Winter aurora in the Northwest Territories

Although Yellowknife, and the Northwest Territories in general, is a fantastic spot for Northern Lights viewing, the lights aren’t visible every night. Your chances are high over a three- or four-night stay, but because this is nature, nothing is guaranteed.

Yes! In spite of its cold and snowy reputation, Canada is one of the world’s best destinations for winter sports and activities, from downhill skiing and heli-skiing (invented in Canada), to dog sledding and snowshoeing. Canada is also one of the top places on the planet to see the Northern Lights, with best viewing between November and March.

The easiest way to get to Yellowknife is by plane. There are direct flights to Yellowknife from Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary, and Toronto.

Our vacations are not typically escorted. You are not tied into a specific group, or a rigid daily itinerary but rather have the freedom of independent travel.

This allows you, with the help of our travel experts, to personalize your trip to suit your interests, timeframe, and budget. We’ll guide you through the process and provide the reassurance of seamless connections, customer service support, and scheduled activities tailored to your taste.

An exception to this is our Northern Lights vacations in Churchill. These are hosted trips. On these trips, you will be with the same group for each day of your trip and have a daily activity schedule. A local guide will be with you and almost all meals are included.

We partner with a number of hotels and accommodation providers across the country that offer a variety of service levels and unique experiences. Northern Lights vacations include stays in small cities and remote locations, so there is not the same amount of choice as there would be in bigger cities. Choosing accommodation is based on local availability and personal preference.

Our Northern Lights trips can accommodate children, but there may be a minimum age for some day tours. Winter clothing rentals may be harder to obtain for some ages. It’s important to note that Northern Lights viewing happens late at night, so it may be tiring for some children. Please ask one of our Vacation Advisors for your options.

As Northern Lights viewing experiences take place at night, there is plenty of time in the day for other activities. Tour and activity options depend on the season and the location. In the winter, go dogsledding, snowshoeing, snowmobiling or ice fishing. In the fall, go hiking, wildlife viewing, and sightseeing. There are opportunities to learn about local culture and history too.

The Northern Lights are most commonly a greenish-yellow hue, though they can appear pink, red, blue and even violet.

You can photograph the Northern Lights, but you will need a tripod and preferably a DSLR camera where you can control the shutter speed. A wide angle lens is also recommended to capture their full scope.

Either winter or fall is the best season for viewing the Northern Lights in Canada. During these seasons, there are extended periods of darkness.