Itinerary Details
Day 1: Welcome to Alaska
Today you will independently transfer between your hotel and Fairbanks International Airport (or vice versa). While you are welcome to use a taxi service or ride-share app, please note that many hotels and lodges offer complimentary shuttle services. If you would prefer to have a private transfer arranged for you, please speak with your Destination Specialist while planning your trip.
Hotel: Pike's Waterfront Lodge (3 Star Rating)
Pike's Waterfront Lodge offers comfortable rooms many with scenic views, a steam room, riverside deck, restaurant, a comfortable lounge, and wireless Internet in the public areas and most sleeping rooms. Aveda aromatherapy room amenities accent each room, and the hotel's location, just minutes from the Fairbanks Alaska Airport, next door to Pike's Landing Restaurant, steps from the Chena River, and a short distance from the local rail station, makes it a favorite among visitors for convenience and comfort.
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Day 2: Chena Hot Springs Northern Lights TourTreat yourself to a relaxing sightseeing evening on your Alaska vacation. Relax in the famous Chena Hot Springs and view Northern Lights. Only 60 miles (100 kilometers) from Fairbanks, this world-renowned resort offers a day of rest and relaxation in the historical location discovered by natives and early miners. Enjoy the mineral hot springs in a beautiful natural setting and experience the dancing of the northern lights. Along the way we almost always spot Moose. Food and beverages are available at the local restaurant.
Day 3: Fairbanks Winter City TourExperience Fairbanks in winter on a guided city exploration that highlights the character and heritage of Alaska's Interior. Travel through town to see notable landmarks and important community sites while learning about the area's gold rush history, Indigenous heritage, and modern northern living. Your guide provides insight into how Fairbanks residents adapt to cold winters and seasonal extremes. This experience offers an informative overview of the city's past and present, combined with views of winter landscapes that define life in interior Alaska.
Day 4: From Fairbanks to The Lodge at Black RapidsToday you will be picked up from your hotel in Fairbanks and transported by van to the Lodge at Black Rapids. Along the way, there will be opportunities to stop and observe the scenic views, and you might even catch sight of caribou herds and moose in their natural habitats. Upon arrival at the lodge, you will be treated to appetizers and champagne and then settle into your private room. After dinner, enjoy a presentation on the science of the Aurora Borealis and the secrets of effectively photographing it. After the presentation, enjoy an excursion with the lodge photographer to explore the area looking for Northern Lights if they are not visible from the lodge.
Hotel: The Lodge at Black Rapids (4 Star Rating)
Escape to this secluded Alaskan property, located just a scenic 2.5-hour drive south of Fairbanks and a mere 38 miles south of Delta Junction. Nestled in the Eastern Alaska Range, the lodge offers the perfect blend of accessibility and untouched wilderness. Immerse yourself in the breathtaking beauty of glaciers, mountains, and wildlife, all within a fresh and pristine environment. Embark on an unforgettable adventure along the road less traveled and discover the true essence of Alaska. The lodge has six rooms with private bathrooms, and offers panoramic views, two stone fireplaces, a library, and a sauna and hot tub. The full-service restaurant offers high quality family-style dining using fresh produce, seafood, and meats.
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Meal(s): Dinner
Day 5: Northern Exposure: In Search of the LightsNo two days are exactly the same at The Lodge at Black Rapids. In this remote and vast land, the local weather - and in the case of Aurora Borealis, atmospheric and solar conditions - greatly impact what is possible and where to visit. With this in mind, and with the help of your local on-site guides, each day will be curated to local conditions. During your stay at Black Rapids, expect to be invited to head out on off-site Northern Lights excursions, adventuresome hikes, and cross-country skiing and snowshoeing excursions where and when possible.
Hotel: The Lodge at Black Rapids (4 Star Rating)
Escape to this secluded Alaskan property, located just a scenic 2.5-hour drive south of Fairbanks and a mere 38 miles south of Delta Junction. Nestled in the Eastern Alaska Range, the lodge offers the perfect blend of accessibility and untouched wilderness. Immerse yourself in the breathtaking beauty of glaciers, mountains, and wildlife, all within a fresh and pristine environment. Embark on an unforgettable adventure along the road less traveled and discover the true essence of Alaska. The lodge has six rooms with private bathrooms, and offers panoramic views, two stone fireplaces, a library, and a sauna and hot tub. The full-service restaurant offers high quality family-style dining using fresh produce, seafood, and meats.
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Meal(s): Breakfast, Dinner, Lunch
Day 6: Discovering the Far NorthAnother day of Alaskan wonder awaits. Your guides will assess conditions and tailor the day accordingly; possibilities include a guided excursion to the spectacular Castner Glacier Ice Cave, where ever-changing formations of ancient ice create an otherworldly landscape unlike anything else in the Interior. Back at the lodge, warm up in the sauna before gathering with fellow guests for dinner and another evening spent scanning the skies for the aurora.
Hotel: The Lodge at Black Rapids (4 Star Rating)
Escape to this secluded Alaskan property, located just a scenic 2.5-hour drive south of Fairbanks and a mere 38 miles south of Delta Junction. Nestled in the Eastern Alaska Range, the lodge offers the perfect blend of accessibility and untouched wilderness. Immerse yourself in the breathtaking beauty of glaciers, mountains, and wildlife, all within a fresh and pristine environment. Embark on an unforgettable adventure along the road less traveled and discover the true essence of Alaska. The lodge has six rooms with private bathrooms, and offers panoramic views, two stone fireplaces, a library, and a sauna and hot tub. The full-service restaurant offers high quality family-style dining using fresh produce, seafood, and meats.
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Meal(s): Breakfast, Dinner, Lunch
Day 7: Another Day of ExplorationToday may bring one of the most memorable experiences of your trip. Depending on conditions and availability, a flightseeing tour (included on 6-day program; available for purchase on 4-day program) offers a bird's-eye perspective of the Eastern Alaska Range, its glaciers, and the vast wilderness stretching in every direction. On the ground, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing trails wind through quiet boreal forest and along the bluff above the Delta River, with sweeping views of the Alaska Range as your reward.
Hotel: The Lodge at Black Rapids (4 Star Rating)
Escape to this secluded Alaskan property, located just a scenic 2.5-hour drive south of Fairbanks and a mere 38 miles south of Delta Junction. Nestled in the Eastern Alaska Range, the lodge offers the perfect blend of accessibility and untouched wilderness. Immerse yourself in the breathtaking beauty of glaciers, mountains, and wildlife, all within a fresh and pristine environment. Embark on an unforgettable adventure along the road less traveled and discover the true essence of Alaska. The lodge has six rooms with private bathrooms, and offers panoramic views, two stone fireplaces, a library, and a sauna and hot tub. The full-service restaurant offers high quality family-style dining using fresh produce, seafood, and meats.
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Meal(s): Breakfast, Dinner, Lunch
Day 8: A Final Night Under the LightsYour final full day at Black Rapids is yours to savor. Whether you spend it on a last guided hike through the snow-dusted landscape, relaxing by the fire with a good book, or soaking in the sauna beneath wide Alaskan skies, the pace is entirely your own. This evening, raise a glass of Alaskan beer or wine at dinner and reflect on the extraordinary experiences - and skies - of the past few days.
Hotel: The Lodge at Black Rapids (4 Star Rating)
Escape to this secluded Alaskan property, located just a scenic 2.5-hour drive south of Fairbanks and a mere 38 miles south of Delta Junction. Nestled in the Eastern Alaska Range, the lodge offers the perfect blend of accessibility and untouched wilderness. Immerse yourself in the breathtaking beauty of glaciers, mountains, and wildlife, all within a fresh and pristine environment. Embark on an unforgettable adventure along the road less traveled and discover the true essence of Alaska. The lodge has six rooms with private bathrooms, and offers panoramic views, two stone fireplaces, a library, and a sauna and hot tub. The full-service restaurant offers high quality family-style dining using fresh produce, seafood, and meats.
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Meal(s): Breakfast, Dinner, Lunch
Day 9: From The Lodge at Black Rapids to FairbanksA leisurely start to the day, your last at the Lodge at Black Rapids, is yours to enjoy. Take your time to reflect on your experience over an extended breakfast, relax in the lodge, or partake in additional activities. After lunch, have your belongings ready for the return to Fairbanks, which will include a tour with cultural stops along the way. Snacks will also be provided on the road, and you will also have the opportunity to visit the University of Alaska Museum before returning to your hotel (or airport), if time allows.
Meal(s): Breakfast, Lunch
Hotel: Pike's Waterfront Lodge (3 Star Rating)
Pike's Waterfront Lodge offers comfortable rooms many with scenic views, a steam room, riverside deck, restaurant, a comfortable lounge, and wireless Internet in the public areas and most sleeping rooms. Aveda aromatherapy room amenities accent each room, and the hotel's location, just minutes from the Fairbanks Alaska Airport, next door to Pike's Landing Restaurant, steps from the Chena River, and a short distance from the local rail station, makes it a favorite among visitors for convenience and comfort.
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Day 10: Depart from AlaskaToday you will independently transfer between your hotel and Fairbanks International Airport (or vice versa). While you are welcome to use a taxi service or ride-share app, please note that many hotels and lodges offer complimentary shuttle services. If you would prefer to have a private transfer arranged for you, please speak with your Destination Specialist while planning your trip.
