I was encouraged by a friend to book with Face The Outdoors to see the Northern Lights. She had gone in March of 2023 and had an amazing time, so I had to follow suit. I wasn't really sure what to expect and went into the trip with very limited knowledge of photography or Northern Lights. Our tour guide Michael was amazing! He is a great conversationalist and understands when to talk and just let mother nature do her thing. He educated us on how he tracks the Northern Lights and if we have a chance to see them or not. You can tell he takes pride in helping everyone try and see the lights. He is completely upfront about sometimes people miss out on the lights because everything that needs to happen in nature didn't happen. We booked this tour for two nights as my friend recommend it due to a better chance of at least seeing the lights on one of the nights. Our first night, he picked us up at our hotel and we drove 2 hours to his house, along the way we were able to see a moose and he pulled over and pointed it out to us. Once we arrived at his place he got us all set up and went over how to use our phones and which camera settings to use. We got to see the lights on the first night, it was there but nothing amazing. If Michael wasn't there we would of completely missed it. This our isn't like other tours. There isn't really a set time. In fact the lights were starting to show the right signs around 3 am when we would of normally headed out, but Michael asked us if we all wanted to stay for at least 1 more hour to see if the lights would come out even more. Unfortunately, they didn't come out while at his house, but on the drive back to Fairbanks, they popped up and he pulled over once again to the side of the road and we all piled out and saw the next round of lights around 5 am on the highway. The best thing of the experience while we were waiting for the light was asking to toss boiling water up in the air at -36 temperature. He was more than happy to help us out with that. In fact he brought a rocket stove the 2nd night and we were able to get some awesome videos with the water vapors and the northern lights in it. Our second night, it was really cloudy near his house and Fairbanks, so we decided to head north this time and at 9 pm instead of the previous night at 8 pm. We drove about an hour to the Alaska Pipeline and camped out to watch the lights. Within I think 45 minutes the first batch of lights happened and they were way better than the previous night. We stayed out there until about 2 am and headed back to the city. The lights were extremely active the entire time and we were completely satisfied with what we had seen. He went above and beyond our expectations and the this tour was the best part of our trip. I highly encourage you to book with them. Michael is in constant communication with you to let you know about the weather. I recommend you have a couple of days of flexibility so that if they have to move the tour date because of weather, you have that flexibility. In addition I would book multiple days because the lights are completely different each night. I attached our photos that we took with just our iphone 15s. The photo that Michael sends you is way better. read more

Michael updated us a day earlier that we might start early at 6 pm since he was monitoring the Aurora activity. On November 30, 2023 he picked us up on our airbnb which was very convenient. The ride going to Delta junction was super comfy and warm. I had a really good legroom the entire ride. He was so friendly, accommodating and was very communicative. You would know that he is very knowledgeable about the Aurora. He was teaching and explaining it us. I also heard him trying to explain it more in detail to one of the guy that was in our tour when he was asked on how to read the forecast. I admire him for not cancelling even if there were only a few of us in total. He even told me he had an experience wherein he had only one person for the tour. When we arrived in Delta Junction. We were welcomed into a rustic and cozy cabin. It was one of the best cabins that I have seen. It was very clean and was giving a homy vibe. In there, you would see a clear glass which was intended for you to check outside and monitor the Aurora. There was a fridge with cold drinks, snacks on the counter, coffee, tea, cup noodles etc. I really loved the restroom it was so clean. The decors was so nice too. He was staying all night outside and only came in to get some stuff. I admire him the whole time he was out there monitoring the aurora for us. I would go in and out every now and then since my foot was always getting cold. They also provided us with hand and foot warmers. I was also really thankful that he actually lent me his tripod since I didn't bring any. He was teaching us on how to capture the aurora on our phones and also set up my dlsr camera for it to be aurora ready. Aside from teaching us about the aurora anytime you would as him questions about Fairbanks and what winter gears should be bought he also would answer and recommend what he thought was a good brand. It was almost 3 am and he gave us an option for us to stay longer even though he still had to drive all the way back to Fairbanks. Because he wanted us to get the most of our Aurora experience. He was not concerned about the time. He wants you to experience Aurora the best possible way. Just kudos to him. I think that I have chosen I really good company to go with as far as the aurora excursion. The best part was it was outside Fairbanks, the house kept us warm. The open sky and field that was used for the Aurora viewing was the perfect spot. We were really lucky that we did not have to chase the Aurora and stayed there on that location because the weather permitted it. But I know for sure if we had to chase it he would go all out for us on that night. In the fee that we paid you would get one photo which was a very good deal. It was all worth it. He takes really good pictures too. We actually gave him a tip thru zelle but he returned the tip. Thanks Michael for everything. You are a very hardworking person. I wish your company more success in the future. I never really give reviews but this one was different. Thanks so much read more

Viewing the Northern Lights was an amazing experience made possible by Michael's tracking expertise. It was a cloudy night and low geomagnetic activity was on the horizon which did not allow us to see the Northern Lights on his spacious and beautiful property. As the wee hours ticked away, Michael thought it best to hit the road to increase our chances of seeing them. The drive was long through a pitch black morning on a winding road and, at times, we were faced with dense fog. Thanks to his excellent driving skills we got to Birch Lake safe and sound where there was a lovely wave of lights on a starry filled sky. EUREKA! Photographing the Northern Lights was a challenge for me. I own a Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ1000 which I have only used in auto mode. Michael was very kind and did all that was necessary to set-it up for manual use - he even propped it up on a tripod. However, once at Birch Lake I could not see anything via the camera's live view - monitor nor viewfinder. I even checked to make sure that I did not have the lens cap on. Three others had the same issue, DSLR & cell users. Regardless, I chose to shoot into the dark since the display mode showed that images were being recorded, but the results were terribly unfocused since I could not see what to focus on. Fortunately, the tour included a souvenir photo and we had purchased the photo package so we got great pics taken by Michael. I second all of the kudos and descriptions in the other reviews. End your research here and book with Michael. read more

Michael and Faced The Outdoors helped deliver one of the most magical nights of my life. I want to be clear I booked a private tour so the review and information I have are for that experience. With that said if anyone is looking for someone who can help capture a personal night with the best chances of seeing the lights then booking the private tour with Michael is a MUST do! I proposed on the night of my tour and this experience was above and beyond what I hoped to have and capture the night for my fiance and I. The lights are never guaranteed and anyone promoting that they are is simply trying to make a buck off you. the FTO website is extremely honest and well filled with information regarding the lights and what to expect throughout your experiences with them and I HIGHLY recommend taking the time to read the site and FAQs. But if your looking for someone who is extremely knowledgeable and honest about getting you the best opportunity to see them and take breath taking photos of you then Michael is your man! His home is beautiful and the view from the site if the sky and lights (when there of course) is like no other and the fact that the option to chase on nights where its necessary exist makes this experiences the absolute best available near Fairbanks! read more

If you are dying to see the aurora, Michael with Face the Outdoors is a must. Not only is he incredibly down to earth and knowledgeable he is also going to do everything possible to help you see the aurora. The lights are out often evidently but really hard to just see anywhere. We visited during a very snowy week and he drove us out to his cabin several hours from Fairbanks. It was a very safe and warm drive. We even saw a moose! Once you get there you can wait in the warmth with snacks and drinks or hang outside in a huge viewing area. If you choose to stay in he will radio up when the aurora begins to show. We loaded to head back around 3am and he stopped and asked if anyone had anywhere to be by 6. No one did, so we turned around and went back to his cabin to see the coolest band appear. That alone makes him one in a million because he truly wants you to experience the magic and will inconvenience himself to give you the best possible chance. I would recommend Michael over and over again. read more

First and foremost- Michael was a fantastic tour guide, and I cannot recommend him enough. I do plan to return to Alaska, and I absolutely intend to book with him again. He does his best to maximize your chances of seeing the northern lights and prioritizes your experience/goal above all else. He goes above and beyond in a way no other tour I had researched does- for my encounter, it was cloudy at the house location so we took the (heated) van out to find a clear location (with a gorgeous mountain backdrop) to be able to have an unobstructed view of the phenomenon. He does his best to explain the data behind the aurora tracking to you (if you're interested) and is available for any kinds of questions you have- whether it be about the tracking or how to take the best photo. If your goal is to see the northern lights, he is absolutely your best option to maximize your chances as he will do whatever he can to help you see them if they are out that night. read more

A TRUE BUCKET LIST EXPERIENCE! My daughter and I had an absolutely wonderful night with Michael chasing the northern lights. We started the night at his lovely home and when the clouds wouldn't cooperate, we took to the road until we found them (unlike other outfits we tried that drove us to a destination in the hopes we might see something). Michael is the definition of professional. His knowledge of the northern lights, how to track them down, and ultimately how best to photograph them, is absolutely astounding. He is patient and, as a professional photographer himself, he is determined to give you the best opportunity available to get good photographs on any given night. And to accomplish that goal, he helped us with our camera set-up to ensure the best photographs. We HIGHLY recommend Michael and FACE THE OUTDOORS, giving them a solid eleven stars out of ten. read more

I went on a few different aurora tours in Fairbanks and Mike's was the best one during my trip! I was the only person on this tour because he doesn't have a booking minimum, which is rare for a tour operator. I was able to learn a lot about the scientific explanation behind the lights and enjoy his wonderful cabin with full amenities when there wasn't much activity in the sky. An added bonus is Mike is a professional photographer and will make sure to get those amazing shots of you with the aurora. If seeing the lights is a bucket list item for you, book Mikes tour! read more

The northern lights tour was amazing with Michael hosting. The house is beautiful, and a great place to get warm sit by the fire inside and watch the lights from the windows or outside with amazing views either way! They make you feel right at home. He was extremely helpful with the camera settings to be sure we were able to get amazing pictures as well. Their air bnb is also amazing, kid friendly, and highly recommended!! read more

Our time with Michael was outstanding from start to finish. He was informative, personable and top notch in every aspect of our experience. His knowledge of the northern lights was considerable and did not disappoint as despite a full moon, we still enjoyed the lights in all their glory. His "cabin" was beautiful and so worth the cost of the excursion. Well done and highly recommended! read more

I had a wonderful time at the lodge. Michael is a wonderful host! Knowledgeable, friendly, and helpful. Not only did he help the group to start conversation and get comfortable he also engaged with us and was there for any questions we had. When it got later the group took a nap and he kept a look out and woke us up when needed. Thank you Micheal! read more