NLFT05 Bettles Lodge Aurora Viewing Tour

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NLFT05 Bettles Lodge Aurora Viewing Tour

Whether you call them Northern Lights or the Aurora Borealis, these dancing ribbons are truly a magical sight. Alaska is undoubtedly one of the best places in the world to enjoy this unique experience, and Bettles Lodge is one of them. Built in 1951, Bettles Lodge is located 35 miles north of the Arctic Circle, halfway between Anchorage and the Arctic north coast of Alaska. Bettles officially has the most clear weather days in the entire state, which means more cloud free nights of opportunity to see the majestic Lights dance in the sky. It located directly under the Auroral Band, the highest aurora activity in the Northern hemisphere. Little to no light pollution makes for great photography opportunities and optimal viewing. The lodge offers two accommodations with modern amenities and a rustic Aurora observation cabin next to a beautiful lake. The cabin is located two miles from the cabins in an area completely free of light pollution. Transport to and from the cabin can be arranged, but guests are also welcome to cross-country ski or snowshoe if they prefer. During the day you can explore the area on snowshoes or cross country skis. Part of the package is a tour through the village of Bettles, evening fires and all the clothing visitors need to brave the cold weather.

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Fairbanks Downtown Court

Fairbanks ( Overnight: Fairbanks )

Arrive in Fairbanks. Complimentary transfer to your first class hotel near the banks of the beautiful Chena River in downtown Fairbanks. Known as the Golden Heart City of Alaska, Fairbanks is tucked into miles of unexplored wilderness only 120 miles from the Arctic Circle. Fairbanks offers many winter activities; from the Open North Sled Dog Race Championship to the World Ice Art Championship - Ice Alaska. Relax during your first evening in Fairbanks and get ready for a few days of winter fun and adventure within the Last Frontier. You may watch the Aurora Borealis at night dancing on the northern sky and/or enjoy a dinner at the popular Pump House fine dining restaurant.

Bettles Lodge Northern Lights

Fairbanks – Flight to Bettles Lodge ( Overnight: Bettles Lodge )

Transfer to the airport and scenic flight above the Trans-Alaska-Pipeline and across the mighty Yukon River to Bettles Lodge - located just outside of the world renowned Gates of the Arctic National Park. Enjoy your stay 35 miles above the Arctic Circle and within Alaska's magnificent Brooks Range. The lodge is a refurbished building originally set up in 1948 and provides a dining room, lounge with TV and a bar. The Historic Lodge and the Aurora Lodge feature cozy guest rooms with all the amenities you need while you stay in our remote location including a sauna! Guests can choose between the Jacuzzi rooms with private bathroom and Jacuzzi bathtub or the standard rooms. The four standard rooms share four bathrooms. A delicious dinner is served in the evening. Enjoy the breathtaking Northern Lights viewing opportunities during the night. Arctic gear rental is included.

Bettles Northern Lights

Bettles Lodge ( Overnight: Bettles Lodge )

Breakfast at the lodge. Build in 1948 the lodge is a designated National Historic Site and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Day at leisure and for outdoor adventures. Optional available activities: Guided Sled Dog Trips, Snowmobile Tours, X-country skiing, Sowshoeing and a variety of flightseeing adventures. Join a guided 2-hour tour of the Bettles area including the Inupiaq Eskimo village of Evansville. Evening dinner followed by another night of exciting and outstanding Northern Lights viewing. Bettles sits under what is called the "Auroral Oval", a ring-shaped region around the North Pole. The location offers a great balance of occurrence, frequency and activity. Intensity varies from night to night, with the best viewing from late evening through the early morning hours.

Bettles Lodge – Flight to Fairbanks

Breakfast at the lodge. Return flight to Fairbanks and transfer to your hotel. Optional: Add another night at Bettles Lodge. Rest of this day at leisure. Fairbanks offers a variety of excellent gift shops and galleries such as the "Roseberry Art Gallery" with some tasteful gifts for your friends at home. If you travel during February or March - Fairbanks hosts the World Ice Art Championships, exciting professional Sled Dog Races such as the All American Sled Dog Race Championship and a variety of other winter carnival activities. Optional: Evening transfer from your hotel to a prime Northern Lights viewing lodge in the hills about 20 miles north of Fairbanks – far away from any city lights. Enjoy spectacular 270-degree Aurora displays through large picture windows from the comfort of a heated cabin or outside.

Fairbanks Sled Dog Tour

Fairbanks

This morning you have time to visit the Alaska University Museum with the States largest collection of gold nuggets, gold mining history and Alaskan heritage artifacts and the nearby Geophysical Institute - recognized as the best in the world for its Aurora Borealis research activities. You may join a Bush Mail Plane Flight to a remote native village above the Arctic Circle. Downtown Fairbanks offers a variety of excellent gift shops and art galleries such as the "Roseberry Art Gallery" with some tasteful items for your friends at home. Stroll through thedowntown court before returning to the airport for your individual return flight. Tour extension is avaiable upon request.

Rates in US $ / per Person

	Room Category (Bettles)	Single	Double	Triple
October 01 - April 15	Standard Room	$2170	$1680	$1670
October 01 - April 15	Jacuzzi Room	$2580	$1950	$1770
Additional Night at Bettles Lodge	-	$200	$200	$200

What’s included

2 Nights Accommodation Bettles Lodge (Standard or Jacuzzi Room)

2 Nights Superior Accommodation Fairbanks

All Taxes

Fairbanks Airport Hotel Transfers

Flight Fairbanks – Bettles - Fairbanks

Guided Evansville Village Tour

Arctic Circle Certificate

Bettles: Use of Arctic Gear, Snowshoes, X-country Ski Equipment

Deluxe Continental Breakfast in Fairbanks (First Class only)

3 Meals/Day at Bettles Lodge

Tour Documentation

Sightseeing Information

Tour Departures

Daily from August 21th – April 15th

Bettles Lodge: Snowmobile Tour (1hr)

On this snowmobile tour, your guide will lead you through a true winter wonderland so you can explore the frozen rivers, lakes and snow covered mountains around the Bettles area.

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Bettles Snowmobile Tour

Fairbanks: Northern Lights Viewing Tour

You will be picked up at 10 PM for your northern lights viewing tour. Enjoy the transfer to a prime aurora viewing lodge, located in the hills about 20 miles north of Fairbanks – far away from any city lights. Enjoy spectacular 270-degree aurora displays through large picture windows from the comfort of the lodge or outside. Once the lights are out, you want to step outside onto the large deck to soak in the view. And if you get cold, just go back in and help yourself to a cup of hot coffee, tea, or cocoa, available self-serve. Return to your hotel at 2:30 AM.

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Northern Lights Fairbanks

Fairbanks: Ice Fishing

Your Ice Fishing day trip begins with the pick up from your hotel. While catching fish in a warm hut on a beautiful lake you can still safely enjoy the brisk, clear air and peaceful environment of Interior Alaska, the home to some of the best ice fishing this state has to offer. Learn the old native skill of ice fishing from our experienced ice fishing guides. Hot drinks and grilled fish for a late lunch are served while fishing. Warm arctic gear is available and our heated van is always close by. Please provide each participant’s height, weight, and shoe size for the arctic gear. The tour price includes: hotel transfer, arctic gear, fishing license, tackle, hot beverages and lunch.

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Ice Fishing Fairbanks

Accommodation

First Class Hotel Category (**** Hotels & Lodges)

First Class Hotels tend to provide additional amenities such as on-site restaurant, Lounge, Bar, Fireplace Seating, Fitness Facility, Swimming Pool / Hot Tub etc. All First Class Hotel Rooms are of higher category and are always equipped with a private bathroom. Most of these Category Hotels are normally located in prime downtown locations or within national parks. These include larger hotel chains are for example: Marriott Hotels, Sheraton, Westmark Hotels, Princess Hotels and Lodges, Clarion Suites, Comfort Inn & Suite. The larger hotel chains are only available in Anchorage and Fairbanks. In case of non-availability of a larger hotel chain, we prefer to book locally owned Premium Hotels / Deluxe Cabins or Cottage for our clients. Please note that First class accommodation may not be available in small locations and in such cases we will then book the best available accommodation.

Comfort Hotel Category (*** Hotels, Motels & Lodges)

Comfort Hotels offer a good amount of essential guest services and are located in downtown locations and/or in/near national park areas. All Comfort Hotel Rooms are provided with private bathroom facilities. Example larger hotel chains for Comfort Hotel Category are: Holiday Inn, Howard Johnson, Guesthouse Inn, Ramada Inn, High Country Inn. As you might be aware, that these hotel chains are not available throughout Alaska. In such cases or/and when we feel that Alaskan owned hotels & lodges offer a better experience, we go with that choice. Cabins and Cottages also considered in this category to make your experience even more ‘Alaskan’. We ensure that all the Cabins & Cottages have a private bath to make your stay comfortable.

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Information

Information

Customizing Tours

All of our tours are flexible and you can add, modify or exchange nights in destinations to suit your timetable and preferred routing. Thus, sometimes it will be necessary to observe ferry schedules, national park opening/closing dates etc. to match certain dates and/or departures. Please check also each itinerary online.

Included Services

Please refer to the appropriate tour page for a listing of included services. Our service generally includes the rental car, accommodation, applicable local taxes, ferry trips as scheduled, sightseeing as per itinerary, a detailed tour description, highway or road logs. Not included are: Meals, tunnel tolls, gasoline, entrance fees, additional sightseeing tours. The rental of a compact car (automatic) is always included in our flexible self drive tour packages. Additional rental days or upgrade to a Mid and Full Size Car, Mini Van or Sport Utility Vehicles (4x4) are available. The displayed upgrade rental rates are always per car (not per person) - and of course for the total length of the tour package. Our advertised rates include all local taxes, licensing fee, airport fee, road tax and unlimited mileage. Rental Car insurance is not included as most US guests can use their own private insurance. A valid driver license and a valid major credit card are mandatory for all individual vehicle rentals and/or tour packages including vehicle rentals. Driving on gravel roads/highways is at own risk. The rental car insurance is void on the following highways Denali Highway, Dalton Highway, Top of the World Highway, Taylor Highway, McCarthy Road, Dempster Highway and all other gravel roads. You will be responsible for any damages. Drivers have to be more than 25 years of age. Contact us if you are below 25 years of age.

Advance Reservation

If you travel during the high season from the middle/end of June until the end of August we recommend booking as early as possible to avoid disappointments with sold out situations in highly frequented national parks and gateways - because the northern tour season is very short. The same applies in/around national holidays. Any hotel accommodation, rentals cars and ferry space must be definitely booked well in advance. Thus, tour operator such as our company may still have space on a short notice. Accordingly it is well worth to contact us.

Travel Month

The last two weeks of May, June and September are perfect months for a vacation in the Land of the Midnight Sun. The weather is usually stable and sunny with almost 24 hours of daylight. July and August are prime travel months and are obviously very busy.

Emergency Assistance

You can contact us in case of an emergency. We have a dedicated 24/7 helpline available for our guests.

Available Room Occupancy / Bed Configuration

Single: A room assigned to one person. Room with one bed (double, queen, king size)

Double: A room assigned to two people. Room with two double/queen beds or a king size bed.

Triple: A room assigned to three people. Room with two double/queen beds

Quad: A room assigned to four people. Room with two double/queen beds The maximum occupancy per room is four. Please request if you require a roll-a-way bed.

We can arrange our self drive tours including 2 rooms and 1 rental car if your group is larger than 4.

Bed and Breakfast (B&B) Option

We can substitute the overnight in a hotel with the overnight in a Bed and Breakfast. In this case breakfast is included. The rate of the first class / comfort hotel class will remain the same. We can only exchange some of the hotels since B&B’s are not available in all locations.

Northern Lights Observation

Because of the long daylight hours it is uncommon to see the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis) displays from mid May until mid August. The Aurora occurs mainly during the fall / winter months from September – April. Please refer also to our winter touring program.

VISA / Identification

The Visa/entry requirements do change frequently. Please check requirements on the appropriate government pages. We are unable to take any responsibility for such information however you will definitely need your passport to cross the US/Canadian Border. Please ask us if your self drive tour enters Canada.

Travel Insurance

We strongly encourage you to purchase travel insurance to cover: cancellation fees associated with an outing as well as airfare or other nonrefundable expense in the event you need to cancel a trip; medical expenses incurred on a trip; and the cost of a possible medical evacuation from a trip, canceled flights due to weather. We have made arrangements with our trusted travel insurance provider for you to purchase a comprehensive travel insurance plan. Please contact us for details

Oscar, Austin: We had the most fabulous holiday, we saw Aurora Borealis and went on a sled dog ride. Eric and Heather at Bettles Lodge are the perfect hosts. They think of everything. Their lodge is very comfortable and welcoming, rooms are clean and large, and their staff are friendly and helpful. The best possible jumping off point to view the Aurora Borealis and experience Alaska's Arctic Region. Only regret is that our 2-night visit was too short. Highly recommend!