Yellowknife Northern Lights Tours

Yellowknife sits almost directly under the auroral oval, so on a clear night the sky above the spruce and the frozen lakes often turns green. Strong nights add pink and violet. The tours leave town after dark and drive out to where the city lights fade. We handpicked four of them to cover every way to spend that night, from a photographer's bus on the Ingraham Trail to a heated cabin with fish chowder. Below, each price sits next to how the night runs and the small print the listings bury.

  • Two aurora seasons a yearLate August to early October over open lakes, then mid-November to early April over snow
  • Plan three nights, not oneClouds are the usual spoiler here, so a single night is a gamble and two or three give you a fair chance

In a hurry? Our top pick is Yellowknife Vacations' photographer bus: from ~$62 a person for a group of no more than 16, three lake stops on the Ingraham Trail and free photos of you under the lights. Book it here.

Book on Viator Book on GetYourGuide Compare all 4

Aurora nights at a glance

  • About four hours after darkPickup at your hotel in the evening, back in bed somewhere past midnight. The lights tend to peak late
  • Four ways to wait for the skyHop between lakes on a bus, sit in a warm cabin, play cards in a lodge, or let a guide chase the clearest patch
  • The dark starts close to townMost tours head out the Ingraham Trail, a road east past a string of lakes, and are under a dark sky within 15 to 30 minutes
  • Likely, never promisedUnder the oval the lights show on most clear nights, but cloud can sit over the whole region. Every listing says so

If you only have a minute

Which Yellowknife aurora tour should you book?

If a friend asked us how to see the northern lights in Yellowknife, this is what we would tell them over a coffee on Franklin Avenue.

The best northern lights tour in Yellowknife for most visitors is Yellowknife Vacations' bus tour with photos, from ~$62. It picks you up at your hotel, stops at three different spots along the Ingraham Trail and caps the group at 16. A professional photographer rides along and the photos cost nothing, so you get pictures of yourself under the lights without fiddling with a tripod.

Would you rather sit somewhere warm? Bucket List Tour's cozy cabin at ~$101 serves fish chowder and hot bannock while the staff watch the sky, and Destination NWT's lodge near Madeline Lake at ~$98 has games and modern toilets, plus a bus that moves on when clouds roll in. Want a guide who only chases? Aurora Bus Tours drives wherever the sky is clearest, from ~$69.

None of them can promise the aurora. Look at how many nights to plan and which months suit you, see how each night is spent, then read what the listings play down before you pay.

Our pick

The aurora night we would book: Yellowknife Vacations, max 16

Not the coziest night on this page, and not the one with dinner. It is the one that moves you through the most dark sky for the least money, with someone whose job is taking your picture.

A broad green aurora arc spreading across the night sky above the dark boreal forest near Yellowknife Our pick

Northern Lights Bus Tour with Photos, Yellowknife Vacations

★★★★★ 4.8 from 430+ reviews on Viator · 4.7 from 290+ on GetYourGuide · free cancellation up to 24 hours before

Yellowknife Vacations runs this one as a simple, well-practiced loop. A bus collects you from your hotel or B&B in the evening and heads out the Ingraham Trail while the driver-guide talks about the town and the lights. The group stays at 16 or fewer, so the bus never feels like a coach tour.

Along the trail the bus stops at three different locations, each with its own lakeshore or spruce foreground. A professional photographer comes along and shoots you under the aurora at each stop. The listing is blunt about the price of those pictures: there is none.

Between stops you climb back into a warm bus for a hot drink and a cookie. The whole night lasts about four hours, door to door.

Price
from ~$62 per person
Duration
About 4 hours
Stops
3 locations on the Ingraham Trail
Group
Up to 16 people
Pickup
Hotels and B&Bs in Yellowknife, not the airport
Photos
Professional photographer, no charge
Languages
English and Chinese
Cancellation
Free up to 24 hours on both sites
Viator GetYourGuide

Live availability and prices on GetYourGuide

Powered by GetYourGuide

How the night runs, step by step

The exact stops change with the weather and with where the sky looks clearest. This is the outline the listing gives:

Out of town

  • Pickup at your hotel or B&B in the evening
  • East on the Ingraham Trail with commentary on Yellowknife and the aurora
  • First stop by a lake, away from the city glow

Along the trail

  • Two more stops, each with a different backdrop for photos
  • Hot drinks and cookies on the bus between stops
  • Back at your door about 4 hours after pickup

What the price covers

The fare buys transport and the photos, with warmth between stops. What it leaves out is mostly what you wear.

Included
  • Hotel and B&B pickup and drop-off
  • A driver-guide and a photographer
  • Your photos, free of charge
  • Hot drinks (cocoa, tea, coffee) and cookies
Not included
  • Winter clothing
  • Pickup from the airport
  • Tips for the crew
  • A guarantee of the lights

Between us, before you go

One cold-weather amateur to another: you will spend a good part of the night standing on snow at minus twenty or colder. The bus is warm but the stops are not, and there is no lodge to retreat to. Rent a parka and proper boots if you did not bring them.

The tour is not suitable for wheelchair users. Our guide to dressing for minus 30 covers the layers.

Why it beats the warmer options

A cabin or a lodge is lovely until a cloud bank parks over it. A bus that already plans three stops can shuffle them toward the clearer side of the trail, and the photographer turns a faint green band into a picture you will keep. At ~$62 it is also the lowest price on this page. Our tour-style comparison weighs all four.

Who we would not send on it

Anyone who hates the cold, who will be happier in the heated cabin. Families with small children who need a toilet and a table, who should look at the lodge near Madeline Lake. And photographers who want to set up a tripod for an hour at one lake, which a three-stop bus does not allow.

Book it if

You want a well-run first night under the lights with photos taken for you. Ride between dark lakes in a warm bus and spend less than on any other tour here. It suits couples and friends as well as solo travelers who are fine with a few cold minutes at each stop.

Skip it if

Ready for the Ingraham Trail?

The tour is on Viator and on GetYourGuide. Viator shows the higher score and more reviews; both let you cancel for free up to 24 hours before, so you can check the cloud forecast first.

Viator GetYourGuide

The night itself

How a Yellowknife aurora tour works

Every tour on this page answers two questions differently. Do you keep moving to find a clear patch of sky, or wait in one warm place for the lights to come to you? And how many people share the night?

Style · keep moving

Bus stops and chases

Yellowknife Vacations, Aurora Bus Tours

4–5 hhotel pickup, several stops in the dark, a warm bus between them

The bus is your shelter and your way out from under a cloud. You step out at each stop to watch and take photos, then climb back in to thaw. No building to sit in, so dress for long minutes in the cold.

Style · wait somewhere warm

Cabin or lodge as a base

Bucket List Tour, Destination NWT

4 ha short drive out to a heated building and a call when the lights appear

You sit inside with hot drinks and walk out when the staff spot the aurora. Kinder on cold nights and small children. The cabin stays put whatever the clouds do; the lodge drives elsewhere on cloudy nights.

Yellowknife nights and aurora odds, month by month

  • How good a month is for an aurora tour
  1. Jan−30°C night−22 °F

    Long, clear, bitter nights

  2. Feb−28°C night−18 °F

    Often the clearest skies of winter

  3. Mar−22°C night−8 °F

    Milder cold, still plenty of dark

  4. Apr−10°C night14 °F

    Nights shrink fast, tours wind down

  5. May1°C night34 °F

    Too bright late at night

  6. Jun9°C night48 °F

    Near-endless daylight, no aurora tours

  7. Jul13°C night55 °F

    Summer on the lake, not the lights

  8. Aug10°C night50 °F

    Darkness returns late in the month

  9. Sep3°C night37 °F

    Reflections on open lakes, mild nights

  10. Oct−4°C night25 °F

    Freeze-up, often cloudy

  11. Nov−17°C night1 °F

    Winter tours restart as the lakes freeze

  12. Dec−27°C night−17 °F

    The longest nights, holiday crowds

Temperatures are rough average night lows in Yellowknife; clear nights, the ones you want, are often colder. The bars rate each month for a tour by darkness and typical cloud cover. Highlighted months are the ones we would pick. The seasons in detail.

How each night is spent

  • Driving out and back
  • Under the sky
  • May run longer

Hours count from pickup and come from the listings; the split between driving and time under the sky is approximate, because the guides go wherever the sky is clearest that night. Aurora Bus Tours lists a 9 pm start on Viator; check the other start times on the booking page.

  1. Pick your styleA bus that keeps moving or a warm building to wait in. The four styles compared.
  2. Choose your seasonAutumn gives reflections on open water. Winter brings snow and long nights. Month by month.
  3. Book more than one nightIf clouds win the first night, you still have a second and a third. How many nights.
  4. Dress for standing stillMinus 30 feels different when you are not moving. Mitts over gloves, boots rated for the cold. What to wear.

The Ingraham Trail after dark follows the road most tours take out of town, lake by lake. It also covers what to expect if you drive it yourself.

How to choose

How to pick the right aurora tour

The sky is the same for all four. What differs is where you wait and how warm you are, plus how many people stand beside you when it lights up.

Tour style

Each of the four styles, from the stop-and-go bus to the pure chase, has its own trade-off between warmth and flexibility. The styles compared.

Group size

Yellowknife Vacations takes 16, the cabin 17, the lodge up to 38. Every tour in one table.

The forecast

Cloud cover matters more than the Kp number in Yellowknife, and free cancellation lets you act on it. Reading the forecast.

Who is coming

Late nights and deep cold are hard on small children; a heated cabin or lodge helps. Aurora nights with kids.

Photos

Three of the four tours list professional photos; the cabin takes pictures on a good phone. Photographing the lights.

Price

From ~$62 a person on the photographer bus to ~$101 for the cabin with a hot midnight meal. Every price in one table.

Everything else to do in Yellowknife

The 4 tours

Four ways out under the aurora, side by side

We read every northern lights listing for Yellowknife on both booking sites and kept one of each kind of night. Each card gives the price and length along with the tour company. It also names the catch, with a button for each site that sells it.

Green and violet aurora curtains swirling straight overhead in a starry Yellowknife sky Our pick

Northern Lights Bus Tour with Photos, Yellowknife Vacations

The one we would book for a first aurora night.

Four hours on the Ingraham Trail in a bus for 16 or fewer, with three stops for different views. A professional photographer shoots you under the lights and the photos are free. Hot cocoa and cookies keep you going between stops.

  • Rating4.8 from 430+ reviews on Viator
  • DurationAbout 4 hours, evening pickup
  • Tour companyYellowknife Vacations
  • Free cancellationUp to 24 hours before, on both sites
  • StrengthsLowest price; free photos; three different backdrops
  • Ideal forCouples and friends on a first night, solo travelers too

Good to know: No warm building at the stops, so you need proper winter clothing. No airport pickup on this tour, and not suitable for wheelchair users. The road it takes.

~$62per person
Viator GetYourGuide
Two guests at the door of a warm cabin looking out at a green aurora over the trees Warmest night

Aurora Borealis Tour with Cozy Cabin Base, Bucket List Tour

A heated cabin and a bowl of chowder while someone keeps watch on the sky.

About 15 minutes out of town, a cabin in the bush stays toasty while the staff check for the aurora every few minutes. A midnight lunch of fish chowder and hot bannock with jam comes with the night, along with hot drinks.

  • Rating4.9 from 290+ reviews on Viator
  • DurationAbout 4 hours, hotel pickup
  • Tour companyBucket List Tour
  • Free cancellationUp to 24 hours on GetYourGuide; Viator is non-refundable
  • StrengthsWarmth, a hot meal, photos taken for you on a good phone
  • Ideal forAnyone who dreads the cold, and families

Good to know: The cabin is the base and the tour does not chase, so a cloud bank overhead means a cozy night without the show. GetYourGuide lists a minimum of six per booking, though the operator tries to fit smaller groups. When the sky stays shut.

~$101per person
Viator GetYourGuide
A white canvas teepee standing among tall spruce trees in winter daylight Most comfort

Madeline Lake: Aurora Lodge and Aurora Chasing Tour, Destination NWT

A warm lodge on clear nights, a chase on cloudy ones.

On a clear night you spend most of the four hours at a spacious lodge near Madeline Lake that has board games and mahjong next to arcade games and a foosball table. When clouds roam, the bus drives farther to find a gap. A professional photographer hands out original photos at no extra cost.

  • Rating4.6 from 140+ reviews on Viator, 4.6 from 50+ on GetYourGuide
  • DurationAbout 4 hours, hotel pickup
  • Tour companyDestination NWT
  • Free cancellationUp to 24 hours before, on both sites
  • StrengthsReal toilets, snacks, Wi-Fi; a plan B for clouds
  • Ideal forFamilies and groups who want comfort and a backup

Good to know: The biggest groups here, up to 33 on GetYourGuide and 38 on Viator, so the lodge is lively rather than quiet. Not suitable for wheelchair users. With kids.

~$98per person
GetYourGuide Viator
A burst of violet and green aurora rays fanning out across a deep blue night sky Top rated

Northern Lights Aurora Hunting Tour by Bus, Aurora Bus Tours

For travelers who want a guide who only chases the sky.

No fixed site. The guide watches the clouds and the conditions and drives the heated bus to wherever the sky looks clearest that night. Snacks and hot drinks come with professional photos, and the Viator listing gives a 9 pm start.

  • Rating5.0 from 60+ reviews on Viator, 5.0 from 20+ on GetYourGuide
  • DurationAbout 4–5 hours, from 9 pm
  • Tour companyAurora Bus Tours
  • Free cancellationUp to 24 hours before, on both sites
  • StrengthsFlexible route on cloudy nights; a perfect score so far
  • Ideal forSecond and third nights, and anyone chasing a clear gap

Good to know: The newest of the four, with far fewer reviews. Up to 24 on GetYourGuide and 28 on Viator, more time on the road and no warm building at the stops. Why the chase matters.

~$69per person
GetYourGuide Viator

A small heads-up. These are GetYourGuide and Viator affiliate links, so when you book through one we earn a little commission and you pay exactly the same. It keeps this guide going and never touches our ranking or the catches we point out.

Before you go

Eight things about aurora tours that no listing puts in big letters

None of these sits at the top of a booking page, and each one decides whether you fly home with green skies on your phone or a story about clouds.

What you should know

  1. Clouds matter more than solar storms. Yellowknife sits under the auroral oval, so even a quiet night can glow. A thick deck of cloud is what usually ends the show. Reading the forecast.
  2. One night is a coin toss. Two or three nights give the weather room to clear, and free cancellation lets you move a bad one. How many to book.
  3. Same tour, different refund rules. The cabin's Viator listing is non-refundable, while GetYourGuide lets you cancel it free up to 24 hours ahead. Check before you pay.
  4. Your eyes see less than your camera. A faint aurora can look grey-white to the eye and green on a photo. Strong nights show color to everyone. Photographing the lights.
  5. The lights tend to come late. The strongest displays often arrive within a couple of hours of midnight. Plan slow mornings after each tour.
  6. Phones die fast at minus 30. Batteries drain in the cold. Keep the phone in an inner pocket and bring a spare power bank.
  7. Winter clothing is usually extra. Only the cabin's Viator listing includes rentals. Everyone else brings or rents a parka and boots. What to wear.
  8. Autumn and winter feel like two places. September brings mirror reflections on open lakes; February brings snow and hard cold. The best months.

Everything in one table

Four aurora tours, catch included

The four tours side by side. Each row sets the strength of a tour against its catch.

Swipe the table sideways to see all columns →

Tour Ideal for Price Length Base Tour company and rating Strength and catch Book
Photographer bus, max 16 (our pick) A first aurora night ~$62per person About 4 h Bus, 3 stops on the Ingraham Trail Yellowknife Vacations
4.8 on Viator		 Free photos, lowest price. No warm building at the stops.
ViatorGetYourGuide
Cozy cabin Staying warm ~$101per person About 4 h Heated cabin, 15 min from town Bucket List Tour
4.9 on Viator		 Chowder and bannock, warm all night. No chasing; non-refundable on Viator.
ViatorGetYourGuide
Madeline Lake lodge Comfort with a backup ~$98per person About 4 h Lodge near Madeline Lake Destination NWT
4.6 on GetYourGuide		 Toilets, games, a chase on cloudy nights. Groups up to 33–38.
GetYourGuideViator
Pure chase bus Cloudy forecasts ~$69per person 4–5 h, from 9 pm No fixed site Aurora Bus Tours
5.0 on GetYourGuide		 Goes where the sky is clear. Fewest reviews, most time on the road.
GetYourGuideViator

About the numbers. Prices are "from" rates per person in US dollars, the lower of the two booking sites. Dates and exchange rates move them, as does group size, so check the booking page, which has the final word.

Who went

Reviews from travelers who stood under the lights

Fourteen travelers, some who got a sky full of green and pink and some who got a faint band behind thin cloud, on what won them over and what they would do differently.

★★★★★Photographer bus, max 16

I had never seen snow, let alone the aurora, and I was nervous about the cold. The bus picked us up at the hotel and the driver talked the whole way out about the town and the old gold mines. At the second lake the sky went green from one side to the other, and the photographer kept calling us into place for pictures with the frozen shoreline behind. They sent the photos the next day and they are the best pictures anyone has ever taken of me. Rent proper boots, my sneakers were a mistake.

KWKate W. · Brisbane, AustraliaStrong aurora
★★★★★Photographer bus, max 16

Three stops, three different skies. Free photos that look professional because they are.

JHJun H. · Seoul, South KoreaStrong aurora
★★★★☆Photographer bus, max 16

Clouds kept drifting across, so we got a faint arc at the first stop and a bright patch for ten minutes at the last one. The guide tried hard to find gaps and the photos make it look better than it felt. Book two nights, we did and the second one was much stronger.

NBNadia B. · Toronto, CanadaFaint or cloudy
★★★★★Photographer bus, max 16

Small group, hot cocoa on the bus, and a photographer who knew exactly how to light us. Good value.

MFMarkus F. · Munich, GermanyStrong aurora
★★★★★Heated cabin, chowder

It was minus 34 that night and I would not have lasted an hour on a bus tour. The cabin was warm enough to take my parka off, the chowder was thick and smoky, and the bannock came out of the oven still hot. Someone stuck their head in the door every few minutes, and when the lights came up everyone rushed out with their mugs. My kids still talk about the costumes.

ALAmelia L. · Vancouver, CanadaStrong aurora
★★★★★Heated cabin, chowder

Fish chowder at midnight under the aurora. I would go back for the soup alone.

RSRavi S. · Pune, IndiaStrong aurora
★★★★★Heated cabin, chowder

The hosts treat you like guests in their own home, with stories about life up north between trips outside. The aurora was pale to my eyes but bright green on their phone photos, which they sent to us the next morning.

HCHélène C. · Bordeaux, FranceFaint or cloudy
★★★★☆Heated cabin, chowder

Lovely evening and great food, but the clouds never moved and the tour stays at the cabin, so we saw only a glow. I booked on GetYourGuide so I could have cancelled, I just hoped it would clear. Check the forecast the day before.

BOBen O. · Leeds, UKFaint or cloudy
★★★★★Lodge near Madeline Lake

Our children are eight and eleven, and the lodge was the right call. They played foosball and mahjong between sightings, there were real bathrooms, and when the guide said the clouds were moving in, we all got back on the bus and drove until the sky opened up again. The photographer gave us a picture of the four of us under a green curtain that is now on our fridge. It is busy, there were thirty-odd people, but nobody minded once the show started.

SYSofia Y. · Mexico City, MexicoStrong aurora
★★★★★Lodge near Madeline Lake

Warm lodge, clean toilets, strong aurora at one in the morning. Perfect for my parents.

TKTakeshi K. · Nagoya, JapanStrong aurora
★★★★☆Lodge near Madeline Lake

Comfortable and well organized, though the lodge is more games room than quiet hideaway. When the lights came out the crowd outside was big, so walk a little away from the door for your own photos.

EVEmma V. · Antwerp, BelgiumStrong aurora
★★★★★Pure chase by bus

The forecast said cloudy everywhere and I almost cancelled. Our guide looked at the satellite images, drove us more than half an hour in the other direction from the other buses, and found a hole in the clouds over a frozen lake. For twenty minutes the sky turned green and then pink at the edges, and we were the only people there. They took photos of the whole group and handed out snacks and hot drinks while we waited. I can only say the chase is real.

DGDiego G. · Madrid, SpainStrong aurora
★★★★★Pure chase by bus

Started at nine, back after one. The guide never stopped checking the sky and it paid off.

LPLucy P. · Chicago, USAStrong aurora
★★★★★Pure chase by bus

A heated bus, a guide who answered every question and a strong aurora on our third stop. More driving than standing around, which in that cold suited me fine.

OAOlumide A. · Lagos, NigeriaStrong aurora

Been already?

Tell the next traveler how it went

Share your night out, on the bus, in the cabin or at the lodge. We read every review before it goes up, and we publish the critical ones too.

Your rating
The lights that night

At least 40 characters, 40 to go

Mitts on

Book Yellowknife Vacations for your aurora night

If you are in Yellowknife between late August and early April and want one night under the lights you will still talk about at home, we would book Yellowknife Vacations' photographer bus. A small group, three dark lakes on the Ingraham Trail, a warm bus between them and photos of you under the sky at no extra cost.

Cancelling is free until 24 hours before on both sites, so you can watch the cloud forecast first. Book a second night while you are at it.

~$62

per person · about 4 hours · hotel pickup

Viator GetYourGuide
  • ✓ Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
  • ✓ Professional photos at no extra cost
  • ✓ Hot drinks and cookies on the bus
  • ✓ No more than 16 guests

Good to know

Why Yellowknife gets so much aurora, and what you are watching

Five minutes of reading makes the green arcs and sudden curtains much easier to follow, along with the slow pulsing glow.

The aurora is light given off high in the atmosphere when particles carried by the solar wind slam into oxygen and nitrogen. Around the magnetic north pole those collisions trace a rough ring called the auroral oval, and Yellowknife sits close to its middle. That is why it sees the lights on so many nights.

01A town under the ring

Places farther south only see the aurora when the sun is unusually active. Under the oval, a quiet night can still light up. Add a dry climate and flat land with very little light pollution once you leave town, and you get one of the most reliable aurora skies anywhere.

02Why it is mostly green

Oxygen about 100 to 300 km (60 to 190 miles) up gives off the familiar green. On strong nights the lower edge of a curtain flushes pink from nitrogen, and the very top can glow red or violet. Your camera picks up more of that color than your eyes do.

03How a display unfolds

Many nights start with a pale arc low over the northern horizon. It brightens and splits into curtains that can suddenly ripple overhead for a few minutes before fading into patches that pulse on and off. Some nights stay a quiet arc; others go through the whole sequence twice. What the forecast can and cannot tell you.

The moment most people remember is the hush on a frozen lake when the sky starts to move and nobody wants to be the first to speak.

04Land and people

Yellowknife lies on the north shore of Great Slave Lake, on the traditional land of the Yellowknives Dene First Nation. The rocky ground of the Canadian Shield and its countless lakes give the tours their open foregrounds. Bannock, the bread served at the cabin, is eaten right across the North.

05Cold that changes the plan

Clear winter nights here regularly drop below minus 30 °C (minus 22 °F). Fingers and camera batteries feel it first. That is why a warm base or a heated bus matters as much as the location. What to wear.

06Manners in the dark

Use a red headlamp or none at all, and keep phone screens dim so everyone's eyes stay adjusted. Do not walk into another group's long exposure. When the guide calls everyone back to the bus, go, because the next stop may be the clear one. Aurora nights with kids has tips for keeping small people happy.

About 4 hA typical aurora tour

400 kmSouth of the Arctic Circle, roughly

Aug to AprThe aurora seasons, with a break at freeze-up

−30 °CA common clear-night low in winter

Not sure whether autumn or winter suits you? Our guide The best months in Yellowknife sets the two seasons side by side.

Questions and answers

Frequently asked questions about the northern lights in Yellowknife

Fourteen questions we hear again and again, with the full answer.

How much does a northern lights tour in Yellowknife cost?

The four tours on this page start at ~$62 per person for Yellowknife Vacations' photographer bus and ~$69 for Aurora Bus Tours' chase, ~$98 for the lodge near Madeline Lake and ~$101 for the cabin with chowder and bannock. Every price and extra is in our cost guide.

Which aurora tour in Yellowknife is the best?

For most first-time visitors, the Yellowknife Vacations bus, because it pairs a small group and three different stops with free professional photos at the lowest price. The cabin is the warmest night, the lodge the most comfortable, and Aurora Bus Tours the most flexible on cloudy nights.

When is aurora season in Yellowknife?

Roughly from late August to early October, and again from mid-November to early April. The weeks around freeze-up in late October and early November are often cloudy, and the summer nights are too bright. The seasons in detail.

How long is a northern lights tour in Yellowknife?

About four hours from pickup to drop-off on all four tours, with Aurora Bus Tours listing four to five hours on Viator. Most of that time is spent under the sky, since the dark starts a short drive from town.

Are the northern lights guaranteed?

No. Every listing says sightings cannot be promised. Yellowknife sees the aurora on many clear nights, but clouds can cover the whole region. What happens when the sky stays shut.

How many nights should I plan in Yellowknife?

Three or four if you can. A single night depends entirely on the weather, while several nights give the clouds a chance to break. Book one tour with free cancellation and add more nights as the forecast firms up. How many nights to book.

What time do the northern lights appear in Yellowknife?

They can show any time it is fully dark, but the strongest often come in the hours either side of midnight. That is why the tours run late into the night.

Should I choose a bus tour or a cabin?

A bus with stops or a chase can move away from clouds and usually costs less, but you stand outside in the cold at each stop. A cabin or lodge keeps you warm with food and toilets, though the cabin does not chase. The styles compared.

What should I wear for an aurora tour?

In winter, wear thermal layers under a down parka and insulated snow pants. Add a hat over your ears and a neck gaiter, with mitts over thin gloves and boots rated well below minus 30 °C. Hand and toe warmers help. What to wear.

Can I photograph the aurora with my phone?

Yes, a recent phone in night mode does well on a steady surface. Keep it warm in an inner pocket. Three of the four tours also list professional photos, and the cabin staff take pictures for you on a good phone. Photographing the lights.

Can children come on an aurora tour?

The listings set no age limits that we found, so check the booking page for your dates. Late hours and deep cold matter more than any rule. A warm cabin or lodge makes them easier on small children. Aurora nights with kids.

Do the tours pick up at the airport?

Yellowknife Vacations' Viator listing says this tour does not pick up or drop off at the airport. The tours collect you from hotels in town, so plan to check in first.

Is there food on the tours?

All four serve hot drinks and some snacks. The cabin goes furthest with a midnight lunch of fish chowder and hot bannock. The lodge has light snacks, and the buses hand out cookies or snacks between stops.

Can I cancel an aurora tour for free?

On GetYourGuide, all four can be cancelled free of charge up to 24 hours before. On Viator, three of them can too, but the cabin's Viator listing is non-refundable, so book that one on GetYourGuide if you want the option.

Read before you travel

Guides to aurora nights in Yellowknife

Ten questions that keep coming up, each with the long answer instead of the short one.