Northern Lights Viewing at Murphy Dome
4.5

Northern Lights Viewing at Murphy Dome

By Alaska Wildlife Guide LLC
Recommended by 92% of travellers
92% of reviewers gave this product a bubble rating of 4 or higher.
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Lowest price guaranteeReserve now & pay laterFree cancellation

Ages 6-99, max of 8 per group
Duration: 5h
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Live guide: English
More


  • Beverages
  • Snacks
  • Hotel/port pickup and drop-off
What's not included
  • Gratuities
  • Restrooms


Start:Multiple pickup locations offered.
    Pickup details
    • Pickup times will be between 10:00 PM and 10:45 PM. We will contact you the day before your tour with your exact pickup time. We can only pick up from hotels within the Fairbanks or North Pole city limits. We do not pick up from the airport. If you are staying outside the city limits, we can pick you up at Walmart or another hotel location. Please call our office to discuss what options are available.
    Hotel pickup offered
    During checkout you will be able to select from the list of included hotels.
      End:This activity ends back at the meeting point.

        • Not wheelchair accessible
        If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 5957P18

        • Most travellers can participate
        • Please wear appropriate warm winter clothes
        • We provide hot drinks and snacks for this tour.
        • There are no restroom facilities available
        • The road to Murphy Dome is steep and if it is not plowed or is too icy and dangerous we will take customers to an alternative location that provides the same opportunity to see the aurora.
        • This experience requires good weather. If it’s cancelled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
        • This experience requires a minimum number of travellers. If it’s cancelled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund
        • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 8 travellers

        • For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.

        If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 5957P18

        From
        £98.14
        per adult
        Select date and travellers
        Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, learn more.

        Similar experiences

        Itinerary
        • Pass by
          Fairbanks
        • 1
          Join us on our tour to one of the most famous Northern Lights viewing spots in and around, located north northwest of Fairbanks, Murphy Dome. Today Murphy Dome Air Force Station (elevation 2930 feet) is a closed United States Air Force General Surveillance Radar station. We will leave the city lights behind us in our spacious vans ensuring each guests comfort. Highlights: Travel to Murphy Dome (20 miles west north-west of Fairbanks, was once an Air Force Station, today still in use as a Long Distance Radar Station) Murphy Dome climbs to 2.930 feet (880 meter) above sea level View the breathtaking Northern Lights dance across the sky (360 degree view) Enjoy the opportunity to photograph the Northern Lights for everlasting memories Note: We cannot guarantee the Northern Lights sightings. It is a natural phenomena, which is difficult to predict and impossible to control. Please also note, that the Murphy dome is not a building. This also means that there are no restroom facilities available.
        About the operator
        Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
        • Alaska Wildlife Guide LLC
          4,606
          North Pole, United States
          Joined in October 2012
        • A321XLannak
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Best tour
          Gavin was an awesome tour guide. Made all 7 of us feel like true Alaskans. ALL ages can go and have a great time. We will definitely come back again
          Written 12 February 2025
        • Climber17599466617
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          So fun!
          Gavin was a great guide! We went with our family and he made us feel safe and comfortable all while letting us have an awesome time!
          Written 12 February 2025
        • H2601BCfrancess
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Great Fairbanks tour
          Jessica was a great tour guide and it was so nice getting to know her a little. We probably grilled her on too many questions, and she was very knowledgeable about everything. You can tell she truly loves living in Alaska. She even went the extra mile to look in the van for my diamond earring I lost sometime during our tour. I will definitely recommend this tour company to folks if they plan a trip to Fairbanks! Thanks for a great day. 😊
          Written 11 February 2025
        • Linda J
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Great way to see Fairbanks in a day.
          Great tour. Jessica was very friendly and informative. We had a great day at the local museums. Very informative. The pipeline stop was very interesting. Then we finished the day off at the Christmas Village in North Pole. I would highly recommend.
          Written 11 February 2025
        • dougsW2110QH
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          A day in the COLD.
          The day was perfect! Jessica was personable and informative. She even dropped us off at The Pump House restaurant. We had a great time. The allotted time for each venue/activity was very good. I highly recommend this tour company!
          Written 11 February 2025
        • Susan B
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          A fun tour of the ice museum and hot springs at Chena Hot Spring and Resort
          Christopher was a great guide. He was funny, imformative and helpful to all in our group. The hot springs were fantastic even when the air temp was in negative degrees. Dinner was great and we all had a good time
          Written 11 February 2025
        • 551debv
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Great times!
          We had a wonderful experience. Our guide was amazing, so knowledgeable and she made it such a trip! The northern lights were awesome, she did the most trying to get the best experience.
          Written 11 February 2025
        • Y5329LKreginam
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          The best bucket list experience
          Chris was in unbelievable! Knowledgeable, humorous, and pleasant company. He went above and beyond to assure our group of 10 had a wonderful experience and thanks to him it was!
          Written 11 February 2025
        • G9770CAellens
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Must do!
          Gavin was great! We had an amazing time. Would definitely go again. He made sure everyone had a good time no matter the experience level. Helped take a lot of photos and was overall a great person and guide.
          Written 9 February 2025
        • Trek537414
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Chena Hot Springs and Northern Lights
          Amazing experience. We enjoyed seing the northern lights and the Chena hot springs. Our guide Christopher was excellent giving us tips and explainig everything, he also took us some great pictures. We totally recommend this tour and the guide.
          Written 9 February 2025
        • 904summerl
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Awesome Tour with Great Views
          The tour was awesome! I had Gina as my guide and really enjoyed her company and knowledge about Fairbanks. The hot springs at the resort were great and the ice museum was pretty neat to look at as well. Gina offered to take us to some of her personal favorite spots to see the lights and we got super lucky!! She also helped everyone set their cameras up to capture the lights, which was so kind.
          Written 8 February 2025
        • brendanhJ6696XO
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Great trip out on the snow mobiles
          Awesome trip with Gavin! We got to go out with just our group, so we hit the lake, plains, and hills and really got to shred. Got some great pictures at amazing spots, and he pointed out Mt. Denali & a Bald Eagle. He also gave us some solid recommendations for things to do at night since we didn’t have any plans after.
          Written 8 February 2025
        • Climber58754142569
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          An amazing experience!
          Gavin was an awesome tour guide! We had such a blast & didn’t want it to end. I would definitely recommend this excursion to anyone interested!!
          Written 8 February 2025
        • timw442
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Hot springs and the Northern Lights, can't name a better duo!
          This tour was absolutely wonderful! Gina picked us up at our hotel drove us to the Chena Hot springs. She was so knowledgeable and accommodating in helping the group she was guiding. This ranged from helping with group photos, driving us to some great spots for photos, and even adjusting our intinerary to making the most of the trip! Plus, Gina was so funny and a great hang!
          Written 8 February 2025
        • enoheliar
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Excelent
          Gavin He is the best, he was super friendly and made us have the best experience of our lives. Thank you. I would come back, yes, because yes.
          Written 8 February 2025
        See all 4,606 reviews
        These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

        Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

        Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

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        4.5
        4.5 of 5 bubbles157 reviews
        Excellent
        130
        Very good
        16
        Average
        3
        Poor
        2
        Terrible
        6

        Jaymie B
        1 contribution
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Jan 2025 • Friends
        Our Alaskan tour to see the northern lights was absolutely magical! The aurora views were breathtaking, and Gina, our guide, made the experience even more unforgettable. She provided invaluable travel tips, expertly tracked the aurora’s activity to ensure we caught the best views, and navigated the snowy roads with care, keeping us safe throughout. Her dedication and knowledge truly turned this trip into a once-in-a-lifetime adventure. Highly recommend!
        Written 18 January 2025
        This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
        Thank you for your review and choosing Alaska Wildlife Guide for your Murphy Dome tour!
        Written 23 January 2025
        This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

        Sean P
        1 contribution
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Sept 2024 • Solo
        Out tour guide, Gina S. was great. She arrived at my hotel on time and was very attentive to everybody’s needs. She got the group to a viewing spot on Murphy Dome away from other people so we could enjoy the Northern Lights experience. I appreciated her knowledge about Alaska and how to use my phone to take great pictures
        Written 12 September 2024
        This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
        Thank you for your review and choosing Alaska Wildlife Guide for your Murphy Dome adventure! We are glad you got to enjoy the amazing lights.
        Written 24 September 2024
        This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

        Sugantha S
        1 contribution
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Dec 2024 • Family
        Since the road conditions were at Murphy dome, we were taken to Cleary summit. We were picked up on time. The van was comfortable and kept warm throughout the tour.

        Chris was our guide. He was very friendly and knowledgeable about Auroras and Fairbanks. Even though the night started cloudy, he was constantly on the watch out for northern lights and alerted us at the first sign. He patiently waited for a few hours till the sky cleared and we were presented with some great views of the northern lights. He even made us warm hot cocoas as we waited. Great experience.
        Written 29 December 2024
        This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

        Jeffrey H
        9 contributions
        2.0 of 5 bubbles
        Save your money & drive up to the viewing spot if you have your own or rental car. This company charges almost as much as others that provide a comfortable warm cabin or yert to relax in when one is tired of waiting for this atmospheric non-event. I say non-event, as the naked eye cannot see all of the colors of the Aurora Borealis. Only photos will bring out the colors, & even then they are less than the spectacular dancing colors one sees in all of the advertisements.
        Written 8 September 2024
        This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
        Jeffrey, It sounds like you were in fact lucky enough to witness one of nature's most amazing phenomena, the Aurora Borealis. This natural phenomenon is unpredictable, can never be guaranteed, and doesn't always look exactly the same. Sometimes you can easily see all of the colors with the naked eye, and sometimes a long film exposure will in fact reveal more details. You would, however, be the first guest we ever served who has described it as a "non-event". We are very sorry that you did not enjoy your once in a lifetime event, but we do hope that you were able to enjoy some of what Alaska has to offer.
        Written 12 September 2024
        This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

        Vikki D
        13 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Jan 2024 • Couples
        The tour company is great, we did 3 excursions with them, and this was our 3rd. they were always on time, communication was great on pick up and drop off. Jarod was our guide and since our phone and camera did not work for the aurora (anything more than a couple of years old will not take pictures) he graciously took a picture and sent it to us (this aurora was not quite as good as the night before, but we got a so so picture). Jarod and his assistant were helpful and attentive. This van had a microphone system and it worked so the people in the back could hear him too. None of our other excursions worked. We saw the aurora 2 of the 3 nights we went out, so we feel very grateful and lucky. It was cold and windy on Murphy Dome, so we were glad we had rented clothing from Alaska Elements; we are from Arizona, so we have lizard blood and don't like the cold. The clothes kept us toasty, and the boots helped us walk on the ice and snow.
        Written 15 January 2024
        This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
        Thank you so much for taking our tour, and for taking the time to leave a review!
        Written 12 February 2024
        This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

        J S K
        San Francisco, CA11 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Oct 2024 • Friends
        The most spectacular night of auroras ever up at Murphy Dome! Gina was a great guide, knowledgeable and friendly, great stories and insights, letting us know where the lights were active and suggesting shots. Her patience and know how allowed us to avoid the lights from other cars up there their (always turning them on right in the middle of a long exposure!) and we were rewarded with a crazy dancing display of such incredible dancing lights just as we were headed back down the hill - she pulled over and let us have a few more minutes to capture it! Thanks Gina!
        Written 3 October 2024
        This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
        Thank you for your review and choosing Alaska Wildlife guide for your Murphy Dome adventure! So glad you got to see the amazing Northern Lights!
        Written 15 October 2024
        This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

        shirleylnavarro
        Clermont, FL8 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Tony was an amazing guide. Even though there was a blanket of clouds, he did a terrific job keeping us entertained, educating us on Alaskan culture and the people, and making sure we were comfortable. He even took us to another location to see if there were less clouds. Overall we had a fantastic time laughing and learning about everyone in our small group.

        We plan on coming back with more family and requesting Tony as a tour guide.
        Written 27 September 2023
        This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

        Krista D
        Charlotte, NC16 contributions
        4.0 of 5 bubbles
        Sept 2024 • Family
        Unfortunately, we didn’t see any Northern Lights on this tour, making it our second unsuccessful attempt. When comparing this tour to our previous one, the price differences became quite clear. One of the main issues we faced was the lack of communication from our tour guide; it was so cloudy that we were unsure if the tour was still happening or if we had the option to cancel. This uncertainty created a bit of stress as we waited for our pickup time.

        Once we arrived at Murphy Dome, we sat in the van (whereas other experiences I had, they had a campfire and chairs set up), hoping the clouds would clear. However, it was extremely cold (it was snowing!) and very windy, so keep that in mind when booking this tour during the winter season.

        While our guide was knowledgeable about Alaska and the Northern Lights, I would have loved to learn more about the science behind them. Additionally, if you're hard of hearing or prone to motion sickness, be sure to sit in the front, as the ride was very bumpy!

        Overall, while the experience had its challenges, I appreciated the effort, and it reminded us that Mother Nature can be unpredictable.
        Written 28 September 2024
        This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
        Hello, thank you for choosing Alaska Wildlife Guide for your tour. We never cancel tours for weather conditions as we cannot control the weather, and we remain as hopeful as our guests. Fairbanks is unique in the way that our weather will sometimes clear up in the middle of the night while the lights are on display, because we are in a valley, but we go out of town for viewing, and we do not want our guests to miss it on the chance that it does clear up. We do offer the most generous cancellation policy in Fairbanks, so we encourage our guests to check the weather frequently and proceed at their discretion. Murphy Dome is the same experience for all companies across the board. It is a famous location because it is expansive views of the sky, and you are able to view it from the comfort of your vehicle without freezing and can mingle with the other guests while waiting for the natural phenomenon to grace our presence.
        Written 1 October 2024
        This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

        Tom
        2 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Go with a professional guide like Tony for your first night of aurora viewing. The guide can give you the inside tips and background and you can see the northern lights on the following nights on your own. We went out on snowy cloudy night. Our guide Tony told us right away that there were slim chances of seeing the Aurora and due to road conditions we weren’t going to murphy’s dome. Then the magic began…Tony drove and told us history, folklore and stories of his own exciting experiences of a lifetime in Alaska. We got to a couple of pretty spots …After hours of waiting we were walking through the woods and heard Tony’s call The LIGHTS ARE HERE! For a brief 4 minutes the clouds cleared and the aurora appeared. We would have totally missed them if he hadn’t been alert and watching. So even on a less than perfect night we strongly recommend- talk to Tony
        Written 5 November 2022
        This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

        Rizlene I
        5 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Our family had a great time yesterday night visiting the Murphy dome. We had the unique opportunity to see the aurora lights despite the clouds. We would like to extend our warm thanks to our guide. He drove us up to the dome in the middle of the night, in icy conditions while keeping us interested. We felt safe and engaged the entire time. We wish him the best of luck. He was a true gem to talk to and he made the entire experience worth having. 

        Written 7 November 2023
        This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
        Thank you so much for taking our tour, and for taking the time to leave a review! -Alaska Wildlife Guide
        Written 14 November 2023
        This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

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        *Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.

        2025 Northern Lights Viewing at Murphy Dome provided by Alaska Wildlife Guide LLC

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