Alaska Northern Lights in Autumn Photo Workshop
- 6 Days
From $5,195 - Interests
- Night Sky, Northern Lights
- Activity Level
- Easy
- Group Size
- 5–6
Photograph the Aurora Borealis in Alaska’s far north during fall
Fairbanks, Alaska, is an ideal place to photograph the aurora borealis. Its high latitude places it directly in the Auroral Oval, making northern lights a frequent occurrence. If your only experience with aurora is at lower latitudes, the quality and intensity of the aurora are much better at these far north latitudes and well worth the visit.
September is a great time to travel to the Arctic. The sky is finally dark enough each night to give you enough time to photograph the Northern Lights. It is still relatively warm, so you don’t have to deal with cold winter conditions. The lakes and rivers aren’t frozen, so you can capture aurora reflections in the water, and the potential for fall colors offers a compelling backdrop for your photos. Also, auroras occur most frequently around the spring and autumn equinoxes.
For wintry scenes, we also offer Alaska Northern Lights trips in winter.
Highlights
- Prime autumn aurora photography in Alaska’s auroral zone. Shoot the Northern Lights where they’re frequent and vivid, paired with fall colors and unfrozen water for dramatic reflections — lighting conditions most tours simply don’t offer.
- Photograph from carefully scouted locations. We don’t just watch the skies — we put you where the best foregrounds, compositions, and clear views happen, far from light pollution and busy tourist spots.
- Hands-on instruction tailored to aurora and night photography. From long exposures to creative composition and post-processing, our expert guidance will help you transform fleeting light shows into images you’re proud to print and share.
- We handle the late-night logistics so you can focus on shooting. Forget driving and guesswork — we follow weather and aurora activity so you’re always in the right place at the right time, with comfort and efficiency built in.
Your Guides
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James Begeman
Sep 13–18, 2026 -
Mindy Huston
Sep 13–18, 2026Sep 26–Oct 1, 2027
Activity Level
Expect very long nights with temperatures between 55°F (13°C) and 25°F (2°C). You should be able to carry your gear on short hikes over uneven, possibly wet ground. We’ll dress warmly for the weather, and a warm vehicle will always be available during our photo sessions.
This tour has an activity level of Easy. Read more about the Activity Levels for our trips.
Itinerary
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Day 1: Arrive in Fairbanks
Arrive at Fairbanks International Airport (FAI) before 4:00 PM on this day. Airport transfer is included on arrival.
Check into your hotel upon arrival. In the evening, we will have a welcome dinner and discuss photographing the northern lights. Then, we’ll head out for our first night of aurora photography at one of our favorite spots in the Fairbanks area.
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Day 2: Transfer to mountain lodge
After our first night of aurora photography, have breakfast on your own schedule. We check out of our Fairbanks hotel and travel to a remote mountain lodge in the Alaska Range. The lodge is nestled in the impressive mountains of the Eastern Alaska Range, offering beautiful mountainscapes to add to our aurora images.
The comfortable lodge has a classic Alaskan ambiance, with views of the mountains and aurora right outside the door.
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Day 3: Northern Lights in the Alaska Range
We will stay at the lodge today and, conditions permitting, hike to an impressive nearby ice cave. After dinner, we will continue to chase the aurora under the night sky.
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Day 4: Fairbanks Northern Lights
After breakfast at the lodge, we will head back to Fairbanks. We will check back into our Fairbanks hotel. We’ll continue our quest for epic aurora images at our favorite locations around the Fairbanks area.
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Day 5: Fairbanks Northern Lights
Have breakfast on your own schedule, and then meet for lunch and an afternoon in Fairbanks. We will have one final night of aurora chasing in the Fairbanks area.
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Day 6: Departure
We plan to photograph the northern lights the night before your departure, so plan your departing flight accordingly, especially if you want to get some rest beforehand.
Departure from Fairbanks International Airport (FAI). Book your departing flight no earlier than 9:00 AM on this day. Airport transfer is included on departure.
Accommodations
We’ll stay three nights at a hotel in Fairbanks, including a kitchenette, and two nights at a beautiful remote mountain lodge in the Alaska Range.
During this workshop, we will follow a nocturnal schedule. Aurora photography doesn’t begin until darkness, after 10 PM, and we may not return to our hotel until 3–5 AM, depending on the northern lights activity.
Because of this sleep schedule, we want everyone to have their own room so roommates don’t awaken them. If you are a couple wishing to share a room, that is still possible. Giving everyone their own room increases lodging costs for this workshop, but in our experience, the comfort of setting your own sleep schedule is worth it.
Why Travel With Us
Our small-group trips are designed for photographers, with guides who know the best locations and offer instruction to help improve your photography. Read more about why you should travel with us.
Testimonials
Traveling with Mindy and James was great, low stress and easy going, much like traveling with Kevin and Kevin. They provided the subjects and guidance for shooting each location. Will definitely continue traveling with Akari!
This is the second Northern Lights tour I have done with Akari and again very satisfied. The guides did not expect such unseaonably cold weather but we all adapted with the help of many hand and feet warmers. The guides were always helpful, thoughtful and courteous. I would highly recommend this tour company.
Another well organized, well run tour led by helpful and knowledgeable photographers.
Dates & Prices
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Sep 13–18, 2026$5,195 USD Per PersonSingle OccupancyIn ProgressGuides: James Begeman, Mindy HustonGroup Size: 5Payment Terms: Deposit: $1,500 USDBalance Due: May 16, 2026
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Sep 26–Oct 1, 2027$5,395 USD Per PersonSingle OccupancyGuides: Mindy HustonGroup Size: 6Payment Terms: Deposit: $1,500 USDBalance Due: May 29, 2027
All of our standard Terms & Conditions apply. Be sure to read our Cancellation Policy.
What's Included
- Single occupancy lodging. Double occupancy is available for couples.
- All transportation during the tour.
- Airport transfers at arrival/departure.
- Snacks and water between meals.
- All permits and entry fees.
- Instruction, guidance, and image reviews from our expert photography guides.
- Personal pre-trip phone consultation.
What's Not Included
- Airfare to and from destination, airport taxes, and excess baggage fees.
- Passport and visa fees, if applicable.
- Our group will dine together, but the cost of most meals is not included.
- Travel medical & evacuation insurance (optional but recommended).
- Trip cancellation insurance (optional but recommended).
- Alcoholic beverages.
- Any accommodations or meals before or after the tour dates.
- Items of a personal nature.
Prepare for Your Trip
Please review our photography travel resources, including know your camera and our camera gear list, to help you plan your trip. Before your trip, we’ll contact you with more detailed gear recommendations specific to your trip.
Also, get a head start on your workshop learning experience with our night sky photography tutorials.