Cleary Summit Aurora Glass House Luxury Northern Lights Tour

Do NOT recommend. For this to work out, it not only has to be 1) aurora conditions, 2) clear skies but also 3) aurora conditions and clear skies in the one place this house is located. Those are not good odds. Non-refundable, no one offered to take us to a different location where you *could* see the aurora. Spend your money on an aurora “tour” where they drive you to a spot that has the best odds of seeing the aurora that particular night. The van you’ll travel in is warm and many have hot chocolate/coffee/tea/snacks, so you’re basically getting the same experience this house promises…but with a MUCH better chance of seeing what you came to see.

Such an amazing experience! The glass house was cozy, beautiful, and the perfect place to enjoy the night sky. Definitely recommend this tour if you’re visiting Fairbanks!

Very disappointing. The hosts need to make a lot of improvements for this to work: clearer communication and better planning. The glass house had potential; however, constant light from participant’s cell phones (as they played on their phones - understandable) and from the snack alcove adjacent to the room made it entirely impossible to see the Northern Lights from inside. As a result, going outside was the only way to see the lights (that come and go over the many hours), which defeated the purpose of having a warm indoor viewing space. Guests were not clearly asked to be off their phones. Forceful verbal explanation and signage explaining the need for absolutely NO indoor light it imperative. For future tours, I suggest creating a fully enclosed or substantially-curtained area specifically for phone use and refreshments, separate from the viewing room. It would also be valuable to provide clear, accessible information about the Northern Lights, either verbally or through posted materials. The brief audio recording played during the drive was difficult to hear and did not provide enough background. In addition to this: there were very grumpy participants who made it even more unpleasant. And—which is absolutely a risk you take on this tour- the Northern Lights barely appeared on our tour. Obviously, I do not blame them, but I think a nice touch would be to give tourists a little parting gift (sort of tongue-in-cheek) for those groups that did not see the lights: like even a small magnet with a photo of the Northern Lights.

We were picked up right on time. The glass house was warm and comfortable, with lots of snacks and hot drinks to enjoy while we waited. The clouds were quite thick when we arrived, and we waited for about two hours. Just when we were starting to wonder if the sky would clear, it magically opened up, and the aurora appeared at exactly the right moment. It was such a beautiful and unforgettable experience! Definitely worth the wait!

It was really easy to make the booking and there were many pick up locations. The pick up bus was on time and very comfortable. Our driver drove well and I felt very safe all the time. Our bus driver was very friendly, helpful, knowledgeable and kept us informed the whole time. She was very knowledgeable about the Norther Lights and explained everything well. Answered our questions and was very patient. The glass house was comfortable, clean and had adequate space for everyone. The snacks and drinks were a big hit. The bathroom was clean and well supplied with toilet paper. Our tour guides did a fantastic job finding the locations of the Northern Lights. Let us know promptly if there were any changes in the skies. We were able to get many beautiful photos. They even helped us all with our cameras. I can highly recommend this tour and our tour guides were exceptional. The only negative point was that I was charged $179 for a solo tricker compared to $99 dollars for a couple or two people. Why was this? Why are solo travelers charged more? Inspi

Bring your patience. It’s a long night, especially if you don’t get to see the lights. Snacks, games and drinks provided. Overall just an ok trip.

Our driver/tour guide did not talk much/did not inform us that our photos will be sent to our email. He let us stay too long that people fell asleep waiting for him to tell us to go. He failed to consider other travelers' need to be early the next day for another tour. Instead, he let is stay there up to 2 AM. The glass house is deceiving because it gave me an idea that it is glass throughout including the roof top. Instead, it was an ordinaryhouse with glass windows.

Unfortunately, this was one of the most disappointing experiences of our trip. First, the booking process is incredibly frustrating. You are required to go through Viator, and there is no way to communicate directly with the actual tour company ahead of time. Any questions or special requests have to be funneled through Viator, which handles hundreds of tours and was not able to provide clear or helpful information about this specific experience. To make matters more confusing, there is no clear public-facing presence for the operator—we didn’t even know the actual company name (Lucky Bear Tours) until just a few days before via email. That lack of transparency made planning difficult and unnecessarily stressful. Safety was also a real concern. The driving did not feel careful or conservative given the icy conditions. At one point the driver went through a red light (acknowledged with an “oops”), and also passed another vehicle on what felt like treacherous terrain. For a tour in winter Alaska, safety should be the absolute top priority, and we did not feel confident in that regard. In terms of value, the experience is extremely overpriced for what is provided. We paid $1,250 for what essentially amounted to transportation, access to the glass house, and very minimal refreshments (prepackaged snacks and hot cocoa). For that price point, expectations are understandably high, and this did not come close to meeting them. After a disappointing night, communication with the company was also frustrating. Rather than feeling heard or supported, the response felt rigid and dismissive, with little willingness to acknowledge concerns or work toward any kind of resolution. A more customer-focused approach would have gone a long way. The one bright spot—and the reason this is not a zero-star review—is the photographer, who did a fantastic job capturing beautiful photos for our family. That piece of the experience was genuinely well done. Overall, this did not live up to expectations in terms of booking, safety, value, or service. I would strongly encourage others to carefully consider alternatives before booking.

While there’s no guarantee you’ll see the aurora, this is a fantastic way to try!! We were very lucky and had a terrific aurora the night we went, but regardless, the host managed all the details perfectly! The transportation was on time and comfortable, the glass house was amazing in a great location and very comfortable. It was warm and cozy with nice snacks and hot drinks, comfy chairs, a clean rest room, and the possibility of terrific views through the floor to ceiling windows. The hosts were friendly and helpful, alerting us when the aurora was appearing so we wouldn’t miss it. One of the hosts very expertly took our pictures outside with the aurora behind us and conveniently sent them to us afterwards. We highly recommend this experience! It was definitely worth it!

This was the best northern lights tour ever ……go to this glass house and let the lights come dancing to you

Micheal was amazing. He picked us up at the hotel on time and when we got to the glass house the Northern Lights were in the sky and he took professional pictures of everyone so that each person would have a wonderful picture (not a selfie) of themselves with the lights. When the lights were not out we were to sit inside in and stay warm. Micheal would let us know when the lights were out again so you didn’t have to worry about missing them. I would recommend going to the Clearly House if you are in Fairbanks.

The glass house experience was great. We got picked up at our hotel and driven to the house. It held a good amount of people with one half of the building glass windows. Our guide, Michael, was great - making sure that we knew about lights even behind the house. It was very cold outside so dress in layers to be ready. We had a great night with various sitings of the lights at least 3 distinct times, once right before our 2am departure. The drinks ran out so bring your own. And the snacks are just snack good so you may want to carry healthier options. Overall an incredible experience I highly recommend.

We hit a really good night to see the aurora. Great location. A little too crowded but we loved the experience. Dress really warm in layers, as you WILL have to go outside to take pictures.

Lodge was full. Got a great seat at the windows. Could have used a little more space and chairs. Aurora was pretty good on this night.

Stella was an excellent guide and driver, informative, entertaining and helpful. She made sure we saw the aurora during peak hours and took great photos in very cold conditions.

The glass house was a comfy spot to wait for the llights to show up. The guides worked hard to notify us about when and where to look and they took great photos of us with the lights in the background. It was very cold out (-20F), so being able to go into the glass house to warm up was awesome. My aunt had seeing the Northern Lights on her bucket list and she was thrilled with the display! I'm a local, but thoroughly enjoyed this. Both of us would recommend it.

Great service and a great place to view the Northern Lights. Pick up was on time. Location was about 45 minutes from the city and far from any ambient light. The house has floor to ceiling windows and comfortable seating, plus lots of snacks and beverages. The hostess keeps track of what is going on outside and alerts everyone when there is light activity. The host took photos of everyone with the light activity, and the next day sent the photos as well as a time lapse video of Northern Lights. A really fun evening, great space and excellent service.

Hey if you wanna wait for the northern lights in a nice warm building with treats, this is the tour for you!!

Dress warm you be in and out taking pictures!! It is a great choice for viewing the northern lights!!

We saw a great Aurora. The viewing place was very nice except for lights from other cars, houses, etc. Lights inside the building were not controlled at all ( bright lights every time the bathroom door was opened, people using flashlights, camera flashes). There were many people in the building- it was quite crowded. Communications were not very clear. People were left waiting too long when it got late and Aurora activity was minimal. The guides were no longer present and there had been no communications regarding this. They eventually showed up saying we would be leaving in 20-30 minutes.

Thank you for a awesome experience. The glass house was warm, comfortable and modern. We had warm drinks and snacks. Ideal place to view the aurora borealis from.

Viator is not reliable in providing the service they promise. Miscommunication with the local operator was the reason we couldn't go to the Aurora summit. Viator ticket said "pick up time 9:30 pm". We were surprised by a call from the driver at 9:10 pm. We came down to the lobby within 5 minutes. The driver was gone to pick up other customers. There was more miscommunication with the local operator. Eventually we had to go with another operator who happened to be at the lobby and had extra 3 seats for our family. Viator did not take responsibility to refund our money. We really had a very bad experience and are never going to use their service again.

Not really meant for kids. It is a late night. It read they have lounge chairs. They do not. However, they are nicely padded ones. Other chairs were like dining room chairs. We were lucky and got in first and saved a padded chair by the windows. Our guide did not give much instruction or discussion. She did let us know when we should go outside, which was nice. Snacks were plentiful. It was a nice place to stay and relax while waiting for the lights to come out. I would recommend and I would do it again.

Had an amazing time and was stunned with the beautiful aurora. Michael was really friendly and very prompt, and helpful regarding pickup and drop-off as well. Had a really good time.

We loved our Aurora experience! The Aurora did not disappoint! It was a bucket list goal and thanks for getting us there safely and back again,

There wasn't a lot of activity which is beyond anyone's control. The team, however, did everything to make us comfortable, plenty of snacks and hot drinks. When there was activity, they alerted us and took a photo of whoever wanted one with the Aurora in the background with a brief flash to light those being photographed. Cool photo. Best of all, we could stay warm (it was about-38 outside I think), see outside easily, and sit comfortably while waiting.

While not expected to be a great night for viewing, we were blessed with some spectacular displays of dancing lights and above and beyond the green lights. We had pinks and even some blues. Stella was very diligent to let u know when major displays were about to happen, which saved us all from being out too long in the -12° temps. She was pretty phenomenal! The glass house was cozy! Got coffee, cider, tea available with plenty of snacks, too. The restroom was appreciated! Because of the Aurora activity, definitely 5*. Had the lights not put on such a show, this tour would have been a solid 3*.

Great experience! Michael was friendly and helpful. He kept an eye out for the northern lights and alerted us when there was something to see. The glass house was comfortable and situated perfectly. I was able to take great pictures.

After finishing work, I came to the Aurora Glass House to watch the northern lights based on a friend's recommendation. It was really a stroke of serendipity. Before coming, I checked travel guides and asked the owner of the cabin, who said that there might not be any aurora during this period. But I still came with a forlorn hope. To my great delight, I encountered incredibly beautiful northern lights. I'm truly grateful to the owner of the Aurora Glass House for leading us through such a wonderful journey. Also, the pick - up and drop - off service was super thoughtful. You can call in advance to make reservations and inquire about details.

It was a very nice experience. We had help with our iPhone settings. We have beautiful photos of our group. The glass house warm warm and refreshments were nice. I highly recommend this tour.

The location was very nice and comfortable. The weather wasn't great at that time. But I could see some northern lights luckily. If the weather is perfect, it's easy to see a great one, I think. The guide was also kindness and helped us to find the best ones.

Our guide Stella was amazing! She was extremely informative and knowledgeable about the aurora. The location and housing was extremely effective for great viewing. I totally recommend this tour.

We booked this tour at the very last minute and it turned out to be an amazing deal! The setting was beautiful, with huge glass windows that made it the perfect place to watch the Aurora. I would highly recommend this experience to anyone visiting Fairbanks!

You really have to check out this place! The house is amazing — spacious and very comfortable, and the chairs are so nice that I’ve decided to get the same ones when I get home. There’s also a dining table, extra chairs, and plenty of game cards for everyone to enjoy. The best part was watching the Aurora right from inside the house — a stunning Aurora band appeared right in front of us. It was an unforgettable experience!

We were so lucky to see the Aurora! What an unforgettable experience. When we first set out, the sky was cloudy, but around midnight it cleared, giving us the perfect opportunity. The Northern Lights were absolutely stunning, and we could enjoy them right from the comfort of the room. The huge floor-to-ceiling glass windows made the experience even more amazing.