

Booking and cancellation details

Confirmation is provided at booking, and the activity is offered in English. The standard cancellation policy is strict: the experience is non-refundable and cannot be changed for any reason after booking.

There is one important exception. If poor weather causes the operator to cancel the tour, you are offered a different date or a full refund. That does not cover a night when the tour runs but the aurora remains faint or hidden by clouds.

Because the outing is often booked about 37 days ahead, reserve early if your Fairbanks dates are fixed. Just make sure you understand the non-refundable policy before paying.

Should you book the Chena Hot Springs plus Aurora Chase Tour?

Book it if you want Chena Hot Springs and a serious aurora search in one long day, especially if you value a small group, photography help, and a guide who keeps watching the data. The combination is efficient for a short Fairbanks stay, and the included portraits and hot drinks add useful touches.

Skip it if you dislike late nights, outdoor waiting, remote bathroom stops, or weather uncertainty. You should also compare the final price after adding hot-springs admission, the Ice Museum, fuel fees, and any equipment rentals.

My practical advice is to book this when the northern lights are your main goal and Chena Hot Springs is a bonus, not the other way around. The resort gives you a worthwhile first half, but the true value depends on the guide’s chase decisions and the sky’s cooperation.

FAQ

What time does the tour start?

Pickup begins around 3 p.m. The exact pickup time and location depend on your lodging and the arrangements made at booking.

How long does the experience last?

The full outing takes about 10 to 14 hours. You spend approximately 3 to 6 hours at Chena Hot Springs before continuing with the Aurora Chase.

Is transportation from Fairbanks included?

Yes. Round-trip transportation from Fairbanks to Chena Hot Springs and the Aurora Chase is included. Pickup is offered from lodgings in Fairbanks or the North Pole area within 25 miles of the airport.

Is there an extra pickup or fuel fee?

A small fuel surcharge may apply if your lodging is more than 10 miles from central Fairbanks. Pickup within a 50-mile radius of Fairbanks can be arranged with a fuel fee.

Is the Hot Springs admission included?

No. The Hot Springs Pass costs $20 per person and is paid separately.

Is the Ice Museum included?

No. Admission to the Ice Museum costs $20 per person.

Is the northern lights display guaranteed?

No. The aurora is a natural phenomenon and cannot be guaranteed. The operator tracks live NOAA and NASA data, but thick clouds can prevent viewing.

What photography help and equipment are available?

Photography help for a cellphone or camera is included. Five edited aurora portraits are included at the photographer’s discretion. Optional rentals include Sony A6600 and Sony A7III cameras, camera and cellphone tripods, and a memory card for a rental camera.