When and How to See the Northern Lights in Alaska

Table Of Content

• When and How to See the Northern Lights in Alaska
• What Ports Do You Visit on a Northern Lights Cruise?
• Wild Journeys Alaska Northern Lights Tours
• Northern Lights Viewing and Dinner Tour from Fairbanks
• Alaska’s Autumn Highlights Tour

Comprising the Aleutian Islands and the ports of King Salmon and Dillingham, Southwest Alaska borders the choppy Bering Sea. This region isn’t a go-to for aurora chasers, but it’s amazing for viewing wildlife. Kodiak Island is unbeatable for bear sightings, and since August and September are two of the best months for bear spotting, your stay can overlap with the aurora season. Consider the Unalaska/Dutch Harbor area if you’re interested in fishing, birding, or hiking. Most Fairbanks hotels offer aurora wake-up calls, but if you’re looking to enhance your Northern Lights viewing experience, consider sleeping in an igloo at Borealis Basecamp.

When and How to See the Northern Lights in Alaska

Aurora viewing is also enhanced by the Spring Equinox and a new moon, making for a higher chance of seeing the Northern Lights. Bring base layers and sensible walking shoes with a sturdy grip, as well as gloves, a hat and scarf, and a jacket capable of keeping you warm and dry. Long sleeves and trousers are advised for daytimes, particularly if you’re planning to observe the scenery from deck as you sail the Inside Passage and Glacier Bay. A camera is also an Alaskan cruise essential as the landscape here is truly otherworldly. Alaska is a cruise destination like no other with so much to be appreciated both on shore and from the deck of your ship.

What Ports Do You Visit on a Northern Lights Cruise?

9 Alaska Cruise Tips and Tricks (Including What To Pack and Expect) - Upgraded Points

9 Alaska Cruise Tips and Tricks (Including What To Pack and Expect).

Posted: Wed, 18 Oct 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]

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.

Wild Journeys Alaska Northern Lights Tours

Include a dancing aurora, and the setting will feel like you’ve been transported into an exotic Arctic realm. Try the parking lot on the shore of Portage Lake—where aurora bands can reflect off the ice or water—or stop at pullouts by the Placer River and Ingram Creek. Cunard’s Norway and Northern Lights cruise is a 12-day roundtrip along Norway’s coastline from Southampton, England on Queen Mary 2, or Queen Victoria ships. Guest speakers, astronomers and award-winning photographers are usually on board to join guests on deck to each evening to scan for and enjoy the northern lights show. Passengers can opt-in for overnight wake-up calls, so they can get some sleep without worrying about missing a Northern Lights sighting.

Northern Lights Viewing and Dinner Tour from Fairbanks

Coldfoot is 250 miles north of Fairbanks and 60 miles above the Arctic Circle. Following a day packed with adventure, guests can relax with hot toddies on deck or join nighttime expeditions to remote vantage points, ensuring the best chances of witnessing the astonishing aurora. For many travelers, catching a glimpse of the spectacular aurora borealis is the dream of a lifetime. Don’t miss out on the chance to see them this year as the sun’s cycle reaches solar maximum, ensuring the best viewing opportunities for the next 11 years, especially during the spring and fall. Plus, there’s no place better than Alaska for stargazing, where vast skies and minimal light pollution create the perfect setting for nature’s light show.

What Is Aurora Borealis

This resort offers not only a chance to relax and soak in natural hot springs but also exclusive access to their Aurora Ice Museum. Imagine witnessing the dancing lights of the Aurora while surrounded by stunning ice sculptures. Anchorage International Airport is well-served by most major airlines, so it’s a natural starting point for an Alaskan adventure. From there, connect easily to Fairbanks to enjoy the Interior region and its auroral splendors.

If you’re in Anchorage and the conditions are ideal, head to a higher elevation. Glen Alps, Point Woronzof, and the Knit River Valley offer decent vantage points—some face north with no pesky mountain peaks in the way. Here’s all you need to know to pick the best time to see northern lights in Alaska.

What Is The Best Time To See Northern Lights In Alaska?

Silverseas Silver Wind has the sleek look of a modern luxury cruise ship, only on a smaller scale. The National Geographic Endurance has but 69 cabins and a maximum passenger capacity of 126, which seems better suited for a university research team than a cruise manifest. Despite the modest size of the polar-rated vessel, this cruise does not skimp on the pampering and provides in abundance all the amenities one would expect from a two-week excursion. If you are willing to trade warmth for less precipitation, then go for May.

Alaska’s Autumn Highlights Tour

From Alaska’s towering glaciers and rich indigenous culture to Norway’s picturesque coastal towns and the untouched beauty of Greenland, the journey to see the aurora can be as rewarding as the destination itself. As the adage goes, “Preparation is half the battle.” By equipping yourself with the essentials and knowledge, you’re setting the stage for a seamless, unforgettable journey through Alaska’s icy waters and shimmering skies. Setting sail to witness Alaska’s Northern Lights is thrilling, but ensuring you’re well-equipped can make your experience comfortable and memorable. Embarking on a Northern Lights cruise in Alaska is a significant commitment, both in terms of time and resources. Making an informed decision ensures you get the most out of this once-in-a-lifetime journey. Alaska, with its vast expanses of untouched landscapes and clear skies, stands as one of the world’s premier destinations for aurora chasers.

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.

Just a short 15-minute dri­ve from down­town Fair­banks, wait for the north­ern lights to appear in a warm, invit­ing space. Cozy up to the fire, sip on cocoa and cof­fee, and step out­side when moth­er nature puts on a show. Although the cen­ter is a short dis­tance from town, it is far enough away so that you won’t have to wor­ry about light pol­lu­tion inter­rupt­ing your view as you stand gaz­ing under the vast, star­lit sky. The city has a variety of aurora-viewing venues, from a number of scenic drives and parks to cozy cabins and lodges.

The light show can amp up without warning, in just about any part of the sky, and generally remains active for at least a half-hour. Because the auroral band is generated by the solar wind, scientists monitoring the sun with observatories and satellites can predict when it’s likely to become active. The Aurora Forecast sponsored by the Geophysical Institute at the University of Alaska Fairbanks has multi-day outlooks and a graphic display showing a short-term forecast that’s practically in real-time.