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Home Story Big City Lights: Experience the World’s Best Aurora

Big City Lights:
Up here, they're just a bit different

Looking for Northern Lights that set the night sky on fire? The Northwest Territories is the best place in the world to see them.

Nearly every evening of the year, excited light-chasing visitors and residents get geared up and head out to enjoy the ever-changing Aurora Borealis show.

Thanks to our ideal location under the Auroral oval, we’re the global epicentre of Aurora-watching. If you can see the stars in our night sky, there’s a better than 99% chance you’ll see the Aurora.

Look no further than this list for the best spots in NWT to view the spectacular Aurora.

Aurora Village

Call it the village that never sleeps: Aurora Village is a short 20-minute drive outside of Yellowknife.

With heated Aurora-viewing seats, cozy teepees where you can warm up, and no light pollution to dim the show, Aurora Village is a unique attraction, popular with visitors and NWT residents alike.

The SnowKing's castle

See the Aurora like a king or queen – in Yellowknife’s glittering palace of ice and snow, created each winter on Great Slave Lake.

The palace is the site of the March-long SnowKing Festival. Dance to the music of a concert in the castle as the mysterious Northern Lights sway overhead.

By snowmobile

For a more active adventure, there’s a snowmobile trip to Yellowknife Outdoor Adventures’ cabin on the shore of Great Slave Lake. It’s a great spot to see the Aurora sparkling overhead and getting there is half the fun!

Great Slave Lake

It’s worth a wander down to the shore of Great Slave Lake in the fall to see the Aurora shimmering in the night sky above and reflected in the rippling water below. In winter, walk out along the frozen lake and see the eerie glow of the Aurora on the snow beneath your feet.

From your tent

Camp under the Aurora to catch its full majesty all night long. In winter, you could choose a spot on a frozen river or lake. A big open sky means more room for the Northern Lights to do what they do best – be spectacular.

Or the coolest spot of all

Consider hanging out in an igloo to watch the celestial lightshow for a personal experience you can’t get anywhere else in the world.

When the time is right, make your way to the Northwest Territories – the Aurora capital of the world. You’ll find our nightlife is like no other.

For more information, check out our Spectacular Aurora section to find plenty of stories, packages and operators that will show you how and where to catch the Northern Lights.

Winter Package – Northern Lights Tour

Polar Pack Arctic Adventures

Activities

Aurora Aurora Day Trips Dempster Highway to the Arctic Ocean Nature and Wildlife Road Tours Tours Western Arctic Winter Activities Winter Aurora

Experience the Northern Lights on the Inuvik to Tuktoyaktuk Highway Join us for a breathtaking tour along the stunning Mackenzie River, where we embark on an adventure to chase the mesmerizing northern lights. As we traverse the icy landscape, you’ll have the opportunity to spot a variety of wildlife! Tour Details: Time: 9 PM to […]...

Starting at

$500

CAD + 5% GST + Per Person
View this Package

Arctic Luxury Experience - 3 nights, 4 days

Beaufort Sea Adventures

Activities

Aurora Boat Tours Cultural Demonstrations Dogsledding Fall Aurora Tours Western Arctic Winter Activities Winter Aurora

Step into a world where the Arctic’s beauty and culture come to life in ways few have ever experienced.  In Tuktoyaktuk, every moment is an invitation to connect with the land and its people on a deeper level. The vast tundra stretches endlessly before you, offering a sense of peace and wonder that can only […]...

Inquire for price

CAD + 5% GST + Per Person
View this Package

The Ultimate 7-Day Fishing Trip

Trophy Lodge – Great Slave Lake

Activities

Arctic Grayling Aurora Fishing Lake Trout Nature and Wildlife Tours Wilderness Lodges

From Saturday to Saturday enjoy 7 Days on the water! Come enjoy our pristine lake, our abonnement of fish and our beautiful lodge. Numerous rivers, unique rock formations, abundant birds and wildlife and crystal clear waters make this a prime nature site, in short the scenery is terrific. We can comfortably host up to 16 […]...

Starting at

$3,899

CAD + 5% GST + Per Person
View this Package

Winter Aurora Package

Blachford Lodge

Activities

Aurora Aurora Lodges Cross-Country Skiing Cultural Demonstrations Ice Fishing Snowmobiling Snowshoeing Wilderness Lodges Winter Activities Winter Aurora

Welcome to Blachford Lodge. 2025 New Moon dates: January 29, February 27, March 29, April 27 Opening in December, 2024 will be our 5 newly renovated cabins. We are adding more comfort, beauty, and overall enhancements to your experience with us. Winter outdoor activities include cross-country skiing on 20 kilometers of groomed trails, snowshoeing, sliding, ice skating, […]...

Starting at

$3,597

CAD + 5% GST + Per Person + $499 Air Charter + Gratuities (10%)

View this Package

Autumn Aurora Package

Blachford Lodge

Activities

Aurora Aurora Lodges Canoeing and Kayaking Cultural Demonstrations Fall Aurora Fishing Lake Trout Nature and Wildlife Northern Pike Stand up Paddling Winter Activities Winter Aurora

Welcome to Blachford Lodge. Aurora watchers and stargazers agree there are few better places to see the Aurora than Blachford Lodge. From mid-August, when night skies turn a velvety black to late October when the lake begins to freeze, Blachford guests can be treated to late night shows of the northern lights. On calm nights […]...

Starting at

$3,597

CAD + 5% GST + Per Person + $499 Air Charter + Gratuities (10%)

View this Package

Okpik Arctic Village Winter Package

Tundra North Travel

Activities

Arts and Culture Aurora Cultural Demonstrations Dogsledding Nature and Wildlife On the Land Tours Western Arctic Wilderness Lodges Winter Activities Winter Aurora

DAY 1 Arrive at Okpik Arctic Village. Start off by settling into your home away from home. We’ll show you around our Eco-Village where you will learn about our local manufacturing and food production programs and why they are so important for Northern food security, economic leakage, as well as providing culturally relevant jobs in […]...

Starting at

$3,500

CAD + 5% GST + Per Person
View this Package

Amazing Aurora Hunting Packages

North Star Adventures

Activities

Arts and Culture Aurora Aurora Day Trips City Tours Fall Aurora Tours Winter Activities Winter Aurora

If you’re looking for the complete Yellowknife Aurora experience then North Star Adventures is for you! As one of the world’s leading Aurora tour companies, we will go above and beyond to make sure your Yellowknife visit is a trip of a lifetime. We are 100% Indigenous owned. We know Yellowknife, we know Aurora....

Starting at

$1,699

CAD+ 5% GST + Per Person
View this Package

Cozy Cabin Aurora Tours

Bucket List Tour Company

Activities

Aurora Aurora Day Trips Fall Aurora Tours Winter Activities Winter Aurora

We are local with plenty of Northern stories to share. Our tours are small and the cabin is cozy. This tour gives guest the opportunity to ‘hunt the aurora from the cabin’ while enjoying northern stories, a midnight lunch of fish chowder and hot bannock, and enjoy an assortment of teas. Guests are invited to […]...

$135

CAD + 5% GST + Per Person
View this Package

Nahanni Mountain Lodge (3-night stay, 2 people)

Simpson Air

Activities

Fishing Paddling Wilderness Lodges

Escape to Nahanni Mountain Lodge for an unforgettable wilderness retreat unlike any other. Immerse yourself in the pristine beauty of Canada’s Northwest Territories with our exclusive 2-person, 3-night stay package, designed for those seeking solitude, adventure, and tranquility amidst nature’s embrace. Nestled on the serene shores of Little Doctor Lake, our cozy cabins offer the […]...

Starting at

$3,548

CAD + 5% GST + Per Person
View this Package

Aurora Experience

Peterson’s Point Lake Lodge

Activities

Aurora Lodges Fall Aurora Nature Photography Wilderness Lodges

Approximately every 10 years the northern lights are stronger than any other time and that time is now. Book a special trip this autumn miles away from city lights and crowds of people, right under the auroral oval. Our remote fly-in lodge provides the ideal location to see the northern lights with viewing opportunities right […]...

$4,159

USD + 5% GST + Per Person
View this Package

Skydome

North of 60 Aurora Adventures

Activities

Aurora Aurora Day Trips Fall Aurora Winter Activities Winter Aurora

Experience the amazing auroras from our Skydome.  The geodome offers the comforts of a hot wood burning stove, couches, lounge chairs and tables for eating fresh bannock and hot beverages, while you take in the dancing auroras from above.  Book your seat or group up to 20 people. Ask us about our 15% discount when […]...

Starting At

$125

CAD + 5% GST + Per Person
View this Package

5 Days 4 Nights Explorer Hotel Winter Holiday Package

Arctic Tours Canada

Activities

Aurora Winter Activities Winter Aurora

Immerse yourself in the wintry wonders and snowy scenery of Yellowknife during 5 days 4 nights action-packed 5 days of subarctic winter outdoor adventure. Spend the daylight hours dog sledding, learn Yellowknife history, visit tourist attractions on guided Yellowknife sightseeing tour and soak in the splendor of the Northern Lights show after-dark aurora-hunting-viewing excursions. End […]...

Starting At

$1,076

CAD + 5% GST + Per Person
View this Package

5 Days 4 Night Package

Arctic Tours Canada

Activities

Aurora Fall Aurora Winter Activities Winter Aurora

Let the Northern Lights enchant you in Yellowknife Experience an unforgettable adventure with our Yellowknife 5 Days 4 Nights Aurora Viewing package! Spend your nights under the stunning Northern Lights, each evening offering a unique spectacle. Enjoy comfortable hotel accommodations and thrilling Aurora hunting expeditions. Immerse yourself in cultural richness with a night at an […]...

Starting At

$835

CAD + 5% GST + Per Person
View this Package

Blachford Lodge

Summer Winter

What began as a “part time fishing lodge” has now become a “full time Aurora Wilderness Lodge” open year round......

Trail Blazer Tours

Book an adventure with us at Trail Blazer Tours for an unforgettable experience! Your adventure with us will create lasting......

Ji Guang Tour

With over 30 years of living in Yellowknife, we offer a variety of tourism experiences for our guests. We are......

Nanook Aurora Tours

Offering four-hour Aurora tours including the ice road and City of Yellowknife. Pick-up and drop-off available. Small groups. Service in......

Arctic Chalet Tours

Best Northern Road Trip! Now you can drive all the way to the Arctic ocean linking Canada from coast to......

Destination NWT Ltd.

Day Trips Northern Lights Winter

Destination NWT Limited is a tourism operator located in Yellowknife, Canada. DNWT specializes in outdoors adventures, aurora photography, and cultural experiences: Best rated Snowmobile Tour, winter gears included, exciting trail riding Aurora Tour in a Luxurious lakeside Lodge Unique Aurora tour while Ice Fishing indoors Full panoramic moonroof vehicle for Aurora Viewing DNWT’s tours allow […]...

Aylmer Lake Lodge

DISCOVER A MOMENT THAT LASTS A LIFETIME. Aylmer Lake Lodge is located in Rocknest Bay, which is on the Barren......

Aurora Dream Tours

Our professional tour guides will take you on amazing Aurora viewing tours, city tours, ice road tours and much more.......

Taltson Lake Lodge Ltd.

Fly-in fishing lodge located 150 air miles (240 kms) south of Yellowknife. Full American Plan or unguided....

Beck's Kennels

World class dogsled tours! We are one of the largest professional sled dog kennels in Canada. Over 150 happy, healthy......

North-Wright Airways Ltd.

If are looking for a spectacular weekend retreat nestled in the serenity of the Mackenzie Mountains at Ten Stone Mountain Lodge. North-Wright......

Nahanni Mountain Lodge

Remote private wilderness paradise on Little Doctor Lake, 100 km west of Fort Simpson. Accommodates 20 in cabins. Fishing, swimming,......

Great Slave Lake Tours

Great Slave Lake Tours offers winter and summer trips on Great Slave Lake, the ninth biggest lake in the world......

My Backyard Tours

We offer winter clothing rentals. Our winter clothing will keep you warm and comfortable for your outdoor fun – ask us......

Arctic Tours Canada

Arctic Tours Canada is a Yellowknife based tour operating company that offer Aurora Hunting and Viewing tours, Yellowknife sightseeing tours,......

NARWAL Northern Adventures

Northern and Remote Wilderness Adventures Ltd. (NARWAL) is a small, friendly, majority Aboriginal owned and operated family business. Our reputation......

Scott Lake Lodge

One of the finest Pike and Lake Trout waters in North America, on the 60th Parallel. Enjoy luxurious private cabins......

Yellow Dog Lodge, Inc.

Multi-day Trips Northern Lights Summer

Yellow Dog Lodge is a comfortable lodge with 3 private cabins for our guests. The lodge is a short (15 minute) floatplane ride from Yellowknife. Located on Duncan and Graham Lakes, the lodge is your hub for adventure. Choose from an additional 5 lakes for guided day trip excursions. Each lake is unique and offers unspoiled first class fishing. We are the only lodge that operates guided trips on each of these remote lakes located in the NWT taiga wilderness. Packaged trips feature superb sport fishing and safe outdoor adventure. The lakes and streams offer the finest Lake Trout, Northern Pike, Walleye and Arctic Grayling in the region. As an added bonus, our guests will enjoy the midnight sun and may even catch the northern lights later in the fall or early spring....

AuroraTours.net

We are a local Aboriginal tour company based in Yellowknife, the capital of the Northwest Territories, Canada. Our focus is on......

Peterson's Point Lake Lodge

Peterson’s Point Lake Lodge provides you access to known waters teeming with monster lake trout. Their current record is a......

Aurora Village

Indigenous

Aurora Village – A Class of Its Own Aurora Village is a unique Aurora-viewing facility situated 25 minutes from downtown......

Raven Tours

Raven Tours is a tour operator in Yellowknife, NT, Canada. We offer Aurora Viewing, Snowshoeing, and Hiking Tours. We hope to......

Ten Stone Mountain Lodge

Summer

Book this entire cabin in the remote wilderness of the stunningly breath-taking, Mackenzie Mountains. This cabin is hands down the......

Lonely Traveler

Our goal is to provide unique customized services for high-end customers. We excel at making personalized tours. You can see......

Sandy Point Wilderness Lodge

Exceptional fishing on Gordon Lake, 100 km northeast of Yellowknife. Fish for Lake Trout, up to to 56 lbs! Fly in by......

Pehdzeh Ki First Nation

Pehdzeh Ki First Nation is located in the community of Wrigley, Northwest Territories, Canada. We are a Designated Authority in......

Northstar Resort

Northstar Resort is a remote fishing lodge located on Thekulthili Lake, 95 miles (152 km) northeast of Fort Smith. Operates from......

Grey Goose Tours & Lodge

Welcoming and friendly with a rustic charm and all modern conveniences, Grey Goose Lodge immediately catches your eye as you......

Yellowknife Online

Yellowknife Online produces Yellowknife specific articles and content for visitors, residents, and newcomers. Yellowknife Online has recently transferred that knowledge......

Warburton Bay Lodge

Warburton Bay has a magic of its own. Located on the southwest end of Mackay Lake, it is close to......

Dechenla Wilderness Resort

Remote naturalist’s lodge snuggled in the Mackenzie Mountains, in the largest mountain wilderness in North America. Located along the Canol......

Dancing Skies Photo Tours

Northern Lights Winter

Dancing Skies is a new tour operator in Yellowknife, led by an experienced northern lights chaser and photographer with a passion for contemplation. Specializing in private tours and small groups of up to 5 people, we prioritize silent, serene observation and photography of the aurora, far from the crowds. With expertise in Space Weather data, […]...

Indian Mountain Lodge

Fish for Trophy Lake Trout and Arctic Grayling at our all-inclusive lodge located in East Arm, Great Slave Lake. Fly......

Borealis Science and Photo Tours

Join us on a subarctic adventure! Spend five nights viewing the Northern Lights, enjoying outdoor activities, and experiencing the culture......

Aurora Zoom

We offer Yellowknife daytime and aurora viewing tours. Please contact us for more information!...

Lynx Tundra Lodge

An Arctic Barrenlands trophy fishing adventure for the serious sportsman. Located on Lynx Lake (420 km east of Yellowknife) Lynx......

Hello Aurora

Aurora viewing tours, city tours, and hikes at Cameron Falls. We book all your activities and  accommodation....

Aurora Nights Lodge

Summer and winter packages on the Taltson River. Drive out by snowmobile from Fort Resolution or fly out from Fort......