Gondwana Ecotours is excited to announce an eight-day “Alaska Northern Lights Adventure.” Guests will get a dose of local culture by day and photograph the Aurora Borealis under the massive Alaskan sky by night. Highlights of the tour include dogsledding through snowy forests, taking curling lessons from locals, enjoying a meal with homesteaders, soaking in a geothermal hot spring, learning how to photograph the Aurora Borealis, snowshoeing on private land, having tea with a family of reindeer herders, and more. This season is extra special because solar maximum, the highest rate of solar activity during the sun’s 11-year solar cycle, is predicted to occur between late 2024 and 2026, which can result in even higher activity of Aurora Borealis. Gondwana Ecotours offers an array of Alaska Northern Lights departures from September 2024 to March 2025.
“As the solar cycle approaches its peak in 2024, scientists and enthusiasts alike are eagerly anticipating the heightened activity of the Aurora Borealis,” said Gondwana Ecotours VP Eric Segalstad. “With stronger solar flares and increased solar wind, the mesmerizing dance of colors in the night sky is expected to be even more spectacular than usual.”
Guests will view the Northern Lights displays from a family-owned lodge with magnificent panoramic views. During the day, there will be time to explore Fairbanks, take an exciting sled dog ride, or rejuvenate in the natural hot springs at Chena. Fairbanks is situated within a ring-shaped region around the North Pole called the auroral oval. This location affords a terrific balance of the occurrence, frequency, and activity of the Northern Lights.
“The best part of this tour is the people we meet,” said Gondwana Ecotours Founder Jared Sternberg. “We visit a local family who lives off the grid and hear about their lifestyle in the Alaskan backcountry. We learn the game of curling from interesting locals and even have tea with a family who raises reindeer.”
Trip Highlights
- Witness the magic of the Northern Lights, including personal wake-up calls when the Aurora appears.
- Ride dogsleds through the snowy spruce forests and fields of the great Alaskan wilderness.
- Explore an ice sculpture museum and enjoy a drink at their famous ice-bar.
- Discover how locals live in Interior Alaska from natives and homesteaders.
- Soak in steaming geothermal hot springs under the starry night sky as you watch for the Aurora.
- Hike in the forest with friendly reindeer, feeding them and learning from the family who raises them.
