SkyChase™ | Northern Lights Experience – Free Photography & More

The best thing about SkyChase is the willingness to keep moving. Instead of parking beside Fairbanks and hoping the clouds clear, your guide checks weather and aurora data, then sends the heated van toward the best available sky. Tony, Andrew, Dre, and other guides also help with camera settings and take a group portrait.

I especially like the heated van and campfire setup, since a Fairbanks night can be brutally cold. The included sausage, vegan option, hot drinks, tripod rentals, and downloadable photos add real value. The main catch is simple: nature still controls the show. You may see a grand green display, faint lights only on a camera, or nothing at all.

Key points at a glance

• Real-time chasing: The route can change toward Murphy Dome, Ester Dome, Chena, Two Rivers, or other dark-sky sites.
• Warmth built in: Heated vans, campfires, and, on many larger departures, a mobile heated lodge help make a long winter night manageable.
• Free photography: Your guide takes aurora portraits and provides downloadable images, though RAW files and watermark-free originals are not part of the base package.
• Food and drink included: Cooked reindeer sausage or a vegan alternative, marshmallows, and more than eight hot and cold drinks keep the evening pleasant.
• Aurora Guarantee: If no lights are seen, the company offers a refund or another chance, subject to its terms.
• Small van experience: Each van holds up to 14 people, although the full operation may have as many as 60 people on a busy night.

Why the chasing matters in Fairbanks

Fairbanks sits beneath the Aurora Oval, the broad zone where Northern Lights activity is especially common. That does not mean the lights appear on command. Clouds, wind, moonlight, local city glow, and solar activity all matter.

SkyChase uses its Lights-for-Life Formula to choose a direction. The goal is not to follow a fixed sightseeing loop. It is to find a patch of clear sky with a reasonable chance of aurora activity. That may send you north, east, south, or west, depending on the night.

This approach is useful in Fairbanks because cloud cover can vary sharply across a short distance. A gray sky in town may give way to clear stars at a high point outside town. The route is flexible, but that also means you should not expect to visit every place named in the plan. These are possible viewing areas, not guaranteed stops.

What the five-hour evening feels like

The tour begins at 10 p.m. at 425 Merhar Avenue, though pickup from Fairbanks hotels and bed-and-breakfasts is offered between 9 and 10 p.m. You receive a call or text when the vehicle is about 10 minutes away. The pickup area covers accommodations within five miles of downtown Fairbanks.

The timing may shift if conditions look better earlier. The company has contacted people during the afternoon to suggest an earlier start, sometimes several hours earlier, and has offered a refund or new date when the change did not work. If you want the best chance of seeing active lights, stay flexible.

Once aboard, your guide explains the night’s weather pattern, aurora forecast, and route. The drive itself is part of the experience. Guides such as Tony and Andrew have been praised for explaining Alaska, the aurora, and local points of interest while keeping an eye out for changing conditions.

The van remains heated while you wait. That matters more than it may sound. At temperatures around minus 15 degrees Fahrenheit, you can enjoy a short outdoor burst of aurora, then return inside before your fingers and camera batteries give up.

Murphy Dome and the high viewpoints

Murphy Dome is one of the highest accessible points around Fairbanks. When skies are clear, it offers broad views and less city glow. It is a sensible place for aurora work because you want as much open sky as possible, especially when the lights may appear anywhere overhead.

The tradeoff is exposure to cold and wind. A high viewpoint gives you better sight lines, but it does not make winter less severe. Bring serious boots, warm gloves, and layers even if you expect to spend much of the night in the van or lodge.

Other high points may be used in the same way. The company has dozens of approved locations and chooses among them using current sky data. Some provide a wide horizon, while others offer a darker forest edge or a better view in a particular direction.

North Pole, Alaska and the route east

North Pole may appear along the way, with Santa Claus House providing a dose of roadside Alaska oddity. It is not usually the viewing destination. Think of it as a charming landmark during the drive, not a scheduled sightseeing stop.

Farther east, the Chena Hot Springs region may become the preferred direction when the sky is clearer there. The forested setting offers less city glow and a quiet place to watch the sky. The Two Rivers and Pleasant Valley area can serve a similar purpose when eastern weather looks promising.

These places are useful because the tour can follow clear weather rather than a rigid plan. The drawback is that you may spend a fair amount of time driving. If you want a fixed camp with a guaranteed view from one spot, this is not that kind of outing.

Chena routes, high points, and distant Alaska views

The wider Chena area may be used when conditions favor it. Forest, river reflections, and fewer lights make it a strong choice on a good night. The point is not to collect roadside attractions. It is to reach a darker place where the sky has a chance to open.

On certain nights, the route may include another high point northeast of Fairbanks. These locations are chosen for open views and a better chance of seeing active aurora. Again, treat the named areas as possibilities. The guide may stop once, twice, or three times, depending on the forecast and what the sky is doing.

Denali National Park is only visible from certain high viewpoints on rare clear nights. You might catch a distant view of the Alaska Range, but this is not a Denali sightseeing tour. It is an occasional bonus that shows how far-reaching the Alaskan night sky can be.

A historical gold discovery site may also lie along one of the routes. The tour generally passes through rather than offering a long historical visit. It adds a little context to the remote country around Fairbanks, but the aurora remains the reason for the drive.

Ester Dome, Nenana Hills, and western options

Ester Dome is a frequent western direction because of its height, dark surroundings, and distance from Fairbanks glow. It can be a good choice when the western sky is clearer or when aurora activity is developing in that direction.

The Nenana Hills region may be used on nights with clearing to the west. These lesser-known areas provide broad skies and a sense of distance from town. You are not promised any one of these places, and that is the point. The guide is trying to match the route to the weather rather than force the weather to fit the itinerary.

The strongest part of the route plan is its flexibility. The weak point is that you may not know exactly where you are going until the night unfolds. If you enjoy the hunt, this adds excitement. If you prefer a settled schedule, expect some uncertainty.

Fire-cooked food and the mobile lodge

The campfire is more than a photo prop. It gives you a place to warm your hands, cook a pre-cooked reindeer sausage, and talk while waiting for the next burst of activity. A vegan choice is available. Marshmallows and s’mores have also been provided on some outings.

One useful cold-weather tip is to heat the bun as well as the sausage. At these temperatures, food cools very fast. The food is simple, filling, and welcome after a long drive.

The Borealis Brew drink bar offers at least eight hot and cold choices. Hot chocolate and warm drinks are particularly useful when you are trying to stay outside long enough to watch the sky. Meals beyond the included fire-cooked food are not covered.

On departures with 14 or more people, a mobile heated lodge usually follows the vans. It may include a wood stove, warming room, and restroom. This can be a major advantage for older people, families, and anyone uneasy about being away from facilities for five hours.

Do not assume the lodge will appear every night. One outing had a vehicle problem, and the mobile trailer was not available. The vans remained warm, but the missing restroom and indoor space were noticed. If the lodge matters to you, ask about that night’s setup.

Photography help that adds real value

Aurora photography can be frustrating. Your phone may show green shapes that are difficult to see with your eyes, while a proper camera needs a tripod, manual settings, focus adjustments, and patience.

SkyChase includes hands-on camera support and tripod rentals. Guides help you set up your equipment, and Tony in particular has been praised for taking many portraits and assisting with camera settings. Andrew has also served as both guide and photographer.

The included media package is a real benefit at this price. Your guide takes pictures of the group and individual poses, along with sky-only images, then provides downloadable files. Delivery may come later rather than immediately, with some photos arriving about a week after the tour. A 360-degree time-lapse video is also included.

Read the photography details carefully. The base package does not include RAW files, edited pictures as an unlimited add-on, or watermark-free originals. Most people will be happy to receive finished downloadable images, but serious photographers may want to clarify exactly what files they will receive.

Photography quality can vary with the guide, the equipment, and the strength of the aurora. One weak point reported from a less successful outing was too few portraits and poor lighting on some group shots. That is worth knowing if the photographs matter as much to you as seeing the lights.

The cold-weather reality

The van and lodge reduce the hardship, but this remains an outdoor winter activity. You need proper footwear for severe cold, warm layers, a hat, gloves, and patience. A short walk from the van to the viewing area can feel long when the temperature drops.

Camera batteries drain quickly. Keep spare batteries warm inside your clothing, and use hand warmers carefully. The tour provides warmth, but it cannot make a Fairbanks night feel like a mild evening at home.

The long hours can suit you if you enjoy quiet waiting, conversation, and sudden changes in the sky. You may spend time watching nothing happen, then see the aurora flare for a few minutes. The experience rewards patience more than a packed sightseeing schedule.

Is $335 a fair price?

At $335 per person, SkyChase is expensive for a five-hour outing. You are paying for more than transportation. The price includes hotel pickup in the service area, a heated van, route planning, an aurora specialist, drinks, fire-cooked food, photography, tripod use, a time-lapse, and access to a warming setup when available.

The included photos make the price easier to justify, especially if you are not carrying a camera suited to night work. The aurora guarantee also reduces some risk, though it cannot promise a spectacular display. If no lights appear, you may receive a refund or another opportunity under the company’s policy.

Value depends on your priorities. Someone who only wants a ride to a dark location may find cheaper options. Someone who wants help with photography, food, warmth, flexible routing, and a backup policy may find the extra cost sensible.

The operation can have up to 60 people overall, while individual vans hold no more than 14. That is not a private tour. Still, a van of 14 people feels more personal than a large coach, and the guide can usually give direct camera help.

Who should book SkyChase?

I would choose this for a first Fairbanks aurora outing, especially if you are staying in town and want hotel pickup. It suits couples, families, solo visitors, and older relatives who value warmth and a restroom option.

It is also a good fit if you want a photo record without hiring a separate photographer. The guide can help you pose, adjust your camera, and watch for the next burst while you enjoy the night.

I would think twice if you dislike long drives, cold waiting, or changing plans. The route can involve several locations, but it can also settle at one strong viewing site. And no guarantee can force the aurora to put on a dramatic show. On a weak night, the lights may be faint or visible mainly through a camera.

Book early if your schedule allows. This experience averages about 48 days of advance booking, and placing it near the start of your Fairbanks stay gives you more room to retry if the guarantee allows it. Free cancellation is available until 24 hours before the start time. Poor weather cancellations may lead to a new date or full refund, while cancellations inside 24 hours are not refunded.

My call: a strong choice for comfort and effort

I would book SkyChase if seeing the Northern Lights is a central goal of your Fairbanks visit. The team puts serious effort into finding clear skies, and the combination of warm vehicles, fires, food, drinks, photos, and camera help makes the waiting far easier.

Just bring the right clothing and keep your expectations honest. You are buying a well-supported search, not a guaranteed performance from the sky. If the aurora appears, this setup gives you several ways to enjoy it. If it does not, the flexible route and guarantee offer more support than a simple drive-and-hope tour.

FAQ

Where does the SkyChase tour begin?

The listed meeting point is 425 Merhar Avenue in Fairbanks, Alaska. Pickup is offered from Fairbanks hotels and bed-and-breakfasts within five miles of downtown.

What time does pickup take place?

Free pickup runs from 9 p.m. to 10 p.m. The guide calls or texts when the vehicle is about 10 minutes away. The scheduled tour start time is 10 p.m., though the company may suggest an earlier start when conditions are better.

How long does the experience last?

The tour lasts about five hours and returns to the meeting point.

How many people are in each van?

Each van can carry up to 14 people. The full activity may have as many as 60 people, divided among vehicles and staff.

What food and drinks are included?

You receive a fire-cooked Alaskan reindeer sausage or a vegan alternative. The tour also provides a drink bar with at least eight hot and cold choices. Marshmallows and s’mores may be available around the fire.

Are photographs included?

Professional downloadable images, an aurora portrait, and a 360-degree time-lapse are included. RAW files and watermark-free originals are not included in the base package.

What happens if no Northern Lights appear?

The tour offers an Aurora Guarantee with a refund or retry if no lights are seen, subject to its terms. If poor weather causes the company to cancel, you are offered another date or a full refund.