When you think of Alaska, some combination of snow, rugged wilderness, Native culture, and furry critters probably comes to mind.
In that regard, you could consider Fairbanks to be one of the most quintessential Alaskan places, encompassing all of those factors into one, beautiful region. If you’re looking for anything but a run-of-the-mill tour, you’re in luck!
Weave through snow-covered trails, enjoy breathtaking vistas of the Alaska Range, and even catch sight of the famed Northern Lights on these next tours. The these top Fairbanks snowmobile tours have all that and more, so you spend your time and money on an experience that’s actually worth it!
Be sure to try dog sledding as well, see our reviews of dog sledding tours here.
Best Snowmobile Tours in Fairbanks
| Fairbanks Snowmobile Adventure from North Pole | 2-Hour Guided Snowmobile Tour in Fairbanks | Aurora Sleighers Snowmobile Tour in Fairbanks | |
|---|---|---|---|
Best Value Tour | Best Backcountry Tour | Best Nothern Lights Tour | |
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 |  |  | |
| Location: | 3740 Lyle Ave, North Pole, AK | 2180 Tequila Ct, Fairbanks, AK | 2180 Tequila Ct, Fairbanks, AK |
| Start: | 10:00 AM, 12:00 PM, 2:00 PM, 4:00 PM | 11:00 AM, 2:00 PM | 10:00 PM |
| Duration: | 1 hour | 2 hours | 4 hours |
| Includes: | Professional guide, helmet, beverages, snacks | All gear (baklavas, boots, helmets, goggles), Arctic Cat & Skidoo snowmobiles, guide | Professional guide, winter gear & clothing, brand new Arctic Cat & Skidoo snowmobiles |
Quick Answer: The 5 Best Rated Fairbanks Snowmobiling Tours For 2024
- Fairbanks Snowmobile Adventure from North Pole
- 2-Hour Guided Snowmobile Tour in Fairbanks
- Aurora Sleighers Snowmobile Tour in Fairbanks
- Guided Fairbanks Snowmobile Tour
- Snowmobile Guided Tour within The Date with Aurora in Alaska
Fairbanks Snowmobile Tour Reviews
1. Fairbanks Snowmobile Adventure from North Pole
- Duration: 1 hour
- Departure: 3740 Lyle Ave, North Pole, AK
- Departure Time: 10:00 AM, 12:00 PM, 2:00 PM, 4:00 PM
- Includes: Professional guide, helmet, beverages, snacks
If you’re looking for a brief tour to fit into your busy schedule, you can’t do better than this first tour! This 1-hour excursion is packed full of fun and makes sure the time flies by!
The Fairbanks Snowmobile Adventure from North Pole Tour lets you speed around the Alaskan wilderness, admire nature, and have a ton of fun while doing it!
Alaska isn’t a place where you should just venture through without someone who knows what they’re doing to guide you. Not to worry though, because you have a professional guide who knows this area like the back of their hand to lead the way!
You’ll be able to blaze through pristine winter landscapes, winding mountain trails, and enjoy the untamed beauty that Alaska is known for. While the tour groups seem to be pretty small, we had a great time getting to know some other passengers along the way.
After the safety briefing you can choose to either go on your own snowmobile or ride on the back of your partner’s if you don’t want to drive. I personally enjoy both, as riding in the back you can take in more scenery and keep an eye out for animals!
After cruising around, park your snowmobile and gather round with the rest of your group to catch your breath. The guide will serve everyone with some hot chocolate, tea, and coffee, as well as some tasty snacks to keep you nice and fueled up for the rest of your trek!
Take in the grandeur of Mother Nature all around you before hopping back on your snowmobile for an hour-long venture that is worth repeating any time you’re in the area.
Tour Information & Booking
100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience
Other Experiences You May Enjoy:
2. 2-Hour Guided Snowmobile Tour in Fairbanks
- Duration: 2 hours
- Departure: 2180 Tequila Ct, Fairbanks, AK
- Departure Time: 11:00 AM, 2:00 PM
- Includes: All gear (baklavas, snow boots, helmets, goggles), Arctic Cat & Skidoo snowmobiles, professional guide
Next up, we have a slightly longer tour clocking in at 2 hours full of winter fun and adventure! The 2-Hour Guided Snowmobile Tour in Fairbanks is perfect for those who enjoy the outdoors, adrenaline-filled sports, history, as well as gorgeous natural landscapes.
This one really stood out to me thanks to the friendly staff, the knowledgeable guides, and the excellent organization throughout.
On top of that, I found this to be one of the most budget-friendly tours of its kind which is ideal if you’re looking to be a bit more frugal without skimping on experiences.
Located just a few minutes from downtown Fairbanks, the meeting point for the beginning of the tour is really easy to get to, and you don’t even need to bring your own gear!
That’s right – they will provide you with snow boots, helmets, goggles, gloves, and anything else you may need to keep you comfortable in the snow!
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The tour kicks off with a safety briefing to ensure everyone feels comfortable and knows what they’re doing before setting off into the tundra.
The guide will be leading the way over frozen lakes and ponds, through forests, and over some seriously deep snow! Cruising on these powerful machines through the wilderness was simply amazing, but the company made it even better.
The guide did a fantastic job of sharing the history of the area with us, as well as sharing interesting facts about the flora and fauna as we passed by.
Obviously they can’t guarantee anything, but you’re very likely to even spot some wildlife during your tour! Perfectly mixing the trail time with some “free” time for us to cruise around, it felt like we were able to get a good grasp on what this area has to offer.
Tour Information & Booking
100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience
3. Aurora Sleighers Snowmobile Tour in Fairbanks
- Duration: 4 hours
- Departure: 2180 Tequila Ct, Fairbanks, AK
- Departure Time: 10:00 PM
- Includes: Professional guide, winter gear and clothing, brand new Arctic Cat and Skidoo snowmobiles
If you’re looking for a truly magical experience in Alaska, look no further than this one. I can’t say enough good things about it, and if you don’t mind staying up a bit late you can’t miss it.
The Aurora Sleighers Snowmobile Tour in Fairbanks is one of the most beautiful tours I’ve had the privilege of taking, but also one of the funnest!
If it’s your first time in Alaska (and even if it’s your hundredth), please do yourself a favor and just sign up now. Start out by meeting up with your tour guide a few minutes outside downtown Fairbanks at 10:00 pm, where they’ll get everyone situated with proper snow gear and clothing.
Then, take a safety briefing to ensure everyone is comfortable and has zero doubt what they’re doing on these powerful machines. Even if you’ve already gone on a daytime snowmobiling tour in Fairbanks before, you have to experience one under the night sky.
I really feel like nothing compares to zooming over the pristine snow under the stars, taking breaks at the best vantage points to enjoy the scenery.
While it’s never an absolute guarantee, chances are you’ll even be able to chase the Aurora Borealis and get some of the best views possible! The Northern Lights are breathtaking to witness in person, with the colors and patterns changing continuously.
Your guide will know exactly where to go for the best unobstructed view, and will even offer to take photos of you for the best souvenir possible! Don’t forget to bring some warm clothes and cameras, because it gets really chilly at night!
Tour Information & Booking
100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience
4. Guided Fairbanks Snowmobile Tour
- Duration: 1 hour
- Departure: 3355 Repp Rd, North Pole, AK
- Departure Time: 1:00 PM
- Includes: Experienced guide and instruction, heated helmet, snow gear
The Guided Fairbanks Snowmobile Tour is one of those tours where you just feel like they think of everything.
The organization is on-point in every aspect, with friendly staff who seem genuinely happy to be there showing you around. If you have a busy day but would still like to see the “wilder” side of Fairbanks, this is the tour for you!
I have so many good things to say about this tour, that it almost felt as if a longtime friend had taken us out to all the hidden gems while telling us entertaining stories along the way.
Right when we arrived at the meetup point, we felt more than welcomed and received a comprehensive safety briefing that left the beginners in our group confident and ready for fun!
This excursion was perfect for people of all ages and backgrounds, making it a great activity for the entire family or friend groups!
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Before you get on the trails, you’ll do some practice runs as your guide watches to make sure that everyone is on the same page.
Then, it’s time to cruise out past the Alaska Pipeline and into the depths of the snow-topped forests! With a top-notch Ski Doo touring snowmobile, you’ll stay nice and comfortable riding solo or with another rider.
The snowmobile comes with heated handgrips and an electric start, and the tour company even provided us with heated helmets so we were riding in comfort and style! Along the way, we not only got to see some of the most gorgeous scenery in all of Alaska, but some wildlife as well!
Keep your eyes peeled, and you may also get to see moose, foxes, grouse, the snowshoe hare, and more!
Tour Information & Booking
100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience
5. Snowmobile Guided Tour within The Date with Aurora in Alaska
- Duration: 2 to 3 hours
- Departure: Hotel pickup and drop-off available
- Departure Time: 10:00 AM
- Includes: Local guide/driver service, entrance fees, roundtrip transfer, 30 or 60 minute snowmobile tour
We wouldn’t feel right creating a “best of” guide without including this tour! The Snowmobile Guided Tour within The Date with Aurora in Alaska is an incredible opportunity to hang out with locals who are experts on the subject, and will show you around this beautiful area.
Not only that, but it combines the Northern Lights, which is usually an entire tour on its own!
It’s important to note that this excursion has 2 different time options, so make sure to select the one that works best for you. You can opt to do either a 30-minute or 60-minute snowmobile tour, depending on how far and where you want to go.
Both involve an experienced guide who’s there to lead the way through trails as well as some of the more “adventurous” locations.
After completing your safety briefing and donning all necessary snow equipment and clothing, you’ll set off through some of the most fascinating natural landscapes in the state.
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While you will be riding at night, the snow is perfectly illuminated by stars and moon above you to create a type of winter wonderland that makes you wonder if this is even real!
Again, the Northern Lights are never 100% guaranteed, but with the professionals to guide you you’ll have the best shot at seeing them.
I just can’t describe how incredible it is to zoom around in the middle of the night on a smooth and comfortable snowmobile, with the Northern Lights dancing high in the sky above you.
You’ll have plenty of time to stop and take photos, and I found the guides to be more than willing to snap some shots of us, too. If that weren’t enough, the tour even includes a complimentary pickup and drop-off right from your hotel or other accommodations!
Tour Information & Booking
100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience
FAQs About Fairbanks Snowmobile Tours
Q: What should I wear snowmobiling?
A: We recommend wearing warm winter clothing, like ski pants and jackets, gloves, goggles, and boots. Keep in mind most tour operators will either let you borrow gear or rent it to you. They almost always provide helmets, googles and boots.
Q: How long are snowmobile tours?
A: Most snowmobile tours are from 30 minutes to 3 hours. While 30 minutes may not sound long, it can be tiring being on a snowmobile if you are not used to it.
Q: How much does a snowmobile tour cost?
A: Typical cost for guided snowmobile tours is $150 on the low end for a 1 hour tour to $270 for a 3 hour tour with all the needed gear.
Q: Do I need experience to go on a snowmobiling tour?
A: In general no as most tours are designed for beginners or people that have never riden a snowmobile. As long as you follow directions you should be fine!
Q: Do I need all my own gear to go snowmobiling?
A: No you don’t but we would recommend having your own jackets, pants and gloves. While most tour operators have them, they may not fit well or be that warm. They will almost always provide a helmet and goggles.
Tips For Snowmobiling
- Get the gear: Before you even hop on your sled make sure you have all the right gear. Your tour operator should provide all the necessary gear. This includes warm and waterproof clothing, gloves, a helmet and goggles. The weather is unpredictable so you need to be prepared for anything.
- Learn the controls: Before even starting the engine, take some time getting familiar with the controls. Your tour guide should go over the operation with you first. Most snowmobiles have handlebars that control the throttle and brakes. Make sure you know which control does what before you start riding.
- Start slow: When you first start riding, take it slow and get a feel for the snowmobile. Start with gentle turns and gradual acceleration and gradually build up your speed as you get more comfortable.
- Use your body weight: Snowmobiles are like motorcycles, they responsive to shifting body weight, so use your body to control the sled. Lean into turns to maintain balance and use your body weight to help steer the snowmobile when needed.
- Watch your speed: Snowmobiles are fast but it’s important ride at a speed that you are comfortable with. Keep an eye out for hazards like rocks, trees and other snowmobiles and always ride at a safe speed for the conditions.
- Respect the environment: You will be exploring some of the most beautiful and fragile natural landscapes in the world. Be sure to stay on designated trails unless your guide gives you permission.
- Have fun: Finally, remember that snowmobiling is all about having fun and experiencing the thrill of adventure. Embrace the rush of adrenaline, take in the stunning scenery and enjoy the ride!
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The Fairbanks Snowmobile Adventure from North Pole is our Editors Choice for the best Fairbanks snowmobile tour.
