Yellowknife Aurora Hunting Tours by Bus: Northern Lights Viewing

Four to five hours chasing the Northern Lights across Yellowknife's dark-sky lakes

An aurora hunting tour by bus from Yellowknife takes you to remote viewing spots across the wilderness where guides trained in wilderness first aid lead small groups to watch for the Northern Lights. Hotel pickup is included, and a guide photographs you with the aurora. Children from age 4 are welcome, and the tour runs in English with snacks provided.

Step-by-step itinerary

Aurora hunting and viewing spots

• Meet expert aurora hunting guides
• Explore wilderness and wildlife areas
• Visit great spot for aurora viewing
• Visit another great lake for aurora viewing
• View aurora at clear lake shoreline

The experience

You land in Yellowknife with a free evening and no car. The tour picks you up directly from your hotel, so you step into a warm bus instead of arranging transport to the dark-sky zones where aurora actually appears. Your guide is a hunting specialist who knows which lakes offer clear, unobstructed views of the night sky: the open shoreline and reflections off the water amplify what you see. Small group sizes mean you are not standing shoulder-to-shoulder with thirty other people. The intimacy of it changes how the night unfolds.

The bus moves between three or four spots across the wilderness, each chosen for minimal light pollution and sightlines that let you watch the full arc of sky. You stand on the shoreline waiting. The guide knows the patterns and the timing. They are trained in wilderness first aid and equipped for the conditions. When the lights move, they move fast, and having someone there who reads the sky and knows where to position you means you catch the display instead of missing it. The guide also photographs you against the aurora. Those are yours to keep, the only proof that you stood there and saw it.

The tour runs four to five hours, which is the window aurora typically holds. Snacks are provided to keep you warm and alert through the waiting. The bus has heat, so you can step inside between sightings if the cold becomes too much, then return to the open air when movement starts again. This is not a passive drive-by. You are outside, watching, moving between locations as the guide reads the conditions.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off in Yellowknife.
• a live English-speaking guide trained in wilderness first aid.
• shared bus transportation to multiple aurora viewing spots across the wilderness.
• professional photography of you with the Northern Lights.
• snacks to keep you warm during the tour.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 21:00

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Child (4 to 12 years) · Under 4: can't be booked

GroupUp to 28

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 8 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 5 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Aurora Bus Tours

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you arrive in Yellowknife without a rental car or local knowledge of where the lights are best seen. The guide's expertise in reading the sky and the small group size mean you spend the night watching instead of searching, and the hotel pickup removes the logistics of getting to the dark-sky zones on your own.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 12 years). Children under 4 can't be included in the booking.

What time does the Yellowknife aurora tour depart, and how late into the night does it run?

The tour runs for four to five hours and operates during the hours when aurora is most likely to appear, which varies by season. Your guide will confirm the exact departure time from your hotel based on current conditions and forecasts for that evening.

Do I need to bring warm clothing, or is anything provided to keep me comfortable outside?

You should bring warm winter clothing suitable for standing outside in Yellowknife's cold. The bus provides heat between viewing spots, and snacks are included to help you stay warm, but the tour does not provide outerwear or heated gear.

Will the guide actually photograph me with the Northern Lights, or is that just if I'm lucky?

The guide includes professional photography of you and the aurora as part of the tour. They carry equipment and know how to capture the lights, so you leave with images of yourself against the display instead of just memories.

What happens if the Northern Lights don't appear on the night I book?

Aurora visibility depends on solar activity and weather conditions, which are never guaranteed. Check the operator's policy on rebooking or refunds if the lights do not appear during your tour. This detail should be confirmed at checkout.

Is this a shared tour with other travelers, or can I book a private bus?

This is a shared tour with small group sizes, which keeps the experience intimate and the cost lower than a private charter. You travel with other aurora hunters, but the groups stay small enough that everyone gets a good viewing spot and the guide's attention.