Yellowknife Aurora Borealis Viewing

Yellowknife Aurora Borealis Viewing

143 Views

This tour is no longer available, here are some similar tours:


Yellowknife Aurora Borealis Viewing

5 Days Starting and ending in Yellowknife, NT X0E, Canada

Visiting: Yellowknife

Tour operator:

Anderson Vacations

Tour code:

YABV

Guide Type:

Fully Guided

Group size:

9 - 18

Physical rating:

Low

Age range:

18-99

Special diets catered:

Meat, Vegetarians

Tour operated in:

English

Tour Overview

Yellowknife is a place where traditional indigenous culture blends together with modern amenities, for a truly remarkable experience while discovering the mystery of the Aurora Borealis. On winter nights the Aurora Borealis is often so vivid it seems close enough to touch. Far from city lights, watch the night sky light up. It’s a marvel that seems to embody the mysteries at the crossroads of Heaven and Earth in all of its elegance and raw beauty.

Highlights

  • Yellowknife City Tour

  • Dog Sledding Excursion

  • 3 nights of Aurora Borealis Viewing

  • Indigenous Ice Fishing Demonstration with hot lunch

  • Guided Snowmobiling Tour

  • 3 Day Winter Clothing Rental package (includes jacket, boots, snow pants, mitts, polar fleece balaclava)

Places You'll See

Credit: NWT Tourism

Credit: NWT Tourism

Credit: NWT Tourism

Credit: NWT Tourism

Credit: NWT Tourism

Credit: NWT Tourism

Credit: Tawna Brown

Credit: Tawna Brown

Credit: Tawna Brown

Credit: Tawna Brown

Credit: Andrew Boycott

Credit: Andrew Boycott

Sambaa K'e - Weiland Dehcho

Sambaa K'e - Weiland Dehcho

Itinerary

Expand All

Day 1 : Arrive in Yellowknife, NWT

Credit: Tawna Brown

Location: Yellowknife

Accommodation: Hotel

Meals Included: Dinner

Yellowknife is one of the best places to view one of Earth's greatest natural wonders, the Aurora Borealis, also known as the Northern Lights. This is possible because the area experiences more clear nights than other northern locations - amazing Aurora displays are possible on over 240 nights each year. After arrival and transfer to the hotel, there will be time to relax and explore your immediate neighbourhood before an evening briefing session and welcome dinner.

Day 2: Yellowknife, NWT

Credit: NWT Tourism
Sambaa K'e - Weiland Dehcho

Location: Yellowknife

Accommodation: Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

We will drive out to one of the many frozen lakes outside of Yellowknife, hear the ice crack as we drive on the lake and try and catch our own northern Canada freshwater fish!! Our local guides know the best spots and having been ice fishing on these frozen lakes for years. When they find a suitable spot, they will help us drill some holes into the ice and get everything set up for ice fishing! While you are fishing, the guides will cook for you so you can enjoy a genuine Canadian ice fishing cookout meal.
Later today, following dinner, we will head out of town to spend time in hopes to see the dancing Aurora in a personal, private setting. We stay warm around a crackling fire while sitting comfortably and listening to stories from our Indigenous guides about their ancestors. The guides can take professional photos of you hopefully under awesome, amazing Aurora lit skies. They will also be happy to help you set up your own DSLR camera with the appropriate settings so you can also take amazing photos of the Aurora in the wilderness of northern Canada!

Day 3: Yellowknife, NWT

Credit: Andrew Boycott
Credit: Tawna Brown

Location: Yellowknife

Accommodation: Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Today we explore Yellowknife on an informative city tour. On the tour we will learn about the rich history of Yellowknife starting with a visit to the Oldtown district where Yellowknife originally started almost 90 years ago. Hear stories of growing up in Yellowknife and stop from time to time to chat with locals during the tour. In Oldtown we will visit the Indigenous village of N’Dilo (dee-lo) and learn about local Dene Indigenous culture.
From Oldtown we continue to the downtown area of Yellowknife and briefly see the restaurants and souvenir stores, then to the modern southside to see how Yellowknife has grown. The tour ends at the Visitor Centre where you can get your Yellowknife pin and your North of 60 Certificate. We visit the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre, a museum that chronicles Aboriginal and European history in the North and features environmental exhibits. We will then experience driving on an actual Ice Road and see the construction of the famous Snow Castle.
Following our city tour, we have the afternoon at our leisure, with time to explore more of Yellowknife or relax before tonight's dinner. During our March departures, opt to visit the Snowking Winter Festival in your leisure time. Depending upon weather conditions, we may choose to substitute our second or our last night’s Aurora viewing outing and do the activity on this evening.

Day 4: Yellowknife, NWT

Credit: NWT Tourism
Credit: NWT Tourism

Location: Yellowknife

Accommodation: Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

After breakfast, we set out for our Indigenous dogsled tour. Watch as our guides take the excited dogs one by one from the dog kennels and harness them up to the sled. Get to know and pet the dogs, learn their names, and get a photograph with them. Every dog is friendly and likes to meet new people. We then get into the dog sleighs and get ready to hit the trail. Over the frozen lakes and through the frozen wilderness of northern Canada being pulled by a 10-14 strong, team of dedicated and excited dogs – this will be an unforgettable experience. Enjoy the views and experience the quietness of the forest during the dogsled ride as we swoosh through the snow-covered landscape. At the end of the experience, we watch as the guides take the dogs back home to their kennels. Then we head into a cozy wood stove heated cabin to enjoy delicious traditional bannock bread and hot chocolate. Listen to stories about how the dog teams played an important role in the daily lives of both the Indigenous peoples and western settlers in the old days, and how they helped people survive. The dogs were like family and are still treated that same way today.
This afternoon, we try our hand at snowmobiling. Before heading out, we will learn of the safety guidelines and the basic operating instructions. We have planned our exciting snowmobile ride through the wilderness and on the frozen lakes of northern Canada with one of Yellowknife’s best snowmobile tour experiences. Once on the frozen lakes, shut off your snowmobile and listen to the quietness of Mother Nature, while breathing in the cool, clean fresh air! There will be some great photo opportunities along the way as well.
Tonight, we join for a farewell dinner, where we have the opportunity to share our favourite moments of our time in Yellowknife, before departing on our last night of Aurora viewing.

Day 5 : Depart Yellowknife, NWT

Credit: Tawna Brown

Location: Yellowknife

Meals Included: Breakfast

Our northern Canadian Yellowknife experience comes to an end this morning. Following breakfast, we will transfer to the airport for our return journey home.

What's Included

  • Accommodation

    3.5-4 star hotels

  • Fully Guided

    Professional Tour Leader

  • Entrance Fees

show more

What's Not Included

  • Gratuity for Tour Leader and Driver

  • International Travel

  • Drinks with Meals

  • Country Entry Visas

Check out our Q&As

  • Will passengers from another country be participating in the tour?

    Yes

  • Will there be an escort accompanying this tour?

    Yes, there will be a full-time Tour Leader with the group

  • Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?

    For those willing to share with a co-traveller of the same gender, we have a Twin Share option that is offered for most tours where you share a hotel rooms with another same gender traveller. If we are able to pair you with another single traveler, no Single Supplement payment is charged to you in this case.

  • What is the average age of passengers for this tour?

    The typical age of travellers on Anderson Vacations tours are between the ages of 50 to 75. We have many younger travellers as well as active older people who often travel with us.

  • Can you accommodate passengers with dietary restrictions (food allergies, vegan, vegetarian etc.)?

    Yes, but within reason. There are many meals included on our fully escorted tours. Please inform us of any dietary restrictions at the time of booking so we can ensure there are alternative meal choices.

  • How long has the tour company been trading?

    Anderson Vacations has over 25 years' experience in the travel industry operating small group cultural and nature tours to North America, Oceania, and the South Pacific.

  • Is it possible to book a triple share accommodation?

    Yes, it is possible to book triple share accommodations on select trips. Please inquire about this option, as prices and availability varies from tour to tour.

  • Can I join the tour once it has departed?

    No

Reviews of this operator

Douglas James (Google Reviewer)  

We took the Anderson Vacations...

15-Oct-2024

We took the Anderson Vacations Vancouver/Whitehorse Tour. Two nights in each City with an Air North Flight to Whitehorse. The Rosedale on Robson Hotel in Vancouver surpassed our expectations, it had all our needs, pool, laundry, close to down town. With very comfortable beds and kitchenette. Our Vancouver prearranged tours were excellent. Flight to Whitehorse was comfortable, free shuttle from the YXY Airport was a nice surprise and our accommodation, Edgewater Hotel was great. Our tours in Whitehorse were top notch, the Aurora viewing was nice. But the Eclipse Spa and Wilderness Preserve tour was a definite highlight. The only negative was that we regret that we didn’t extend our trip as we tried to fit the above all in four days (which was our choice, not a reflection on Anderson). Want to thank Krysti for help in bringing our trip together.

Tom Knapko (Google Reviewer)  

Amazing, 'experiential' trip. Anderson Vacations...

19-Feb-2024

Amazing, 'experiential' trip. Anderson Vacations takes great care of their guests from comfortable accommodations (The Explorer Hotel), warm rental clothes, awesome guide in Jessie Loucks, terrific day and evening guides. We loved the small group (14), the pace of each day was perfect: we had rest periods each day. We saw and learned so much. Highly recommend this tour and Anderson Vacations.

AMQ (Google Reviewer)  

It took my husband and...

12-May-2023

It took my husband and I 4 attempts to get to Yellowknife because of the pandemic. We are working on our bucket list and Anderson provided us an amazing unforgettable experience. While our itinerary changed slightly from the original plans , our excursions were fun and memorable. Our lead guides Zack and Jesse did an amazing job organizing our excursions and the local guides were equally impressive.

Buddy Morrison (Google Reviewer)  

My Wife and I were...

30-Oct-2023

My Wife and I were blown away by the trip Anderson put together for us. They provided the complete itinerary and recommendations for us that were spot on in value and memorable location and moments. This was a bucket-list trip for us, and we plan to rebook with Anderson again for our future travel back to Newfoundland. Tiffany was excellent and worked through all of our travel plans and flights to ensure that everything went well. They managed others who had longer trips. We met while touring the two weeks, and they all agreed that Anderson did a fantastic job.

Vanessa Boggs (Google Reviewer)  

We went on a last...

30-Oct-2023

We went on a last minute planned vacation to the Maritimes. Anderson Vacations (Krysti) did an awesome job planning our itinerary, booking rental car, accommodations and some of our tours. They gave us ideas of things to do along the way and we couldn’t of been happier. Our thirteen day stay was filled with things to do and places to see but at the same time seemed relaxing. We will definitely use their services again.

Heather Nichols (Google Reviewer)  

Our trip to Yellowknife was...

05-Jan-2024

Our trip to Yellowknife was fantastic. We recommend Bucket List City Tour, dog sledding with North of 60, snowmobiling with Carlos and the Bucket List Aurora adventure. B.Dene Aurora experience was phenomenal and to experience the culture of the natives was exceptional! Shout out to Anderson Vacations for planning this package and making all the reservations go smoothly!

Pam de Montmorency (Google Reviewer)  

Our group of 8 just...

24-Mar-2023

Our group of 8 just returned from Yellowknife with Anderson and it was a ‘bucket list’ trip of a lifetime. We were welcomed into private Lodges and Cabins and had the pleasure to spend time with some incredible people. The tour was incredibly well organized and our tour guides, Zack and Jessie, were patient, kind and professional. This is a trip for adventurous souls seeking a unique experience in a remote location. We were thrilled with our accommodation and the food was great! We met incredible people who welcomed us into their homes and gratuitously shared their stories and expertise about life ‘north of 60’. As the location is remote you need to go into this experience with an open mind and a willingness to roll with the punches. You will need to check your 5 star expectations at the door and understand that you are a guest in a wild and wonderful small town filled with larger than life personalities. Personally we found everything to be top notch and we were very well taken care of. If you seek an adventure this tour is for you. We loved every single second of this trip and Anderson did a phenomenal job from start to finish. I highly recommend this trip to any one looking for an ‘out of the box’ experience. 5 stars. Highly recommend.

Peter Agar (Google Reviewer)  

Recently completed 2 self drive...

01-Oct-2023

Recently completed 2 self drive tours of the Maritime Provinces, planned by Anderson Vacations. Assistance & quick response from Krysti, although one of her colleagues was rather tardy, especially during the planning stages & did not respond with accurate bookings that matched my requests. I even had to follow up about my final payment for my solo NS, NB, PEI tour. Many initial bookings he made were at highly overpriced hotels & I found that some better value packages were not available to me, because I had booked through an agency, rather than direct. Also, some better value properties were not available "because we don't deal with them". I felt that both tours were quite overpriced, in what is an expensive country to travel. The trip notes for both my tours were copious but rather scrambled, with some information being repeated & out of sequence. Some information was also out of season & reflected things that were no longer to be seen. My friend & my NF tour visited the main points of interest but did not reflect the change of travel season or what we were likely to see. For example, we arrived in Twillingate to be told by our accommodation manager, that the boat tour season had ended & the last icebergs had melted one month prior. Very disappointing. We had to email Andersons to tell them the boat tours in the region (we tried to find others as replacement for the one we were due to take) had ceased & only then were we told they had been advised the tours had stopped. Too late! We were then left to find local activities to replace the boat tour. At least, a quick refund was processed for that cancelled tour, as well as another, that was cancelled by the operator on the morning of the tour, due to rough seas (understandable). Re my NS, NB & PEI tour, St John on a Sunday is basically shut down & Fredericton, on a week day, wasn't much better & these cities could have easily been left off the itinerary. While the accommodation in Middle Brook NF, was nice & the hosts friendly, Middle Brook is tiny, with almost no options for meals (very expensive in the lodge). The food in the area was dismal & reflected the general isolation of many NF communities. I could have cooked far tastier meals than those served to us at some restaurants in NF. At the lodge, the total conversation in the accommodation with other guest, revolved around moose hunting & what animals had been killed with which weapon - totally boring & quite revolting to listen to these "trophy hunters" bragging about their kills, especially coming from a country with very strong anti-gun laws. It probably would have been better if we had been lodged in St Anthony, which at least had some nearby points of interest. In summary, all the accommodation bookings were accurate & most of the tours went ahead a scheduled (notable exception being the Twillingate boat tour). The trip notes were copious but jumbled & the street by street directions would have been dangerous for a solo driver like me to follow. Fortunately, I had my personal GPS to guide me. The region was very interesting & I learned a lot from my trip. However, the tour, as booked, was very expensive, especially the NS, NB, PEI part, where I travelled solo. That seems to be the down side of solo travel - there is little or no deduction for single occupancy. Being able to share the cost in NF made a huge difference, basically halving the cost.

Book with Confidence

  • Free Date Changes

    Anderson Vacations allows you to make 1 free date changes, as long as the change is made at least 60 days before the start of the tour.

  • Transfer as credit for future tours

    Anderson Vacations allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform anderson vacations, 60 days before departure.

  • Low Deposit

    Anderson Vacations requires a minimum deposit of 100 CAD per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 60 days before departure.

  • Cancellation Policy

    We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of anderson vacations charges.

    Up to 60 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.

    At 60 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.

Why book with tourhub?

Safe & Secure

Your money is held in a dedicated client account until you travel.

Visa logo Mastercard logo
apple pay icon google pay icon

The safest way to make overseas, multi-currency payments.

Guaranteed Best Value

Industry leading discounts, we won't be beaten on price.


No cancellation or amendment fees from tourhub.

(Operator terms may apply)

Expert Knowledge

Reliable & unbiased advice from travel experts.


Direct contact with the tour operator via our messaging service.


Inspiration & advice from a community of 6000+ real travellers, influencers & content creators.

Trusted Service

Official partners & licensed agents of 1000+ tour operators worldwide.


Don't just take our word for it...

"Tourhub: Friendliness, Professionalism & Integrity I would happily give tourhub a 6* review if I could..."

People Also Viewed

Travel Guru Features

Our Reviews

Trustpilot