Electric Moose Studios Aurora Adventure W/Portraits & Hot Pizza!!

The best part of this Fairbanks aurora tour is that it treats the night as more than a quick photo stop. Nathan drives a small group into the backcountry, sets up a heated shelter, cooks pizza in a portable stone-fired oven, and uses professional lighting and camera gear to create portraits you can actually keep.

I like the small group of no more than 10 and the fact that the photo package is included, not an extra charge. I also like the aurora guarantee, which offers a second tour within two years if the lights do not appear in your photos. The main consideration is the price: at $385 per person, this is a premium outing, and the late start plus six-hour length may test your stamina.

Key points

• Fresh pizza in the snow: Nathan cooks hot pizzas in a 930-degree stone-fired oven while you wait for the sky to change.
• Professional portraits included: You receive portraits, sky photos, and a new whole-sky, whole-night timelapse.
• A heated base camp: The shelter, heaters, chairs, drinks, and warming gear make long waits far easier.
• A real aurora hunt: The group may drive 15 to 40 miles north of Fairbanks to find clearer skies and darker conditions.
• Creative backup activities: Chinese lanterns, steel wool photography, sparklers, and lighted lanterns help fill quiet periods.
• A practical safety net: If the aurora does not appear in your photos, you can qualify for a free return tour within two years, based on available seats.

Why this is more than a northern lights drive

Aurora tours can be oddly passive. You sit in a van, wait in a dark field, and hope the sky cooperates. Electric Moose Studios takes a different approach. The night is built around the lights, but it also includes photography, food, local stories, science, and simple ways to stay comfortable.

That matters in Fairbanks, where the aurora may appear at 10 p.m., 1 a.m., or close to 3 a.m. One recent outing did not produce its best display until around 3 a.m. A tour that can keep you warm, fed, and occupied gives you a much better chance of waiting long enough.

Nathan is the guide, driver, photographer, cook, and host. His background includes 25 years of Alaskan outdoor experience and professional photography training, including wedding photography. That combination is important. He is not only watching the sky. He is also thinking about where to place you, how to light a face, and how to capture the aurora behind you.

Starting at 9 p.m. in Fairbanks

The tour begins at 9 p.m., with pickup available from most Fairbanks locations. Look for a tan Chevrolet 15-passenger van with a moose head logo on the door. Pickup in North Pole is not available, though you can meet the group in Fairbanks.

The timing is designed for aurora viewing, not sightseeing. You should eat a normal meal before pickup or be ready for a late night, even though pizza and drinks are provided later. The tour lasts about six hours, so you may return around 3 a.m. or later depending on conditions and the evening’s activity.

The van ride is part of the experience. Nathan uses the drive to explain the forecast, the science behind the aurora, and the plan for the night. He also shares local information and answers camera questions. If you bring your own camera, you can learn how to photograph the lights rather than simply handing over your phone.

Driving 15 to 40 miles north for darker skies

Nathan chooses from several viewing spots north of Fairbanks. The drive may cover 15 to 40 miles, depending on clouds and the aurora forecast. That flexibility is useful because a clear patch in one direction can make all the difference.

You are not promised a perfect display. No guide can control cloud cover or solar activity. What you do get is a guide who checks conditions and can make a practical decision about where to go. On one cloudy night, the cameras picked up a glow behind thin clouds even though the view was not clear to the naked eye. That is a reminder to keep expectations sensible: a camera can sometimes record color that your eyes barely detect.

The countryside location also gives you distance from Fairbanks’ city lights. You will have darker skies, more stars, and a better setting for portraits. One especially useful detail is that Nathan may stop on the return drive if the aurora suddenly flares. The sky does not follow a schedule, so that willingness to pause matters.

The heated shelter changes the waiting game

The heated shelter is the practical heart of the tour. Nathan sets it up quickly after arrival, then provides heaters, chairs, and warm drinks. Available drinks include hot cocoa, coffee, chai tea, apple cider, and black tea.

This is not a minor comfort in an Alaskan winter. January outings can be brutally cold, with one group describing temperatures near minus 40 degrees. The shelter lets you warm your hands, remove a layer, sit down, and talk while still keeping the sky watch in sight.

The tour also includes thermal gear, headlamps, crampons, and other cold-weather equipment. You should still dress seriously for winter, but these supplies reduce the risk of turning the evening into a test of endurance. The shelter is especially useful for families, older adults, and anyone who wants to see the aurora without standing outside for six straight hours.

The tradeoff is that this is still an outdoor winter adventure. You will go outside for photos and sky watching, and you should expect snow, cold, darkness, and uneven ground. The supplied gear helps, but it does not replace warm base layers, winter boots, gloves, and a hat.

Pizza from a 930-degree oven

Fresh pizza is one of the tour’s most unusual details. Nathan cooks it in a portable, stone-fired oven that reaches 930 degrees. It gives the wait a social rhythm: look at the sky, take photos, warm up, eat, and head outside again when the aurora becomes active.

The pizza is more than a snack. A late-night tour can become tiring when you are cold and standing around in the dark. Hot food gives you a real break and makes the outing feel like a hosted evening rather than a transport service.

You should not book this solely for the meal. The main purpose remains aurora viewing and photography, and the exact food service is not described as a full dinner. Still, it is a generous inclusion at this price, especially when paired with hot drinks and a heated shelter.

Portraits that are worth bringing home

The included photography is a major reason to consider this tour. Nathan uses professional cameras, lighting, and his photography background to make portraits with the aurora behind you. You also receive images of the sky and scenery, plus the new whole-sky, whole-night timelapse feature.

Aurora photography is difficult for beginners. It requires long exposures, a steady camera, careful focus, and enough light on the person in front of the sky. A portrait can easily turn into a dark silhouette, or the aurora can look bright while the person disappears. Professional lighting solves much of that problem.

Nathan also creates playful images while the group waits. Activities described from different nights include steel wool photography, sparklers, Chinese lanterns, and lighted lanterns. These are not substitutes for the aurora, but they give you memorable images even during a slow period.

The photos are sent digitally, and several outings produced previews quickly, with final images arriving within hours or by the next morning. The exact delivery timing can vary, so do not treat the fastest turnaround as a formal promise. Still, the included digital album adds real value, especially for couples, families, and anyone celebrating a proposal or milestone.

Learning the sky while you wait

Nathan explains how the aurora forms, how forecasts work, and what to look for overhead. He can also help you use your own camera. This makes the outing useful even if you want to learn rather than simply pose for portraits.

The science lesson has a practical purpose. You learn why cloud cover matters, why the lights may be stronger later, and why a faint glow can suddenly become a bright moving curtain. You also begin to understand why an aurora forecast is not a guarantee.

The group atmosphere appears to be part of Nathan’s style. He uses humor, local stories, and personal experience to keep the evening relaxed. That works well in a small group, where you can ask questions without competing with dozens of other people.

What happens when the aurora is weak

The aurora guarantee is one of the strongest features here. If you do not get aurora in your photos, you are eligible for a second tour free within two years of the original date, subject to seating availability.

Read that promise carefully. It does not guarantee a clear sky on the first night, and it does not mean you can automatically choose any date. It gives you a useful second chance if the lights fail to appear in your photos.

Nathan has also offered repeat outings when clouds spoiled the intended view. In practical terms, you should contact the company promptly if conditions were poor and discuss the available options. If you are staying in Fairbanks for several nights, book early enough to leave room for a return date.

For the best chance of seeing the aurora, I would schedule this near the beginning of your Fairbanks stay rather than the final night. That gives you time to use the guarantee or book another outing if clouds take over.

Is $385 per person a fair price?

At $385, this is not the budget aurora option. You are paying for more than transportation to a dark spot. The price includes pickup in much of Fairbanks, a small group, a guide with extensive outdoor experience, professional portraits, sky photos, a timelapse, cold-weather supplies, a heated shelter, hot drinks, and fresh pizza.

The value depends on what you want. If you only need a ride to a viewing field and plan to take your own photos, a simpler tour may cost less. If you want high-quality portraits, a warm base, food, personal instruction, and a guide who can adapt to the weather, the package makes more sense.

A small group is a key part of the calculation. With a maximum of 10 people, Nathan can spend time photographing each person and answering questions. Larger operations may move more people through a location, but they usually cannot offer the same amount of individual attention.

I would also count the return-tour policy when comparing prices. An aurora tour is always a gamble because nature controls the result. A second chance reduces that risk, although you must still plan around seat availability and the two-year limit.

Who will enjoy this most

This tour is a strong fit for couples who want polished portraits, families who need a warm place to recharge, and solo visitors who want a personal guide rather than a large bus operation. It also suits anyone celebrating a proposal or special occasion. Nathan has experience creating proposal moments under the aurora, and the professional photos can preserve the event far better than a hurried phone shot.

It is also a good choice for people who are new to winter. The shelter, chairs, drinks, warming supplies, and planned activities make the night less intimidating. You still need to respect the cold, but you are not left to stand in a field with a granola bar and a thin blanket.

You may prefer another option if you want a short outing, dislike late nights, or only care about photographing the sky yourself. Six hours is a long commitment, and the 9 p.m. departure is built for aurora conditions rather than an early bedtime.

Service animals are allowed, the activity is near public transportation, and most people can participate. Ask about pickup before booking if your accommodation is outside the normal Fairbanks area.

Booking advice and cancellation terms

This tour is often reserved well in advance, with an average booking lead time of about 68 days. That makes sense during the best winter viewing months, when small-group spots can disappear.

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time. Cancellations or changes inside 24 hours are not refunded or accepted. If poor weather or an insufficient number of bookings causes cancellation, you will be offered another date, another experience, or a full refund.

Should you book Electric Moose Studios?

I would book this tour if you want the full evening: a serious aurora hunt, a warm shelter, hot pizza, personal instruction, and professional photos of you beneath the sky. Nathan’s combination of outdoor experience and photography solves two common problems at once: finding a decent viewing spot and getting a usable portrait when you arrive.

I would skip it only if $385 is beyond your budget, you want a shorter outing, or you are content taking your own photos. For everyone else, especially couples and families who want a keepsake rather than a simple sighting, the small group and free return option make this a strong Fairbanks choice. Schedule it early in your stay, dress for real winter, and be ready to wait. The lights may arrive quickly, or they may make you earn the show.

FAQ

Where does the tour begin?

Pickup is offered from most places in the Fairbanks area. If your location is not available during booking, you can email Electric Moose Studios to ask about pickup. Pickup is not available in North Pole, but you can meet the group in Fairbanks.

What time does the tour start?

The tour starts at 9 p.m. and lasts approximately six hours.

How many people can join the tour?

The maximum group size is 10 travelers.

What is included in the price?

The experience includes transportation from much of Fairbanks, aurora guidance, professional portraits and sky photos, a digital photo album, thermal gear, headlamps, crampons, a heated warming shelter, hot drinks, and complimentary pizza.

What happens if the aurora does not appear?

If you do not get aurora in your photos, you are eligible for a second tour free within two years of your tour date, based on seating availability.

Can I cancel for a refund?

Yes. You can cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the experience are not refunded.