Yellowknife Northern Lights Tour: 5 Days, 95% Aurora

Four nights chasing the aurora across Yellowknife's dark skies

A 5-day, 4-night northern lights tour in Yellowknife includes four aurora viewings from a tipi tent camp, a 4-star hotel, airport pickup and drop-off, and a professional guide. Each evening you depart around 22:00 to avoid city light pollution, with the option to stay at camp or chase the lights across lakeside forests. Winter activities like dog sledding, ice fishing and snowmobiling are available at your own cost, and photos captured during aurora sightings are uploaded free for download.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Arrival and Aurora Viewing

• Pick up from Yellowknife Airport
• Check in at hotel
• Drive to Indian Hunting Tent Valley Camp
• Meet native hunter and watch demonstration
• Watch and photograph Northern Lights

Day 2 — City Tour and Aurora Viewing

• Free morning for optional activities
• Afternoon city tour of Yellowknife
• Visit Big Slave Lake and Pilot Monument
• Pick up souvenirs at visitor center
• Evening aurora tour and photography

Day 3 — Free Day and Aurora Hunting

• Free time to explore Yellowknife
• Optional morning activities (dog sledding, ice fishing, snowmobile)
• Depart hotel at 22:00 to Tipi tent camp
• Camp and chase aurora in forest and lakes

Day 4 — Optional Activities and Aurora Viewing

• Optional morning activities (boat fishing, walking tour, dog sledding)
• Free time to explore Yellowknife
• Depart hotel at 22:00 to Tipi tent camp
• Camp and chase aurora in forest and lakes

Day 5 — Departure from Yellowknife

• Meet at hotel lobby
• Transfer to Yellowknife Airport

The Experience

Yellowknife sits at one of the three major aurora viewing zones on earth, with conditions that make the northern lights visible roughly 240 days a year. The tour starts with airport pickup—your guide wears a red Canada Goose jacket and holds a sign with your name—then drops you at your hotel to settle in. From there, the rhythm of the next four days is built around the evening hunt: free time during daylight to explore the town or book optional activities, then departure around 22:00 to the Indian Hunting Tent Valley Camp or tipi tent camp, where hot drinks and snacks wait while you watch the sky.

Each night offers two choices. You can stay warm in the camp and wait for the aurora to appear overhead, or join your guide to chase the lights across the forests and lakes where they're clearest. The operator adjusts the route based on weather and snow conditions—if heavy wind or snow moves in, the guide takes you to alternate viewing spots where the aurora is still visible. When the lights appear, your guide helps you capture photos that get uploaded to the cloud free of charge, so you leave with the images without managing files yourself.

Daytime in Yellowknife is yours to structure. You can walk the Frame Lake trail, visit the tribal flag corridor near the museum, or browse the Diamond Center. Winter visitors can add dog sledding (15-minute runs with toasted marshmallows and snow yo-yo), ice fishing (2–3 hours with a meal), or snowmobiling by the hour—all booked through your guide at additional cost. The tour ends on day five with a group transfer to Yellowknife Airport. Rooms sleep 2–4 guests; if your party is larger, book multiple rooms and provide all confirmation numbers to ensure you travel together on the same bus.

What’s included

• Four nights in a 4-star hotel (Chateau Nova, The Explorer Hotel, or similar).
• four aurora viewings from tipi tent camps with hot drinks and snacks.
• airport pickup and drop-off.
• professional driver and guide.
• free photo uploads from aurora sightings.
• access to daytime attractions like Frame Lake trail and the Diamond Center.
• optional winter activities (dog sledding, ice fishing, snowmobiling) booked separately through your guide.

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyPublic transport nearby

Operated by Jupiter Legend Corporation

Is this one for you?Book this if your group is larger than four and you want everyone on the same bus—provide your confirmation numbers at booking to stay together throughout the tour.

Traveler reviews

4.00★★★★★★★★★★

4 verified traveler reviews

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What's the chance I'll actually see the northern lights on this tour?

Yellowknife has a 95% chance of aurora visibility across the season, with viewing possible roughly 240 days a year due to the location's geography and natural conditions. The tour includes four separate evening outings, and your guide adjusts the viewing location based on weather and cloud cover to maximize your chances.

Do I have to go out chasing the aurora every night, or can I stay in the camp?

You choose each evening. The tipi tent camp provides hot drinks and snacks, and you can wait there for the lights to appear. If you prefer, you can also join your guide to chase the aurora across the forests and lakes where visibility is often clearer, then return to the camp afterward.

What winter activities can I do during the day in Yellowknife?

Dog sledding, ice fishing, and snowmobiling are available December through March, booked through your guide at additional cost. Dog sledding includes a 15-minute sled run with toasted marshmallows; ice fishing runs 2–3 hours with a meal included. These activities depend on snow conditions and are fully refundable if weather prevents participation.

Is the airport transfer included, or do I need to arrange my own ride?

Airport pickup and drop-off at Yellowknife Airport are included in the tour price. Your guide meets you at arrivals in a red Canada Goose jacket with a sign bearing your name, then transports you to your hotel. The return transfer on day five is also arranged as a group departure from the hotel.

What happens if I want to book with friends—how do we make sure we stay together?

Hotel rooms accommodate up to four guests. If your group is larger or you prefer separate rooms, make individual bookings and provide all confirmation numbers to the operator once complete. This ensures everyone travels on the same bus throughout the tour.

Are meals included, or do I need to budget for food in Yellowknife?

Meals are not included except for optional activities like ice fishing, which includes a meal. The tour provides hot drinks and snacks at the aurora camps. Yellowknife has restaurants throughout town; the operator recommends trying wild steak and venison at the Bullock restaurant and hot and sour soup at the Gold Range.