Sven's Basecamp Hostel

We booked swen's place (tree hut) through Airbnb. The moment we arrived, he gave us clear instructions. At the entrance of the tree hut, my name is written on the board! That shows how great the customer service is here. There are shared bathrooms and kitchen and did not find it crowded anytime. Things to know before you go. We were there in the summer and there was no darkness during the night, so couldn't really sleep as we were staying in the tent. Mosquitoes here are huge so make sure to get the mosquito repellent.

This is a great hostel. I stayed in a cabin two different night about 4 days apart. The cabins were clean and have power, I was able to get WiFi in both rooms. They keep the shared bathroom clean. The shower are coin operated 2 quarters are plenty for a nice fast shower. There is a kitchen with a common fridge that you can keep food in, people seemed to respect all the simple rolls. The place is well ran and has a friendly staff.

I had a great experience. The place is chill and beautiful. The staff was kind and helpful. They are always around for everthing you need. I stayed 4 nights. Some in dorms and some in a privert cabin. The dorme i a big tent, not a camping tent more like and army tent, clean, basic beds (no bunks) with a small light for each bed with usb inlet for charging your phone. Tha wood cabin are nice and privet. The one i stayed had a bunk bed. Good big sherd kitchen with a fireplace. Owesome coffee shop thats open during the morning. Only 3 WC for all the guests to share and 2 showers. The showers are coin operated wich is a bit annoying. If im in fairbanks ever again i would defently stay there again.

Rustic. The one word you need to describe this place. If you are a seasoned backpacker and camper you will not be phased at all. If this is your first hostile (an accurate typo) experience, skip this place. Sven’s primary function is to serve as a fueling up point for people headed into the Arctic Circle to hike for months at a time. The vibe is crunchy, to say the least. They boast to have an on-site coffee shop, though I never saw it open. They have various options for accommodations ranging from a treehouse to several tents to a more permanent wooden structure, but unless you call and book over the phone, there’s no way to know which room you’ll end up in. The tents they provide are large and permanent, with actual wooden doors and they sleep five people. There is also a little area off to the side where you can pitch your own tent. The kitchen is bare-bones, but provides all the pots and pans you could need. The showers you have to put quarters in in order to have water run. The sinks have free drinkable water though, so if you’re not there for long you can get around paying for a shower by doing sponge bathing in the sink. There are three toilet and three shower stalls and it’s all coed communal for the entire property. Definitely somewhere I would recommend staying with a friend or a partner and not solo. It’s perfectly safe, the staff aren’t very friendly or very present if you have questions, you have to hunt them down. It’s also not in an accessible location. There is a bus stop right outside, but the Fairbanks bus system is limited at best. That bus stop only sees a bus once an hour and it doesn’t run for very many hours throughout the day. The next nearest bus stop is about a 25 minute walk away. Though the walk is on paved sidewalk, leading up to Sven’s you will have to walk in the road so walking is not the safest option. Ubers are also very expensive, though that might be your best option for getting into downtown Fairbanks. Not the place to stay if you want to see Fairbanks proper. It’s very out-of-the-way, and while is the cheapest option of the two hostels in Fairbanks, it’s really meant for backpackers gearing up for, or returning from, massive wilderness expeditions. The property is also not wheelchair accessible.

My friend and I spent a magical whirlwind 48 hours in Alaska with Sven’s as our base camp. It was amazing. The bed in our tent was comfortable, the facilities clean and the best part was the people! Everyone we met from the staff to other guests were some of the nicest people we’ve ever met. This place just emanates chill vibes and you can’t help but be relaxed here.

We had a great stay at Sven's in the Indiana Jones treehouse! We loved getting to cross the swinging bridge to get to our room - a great way to start our grand alaskan adventure :) the facilities are super clean and the staff is so nice, we even enjoyed chatting with Sven himself around the fire with other guests! The bathroom and shower areas are very clean and the kitchen is well stocked with any supplies you may need for cooking. This was actually my first ever stay in a hostel and I had a great time getting to know other guests and share stories. If I am ever in Fairbanks again (which I hope I will be!) I will definitely stay at Svens again! It is a great place with even better people (and dogs!)

Best place for motorcycle stay. Cabins yurts or tent sites. Great tent sites with plenty of shade. Kitchen area, showers, flush toilets. Laundry available. Fire pit. Staff is great. This is a must stay.

First off the hospitality here is amazing. The owner himself constructed my tent and spent the time to make sure it was perfect. The Arctic oven tent was HUGE and the bed was comfortable. I slept like a rock. The grounds are clean and the location is peaceful. There is also a coffee shop on the property with very reasonable prices. A large Americano with an extra expresso shot and vanilla shot was only 4$ Would definitely stay again. The only downside was I could only stay 2 days because of my vacation timetable. I would of stayed a week if I had the time. It's that pleasant and the value was amazing. 😀

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.