Borealis Basecamp

Nice place. However, they have a terrible management of their mistakes. We hired and paid them a private transfer on the 1st day to arrive to our activities on time. However, the transfer never arrived! No one called, no one contacted us. We had to call 5 times, and they told us that for some reason no one dispatched/notified the driver to pick us up. They said that the private transfer would arrive "in 20 minutes" for almost 4 hours that we were waiting. Later they provided the excuse that the weather was bad and that they did this for our security which was a complete lie. Although it was cold, cars were working fine and their regular shuttle was working perfectly (indeed we ended up going through the regular shuttle after 4 hours). The truth is that they simply forgot to schedule our transfer. We were there for only 3 days, and because of their logistics/communication mistake we lost all of our activities at basecamp that we had book for that day! As a compensation for waiting almost 4 hours and missing all of our day activities, they offered A FREE DESSERT! It was ridiculous to try to make the problem up that way. They did refund the transfer. In conclusion, it’s a nice place but I would recommend going somewhere else with better issues management and better logistics. All companies have problems, what makes a difference is how they manage them and whether they hold themselves accountable, and provide a reasonable compensation for what goes wrong.

Stopped in for food after a trip in the White Mts. We are locals and were very surprised that they was no parking for people with trailers. On top of that a very rude shuttle driver told us we couldn’t park where we finally found a place and then when we asked where we could go with the trailer he said “I don’t know and I really don’t care. You just can’t park here.” He had a van full of guests while yelling at us as well. We finally got that settled and went in to eat on their bar side and were told they were not serving food until 5:30 (it was 4:15) even though the kitchen for the fancier restaurant side was clearly open. We gave up and left. Had a burger at Silver Gulch. We had really wanted to check it out as up until now all we have heard is complaints about their snow machine tours ripping up the trails, people being flown in to hot springs etc. We did one fancy dinner night out there in Dec and were told they really wanted to encourage Fairbanks folks to come out (there was even a local discount for dinner). If Borealis wants to be a bit more community friendly they might consider opening earlier on weekends when a lot of Fairbanks is out playing in the White Mts. And advertise that fact. Maybe make some parking for people with trailers. And ask staff to be a little less rude.

Where do I start? I just returned from the Basecamp and it far exceeded my expectations. The owners truly have not left out a single detail to ensure you have the absolute best experience possible. The staff are extremely accommodating, kind and all are so happy to be there. Michael and Alex for the snow machines were so much fun and truly make the day. The igloos were cozy and warm. the fact that they wake you up with a chime when the northern lights are starting to form and again when they intensify ensures that you have the best possible experience with viewing the northern lights. I can't say enough wonderful things about the Basecamp. I am looking forward to returning again in the next 2 years.

We spent 3 nights in an igloo at Basecamp and enjoyed the experience immensly. Luckily the Northern Lights appeared all three nights we were there. What a show! Daytime activities, snowmobiling and dogsledding were a lot of fun and well worth the price of the package. They offer lots of other activities as well. The staff was very friendly and helpful. We ate at the main restaurant two of the three nights and the pub the other. Prices were higher at the restaurant. Breakfast was included and was very good. It took us a year to get a reservation, which says a lot about it.

My wife and I had Borealis Basecamp and Flight reservations when Storm ENZO stranded us in Hilton Head, South Carolina. We wrote three emails requesting the management of Basecamp to either delay our arrival or cancel the trip and reschedule for later in 2025. The reason for the delay was that the nearest airport, the Savannah Airport, was closed for two days and limited flights on the afternoon on the third day. Management refused to move our arrival the three nights we requested and stated flately if we did not show up, our full deposit and total cost would be forefited (over $4,500). This once in a 100- year ice and snow storm with sub freezing temperatures had no impact on them. They finally agreed to move our arrival back one day, but we would have to move igloos. We had to reschedule our flights to fly out of Charleston, SC, a 110 mile drive. After we arrived, our first night there was no Aurora to see because of clouds. The second night we were awakened in our igloo by the inroom alarm and we saw the beautiful Aurora. We then had to change igloos for our third night. The Aurora was out, but we were not awakened for the sighting. It tuns out that an employee walks on paths next to the Igloos and points an electrical "shot" towards an electrical alarm in your Igloo which is supposed to awaken you. One night we were awakened- the second night we were not! The employee has no feedback as to whether the room alarm was triggered or not. We made some friends who shared their pictures with us for this third night; however, they informed us that the night after our checkout, they experienced the same malfunction, the alarm never went off although the staff said they shot the electrical charge towards their Igloo. BEWARE! They need to develop a better wake up process. On a posivtive side, the staff was very friendly and accommodating. The food was average at best and overpriced. The menu never changed.

The experience alone was amazing but the cost to value ratio is off. Overall it's too expensive. The lodging, the restaurant, all of it is too expensive. Went on a northern lights tour in the Fairbanks area and saw the lights went to this location and saw the lights but at a much much greater cost.