Chena Hot Springs: Aurora Night Tour from Fairbanks

Chena Hot Springs is famous for its soothing waters from indoor and outdoor pools, it’s ice museum with carved ice sculptures and at night, a chance to see the Aurora. In the summer, enjoy the bustle of its resort town life and during the winter, experience the thrill of soaking in steaming water while enjoying the gorgeous fairy-tale views of snow around you. Sometimes ice crystals will form on your eyelashes and hair while your body is completely warm! This is one of the most interesting hot springs in the world.
Chena Hot Springs’ Ice Museum is open year around and allows you to see the ice-sculptures of world famous sculpting masters. Explore “rooms” made out of ice as well as free standing sculptures. For an extra fee, you can choose to drink an Apple Martini at the ice bar out of a cocktail glass made of ice. Experience a drink like no other!
Tour pick-ups begin at 4:30pm. Depending on the condition of the road, the drive to Chena will last about 1 hour and 15 minutes. After you arrive, please remain in the vehicle for a few short minutes while your guide collects the ticket. You will have a few minutes to explore the grounds, taking in the reindeer or the gift shop. At 7pm you will take a tour of the Ice Museum. (You will meet up at 6:50pm for this.) The tour will last 40 minutes to 1 hour depending on your interest. After this, you can head to the warmth of the hot springs and enjoy them until midnight when the pool closes for the evening. If you’re lucky, you can watch the Aurora from the warmth of the pool till then and continue to watch afterwards from the Activities Center or from the mountainside nearby. At 2:30am everyone will meet up to return to Fairbanks and you will arrive back at your hotel about 4am.
The outdoor pool is not open to children under 12. They can only use the indoor pool.