2027 Northern Lights Astronomy Tour with Bob Berman

Upon your arrival in Anchorage, you will check-in at the Wildbirch Hotel and relax after your travel. In the evening, we’ll gather for dinner at one of Anchorage’s fabulous restaurants.

After breakfast we will visit the Thomas Planetarium for a special, private show about the northern skies, curated by Bob Berman for our group. The planetarium is located in the wonderful Anchorage Museum, which includes art, history and science exhibits which guests will have time to explore.

In the afternoon we’ll take a bus tour through Anchorage, stopping at Earthquake Park and a viewing location on the beautiful Turnagain Arm of Cook Inlet.

After breakfast, we’ll head to the Anchorage Train Station to embark on an all-day Alaska Rail journey through the breathtaking landscapes of Denali National Park, passing the iconic Denali itself and a panorama of snow-covered peaks, forests, and frozen rivers. Onboard, food and beverages will be available for purchase, allowing guests to relax and enjoy the scenery.

Upon arrival in Fairbanks, a boxed dinner will be provided to enjoy in the comfort of your hotel room after check-in.

As night falls, we’ll have our first opportunity to chase the Aurora Borealis, witnessing the magical Northern Lights dancing across the Alaskan sky—a truly unforgettable start to our Fairbanks adventure.

In the morning, we will head to the Morris Thompson Cultural Center, which houses world-class exhibits about Arctic Alaska and the history, culture and seasonal flow of local lifestyles. After our visit to the center, guests will have time to explore this unique and historic city.

In the afternoon, back at the hotel, we will join Bob Berman for one of his esteemed lectures, which are fun and approachable for both novice and seasoned astronomy enthusiasts.

In the evening we will head to the Ice Art Championships filled with awe-inducing ice sculptures that are especially magnificent at night when illuminated by colored lights.

After breakfast, we will board our coach and make our way to the University of Alaska at Fairbanks, one of the world’s leading centers in aurora studies. Here we will visit the Museum of the North, which offers fascinating exhibits on the nature, arts, and culture of Alaska.

Following the museum, we will travel to Chena for a two-night stay. Located sixty miles from Fairbanks, secluded in the mountains, Chena Hot Springs Resort is ideal for observing the aurora and the northern skies. After settling in, we’ll gather for a Sno-Cat ride up a nearby summit where we’ll catch the sunset.

The day is yours to explore Chena and enjoy the Alaskan wilderness. A dogsled ride through the forest, access to the hot springs, pool house and surrounding trails are all included in your package. Chena also offers sno-mobile excursions, and cross-country ski rentals, among other offerings, at an additional cost.

Chena is also one of the “greenest” places on Earth! Scientists around the world have traveled to observe its modern green technology. You will have an opportunity to tour the remarkably progressive facilities and learn about their recycling program (everything is recycled), the self-sustaining power-generation system which uses the hot springs to heat all buildings and create electricity, and the greenhouses where much of the resort’s food is grown.

After dinner we’ll join Bob for a late night outdoor Star Party, where he’ll identify constellations and teach us about their significance, while we keep an eye out for the aurora!

In the late morning we will depart Chena and return to Fairbanks. Along the way, we’ll stop at the Alaskan Pipeline, a great architectural feat in the harshest of climates.

Next, we will head to the Fountainhead Antique and Auto Museum, which hosts a “world-class collection of vintage automobiles and period fashions complemented by fascinating exhibits, accessories, photographs and archival videos” and welcomes guests “on a vivid journey through the automotive age, from Victorian times through the Art Deco era.”

After checking back into our Fairbanks hotel, guests will have the rest of the afternoon free to prepare for their flights home and do any final shopping in Fairbanks.

In the early evening we will gather for our farewell dinner at the Pumphouse Restaurant, a local favorite which was reconstructed to create an 1890s “Gold Rush” motif and houses many impressive antiques.

Breakfast will be provided at the hotel. Check-out is at 11:00 am, but late check-outs may be available upon request. Transport for guests returning to the airport will be available throughout the day, as we say our goodbyes. Until next time!