Yellowknife: Aurora Borealis Bus Tour with Lakes & Photos

Summary

Night drive to Yellowknife’s lakes chasing aurora reflections

You’ll ride out from Yellowknife with a small group and local guide, stopping at quiet lakes chosen for their perfect aurora reflections. Expect warm drinks and snacks on board (they matter more than you’d think), plus help capturing those impossible-to-photograph moments under northern skies. There’s laughter and long silences both—something about seeing the aurora together makes strangers feel familiar.

What’s the experience like?

We piled into the bus just after pickup — still shaking off dinner, honestly — and our guide, Li, had this way of making everyone laugh even though most of us were half-asleep. The city lights faded behind us pretty quick. I remember my boots squeaking on the floor as we rolled out toward the first lake. It was colder than I expected for September, that kind of crisp air that pinches your nose a little. You could smell pine when the door opened. Li handed out biscuits and poured something hot (I think it was cocoa?) into our mugs while explaining how the aurora sometimes just… doesn’t show up on schedule. “It’s stubborn,” he said, grinning.

The first stop was a lake so still it looked fake under the stars. We shuffled out — some people whispering like we’d scare off the Northern Lights or something — and there was this hush except for someone’s jacket rustling and a couple of quiet laughs. I tried to take photos but gave up; Li offered to do it for us anyway (“Trust me, your phone won’t get it”). When the lights finally started wavering across the sky, greenish and slow at first, I just stood there with my biscuit getting cold in my hand. It felt weirdly personal even though we were all together.

We hit two more lakes that night — each one a little different. At one spot, you could see our breath hanging in front of our faces while we waited for another burst of color. Someone from Vancouver tried to say “aurora” in Mandarin (Li cracked up). I didn’t expect to care about the snacks but honestly, warm tea hits different at midnight when you’re standing on ice or wet leaves. By the last stop, nobody really talked much; everyone just stared up like kids at a sleepover who don’t want to go home yet. Still think about that silence sometimes.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Aurora viewing bus tour in Yellowknife

• Pick up guests from hotels
• Depart to first lake location
• Stop at first location for aurora viewing
• Depart to second lake location
• Depart to third lake location
• Return to hotels in Yellowknife

Top questions

How do I get picked up for the Aurora by bus tour?

The tour includes pickup from hotels and downtown AirB&Bs in Yellowknife; collection time is confirmed before departure.

Are snacks or drinks provided during the tour?

Yes, guests are offered hot drinks and biscuits on board during the aurora tour.

What happens if there aren’t enough people for my date?

If fewer than four guests book, you’ll be invited to join another scheduled aurora tour that night instead.

Can infants or small children join this Yellowknife aurora tour?

Yes; infants can ride in prams or sit on an adult’s lap—specialized infant seats are available if needed.

Will someone help me take photos of the Northern Lights?

Your guide will help take photos with the aurora and send them to your email after the tour.

How many lake locations do we visit during this day trip?

The group visits several different lake locations around Yellowknife to maximize chances of seeing aurora reflections.

Is hotel drop-off included after viewing the Northern Lights?

Yes; shuttle service returns all travelers to their hotels or city center B&Bs after the tour ends.

What’s included

Your evening includes hotel pickup and drop-off anywhere in central Yellowknife, rides between several lake locations chosen for their aurora views, plenty of hot drinks and biscuits on board (trust me—they’re welcome), plus help taking photos so you can actually be in them instead of fiddling with your phone under freezing skies.