Chena Hot Springs Resort: Hot springs, ice museum, northern lights

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1/51
MeetingHotel pickup
Duration10h
GroupUp to 14
Live guideEN
Book up to12h before

Soak in thermal pools and walk through an ice museum carved by hand

This 10-hour evening tour from your hotel includes round-trip transport to Chena Hot Springs Resort, admission to the Ice Museum with a 45-minute guided tour, and access to the hot springs swimming area with indoor and outdoor pools. A live guide leads you to the best viewing spots if the northern lights appear and photographs them for you to keep. Bring swimwear, a towel and shower shoes. The resort rents or sells these if you forget them.

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Step-by-step itinerary

Chena Hot Springs and Northern Lights

  • Pickup from hotel or B&B
  • Drive 1.5 hours to Chena Hot Springs Resort
  • Receive tickets for Ice Museum
  • Guided tour of Ice Museum
  • Visit Ice Bar for Appletini
  • Relax in hot springs and pools
  • Enjoy optional Alaskan dining
  • Search for northern lights vantage points
  • Return to hotel or B&B

The experience

The drive north takes 1.5 hours, leaving you time to settle in before dark. Once you arrive at the resort, your guide walks you through the Ice Museum first: a 45-minute tour of ice sculptures carved by hand, where the temperature stays well below freezing and the light plays off the carved walls. The museum includes access to the Ice Bar, where you can order drinks (bring your ID if you plan to buy alcohol). Beverages are purchased at the activity center before you head into the museum itself.

After the museum, you move to the hot springs swimming area. The resort has both indoor and outdoor pools fed by natural hot water, plus an indoor lap pool if you want to swim rather than soak. You'll need 2 quarters for the locker room. Your guide carries extras if you don't have them. The water is warm enough to stay in for hours, and the setting is designed for you to look up at the sky while you're in the pool.

Once the museum and springs are done, the rest of the evening centers on finding the northern lights. Your guide knows the best vantage points around the resort and will position you to watch if the aurora appears. They'll photograph it for you so you have images to take home. The tour includes bottled water throughout, and the resort has a restaurant and gift shop on-site if you want to buy dinner or snacks. Your guide brings you back to your hotel at the end of the night.

What’s included

  • Round-trip hotel pickup and 1.5-hour drive to the resort.
  • Ice Museum admission and 45-minute guided tour.
  • access to the hot springs swimming area with indoor and outdoor pools.
  • bottled water throughout the evening.
  • guide photography of the northern lights if they appear.
  • locker quarters if needed.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 16:30
Book up to12h before
AgesAdult (3 and older) · Infant (1 to 2 years): free
GroupUp to 14
Live guideEnglish
Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 25 pickup points.
Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know
Easy physical levelStroller friendlyPets welcomeInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Tour Fairbanks

Is this one for you?The 10-hour commitment means you're out for the full evening, which is when the northern lights are most likely to appear and when the Ice Museum's frozen interior is most striking. If your schedule allows a full night away from your hotel, this tour bundles the drive, both main attractions and aurora hunting into one guided experience. Nothing to arrange separately.

Traveler reviews

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86 verified traveler reviews
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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Infant (1 to 2 years): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What exactly is the Ice Museum at Chena Hot Springs?

The Ice Museum is a structure carved entirely from ice and showcasing intricate ice sculptures created by renowned ice sculptors. Your 45-minute guided tour walks you through the museum's rooms and installations, and admission is included in your tour package.

Will I definitely see the northern lights on this tour?

The northern lights depend on weather and solar activity, so they are not guaranteed. If they appear, your guide will lead you to the best viewing spots around the resort and photograph them for you to keep.

What do I need to bring for the hot springs?

Bring swimwear, a towel and shower shoes for the locker room. If you forget any of these, the resort has rental and purchase options available. You'll also need 2 quarters for the locker, though your guide can provide them if you don't have coins.

How long is the drive from my hotel to Chena Hot Springs?

The scenic drive takes 1.5 hours each way. Your guide picks you up from your hotel or B&B and returns you there at the end of the evening.

Can I eat dinner at the resort?

Yes, the resort has an on-site restaurant where you can order Alaskan cuisine, though meals are not included in the tour price. The gift shop also sells snacks and smaller portions if you prefer something lighter.

Chena Hot Springs Resort: Hot springs, ice museum, northern lights

10h · EN · at your hotel

from US$ 231 per person

4.9486 reviewsVerified traveler reviews via our booking provider
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