Private Northern Lights Photography Tour In Fairbanks, Alaska

So many fantastic things to say about the experience Riley provides. First and foremost, his unwavering fascination for the aurora is contagious. As the tour begins and you start finding the most optimal spot to try and catch the aurora, he does an awesome job of explaining what it actually is, how it forms, what determines the strength, etc. The background knowledge he provides is very extensive, adding to the immersion of the experience as a whole. Riley's also just a really great dude to be around. Super positive and energetic, and is very flexible to work around your schedule that night. He continued the tour as long (or short) as we wanted! I proposed to my girlfriend that night, and could not be happier with the photos he was able to capture for us, aurora in the background! This was for sure the highlight of our trip to Fairbanks, and thanks to Riley, we were able to check the Aurora Borealis off of the bucket list. Choose Far North Aurora Tours for an experience you'll never forget!

If you’re chasing the aurora borealis and want an experience that feels more like a personal, intimate adventure than the typical group tours being advertised, I highly recommend booking with Riley! Not only was he knowledgeable and passionate about the northern lights, but he also took the time to explain the science behind them. He has such a pleasant personality and positive energy, and it was an absolute joy talking with him throughout the experience. We were lucky enough to book with him just the day before our outing. Little did I know, my boyfriend had sneakily told Riley that he was planning to propose while I had stepped away. Even with such short notice, Riley went above and beyond to accommodate the surprise and captured the most memorable, EPIC proposal photos we could have ever asked for! If you’re on the fence about booking this experience, let this be your sign. DO IT! You will not regret it!

My husband and I had a wonderful experience looking for the borealis around Fairbanks with Riley! Riley was not only very knowledgeable, he was so enthusiastic and excited right along with us! He is also an amazing photographer and fun to be around! We highly recommend Riley and this tour!! Thank you, Riley for helping us make memories of a lifetime!

What an amazing experience! Riley is a very knowledgeable guide and was just as enthusiastic to see the aurora as we were. Not only did he get us to an excellent location at the right time, he shared his knowledge of the aurora and the tools he uses to maximize the chances of a great viewing. He also provided very helpful guidance in photographing the aurora. This was a bucket list trip for us and Riley helped us far exceed our expectations! If you are considering using a guide, we recommend putting him at the top of your list!

Despite not seeing any northern lights on this tour (Mother Nature was on hiatus behind the clouds), my sister and I had an absolutely great time with Riley. His knowledge, enthusiasm, and passion for educating us about this natural phenomenon really won us over. We still enjoyed seeing a gorgeous moon, the stars and satellites in the sky, and even a family of moose. I walked away with a greater understanding and appreciation for auroras and Fairbanks/Alaska as a whole, and I can't wait to return!

Despite not seeing any northern lights on this tour (Mother Nature was on hiatus behind the clouds), my sister and I had an absolutely great time with Riley. His knowledge, enthusiasm, and passion for educating us about this natural phenomenon really won us over. We still enjoyed seeing a gorgeous moon, the stars and satellites in the sky, and even a family of moose. I walked away with a greater understanding and appreciation for auroras and Fairbanks/Alaska as a whole, and I can't wait to return!

Hands down the best part of our trip! Riley was super communicative, knowledgeable and passionate about chasing the aurora and providing us the best experience he could. We had the most incredible light show and it was just us running around witnessing the lights in awe. I loved that we had a spot to ourselves to roam free. I cannot recommend this experience enough and wouldn’t hesitate to book again if I ever come back!

My tour with Far Notth Aurora Tours was the highlight of my trip. Riley took me to beautiful locations away from crowds so we could focus on photographing the amazing light display. I also learned about the science of the Aurora and photography skills. Thanks Riley! I'll definitely book again on my next trip to Alaska.

Absolutely LOVED going out with Riley to hunt down the Aurora! We were super lucky to experience a geomagnetic storm and the WHOLE SKY lit up! Riley was able to snap some shots of us and sent them to us after! Riley took us to a secluded spot and provided up with delicious snacks and warm drinks! He shared loads of information about the Aurora and was a lovely bloke! Thanks again for a great experience! 5 ⭐️ Super stoked we chose is tour - won’t forget this experience!

Great experience and our guide did wonderful job on this Aurora tour. Great knowledge of aurora and locations to get great photographs. Would highly recommend our guide, Riley, as he has terrific passion for Aurora photography.

Our guide Riley shared his passion and knowledge of the auroa borealis on a tour north of Fairbanks. On a cold night we were fortunate to see the northern lights progressing from north to south over 4 hours. Riley was a great guide and highly recommended

We had a great experience on Riley’s tour. He is incredibly knowledgeable about the aurora, and on a night where clouds were in the forecast, he took us to a remote location where we could find clear skies. Would highly recommend!

Great experience and worth it after you get the pics! The added bonus is the professional photography to commemorate the experience! Very knowledgeable and loved the extra touch with trying spring water, heat hand and toe warmers and snacks with water,coffee, and or tea. Had a blast and got to experience the northern lights in various phases!

I would give this tour 5 stars on communications alone. Riley pro-actively reached out to me about weather concerns a few days before the scheduled tour day, and was able to change the date. The weather had mostly cleared, but it was unbelievably cold (-18 F/-28 C), and I was glad I had rented arctic wear. We had to drive a quite a ways before getting to a good viewing area, but the ride was comfortable and Riley made good conversation so the time did not drag. He had an interesting presentation prepared, but I had seen the aurora show at the Museum of the North so it was not really needed. He also had a good camera and shared his photos, so I was able to enjoy the lights without fussing with my phone. I’d especially recommend for single travelers.

I rarely write reviews so that should say the first thing about this one and how great our experience has been with Riley. The experience was more like going out with a friend who’s looking to show you the best time and while sharing his expertise whether you're just going to see the Aurora or in my case, taking the best photos. Riley was extremely attentive to what I was looking to do with photography while appreciating his deep knowledge of Aurora tracking and science to fill in the times when we were waiting in his warm vehicle for the Northern Lights to appear. He came with snacks and hot beverages and had extra gear in case we came ill-prepared. He kept up on his research in real time on where to go to view the Aurora and were treated to an amazing location where we were lucky enough to catch 3 storms even though there's no guarantee what Mother Nature might show. And while we did not expect this, he took amazing personal photos taken from his professional camera that night (while we were doing our thing) with some awesome shots of the Aurora that he sent the very next day. The “experience” was very personalized as he normally takes only a couple folks out at a time and did not hesitate to drive long distances as needed to capture the Aurora. I wouldn't hesitate to book him again and would plan future trips to Alaska with him in mind especially if you’re looking to add photography on top of viewing the Aurora.

If you’re searching for a guided aurora tour, stop right here, you’ve found the right one. Rest assured you’ll have a great experience going with Far North Aurora Tours! If you want the details, keep reading! -Private Tour: Riley offers private tours for the same price that many other places will offer huge group tours at. This gets you a focused and personal experience compared to being in a big van full of people. -Photography: He’s an actual photographer with solid equipment. Check out his Instagram, the photos are beautiful! He will do numerous photoshoots and you’ll come out of this with tons of amazing pictures. -Communication: I coordinated with Riley a few days in advance to go over times, weather, expectation, gear, etc, and then the day of the tour he keeps you updated on a pickup time and weather patterns. -Effort: Riley is truly passionate about the northern lights and it shows. He makes the whole experience comfortable, educational, fun, and memorable. Snacks, drinks, and hand warmers ready to go if you need them. -Great guy: Riley is very respectful, personable, and just great to be around! He’s extremely knowledgeable about the Aurora and can teach you everything you need/want to know! -Overall: 10/10

If you’re searching for a guided aurora tour, stop right here, you’ve found the right one. Rest assured you’ll have a great experience going with Far North Aurora Tours! If you want the details, keep reading! -Private Tour: Riley offers private tours for the same price that many other places will offer huge group tours at. This gets you a focused and personal experience compared to being in a big van full of people. -Photography: He’s an actual photographer with solid equipment. Check out his Instagram, the photos are beautiful! He will do numerous photoshoots and you’ll come out of this with tons of amazing pictures. -Communication: I coordinated with Riley a few days in advance to go over times, weather, expectation, gear, etc, and then the day of the tour he keeps you updated on a pickup time and weather patterns. -Effort: Riley is truly passionate about the northern lights and it shows. He makes the whole experience comfortable, educational, fun, and memorable. Snacks, drinks, and hand warmers ready to go if you need them. -Great guy: Riley is very respectful, personable, and just great to be around! He’s extremely knowledgeable about the Aurora and can teach you everything you need/want to know! -Overall: 10/10

Amazing private aurora tour with Riley! Very passionate about the aurora and knowledgeable. We did catch the lights in the end and was a really amazing moment. It wasn't one of the brightest nights but Riley went to great lengths to find us a great spot . Definitely recommend !!

Last night was absolutely incredible and far beyond anything we could have imagined. We were honestly nervous we wouldn’t see the northern lights since Fairbanks has been so cloudy lately, but Riley knew exactly what he was doing. He took us to a very remote location where we were completely alone, and we were rewarded with a stunning substorm that happened right above us — truly unforgettable. Riley went above and beyond in every way. In -25°F weather, he made sure we were warm and comfortable the entire time, even providing extra equipment when I realized I had forgotten my tripod head. On top of that, he had drinks and snacks for the road trip, which was such a thoughtful touch. This was a once-in-a-lifetime experience that exceeded all of our expectations, and it wouldn’t have been the same without Riley’s expertise, care, and passion about the northern lights and sharing his love for them with others. Thank you so much, Riley — we will never forget this night and can’t wait to come back!

If you are looking for a cookie-cutter tour where they just drive you to a parking lot and wait, THIS IS NOT IT. This was, hands down, the best investment I made in Alaska. I was lucky enough to book with Riley right as he's starting out, and the level of passion he brings is insane. He’s not just a driver; he is a incredibly talented photographer who is genuinely obsessed with the aurora. He didn't just 'take a picture' of me; he spent the whole night hunting for the perfect location and composition. We ended up catching a massive corona explosion, and the photo he took of me is honestly National Geographic quality (see attached!). He was patient, fun to talk to during the drive, and cared more about getting the perfect shot than watching the clock. Book him NOW before he gets famous and fully booked. You're getting a private photography session for the price of a standard tour. 100/10 recommend！