There are few natural phenomena in the world as spectacular as the Northern Lights. Part of the draw to them is the fact that it’s pretty much impossible to predict when or even if they’re going to appear.

Sure, there are certain times in the year that are best for hunting the lights (from January to March), but if you really want to get the most impressive results, we highly recommend taking up a Northern Lights tour.

While there’s never a 100% guarantee that you’re going to see them, going with a group of experts on one of these top Yellowknife Northern Lights tours is sure to be a smart choice. Let’s get started to make sure you have a memorable experience!

Best Northern Lights Tours in Yellowknife

	Deluxe Coach Aurora Viewing Tour	4-Day Yellowknife Northern Lights Viewing Tour With 3-Nights Accommodation	Yellowknife Aurora Hunting Tours
	Best Budget Tour	Best Multi-Day Tour	Best Small Group Tour
Departure:	Hotel pickup and drop-off included	Hotel pickup and drop-off included	Hotel pickup and drop-off included
Start:	10:00 pm	4:00 pm	9:00pm - 10:00pm
Duration:	4 hours	4 days	4 hours
Includes:	Coffee and/or Tea, Snacks	3 nights accommodations, hot beverages & snacks, airport, hotel transfer, and transportation	Snacks, goods and services tax
	Tour Information & Booking	Tour Information & Booking	Tour Information & Booking

Quick Answer: The 5 Best Rated Yellowknife Northern Lights Tours For 2024

1. Deluxe Coach Aurora Viewing tour
2. 4-Day Yellowknife Northern Lights Viewing Tour W/ 3-Nights Accommodation
3. Yellowknife Aurora Hunting Tours
4. Intimate Aurora Tours Cozy Cabin Bucket List
5. Yellowknife Aurora Tour

Yellowknife Northern Lights Tour Reviews

1. Deluxe Coach Aurora Viewing Tour

Seeing the Northern Lights isn’t just “seeing the Northern Lights” – it’s a full experience that incorporates literally all of the senses if you do it right. Sip on some hot coffee or hot chocolate while watching a rainbow of colors swirl overhead as the wind howls around you.

If that sounds like fun to you, the Deluxe Coach Aurora Viewing Tour is right up your alley! Your tour starts out by being picked up at your hotel by a climate-controlled, luxury bus with plenty of space to move around and relax.

Along the way, the tour guide did a fantastic job of teaching everyone about the Northern Lights and Yellowknife, specifically. You’ll learn about how they’ve inspired native people for hundreds (if not longer) of years, forming an important part of many legends and gaining significant cultural importance.

You’ll be taken to the ideal location around the lake, depending on where and how the Northern Lights are predicted to appear throughout the sky. Once your group finds the best place to soak in the views, you’ll be served some tasty, hot beverages and some biscuits while sitting back and taking it all in.

We also loved how friendly the staff was, as they were more than happy to take photos of all of the guests with the Northern Lights in the background – they turned out amazing, too!

While plans could change a bit due to weather conditions (not unheard of in the coldest capital in Canada), you can expect to be back to the city around 1:30 to 2:00 am with a new perspective on Mother Nature.

It’s an amazing way to see at least 2 or 3 different locations and ways to see the Aurora Borealis, with some incredible mementos to take with you!

More Information & Tour Booking

100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience

2. 4-Day Yellowknife Northern Lights Viewing Tour With 3-Nights Accommodation

The beauty of Canada’s legendary Northwest Territories lies beyond the bright lights of the cities, and this next tour is one of the most comprehensive ways of seeing it.

It’s perfect for spending some quality, romantic time with a significant other or just explore this wild and rugged area in a way most tourists aren’t able to. If you have a few days to dedicate to the occasion, check out the Yellowknife Northern Lights Viewing Tour including 3-Nights Accommodation!

We absolutely loved this tour because of the way it’s structured: you will partake in certain set activities like a 3-course dinner at Aurora Village and a city tour of Yellowknife.

However, you have the option of adding on many other activities, like fishing, various wildlife tours, dog-sledding, snowmobiling, hiking, and more. You get to choose those that catch your interest the most, and leave the rest to the side.

You can choose for the guide to pick you up straight from the airport, or from your hotel to bring you to hotel accommodation included in the tour. Once the sun sets, you’ll all head out into the pure, dark wilderness while you spend 4 hours hunting down the phenomenal Aurora Borealis.

The second day was the most fun for us, as it’s complete leisure time where you can explore the town on your own or choose one of the aforementioned cultural or outdoor activities. Regardless, this tour is a fantastic way of seeing the Northern Territories in a more authentic and educational way.

More Information & Tour Booking

100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience

3. Yellowknife Aurora Hunting Tours

Would you like to see the Northern Lights with professional and friendly guides to lead the way? Perhaps that sounds like a blast, but you’re on a budget and still want to have a good time. In that case, the Aurora Hunting Tours are exactly what you’re looking for, creating a seamless experience for everyone!

If you want an unforgettable experience with meticulous organization, you’ll love this one! Get picked up right from your hotel lobby and head out into the wilderness on a cozy but luxurious bus.

It’s important to note that the tour company is Indigenous-owned, offering insight into their culture and the importance the Northern Lights have within it. They’ll tell you all kinds of interesting stories and educational background to make your time there even richer.

You could see a different location each night, as it all depends on the weather conditions, other tour companies, and the Aurora, itself. Once your guides find the perfect spot based on their expertise, you’ll arrive and relax while enjoying some hot beverages and snacks to tide you over.

While you should obviously dress for cold weather, we appreciated how they were thoughtful enough to bring blankets for us to keep warm with, too.

While this is a more authentic experience, that also means that you’ll be outside and likely do some walking or hiking in order to get the best view. Because of this, we probably wouldn’t recommend the tour for kids under the age of 5 or 6. If you’re worried about it being too cold, you could also opt for a day tour instead of a night one!

More Information & Tour Booking

100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience

4. Intimate Aurora Tours Cozy Cabin Bucket List

We cannot say enough good things about our next tour. The Intimate Aurora Tours Cozy Cabin Bucket List tour really should be on your bucket list if you’re looking for maximum fun and adventure!

While all of these tours are remarkable, there is just something special about this one in a way that makes you feel like you’ve become family with the other members of your party.

You’ll either be picked up by luxury van right from your hotel lobby or from the Yellowknife Airport – whatever works best for you. Each member of this world-class operation was so nice, friendly, and knowledgeable and they really went all out making sure everyone had a fantastic time.

Rather than spend your time watching the Aurora in your bus or from right outside, you’ll be hanging out in a cozy cabin complete with heating and plenty of seating.

They even serve you up a local fish chowder complete with the traditional Bannock bread that you get to enjoy while listening to stories and historical accounts by your guides who are also locals!

Plenty of teas and coffee are also provided if you need that extra energy to stay awake (though we’re sure that won’t be a problem!). We thought it was such a cool detail that they even provided costumes to partake in fun photoshoots while you wait for the Aurora Borealis to make an appearance!

If you really want to get to know about the Indigenous culture here, this tour simply cannot be beaten. It’s a tour as unique as the culture surrounding it!

More Information & Tour Booking

100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience

5. Yellowknife Aurora Tour

Last but certainly not least, we have the most budget-friendly tour of the bunch, which still manages to rank as one of the best in our eyes. The Yellowknife Aurora Tour is shockingly affordable when you realize all that they offer.

In these 4 to 5 hours, you’ll get to see at least 3 different locations where you’ll get to see some of the best perspectives of the Northern Lights!

After being picked up straight from your hotel, you’ll head out into the wild and learn about how Yellowknife became a hub of northern sports like cross-country skiing, dog-sledding, and more.

The beautiful landscape of Yellowknife is perfect for all these activities because it is so far north and lacking the mountains and hills that could obstruct the view of the Northern Lights. However, this also means that you’ll fully get to enjoy the expansiveness of the rich colors as they paint throughout the dark sky.

The guides have apps to track the Aurora location and will move the van around to ensure you get a prime view – unlike many other tours that seem to just stay in once spot.

Once you arrive at your first location which will be along the Ingraham Trail, you’ll get to start out with some hot chocolate, tea, coffee, and cookies to make sure you’re nice and comfortable.

Not only that, but the tour guides are great at taking photos of guests if you’d like to get off of the coach for a while, offering a great way to remember your time there.

More Information & Tour Booking

100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience

Yellowknife Northern Lights Viewing Tips

• When to go: The best time to see the northern lights in Yellowknife is from mid-August to mid-April.  This is when the nights are long and dark enough to give you the best visibility. The absolute peak time is from December to March when the air is clearest.
• Take a tour: There are many tour operators that will take you to see the northern lights in Yellowknife. The Deluxe Coach Aurora Viewing tour is a good choice. They will pick you up and take you to the best viewing areas in remote locations far from light pollution.
• Take a multi-day tour: You can also book a multi-day tour for 3-4 nights. You will be picked up from your hotel or Airbnb and taken to one or more viewing locations to give you the best chance of seeing them. Some locations have teepees, tents or even cabins where you can enjoy the view and warm up.
• Check the Aurora forecast: To better your odds of seeing the northern lights it’s a good idea to check the aurora forecast before leaving. There are several websites such as Aurora Watch that provide real time information on the chances of aurora activity and how visible they will be.
• Dress warm: This kind of goes without saying but you should also dress in warm winter gear and wear layers of clothing. You will need gloves, hats and winter boots. If you don’t have appropriate gear, many tour operators will rent you proper winter clothing.
• Be patient: To have the best experience, you need be flexible and patient. The Northern Lights are a natural phenomenon that you have no control over! Visibility depends on factors such as solar activity and weather conditions. They do not always appear or they may be faint. You may get lucky and they are bright, colorful and last for hours. You need to be prepared for both scenarios!