By the Best Mountain Hotels editorial team ·
Borealis Basecamp is Alaska's answer to the glass igloos of Lapland: a cluster of fibreglass igloos on a quiet ridge in the boreal forest outside Fairbanks, each with a huge curved window in the ceiling for watching the northern lights from bed. Fairbanks lies beneath the auroral oval, making it one of the best places on Earth to see the lights, and the resort is built entirely around that experience, from northeast-facing domes to aurora wake-up calls.
Borealis Basecamp is Alaska's answer to the glass igloos of Lapland: a cluster of fibreglass igloos on a quiet ridge in the boreal forest outside Fairbanks, each with a huge curved window in the ceiling for watching the northern lights from bed. Fairbanks lies beneath the auroral oval, making it one of the best places on Earth to see the lights, and the resort is built entirely around that experience, from northeast-facing domes to aurora wake-up calls.
Location: Fairbanks, Alaska
Fairbanks, in Alaska's interior, sits beneath the auroral oval, the ring around the North Pole where the northern lights are most frequent, and its long, dark, often clear winter nights make it one of the most reliable aurora destinations in the world. Borealis Basecamp stands on a remote ridge in the forest north-east of the city, away from light pollution, about 45 minutes to an hour by road.
The winter drive can be challenging, so the resort runs shared and private shuttles from Fairbanks hotels. Fairbanks itself is reached by direct flights from Anchorage and several cities in the lower 48 states.
Igloos and cubes at Borealis Basecamp
There are 36 igloos, each with a private bathroom, comfortable beds, a breakfast bar and a 16-foot curved window that spans the ceiling. They face north-east, the best direction for watching the aurora, and every room has a phone for aurora wake-up calls, so you can sleep and still be woken if the lights appear.
A newer village of nine aurora-viewing cubes, including a family suite, offers a more contemporary, angular design with the same focus on the sky. Interiors are cosy and simple, designed to keep you warm while the temperature outside drops far below freezing.
Facilities at Borealis Basecamp
Meals are served at Latitude 65, a restaurant in a large central yurt, with breakfast included and multi-course dinners featuring Alaskan seafood and local produce. Stays are sold as packages, with a minimum of two nights, and most guests choose three to improve their chances of a clear night.
Daytime activities include complimentary snowshoeing, fat-tyre biking, a sauna and a campfire, plus an introduction to the aurora covering its science, myths and photography tips. Optional extras include dog sledding, snowmobiling, UTV rides, an aurora portrait session and a flight or drive to the Arctic Circle.
The mountain moment
The defining moment is the phone ringing in the middle of the night: you open your eyes, and above you, through the curved window, green ribbons of light are rippling across a sky full of stars. Wrapped in blankets, you watch them swirl and pulse over the black outline of the spruce forest, sometimes turning pink and violet at the edges.
By day, the forest is silent and white, and a dog-sled ride along the frozen trails, with the low sun turning the snow gold, is the perfect way to fill the hours before dark.
Why Borealis Basecamp is one of the best mountain hotels
Borealis Basecamp earns its place because it delivers one of the world's great natural spectacles in comfort, in one of the best places to see it. It is not set among high peaks like our other Alaskan stays, but its remote forest ridge in the interior offers dark, clear skies and a real sense of the Alaskan wilderness.
Packages start at around $2,000 for two nights, and it pairs brilliantly with Alyeska Resort for skiing and the Nordic Spa near Anchorage. For a comparison with Lapland, see Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort in Finland, the hotel that made the glass igloo famous.
When to go to Borealis Basecamp
The resort is open from mid-November to early April. The darkest months, from December to February, bring the longest nights and very cold, often clear weather, while March offers more daylight for activities, slightly milder temperatures and excellent aurora activity around the spring equinox. Plan at least three nights to give yourself the best chance of clear skies.
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Questions, answered
- Can you really see the northern lights from bed at Borealis Basecamp?
- Yes. Each igloo has a 16-foot curved ceiling window facing north-east, the best direction for the aurora, and staff offer wake-up calls when the lights appear.
- When is Borealis Basecamp open?
- The resort is open from mid-November to early April, the main northern lights season in Fairbanks.
- How far is Borealis Basecamp from Fairbanks?
- It is about 45 minutes to an hour by road from Fairbanks. Shared and private shuttles are available from Fairbanks hotels.
- How many nights should I stay at Borealis Basecamp?
- There is a two-night minimum, but three nights or more gives you a much better chance of a clear night and a strong aurora display.
