Sven's Basecamp Hostel

We were SO happy with our entire stay. I was a little weary of my first time staying in a hostel and first time visiting Alaska. Well I can now say that it will certainly not be the last time. The personal communication from Sven and crew right after I made the booking was amazing. Always prompt and professional, yet very personable. Our Musher unit was clean and modern, the heat worked well, the beds were super comfy, nice location, nice lighting, etc. The showers, bathroom areas, and common kitchen space were amazing. The kitchen had all kinds of little perks like an area where others had left behind items that were "free" like extra rice, seasonings, etc. The fridge also had "public use" condiments, the cupboards were well stocked with anything you might need for cooking. A little area to borrow books and board games, and even rent out bear spray. Every staff that we encountered were so friendly and just a blast to get to meet, along with the other guests. The VIBE was amazing, through and through. I cannot give it enough stars, oh and super reasonable in price. There is a Guest book that so many people have written in over the last summer and summers before, all echoing the same. Thank you Sven, thank you all staff, thank you Alaska !!!!!

Stayed here on the first night of a inland Alaska tour. My plane landed at 3 AM and the staff was gracious enough to allow me a late check out so I was able to rest up and start my vacation right! Everything was super comfortable: the cabins, the beds, the pillows, the shared spaces. I appreciated the naturalness of the location and the ability to stay somewhere that didn’t feel like just another corporate lodging. As a woman traveling alone, I felt safe the entire time I was there. As long as you remember that a hostel is not a motel, and the amenities are different, you will have a great stay. Definitely somewhere I will keep in mind for future trips.

Stayed here with my wife on our honeymoon 8/31, great fun! We paid extra for one of the solo cabins so I can’t speak to the dorms - however honestly, hotels in Fairbanks are very expensive in the summer and this was a good deal. Very polite staff, we appreciated them grabbing our laundry to do overnight and be ready for us the next day! Would definitely recommend for the curious Alaskan traveler.

Great value for money good for bachelors. Friendly staff. We were just unlucky heater gas valve was shut off so we couldn't use it over night. Only one suggestion people like me who come late night when there is no electricity in the hostel on a heavy rainy day , Please have clear bathroom marking like you provided path for our rooms. It helps preventing searching for it under heavy rain or snow. This is just a feedback not complaint 🙂

Exactly what was expected plus a bit. Super friendly check in. The showers were hot and clean. The location was great, easy to find. If you don't mind walking to the bathroom and roughing it a little,this place is perfect.

Hostel is an unique woodsy experience - you feel like you're in nature, yet you're right by the airport and within walking distance to stores, food, buses, car rental place, etc! Also has a really cute coffee shop! (What's better than being able to get espresso in the morning!?) ||The staff member at check in was very friendly and personable, even giving us a tour of the space. Stayed in a cabin, which was a cozy private space with a good amount of room for luggage. Bed and bedding was cozy and the cabin had a great heater that kept the room warm when the temperature dropped at night. ||It's a hostel, not a hotel, so it has hostel level amenities - i.e. bathrooms are shared and outside, etc. but everything is clean and well-maintained and it's a great value!

It was okay staying in the tent dorm. You just never know who else you will be sharing the dorm with. Had a night with drunks coming in and falling all over the place after midnight causing a ruckus til about 1:30am when they eventually decided to go to bed. The door handle and lock mechanism is a gate lock. No door knob, so it's very loud and disturbing during the night with ppl going in and out and not knowing how the lock works. Better to stay in the cabins or book the whole dorm for your self and friends.

Rode from TX > MN > AK and didn't have a place planned out to stay. Called around, no vacancies and if they did have vacancies, they were $300+... Never been to a hostel but called and got lodging secured. Came in Zurissa gave me a tour, showed me my lodging, & is really cool ppl. There was also a magician that put on a free show last night. The staff really take care of the grounds & the bathroom, the showers, kitchen, and lodging (I stayed in "Bear" 1 King, bunk bed, & couch) were all great. Even had a hot bath! All in all, Sven's Basecamp Hostel has provided me a great experience to now incorporate hostels in my future travels.

Stayed few nights and was perfect. Staff was active but not real friendly to others kept in their little group. Nice layout with everything easy to use. Individual bathrooms, Hot water, large stocked kitchen, plenty of tables and chairs. Some activities like corn hole, volleyball, ping pong, smoking and social areas, and group fire ring area, even have a grill to use. Lots of trees and greenery, gravel paths. Our wall tent would sleep 4-6, so two of us had plenty of room. Table and chairs, couch, shelves and beds of course, table lamp small porch with chairs. Edge of town but very quiet location, enjoyed our stay and would do again.

Great place to stay! Clean and beautiful grounds. Good value for the money. I would come back again.

Hidden gem in the city. Sven is a very welcoming host and the Basecamp is truly unique. The facilities are clean and modern, and everything is built by Sven himself. There is even a lovely coffee shop on the grounds.

Super cool place, one of my best experiences ever, staying in a treehouse! Great staff and everyone's was very friendly. Sven himself was very helpful and time sensitive while communicating with us. They gave us great suggestions on where to go and see the northern lights as well. It is an eco friendly hostel, so the showers are coin operated. You can get quarters at the front desk. There are lots of bugs as everywhere in the night, so carry bug spray. They also provide you with sleeping bags if you didn't bring any. Overall great experience! Wish we stayed longer for a couple of days, had to leave bcoz we had already booked our flights. Def recommend to anyone!

The place its self was nice. The behavior of the owner the night we stayed was appalling. At 2:30 am a group of rowdy young men made a fire and commenced beating a bongo drum ( yes a bongo ) and playing guitar so loud it was impossible to sleep. My daughter was afraid to go to the restroom because she would have to walk past them, thier drunken yelling was vulger and full of obsenenities. When i walked her past, 2 of the men were trying to get her to drink and smoke with them... this did not make dad very happy. At 450 am the noise finally stopped. I asked to speak with the owner in the morning and was told that WAS the owner and she was not comfortable with bringing it up. Not a good experience. Yes i would be glad to give them a chance to make good.

Sven is the man! I enjoyed staying at the Basecamp Hostel so much, and hope to go back. Accommodations are pleasant and comfortable, and it's like you're in your own private world, off the beaten path (though it's right in Fairbanks, not far from the airport). Prices are reasonable, and Sven is the ultimate host, where he practices that the customer comes first, a true gentleman and nice guy. There are kitchen facilities, and the sleeping accommodations are as comfortable as can be. It's my favorite place in Fairbanks! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

This place is really nice. Extremely clean and organized... It beats spending $200 on a crapy Fairbanks hotel room. They can also accommodate families.

This is the best hostel we stayed at in Alaska. The Owner Sven is a great guy. He is really helpful and fun. The sleeping cabins are great, very clean and cool. Its a great place to meet new people. I highly recommend this hostel if you are in the area.

This is a superbly well-run hostel. Sven is a very amiable and engaging host and encourages camaraderie among guests. I definitely will come back in the future! I stayed in one of the 2 person cabins, which was really nice.

We usually camp, so we were a little reluctant about staying in a hostel but Sven's Base Camp turned out to be a hidden gem that was a highlight of our Alaskan adventure. Sven and Rachel, his assistant, warmly greeted us as we arrived and made us feel very welcome. Their clear message was "there are no strangers only friends you have not met yet." This welcoming, friendly atmosphere was evident not only from Sven and Rachel but from all the guests that we met and became friends with. The people we met at Sven's Base Camp were from every walk of life. We hung out and became fast friends with people of all different ages, and from many different countries, each with their own story. Our conversations were great as we all learned about one another. It was a very fun and social place. A musician that was staying at the hostel played guitar and sang for us, a group of hunters shared their fresh caribou, we cooked pancakes together, and woke one another (as requested) when the Northern lights danced across the sky! Sven was really knowledgeable about the area and had great suggestions for hiking destinations, paddle trips (he rents canoes), and suggestions on where to eat. Our cabin was clean and comfortable but best of all--warm and dry, after a wet camping trip. The common areas were clean and well stocked with all the necessities for cooking away from home. Bathrooms and showers were also very clean. To sum it up, when I would tell locals where we were staying, they would warmly smile and say what a nice person Sven was and what a great place he ran. We could not agree more! That is why we will return to Sven's Base Camp each time we visit Fairbanks.

Whether flying into Fairbanks or riding a bike up the Alcan from the Outside Sven's is a great rest stop and jumping off point for Alaska adventure. The accomodations are rustic but comfortable and 100% Alaskan. You will find everything you need to get rested up, plan, and prepare for the next leg of your trip. Sven is a gracious host and a treasure trove of information about things to do in Alaska's interior.