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    1st Alaska Tours

    4.0 (39 reviews)
    Closed 7:00 am - 5:00 pm

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    Todd A.

    Gary picked us up at the Hotel in a shuttle bus and we enjoyed our 25 minute drive to the Viewing Yurt. We felt lucky to be visiting in between storms. The Yurt was spacious and propped on a slanted piece of land with a perfect view of the sky. It was also adjacent to a dog kennel (not sure what to call it) where we were able to see a couple dog sledding teams checking in. We saw the lights, and that's what's important. Gary and Brooke were helpful in having us understand how the light viewing worked, how to make our way around the Yurt (restrooms, snacks, etc.) If I had to change anything it would be 2 things: 1. With 3 Yurts for viewing, distribute larger groups into 1 or 2, versus putting 20+ people into one Yurt; and 2. Perhaps up the heat if possible. The small space heater wasn't quite doing the job and people had to compete for space to heat shoes, etc. It was very chilly (but hey, it's Alaska in the Winter!) Lastly, a big special thank you to Brooke! My poor little 9 year old became nauseous and projectile vomited all over the place. Cleared that Yurt in no time! Brooke was so kind and thoughtful by giving us her own extra pair of wool socks, and constantly checking in with him and us. Such a kind nurturing woman who wanted to make sure everyone had a good time. Apologies to everyone else in the Yurt who cut their viewing session by 1 hour. We feel terribly about that.

    AVOID taking trip with 1st Alaska at all cost! The day we visit Arctic Circle with 1st Alaska had on and off light rain (first week of September). The driver decided to make a huge U-turn when we were just 10 miles left to the Arctic Circle and mumbled "there're too many huge holes on the road, I don't feel comfortable taking you there." Before that he was quiet the whole trip like he DID NOT communicate with us AT ALL and just made the decision all of a sudden. We just wasted 10+ hours of our time on a shitty van for nothing, not even the promised hot water/ chocolate. It was a $280 trip and they were willing to refund us $70 after we called to argue several times. The attitude of staff was super passive that we needed to call multiple times to get an explanation. WORST trip experience ever.

    Beautiful place to rest after sledding
    Chloe H.

    Joe picked us up from the hotel both times and was very helpful and kind. He was adaptive to our needs and gave us history of Fairbanks along the way. The musher Sven was also very friendly and made the experience unforgettable. The dogs were happy and healthy and enjoyed the ride through the path. It was a long ride and just the perfect amount of time before you get too cold. We enjoyed playing with the dogs while Sven set up and even got to learn how to get them ready on the sled. I would 100% recommend this company if you're looking for any kind of tour. We also went on the hot springs and ice museum tour and had a wonderful time.

    Northern lights
    Veronica R.

    Our tour guide Joshua was amazing, he was very elocuente and fun when telling us anecdotes and stories about each stop. He was so easygoing and wonderful accepting to take pictures of everyone, which is an amazing task at -18F and no light. Is worth every penny.

    Christina L.

    5 stars to Jeff (?), our musher on the dog sled tour. I had a pleasant, fun, and very educational chat with him during the ride. He made the whole experience great and would definitely recommend him to all tourists that come here for some dog sledding fun! He talked about the individual dogs during the ride with fun stories and cute characteristics, which made the freezing cold ride much more enjoyable. Thanks for making our last day in Fairbanks fun!

    Came to visit Fairbanks with the family and found the best dog sledding tour! Joe picked us from our hotel, warmed us with an incredible sense of humor, things to do in the area and very interesting stories while we headed out for our adventure. Tyler was our guide, showed us what these beautiful dogs are capable of, fun facts and lots of cool jumps and even some drift . Dinner was great, Peggy cooked the best dinner, local salmon and red wine to top off the night. Adam made sure things were going smooth showing his experience on these snowy terrains. 100% recommended! Try it !

    Rusty S.

    The 'Northern Lights/Arctic Circle Tour' with 1st Alaska Outdoor school has to be the most tedious and uncomfortable experience I've ever paid for! The main attractions on this 14 hour voyage up the Dalton Highway (one of the 'ice roads' of Ice Road Truckers fame) are crossing the Arctic Circle and the possibility of seeing some Alaskan wildlife and unspoiled views of the Northern Lights. Along the way, guests are promised "A day full of information and knowledge about Alaska." Also, a sack lunch (sandwich, Cheetos, granola and candy bars, bottle of water; retail value about $6) is provided with your $200 payment. Somehow I had pictured a big tour bus with comfortable seats, room to stretch, climate-controlled temperature... Not so much. We were picked up in a big van with bench seats, and after all of the other guests had joined us we were pretty much stuck for the next 14 hours-- cramped, uncomfortable, and either way too hot from the blasting heater or way too cold from the -10 degree air outside whenever a window was cracked. The worst part, though, is that on this SIGHT SEEING TRIP the windows were iced over for the duration-- the driver actually had to pass out ice scrapers to the passengers so that if we constantly kept at it we might actually be able to see out the windows! The van's sound system wasn't working right, either-- sitting on the rear bench we could hardly hear any of the driver's 'day full of information and knowledge about Alaska' over the engine/road noise. What a waste. A brief glimpse of a distant moose through the trees was the extent of our wildlife encounters (kudos to the driver for pointing her out, at least) and the Northern Lights decided not to make an appearance that night. I understand that these things cannot be controlled and are no fault of the tour operator, but still disappointing. We did, however, get to see the 'Arctic Circle' sign at a rest stop on the highway and got the card stock certificates to prove it (although we had to write our own names on the certificates-- how cheap is that!?). All in all, this was one of the most miserable (memorable too, but not in a good way) tour experiences I've ever had. 1st Alaska Outdoor School was kind enough to refund a small portion of our payment when we called to complain, though-- and for this they've earned their second star.

    Hitting up the Truck Stop along Elliot Highway.

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    Had a great Fairbanks city tour with Brittney today. She was very knowledgeable about the area and

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    7 years ago

    Had a great experience in their yurts! I'd recommend this tour operator anytime. We saw the aurora that night, which was great.

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    Review Highlights - 1st Alaska Tours

    Instead of pushing forward anyway, they upgraded us to their Yurt experience, which was the perfect solution.

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    Alaska/Yukon Trials

    Alaska/Yukon Trials

    1.0(2 reviews)
    2.0 mi

    I have worked and traveled throughout Alaska for the past 5 years, using many travel and…read moretransportation companies. This is by far the worst travel company I have come across. Their website is confusing and not user friendly. When making the reservation over the phone, I thought the woman took all of my information. She did not ask how many bags I would have which would prove to be a major issue later. They do not charge your credit card until 2 days before the trip. They charged me a completely different rate. After I called to correct the price, I found out they had a different drop off location from the one I originally scheduled. When I was traveling to Anchorage I had a plane/weather delay and had to postpone my travel with this company for one day. I had called Alaska/Yukon and talk with the original woman about my problem and she said moving my reservation to the next would not be a problem. The day of the original trip, she called me asking where I was. The same woman I had talked with the night before! The day of the shuttle from Anchorage to Healy, the elderly driver Dan was less then impressed with me. I had a regular suit case and a carry on that fits the standard for all airline travel. This company's definition of "carry on" is different. They define it as a "personal item" that can fit under a seat. So I owed an additional $10. He wanted the $10 immediately and got upset that I didn't have any cash on me. I had asked if the office could just charge my credit card the $10. He could not grasp the concept of this. I patiently tried to explain it to him that they have it on file since they charged me the day before. Still no cooperation from Dan. I tried to reexplain it and he got verbally angry with me. He then went on a new tactic saying the van may be full and because of all of my luggage the van might not be able to fit everyone, but not before asking how much my luggage weighed. Then he told me to put it in the back of the 15 passenger van. Everyone had to put in their own luggage, and remove it later at their drop off location because Dan couldn't. At the first stop at a grocery store he demanded my $10. I gladly gave it to him to calm him down. Silly me, I apologized and tried explaining it once more to Dan, but he said to stop arguing and threw out that I missed the van the day before! He threatened to kick me off the van in front of all the other passengers. Everyone just looked at Dan wide eyed and didn't say anything. So I'm writing all of this to say there are several other Alaskan travel companies that treat their guests with much more professionalism and grace. If it had only been one problem, or possibly two with this company I could overlook it. But this entire experience was completely ridiculous. Safe and happy travels everyone.

    Two stars for transporting us without physical injury. (Updated later to 1 star after being cursed…read moreat and hung up on by the owner) This company has abhorrent customer service. We waited at the designated gas station in Denali and a Yukon van arrived and parked. We walked over to it, but the driver wouldn't make eye contact or talk to us. After a few minutes and still with no explanation, he drove away. A few minutes later, an identical van arrived. The driver got out and I said hello, but he didn't respond. He got back in the van then got out again and his first words were, "Do you have $10 for the extra bag?" He didn't say hello, introduce himself, or even verify that we were in fact his customers. We said we could easily put the extra empty backpack in our suitcase to avoid having too many bags, but he said we had to pay $10 in cash immediately anyway. We did, and he didn't say another word. Still no introduction or hello. An hour later, he said only "10 minutes" when he stopped at another gas station for 10 minutes so he could vape. When we arrived in Fairbanks, he still didn't say anything. He just stopped the van outside the airport without a word. We asked where the rental car counter was and he finally got chatty. He asked how much we were paying as though he wanted to make us a private deal on the side. When we explained that we already had a reservation and just needed directions to the counter, he only said it was "inside." It's more than a little disconcerting to be the only passengers with a driver who seems like a psychopath. ***Update*** I spoke with the owner, who promised to send a $10 refund. She didn't apologize for the experience or the hassle. Over a month later, the refund has not arrived. My email went unanswered, and when I called to check on the status she cursed at me and hung up, then refused to answer the phone when I called back.

    Alaska 4x4 Rentals - Located towards the back of the baggage claim level

    Alaska 4x4 Rentals

    3.5(14 reviews)
    3.5 mi

    Great customer service and car. We did not need 4 x 4, and they had other options. Very easy to…read morerent with, however like others have said it is it the far end of the airport not with the other rental agencies.

    This is the one rental car company that was highly recommended through locals (thank you, Reddit!)…read more I initially tried booking through Alaska 4x4's direct website which showed no availability for the dates I was booking (note that I did try a few days before). I then proceed to book through Expedia with NextCar which turned out to be an affiliate of Alaska 4x4, so it all worked out in the end. As persons not accustomed to snow, I wanted to make sure we were renting a car that would be well-equipped for inclement weather and Alaska 4x4 checked all the boxes. So why Alaska 4x4? 1) It's a local business 2) All their cars are equipped with winter tires and AWD or 4WD. 3) Engine warmer plugs provided in case your engine dies in the cold weather 4) Reasonably priced. 5) Excellent and friendly customer service. They are located at the end of the airport baggage claim level. As soon as you go down the escalator, just go right and you will see it at the end. It's separate from all the other rental car companies which are all bunched together left near the baggage claim pick up. Customer service was friendly and helpful. They let us know ahead of time to be careful on the roads if we were planning on driving to Chena Hot Springs (we weren't), had restaurant recommendations, and picked up promptly when I called their customer service line. Pick up and return process was easy. Just make sure to refuel before returning. Would definitely recommend for your rental car needs, especially if you'll be dealing with snow and ice on the roads.

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    Alaska 4x4 Rentals
    Alaska 4x4 Rentals - Our rental car

    Our rental car

    Alaska 4x4 Rentals - Mercedes Sprinter Vans

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    Mercedes Sprinter Vans

    Greatland Taxi and Tours Service - Gringo is our adventurous chihuahua and tour guide.

    Greatland Taxi and Tours Service

    2.8(16 reviews)
    7.1 mi

    I just want to say what a wonderful day we had with Steve and his Alaskan Chihuahua Gringo. He was…read moreprompt, responsible, and courteous and knew all of the good places to go to. We were on our first time in Alaska, and came to Fairbanks for the sights. We had wanted to do the Arctic Circle tour but Steve suggested that we instead go to Denali and it was great advice. While the main park is closed he could drive us well into the area and we got some amazing photography of the mountain range and surrounding area. Steve was also helpful in suggesting additional sights, such as the University of Alaska's animal study refuge, or the recent ice carving competition Fairbanks. We got much more out of the trip than we expected and had a pretty good day (despite me banging up my knee when I slipped on ice). For those of you considering the trip and using their service, he's the best tour company in Fairbanks. It perhaps helped that we were dog lovers and I really didn't mind Gringo on my lap while I took photos from the passenger seats of his van. Certainly a pleasant way to tour the interior of Alaska.

    Steve's service is exceptional. He answered my call promptly, he arrived on time, he is very…read moreknowledgeable about the area, he is generous with information, and he offers service unparalleled. For example, we had had a long day of touring. Alll our cell phones were low on battery and he had chargers! You can try the taxi services with curt dispatchers. You can also waste a lot of time searching for Uber/Lyft drivers. But if you are in Fairbanks, call him first.

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    Greatland Taxi and Tours Service - Explore the Arctic Circle & many other wonderful places throughout Alaska!

    Explore the Arctic Circle & many other wonderful places throughout Alaska!

    Greatland Taxi and Tours Service
    Greatland Taxi and Tours Service - Fairbanks ice fishing is fun for the family &  all ages no matter what skill level beginner to expert.

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    Fairbanks ice fishing is fun for the family & all ages no matter what skill level beginner to expert.

    The Aurora Chasers - 9-11-2024

    The Aurora Chasers

    5.0(14 reviews)
    1.1 mi

    My partner and I had an incredible experience with Ronn and Marketa at the Aurora Chasers in…read moreFebruary 2026. We met Ronn & Marketa for the night tour at an accessible & central meeting spot in Fairbanks, as we were staying ~20 min away. Ronn drove the comfortable van while Marketa analyzed satellite data for cloud coverage and predicted the best places to see the aurora. We saw brilliant aurora from the moment we arrived in our spot for the night! I brought my own DSLR and my partner rented a camera; we loved the guidance on how to photograph the sky. Marketa also took stunning portraits of us. From the get-go, their communication was outstanding. The Aurora Chasers website fully prepared us for what to buy/wear to stay warm in -40 to -20F weather. If you're interested in seeing the Northern Lights, I highly recommend taking a tour. My partner and I were not equipped to drive on icy, snowy roads late at night and to navigate weather data on our own - Ronn & Marketa made it possible for us to experience clear skies and thus vivid, magical aurora during our trip to Fairbanks.

    After reading all the reviews on Trip Advisor/Viator, and Google, I chose to go with The Aurora…read moreChasers, owned and ran by Ron and Marketa. Having a little bit of DSLR experience, I needed a tour company that didn't just drop me off into a warm hut with hot chocolate, but someone with photography expertise to help me operate in the raw elements of Alaska. I did my research with ALL the local Aurora companies. The Aurora Chasers are the only ones with professional educational videos of Aurora photography on YouTube, have an Aurora cam on their own very easy to navigate informative website. You can also rent cameras and tripods in advance from them. While on the way to a remote area with a beautiful private view to catch the Aurora, they educated us on everything about the Aurora. They played videos on a big screen inside the tour bus, which they produced themselves. They provided us information about the Aurora, and very specific instructions adjusting settings on your specific DSLR and cell phone. They have thorough knowledge of canon, sony, and nikon, and cell phone settings, and I'm almost positive they could figure out any other branded cameras. It blew my mind and excited the inner tech nerd in me. I really liked how although they gave us the freedom to shoot as we chose, they always checked up on us if we needed any help with our camera settings, and even provided hot chocolate. There were various people shooting that night spread out on different locations and they managed to get to every single one of us to make sure we were happy and comfortable. Marketa took amazingly beautiful portraits of my wife and I with the Aurora in the background! She got deep in the snow just to get the right angle! Thank you Ron and Marketa!!! You made this our favorite vacation!!!

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    The Aurora Chasers
    The Aurora Chasers - 9-11-2024

    9-11-2024

    The Aurora Chasers

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    1st Alaska Tours - tours - Updated August 2026

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