I’m sure if you’re reading this it is because you want to see the Alaskan Northern Lights or really go off the grid when traveling to Alaska, am I right? Even if I am not, I think this will still be a helpful 7-day itinerary for you.

We’re not too big on winter vacations but we landed on Alaska because with the pandemic on our heels we weren’t sure what international travel was going to look like. We have both always wanted to see the Aurora Borealis, thus taking on a bucket list experience! In this post, I will go over our Alaskan itinerary that is totally duplicatable!

Where to stay in Alaska

First things first, your accommodations are so important when it comes to making the most of this experience. We stayed at the Westmark Fairbanks Hotel & Conference Center as well as the Borealis Basecamp. We flew into Fairbank, Alaska then booked a one-night stay at the Westmark Hotel because our Borealis Basecamp shuttle would be able to pick us up from there. We were shuttled up to Borealis Basecamp where we stayed three nights, and then we stayed two more nights back down in Fairbanks at the Westmark hotel.

Your 7-Day Alaska Itinerary

Day 1 – Arrival

Fly into Fairbanks, Alaska, and then stay at the Westmark Fairbanks Hotel & Conference Center. Grab some dinner at a nearby restaurant & don’t forget to check and see if the lights are out! Sometimes you can see them even amidst the city lights.

Day 2 – Stock Up

Stock up on snacks, drinks, and any extra gear you might’ve missed out on. We stopped into a local Walmart and grabbed all of our goodies there.

• We caught lunch at Saltys on 2nd. They have a solid drink menu there because we all know a liquor coat will be sure to keep you warm.

• After lunch you will catch your shuttle too the Borealis Basecamp. It will pick you up right at your hotel if you let them know ahead of time where you are staying. Get to know your shuttle buddies because you will more than likely see them on multiple occasions at the base camp.
• Upon arrival, make a dinner reservation at their only eatery on sight, Latitude 65, get settled into your igloo and walk the grounds! Talk to the staff and find out what activties they have on site (free and paid for).
• Upon nightfall the staff will let you know what the possibility of Norhtern Lights visbility will be for the evening. They also have alarms installed in every igloo that will ring so you wont miss anything.

Day 3 – Borealis Basecamp

Note: When booking the Borealis Basecamp to see the Northern lights in Alaska, book your basecamp excursions in advance, if they are not included.

• We booked the 5 Hour UTV tour where you experience the White Mountains through the Alaskan backcountry.

• Afterward, we caught some lunch at the Latitude 65, went back to our room, played some board games, took a nap, and utilized some of the free activities like bike riding and sledding to pass some time. A lot of your time up here is spent waiting for the Northern Lights, but it is the perfect amount of relaxation and activities.

• We love the specials for dinner but it is worth mentioning the dinner menu can be kind of pricey when you’re eating there day after day. Taking a cheaper route for dinner we ordered burgers to save a few dollars.

Day 4 – Alaska Northern Lights

• We slept in a little this morning. The thing with the Basecamp is you’re waking up almost every other hour to see the lights, so a full night’s rest isn’t always guaranteed. Take whatever time you have to sleep in so you don’t miss out on the nighttime festivities. 

• Our activities today included dog sledding and nature walks. During gog sledding we learned about what it is like to be a real racing dog musher in Alaska. And yes, we got to play with the doggos.

• Afterward we hit the nature walk which was a quick trail through the forest. This was especially enjoyable because despite thinking you won’t have a ton to do, you feel busy all day long! Enjoy the slow moments.

• We did a photo shoot this evening with Electric Moose Studios. This needed to be booked up way in advance, so do not expect him to have openings at the time you arrive. He is super flexible because the Alaskan Northern Lights are unpredictable but try to get the conversation going early.
  • Can’t get a session? No problem. The front desk has some high-quality cameras for rent.

Day 5 – Explore Fairbanks

• Time to pack up and say goodbye to your igloo. Your shuttle will take you back into Fairbanks. After the basecamp, we were glad to have some time to spend in the city. There is surprisingly quite a bit to do in Fairbanks Alaska. When planning our Fairbanks portion of our Alaska itinerary, a ton of restaurants, activities, and museums popped up.

• We checked into the Westmark and settled in there before heading off to the North Pole! There is a cute little town about 20 minutes away called North Pole. So naturally, we had to make a stop and see santa.
• We headed back to Fairbanks and ended up at Lavelles Bistro for dinner. If its a Friday or a Saturday evening, make a reservation. Walk-ins can be challenging. Warm-up with their soup of the day and throw on a little liquor coat with their fabulous cocktail menu. 

• Follow that up with some tapas and more drinks (if you dare) at The Library Bar & Bites. Also required a reservation.

Day 6 – Chena Hot Springs

• Unplug a bit and book a day pass to Chena Hot Springs. Enjoy the 60 mile scenic ride, soak in the natural hot springs and visit the coolest year-round Ice Museum. They have a fabulous cafe and restaurant that we ate at for lunch and dinner.
• Once you get back to the hotel have a few drinks at the hotel bar and reminsice on your trip!

Day 7 – Check Out

• Grab some brunch at the Cookie Jar Restaurant and say goodbye to Fairbanks as you head for the airport.

We felt 7 days was the perfect amount of time to see Fairbanks, explore our igloo town, and get what we came for! Did we miss anything? What is on your Alaska itinerary?