Chena Hot Springs and Aurora

Few Alaska experiences are as memorable as soaking in hot water while the aurora moves overhead. Chena Hot Springs is a remote resort in the hills northeast of Fairbanks with natural mineral springs, and this tour runs there from the city with transport, so you do not have to drive the winter road in the dark. The soak is the main event: you float in steaming water while the air is far below freezing, with the sky open above you. The resort also has the Aurora Ice Museum, a year-round attraction carved and kept frozen, which makes a good stop before or after the soak. With more than 1,300 reviews and a 4.6 rating, the tour is one of the best-established ways to combine hot springs and northern lights. Remember that the aurora cannot be promised, and the experience is still enjoyable on cloudy nights because of the springs themselves.

Season. The aurora is visible only in the dark half of the year, roughly from late August to mid April around Fairbanks, with long summer daylight ruling it out from May to August. Hot springs are open year-round, so the tour has a different character in winter and summer. In the aurora season the evening version is the one to book, because it keeps you out late under the sky. Confirm the dates and departure times for the version you want on the booking page.What to expect.

The tour provides transport and you pay or arrange entry as stated on the booking page, so confirm what is included. Bring a swimsuit, towel and flip-flops, and a warm hat for the walk between the changing room and the pool, because wet hair freezes quickly. Wear warm layers for the ride and the walk, and keep your phone in a warm pocket since batteries die in the cold. Aurora activity depends on solar conditions and clear skies, so choose a trip with more than one night available if you can.Planning notes.

If you only have one winter evening in Fairbanks, this is a very efficient way to spend it, because hot water makes waiting for the aurora comfortable. For a different aurora setting, the Anchorage Northern Lights Tour works for travelers based in southern Alaska, though Fairbanks is generally the better place to look for the lights. Combine the soak with a dog sled ride on another day, and look at the Aurora Winter Train if you want a rail journey between the two cities.

Manage expectations on the aurora and enjoy the rest. Some evenings are cloudy and the sky stays gray, and no operator can promise a display, which is why the springs and the ice museum matter so much to the value of the trip.

If you want better odds, plan more than one night in the Fairbanks area and choose a tour with flexibility. The transition from steaming water to freezing air is memorable but requires care, so move quickly between the changing room and the pool, keep your head covered and drink water. Avoid alcohol before soaking in very hot water, and leave valuables in the vehicle rather than carrying them to the pool.