Ultimate Northern Lights Photo Workshop & Photo Tour
Mon - Fri: 8 am - 4 pm MT
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Ultimate Northern Lights

Lodge-Based Photo Workshop

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Upcoming Departures

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Starting From [Block//Current Price]

Single Supplement: +$720.00
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   Deposit: $2,000.00

Start/End

Fairbanks, AK / Fairbanks, AK

Length

7 Days/6 Nights​​​​​​​

Fitness Level

Level 1 - What's This?

Group Size

Up To 7 Guests

Highlights

  • Photograph the Northern Lights beneath the Auroral Oval in Fairbanks, Alaska

  • One of Backcountry Journeys' most popular and successful photography workshops

  • Small-group instruction from experienced professional photographers

  • Flexible nightly shooting schedules based on aurora forecasts and weather conditions

  • A Proven Track Record of Northern Lights Photography Opportunities

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Trip Description:

There are many places to see the Northern Lights. Few places rival Fairbanks.

Positioned directly beneath the Auroral Oval, Fairbanks offers one of the most reliable opportunities on Earth to witness and photograph the aurora borealis. Combined with long nights, a dry interior climate, and easy access to remote wilderness locations, it has earned its reputation as one of the world's premier aurora destinations.

Our Ultimate Northern Lights Photography Workshop is designed around a single goal: maximizing your opportunities to experience and photograph this extraordinary natural phenomenon while learning alongside experienced professional photographers who know these skies intimately.

A Proven Northern Lights Experience

For more than a decade, our Ultimate Northern Lights Photography Workshop has been one of the most popular and consistently requested programs in our lineup. It has introduced hundreds of photographers to the aurora borealis and remains one of the best-selling workshops on our calendar year after year.

The images featured throughout this page were captured during past departures of this very workshop. Season after season, our groups return with remarkable portfolios showcasing vibrant aurora displays, dramatic landscapes, and unforgettable moments beneath Alaska's night skies.

Our reputation has been built not only on the photographs our guests create, but also on the experience we deliver. Guest reviews consistently highlight the dedication of our guides, the quality of instruction, and our commitment to putting photographers in the best possible position for success.

The Advantage of Fairbanks

Location matters.

Fairbanks sits in the heart of Alaska's Interior, where dark skies, favorable weather patterns, and frequent auroral activity create ideal conditions for Northern Lights photography. We schedule our departures during September, October, and March, traditionally among the most productive months for aurora viewing and photography.

For more than a decade, we've refined this workshop around the conditions, locations, and timing that consistently deliver the best opportunities. When the forecast looks promising, we know where to be and when to be there.

Living on Aurora Time

The Northern Lights don't operate on a schedule, so neither do we.

Each evening begins with a relaxed dinner before we head into the Alaskan night in search of clear skies and active aurora displays. Depending on conditions, we may photograph from frozen lakes, scenic viewpoints, remote wilderness locations, or cozy backcountry cabins selected for their outstanding foregrounds and unobstructed views of the northern sky.

When the lights appear, you'll be ready. Our guides provide hands-on instruction throughout the workshop, helping you master camera settings, composition, focus techniques, exposure, and creative approaches to photographing the aurora.

Whether it's your first time seeing the Northern Lights or your tenth, few experiences compare to watching ribbons of green, purple, and crimson dance overhead beneath Alaska's vast night sky.

More Than the Aurora

While the Northern Lights are the star of the show, Fairbanks offers plenty to experience during the day.

You'll photograph beautiful Alaskan landscapes, improve your long-exposure and low-light photography skills, and enjoy authentic Interior Alaska experiences, including an unforgettable dog sledding excursion and caribou farm (dependent on season). Between outings, you'll have opportunities to review images, refine techniques, and learn from both instructors and fellow photographers.

An Experience You'll Never Forget

The aurora borealis is one of nature's greatest spectacles, and no destination in North America offers a better combination of accessibility, comfort, and photographic opportunity than Fairbanks.
Join us beneath some of the darkest skies in Alaska and experience the magic of the Northern Lights with a team dedicated to helping you create remarkable images and unforgettable memories.
​​​​​​​
The Northern Lights are waiting.

What's Included

  • All listed meals and non-alcoholic beverages during the workshop

  • All transportation during the workshop

  • All lodging during the workshop

  • All permits and park fees

  • Professional photography guiding and instruction

  • Gratuity for hotel, restaurant, and service staff

What's Not Included

  • Transportation to and from Fairbanks, Alaska

  • Meals not listed as included on the itinerary

  • Lodging outside workshop dates

  • Alcoholic beverages

  • Souvenirs and personal items

  • Gratuity for photography guide(s). Please refer to our FAQ section for more details about gratuities

  • Trip Insurance & Medical Evacuation Insurance - see plans here.

Details

  • Final Balance Due 120 days prior to Trip Start​​​​​​​ 
  • Trip Insurance Optional - but highly recommended​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ 

 Trip Itinerary 

Most meals included – (B,L,D) denotes Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 1 (Travel Day) (D)
Plan to arrive in Fairbanks, Alaska by 5pm today. We will have an orientation dinner and preliminary instruction on Northern Lights Photography then it’s off for a few hours of rest. We will wake you up just before midnight to head out to one of our favorite locations – a frozen lake surrounded by dark forests for an incredible first night of Northern Lights Photography.

Days 2 - 6 (B,D)
We’ll spend the next several days photographing the Northern Lights around Fairbanks. Each night we’ll head out to different locations and photograph the Aurora Borealis! During the day, you can catch up on much needed sleep, and we’ll offer you other activities such as dog sledding (weather-dependent, usually in March if there is enough snow). We’ll have opportunities for post processing work, and instruction to help improve our photography as well.

Day 7 (B)
After the final night of shooting, which will go until 4 AM at the latest, you can book your flight home for any time after 8 AM. Hotel check-out is at noon, giving you the option to sleep in.

Please note that the exact sequence of the itineraries on all photography trips will be based on weather and lighting conditions. The goal on these trips is to make sure we are at the right place at the right time for the perfect light on our subjects. Also, itineraries can change for a variety of other circumstances including floods, forest fires, national park closures, road closures, and more. Due to the nature of wildlife and landscape photography, we do not guarantee any specific sightings or specific compositions.

Physical Requirements 

This trip includes nightly excursions to photograph the Aurora Borealis with minimal walking on generally flat, accessible, and potentially snowy terrain. The physical demands are light, but participants should be prepared for extended outdoor exposure in cold temperatures and variable weather. Some daytime activities such as dog-sledding are offered depending on weather and availability. Optional dogsledding involves more physical engagement but is not strenuous. Warm clothing layers and sun protection are essential, as outdoor exposure can be intense both day and night.

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HERE’S THE DEAL

We offer one of the most rock solid guarantees in the travel industry - our worry free travel, peace of mind guarantee to you!

We’re so confident that the Photography Trips we offer will not only meet but exceed the lofty expectations set forth on our website – if your trip experience does not 100% match the promises laid forth on our website we will gladly give you a credit toward a future trip.

Natural events such as wildlife & weather are certainly out of our control but every aspect of the trip including logistics, accommodations, vehicles, itinerary & your expert trip leaders will match the lofty promises we’ve
made on the site – we guarantee it!

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