Fall Colours and Northern Lights in Yellowknife
Length
5 days / 4 nights
Hotel type
Downtown hotel
Nights of viewing
3 nights
Where it goes
When to go
August - October
Price from
Your itinerary is personalized to suit your dreams and needs:
- Decide your desired budget
- Choose your own activities and experiences
- Have all the details of your trip arranged for you
Witness the aurora in the Northwest Territories
The fall season is one of the best times to see the Northern Lights in the Northwest Territories! The lack of snow means you can spend your days hiking, fishing, boating, and wildlife viewing. Then, when the sun sets each night, travel to a different viewing location and wait for the Northern Lights to appear in the sky above you — a truly unbelievable sight.
Three nights of Northern Lights viewing experiences
Discover Yellowknife, the capital of the Northwest Territories
Choice of daytime outdoor activities
Go hiking, fishing, boating or wildlife viewing
Top experiences and features
Your Questions Answered
Find out what is included in your trip and have all your questions answered. We are here to help.
What’s Included
Frequently Asked Questions
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.
The easiest way to get to Yellowknife is by plane. There are direct flights to Yellowknife from Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary, and Toronto.
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.
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.
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.
Trip Itinerary

Arrive in Yellowknife
Travel into the spectacular Northwest Territories. Land in the capital city of Yellowknife. An area with deep cultural roots and a diverse landscape, Yellowknife sits on the shores of Great Slave Lake.

Explore Yellowknife
Yellowknife is a vibrant city with many festivals and events throughout the year. The city gained its name from the copper tools made and traded by the Dene First Nation. Explore the public street art during the day, then wait for tonight's natural art to appear in the night sky.
- Sightseeing Tour with Hike
- Indigenous Storytelling Tour of the Prince of Wales Heritage Museum
- Yellowknife City Tour
- Aurora Viewing at Aurora Village
This evening, you are taken to the Aurora Village to view the stunning Northern Lights. Located away from the city lights, the village is the perfect setting for Northern Lights viewing. Enjoy the warm teepees, nightly entertainment, photo assistance, and hot beverages.

Take to the water
Yellowknife residents spend their time on and around the water during the warmer months. Spot iconic houseboats, dine on the daily catch, and chat with the locals.
- Half Day Great Slave Lake Fishing Tour
- Yellowknife Jet Boat Tour (2hrs)
- Aurora Hunting Tour

Enjoy the outdoors
Spend one final day on the North Shore of Slave Lake. Consider venturing to Bush Pilot's Monument for the best view of the city.
- Wildlife Viewing Tour
- Skydome Aurora Viewing

Depart from Yellowknife
All too soon, your Northern Lights vacation comes to an end upon arrival at the airport.
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Personalize this itinerary
Here are some of the most popular ways to personalize this journey.
Explore another city
Before you travel to Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, take the time to visit another Canadian city. You could explore Calgary, Edmonton or Vancouver.
Visit the Rockies
Combine your Northern Lights vacation with a Canadian Rockies trip. Ask us for more information on visiting Banff and Jasper national parks.

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