Northern Alaska Tour Company

"What an awesome tour and experience. We chose the 3-day land / air tour to the Arctic Ocean: Northbound drive with overnights in Coldfoot and Deadhorse and a return flight from Deadhorse to Fairbanks on day 3. I booked in January for a July tour, and it was quite easy. I booked online as well as spoke to an office staff during the booking process. She was very helpful and accommodating. We stopped in the office the day before our departure to touch base and the office staff was exceptional, helpful and informative. Our guide for the 3-day adventure was very knowledgeable regarding the history and current situation of the Dalton Highway, the Trans-Alaska Pipeline, and the geological terrain of the 496-mile trek. A special highlight was spending the morning in Wiseman with Jack Reakoff, who lives a subsistence-based lifestyle above the Arctic Circle by hunting, trapping, berry picking, and gardening. We encountered a number of numerous wildlife sightings including moose, muskoxen and caribou. If you ever considered visiting the Arctic Circle, Arctic Tundra and Arctic Ocean, this is the company."

"I Cannot recommend this organization enough. From the time we walked into the building at the Fairbanks Airport until we landed and walked across the street to our parked vehicle at $5/day. The staff were engaging and very friendly. We did the northbound drive/fly with an over night in Coldfoot, AK. Our tour guide / driver on the drive up, Will, was fantastic! He had a vast breadth of knowledge about historical, geographical and natural history which provided great conversation and helped break up the trip. We had a small group of 4 so we were in a small passenger van, which really allowed for more conversation between everyone. We stopped a few times on the way to Coldfoot, AK to enjoy the scenery, see the pipeline, lunch and use restroom facilities. We hit the Arctic Circle (66’33”) took pics with the handoff to our new guide and Will returned with the other two, expecting to hit FB 1:30 am. (Are you kidding me?!? ) New guide Declan drove us with a couple stops to Coldfoot and he also had a vast breadth of knowledgeable and insights or stories. Both guides were highly educated; geography degree and Chemistry/ IT degrees respectively. Declan’s narration was spot on and helped ease the pain of a painful drive. We saw 2 black bears (1 just 20 minutes south of Artcic Circle, a juvenile and one 7 miles south of Coldfoot, full grown). Once in Coldfoot we checked into our 5* accommodations (lol) (repurposed modular housing from 1970’s) actually private bathroom with shower was remarkably wonderful. Comfy twin beds. We opted for the pack raft trip and kayaked the Koyukuk River river and this was definitely the highlight of our trip! Ethan and Lleyton showered us with information and attention. We had to carry our packs in ~1/2 mile hike to river. Learned proper technique to inflate and setup kayaks. River was cool and refreshing on a gorgeous day. Paddled; beach hiked; paddled again. Disembark and pack up, then hike 1/2 mile to van left by companion driver earlier. Tired and happy, but High Fives all around! Back to camp, check out and shuttle to airport. Fly home - no bumpy road ride south. (Yeah) Flight ✈️ piper chieftain seats 8,plus pilots. Excellent views 5-7000 feet above ground. Really see the vastness of the land. 75 minutes arrive in FB. Both excursions: ~$1500 for 2 people plus food and tips. Awesome and so worth it! If you want an unforgettable experience Northern Alaska Tour Company is an amazing outfit that will provide you an amazing experience! I felt safe and comfortable with each and every tour guide; they truly operate a family style organization and we felt like family when we were there."

"James Dalton Highway (aka the “Haul Road“, aka Alaska Dalton Highway), stretching from Fairbanks to the Arctic Ocean, is 414 miles of unpaved, gravel and muddy roads. This once in a lifetime adventure reveals the unspoiled natural beauty of the last frontier. The Dalton Highway is extremely remote. There are no restaurants, accommodations, or gas stations for hundreds of miles. You will occasionally see trucks and vehicles passing on the road. Your cell phone will not be receiving any signal on Dalton Highway. Remember to equip your car with a satellite phone or CB radio, spare tires with rims or chains, windshield wipers, extra gas, and daily necessities. First Stop: Arctic Circle Trading Post – Joy, Alaska. This historic homestead cabin is about 60 miles north of Fairbanks on the Elliott Highway, shortly before you reach the Dalton Highway. Our tour guide was extremely knowledgeable and shared fascinating information on the trees, wildlife, pipeline creation, permafrost, history of the Dalton Highway, Aurora Borealis, and more. She played several interesting videos during the roundtrip ride. Cross the Yukon River on a Wooden Bridge: Once we crossed the Yukon River, we arrived at the Yukon River Camp. The outpost has a gas station, indoor bathrooms(!), and a small gift shop where you can buy snacks, drinks and “I Crossed Through the Arctic Circle” merch. Visitors can also walk up to the banks of the Yukon River. Exploring the Trans-Alaska Pipeline: The massive, snaking steel serpent zigzags over 800 miles through the Alaskan wilderness transporting black gold—OIL! The mega-pipeline starts in Prudhoe Bay, up in the frigid north, and races down south to Valdez, crossing rivers, mountains, and all sorts of jaw-dropping landscapes along the way. Our guide told us a lot about the construction of the Trans-Alaska pipeline and also showed us an excellent documentary showcasing just what an engineering marvel it is. Finger Mountain (Finger Rock): although there’s a wayside with a 1/2 mile out-and-back interpretive trail to the summit of Finger Mountain. Before the Dalton Highway was built, bush pilots heading to Fairbanks would use it as a navigation landmark. The Arctic Circle: To be fair, the Arctic Circle is an imaginary line of latitude, so the fact there’s even a sign at all is momentous. Northern Alaska Tour Company rolled out the red carpet (literally) and gave all of us certificates with our names and the date proving that we crossed the Arctic Circle!"

"The Arctic Ocean Adventure was so awesome! Our guide, Tim, was very knowledgeable and experienced driving the challenging Dalton Highway. The scenery was amazing, especially north of Coldfoot. We also did the Gates of the Arctic flight at Coldfoot. The tour at Wiseman is very interesting, the real Alaska. If luxurious travel is what you want, this tour may not be for you. If you’re good with basic accommodations in order to see things most people don’t see, this is for you!"

"We did the arctic tour yesterday and absolutely loved it. If you're in doubt, please just do it. It's a long drive, but the coach is comfortable and the views and sights are amazing. On the way back, we were absolutely treated to an amazing aurora and our guide Mike 100% went out of his way to ensure we got to see and enjoy it. You stop every two hours so there is plenty of bathroom time. All photos were taken by me, on the day of the trip!"