Yellowknife Aurora Viewing Tour: Indigenous Culture & Lights

Watch the northern lights while learning Dene traditions from a wood stove cabin on the lakeshore

A four-hour Aurora Borealis viewing tour in Dettah, a Dene community on Great Slave Lake near Yellowknife, where you watch the northern lights from a heated cabin, listen to traditional drumming, and learn about Dene history, language and connection to the land. The tour includes round-trip transportation, hot beverages, traditionally fire-cooked fish and bannock, access to Indigenous tipis for photography, and professional guidance on capturing Aurora images. You choose either a 9:00 p.m.–1:00 a.m. or 10:00 p.m.–2:00 a.m. viewing window.

The experience

Four hours is the viewing window: either 9:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. or 10:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m., and you spend it on the shore of Great Slave Lake in Dettah, a Dene community just outside Yellowknife. The base is a wood stove cabin where you warm up between viewing sessions outside. Round-trip transportation from your hotel is included, so you don't drive yourself in the dark.

The Aurora is the draw, but the guide walks you through Dene history, language and the relationship between the land and the people who live on it. While you're there, a drummer performs traditional music. You eat fish cooked over a fire the traditional way, along with bannock and hot beverages. The tipis set up on the site are for photography: a place to frame shots of the lights, and your guide will help you take the best pictures you can with the camera you bring.

A minimum age of 18 applies. The tour runs in English, Chinese or Cantonese depending on the guide assigned. Service animals are welcome. All fitness levels can participate.

What’s included

• Round-trip hotel pickup and transportation to Dettah.
• four hours of Aurora viewing from a heated wood stove cabin on Great Slave Lake.
• traditional Dene drumming performance.
• traditionally fire-cooked fish and bannock.
• hot beverages.
• access to Indigenous tipis for photography.
• professional guidance on capturing Aurora images.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayLast departure this season: 31 Oct

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Under 18: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Cantonese and Chinese

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 10 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 13 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPets welcomeInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Yellowknife Tours

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want to watch the northern lights alongside learning about Dene culture and history from a guide who lives in the community. The four-hour window and the cabin base mean you're not standing outside in extreme cold for the entire time, and the cultural context (the drumming, the traditional food, the stories) makes the Aurora viewing part of a larger experience rather than a solo sky-watching session.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Chinese, Chinese and Cantonese.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What is the Dene community of Dettah like?

Dettah is a Dene settlement on the shore of Great Slave Lake, about 30 kilometers from Yellowknife. The tour takes place there because the location and the community's connection to the land make it a meaningful setting for learning about Dene culture and viewing the Aurora from a place where the northern lights have been part of life for generations.

Can I take photos of the Aurora, and will I get good ones?

Yes. Your experienced guide will assist you in taking the best Aurora pictures your camera can capture. The tipis on site give you a framed backdrop for shots, and the guide's help means you're not guessing at settings or composition in the dark.

What time should I choose, 9 p.m. or 10 p.m.?

The 9:00 p.m.–1:00 a.m. window starts earlier in the evening. The 10:00 p.m.–2:00 a.m. window runs later into the night. Pick whichever fits your sleep schedule and the rest of your Yellowknife itinerary. Both give you the same four hours of viewing time.

Is the cabin heated, and what if it's very cold?

Yes, the cabin has a wood stove and is heated. You move between the warm cabin and outside viewing as the Aurora appears. Hot beverages are provided throughout the tour to keep you warm.

What food is included?

Traditionally fire-cooked fish, bannock (Indigenous bread), and hot beverages are included. The food is prepared the traditional Dene way and is part of the cultural experience.