Arctic Circle Winter Drive Adventure
Description
Discover winter in Alaska’s Arctic! Experience for yourself the legendary hospitality and authentic interpretation that made the original Arctic Circle Drive Adventure famous. Travel the famed Dalton Highway. View the remarkable Trans Alaska Pipeline. Experience the mighty Yukon River. Explore up close the amazing arctic tundra. Cross the Arctic Circle and receive an official Arctic Circle Adventure Certificate. NOTE - each tour is unique with our ever changing daylight. Depending on when you are traveling it is important your day may be more "night" then day light". NOTE - this is not an Aurora tour. While yes it will be dark on the return to Fairbanks, the tour does not stay out later, longer waiting for the aurora . Guests should consider taking an Aurora Adventure if they are wanting to look for the Aurora. We also offer an Arctic Circle Aurora Drive Adventure. Longest time between stops is 2 hours; however, some stops will be closer. Most stops have an outhouse.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Northern Alaska Tour Company originated guided tours into Alaska's Arctic on the Dalton Highway. Guides provide not only a safe journey but share the story of Alaska's Arctic making it a memorable day.
DOES NOT GO ALL THE WAY TO COLDFOOT - Viator locator only has Coldfoot for the Dalton Highway -- Guest get out and experience Alaska's Arctic made accessibly by the Dalton Highway - built for the transportation of goods to the Prudhoe Bay Oil Fields.
Just one of the stops made along the way to see up close and learn about the natural and cultural history of Alaska's Arctic -- here learn of the early homesteading in Alaska and how early pioneers forged a home out in the middle of the wilderness.
The tour will stop at the Yukon River Camp both on the way north and way south. Guests can either have brought their own food to eat or purchase lunch/dinner here. Plus, guests get a chance to get out and explore the banks of the mighty Yukon River.
Celebrate reaching the Arctic Circle at Milepost 115 of the Dalton Highway -- 200 miles north of Fairbanks! All guests will earn an official Arctic Circle Certificate.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Collapsible wheelchairs with removable wheels can be accommodated providing the passenger is accompanied by someone who can assist them board and disembark
- Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
- CHECK IN TIME - Check in opens at 9:00AM and closes at 9:15 AM for this tour. Guests not here by 9:15 AM risk missing this tour.
Reviews(165)
Visiting FAIRBANKS in January requires important precautions. The first is to rent the clothes right there. This must be done in advance and has two main places where it can be done. The clothes that serve in Bariloche do not serve in Alaska. It's another level of cold. The second is to rent a 4x4 car. It is virtually impossible to rely on Uber or public transportation. The direction of the vehicle in snow and ice conditions is quite different from driving on aaui road in Brazil: maintain a great distance between vehicles and do not abuse the speeds. I haven't seen any Brazilian tourists there and most are Americans knowing that part of their country.
We can’t make it due to flight delayed, but the staffs was really kindly helping us to change our tour. Denali winter drive adventure was fantastic beautiful and with lot of history story, bravo to our guide John!
Thank you for taking the time to share with others information about your Denali Winter Drive Adventure. So glad you were able to make it and join John on the adventure. Best wishes for a bright Spring!
It was an amazing experience and Northern Alaska Tour Company is great They provided a certificate as well.
Thank you for joining us. We wish you a bright spring!
Standing inside the Arctic Circle felt like crossing an invisible line into another world. The cold was not just freezing it was beyond any level we had experienced, sharp enough to bite through layers and make every breath feel alive. The silence was immense, broken only by the crunch of snow underfoot and the distant hum of civilization pushing against nature. Then the sky changed. At first, it was subtle a faint green veil stretching across the darkness. Slowly, the Northern Lights awakened, dancing and rippling as if the sky itself were alive. Curtains of emerald and hints of purple flowed overhead, moving with a grace that no photograph can ever fully capture. In that moment, time stopped. It felt humbling, spiritual, and deeply personal like witnessing one of Earth’s greatest secrets. Nearby, the great pipeline stretched endlessly across the frozen landscape, a powerful contrast between human engineering and raw Arctic wilderness. Seeing it under the aurora was surreal: a symbol of resilience and ambition cutting through one of the harshest environments on the planet. The cold numbed our fingers, our faces burned, yet we didn’t want to leave. This was not just travel it was an adventure at the edge of the world, where nature dominates, silence speaks, and the sky performs a show meant only for those willing to endure the freeze to witness true wonder.
WOW, I am in awe of your writing and how you accurately captured the arctic winter with the wonder of the northern lights. Thank you for sharing your experience and putting the time to express your experience in the words you did - very descriptive and immersive.
This is a long trip but totally worth it. The scenery was just amazing. Although I didn’t get to see a moose or any other wild animal, I think this was the best ride to the arctic circle. Don is an amazing guide. He was very informative and a safe driver. He really loves what he does and it shows. Don’t forget to bring cash to tip your guides! Highly recommend this experience! 10/10.
Thank you so much for your recommendation. We are so glad you enjoyed the experience and time out with Don. Yes, you are right - he really does enjoy what he does and where he does it! Happy Winter!
This was a great tour. From Riley our pilot to Declan the guide in Deadhorse and John our road guide we had an amazing trip. This trip is pretty rustic. The Dalton highway is very bumpy. The accommodations were rustic but nice. I definitely recommend
So glad you enjoyed what sounds to be the Arctic Ocean Adventure. Thank you.
If you love the adventure this tour is for you! It was a great experience in Alaska and The agency is so good
Thank you for your recommendation. Happy Spring!
This tour is amazing. Although it involves a lot of travelling on the road, our guide Tim ensured we were kept entertained by the knowledge of the region. Many photo opportunities were given and ample time was given at every stop. Great tour, and would recommend this to anyone who likes to visit Arctic Circle.
Thank you for taking the time to share with others about your experience. And, thank you for recognizing your guide Tim. Best wishes for a bright and warm spring!
I did this tour at the beginning of April 2025. It was a phenomenal experience. Our tour guide, Don, was a walking encyclopedia of knowledge about Northern Alaska. He kept us entertained throughout the entire tour with information about the things we saw and made the time fly by. It was fascinating to see and learn about the history of the area. We made several stops on the way to the Article Circle which broke up the long drive and made it not seem as long as it was. It was fascinating to get to experience the Dalton Highway. The tour company states people with back problems should not attend and I highly agree. The road was very bumpy and jarring in places. The day that I went it was snowing and the road was sketchy but our tour guide was very experienced and made the trip safe. It was fascinating to see and learn about the pipeline and the Yukon River. Our guide provided a fun little ceremony to welcome us to the Article Circle and provided hot drinks prior to departure. We stopped en route to and from The Article Circle at The Yukon River Camp for food. The food was actually quite good. On the return trip we stopped at The Dalton Highway sign and the auroras were out. We were able to spend some time enjoying and photographing them before continuing our journey back to Fairbanks. I would highly recommend this tour and especially our tour guide.
Thank you so much for taking the time to share the details of your adventure. We appreciate your choosing us to be a part of your Alaska Adventure and for your recommendation. Best wishes for a bright and warm spring!
Awesome trip. Very knowledgeable, informative and friendly guide. Unbelievable scenery and was able to take some great pictures. First time in Alaska and first time through most of Canada
Thank you for joining us. We are so glad you enjoyed your experience with us and wish you many more happy travels!
