5 Day Late Summer Aurora Borealis Viewing
Yellowknife
Tour Overview
Imagine standing beneath an ink-black Arctic sky as ribbons of electric green and violet ignite the horizon — this is Yellowknife, Canada's undisputed Northern Lights capital. With over 240 clear nights per year, Yellowknife delivers one of the highest Aurora Borealis sighting rates in the world. This 5-day late summer tour is uniquely timed to catch the Northern Lights' early-season return while the landscape still glows with the last of summer's warmth — offering the best of both worlds.
Beyond the lights, you'll explore a land where Dene Indigenous traditions run deep: joining expert aurora hunters in the wilderness after dark, tracking mighty Wood Bison at dusk, sharing bannock and fish chowder around a campfire, and experiencing authentic Dene storytelling, drumming, and hand games on the shores of Great Slave Lake. Days are filled with Yellowknife's surprising history — gold rush mines, legendary bush pilots, diamond trading, and a city that thrives at the edge of the world.
Top Highlights
- 3 Nights of Expert-Led Aurora Borealis Hunting Your dedicated aurora guide tracks real-time cloud cover and solar activity to position you in the darkest, clearest skies north of the city — giving you a 98% chance of witnessing the Northern Lights on clear nights. Each outing is a new adventure into the wilderness, complete with midnight fish chowder, bannock, and hot chocolate in a private off-grid cabin.
- Authentic Dene Indigenous Cultural Evening on Great Slave Lake Travel by minivan to a traditional Dene campsite on the shores of Great Slave Lake, where you'll experience ancient legends, drumming ceremonies, hand games, and a feast of locally caught fish and freshly made bannock in an intimate teepee setting. This isn't a performance — it's a genuine exchange with one of Canada's most storied Indigenous communities.
- Wood Bison Safari Along the Highways of the NWT Join Indigenous wildlife guides on a scenic drive through subarctic wilderness to spot North America's largest land animal — the Wood Bison. Your guides share Dene knowledge about local animals, birds, and the deep connection between the land and its people.
- Immersive Yellowknife City Discovery Uncover Yellowknife's layered identity: from the NWT Legislative Assembly and WW2-era warbirds at Buffalo Airways (home of hit TV series Ice Pilots), to the NWT Diamond Centre, Giant Mine's gold-rush legacy, and the Bush Pilot's Monument overlooking Great Slave Lake. Earn your official North of 60 Certificate along the way.
- Dene Sled Dog Camp & Living Culture Experience Spend a morning at a lakeside Dene family camp to meet their cherished dog teams, hear generational stories about sled dogs' vital role in subarctic survival, and connect with a family-run Indigenous business keeping cultural traditions alive. A rare, heartfelt experience you won't find anywhere else.
An unforgettable journey awaits you
Embark on a travel experience that will stay with you forever. We offer a blend of culture, adventure, and tranquility, ensuring every moment is filled with wonder. Whether you’re seeking thrill or relaxation, we create journeys that are truly unforgettable.
The journey Begins
-
Day 1: Arrive in Yellowknife, NWT
Yellowknife is one of the best places to view one of Earth's greatest natural wonders, the Aurora Borealis, also known as the Northern Lights. This is possible because the area experiences more clear nights than other northern locations - amazing Aurora displays are possible on over 240 nights each year. After arrival and transfer to the hotel, there will be time to relax and explore your immediate neighborhood before an evening briefing session and welcome dinner.. (Dinner provided if arriving before 7:00 pm)
Overnight: Yellowknife
Meals: Dinner
-
Day 2: Yellowknife, NWT
We begin our time in Yellowknife with a guided tour of the NWT Legislative Assembly Building, where you will learn about our consensus-style, non-partisan government, one of only a few in left Canada. Following the Legislative Building, we will make our way to the site of Giant Mine. Rich in the history of Yellowknife’s gold mining days. There is an outdoor museum available to view. When we make a quick stop at YKEA and look for local treasures! Next, we drive to Buffalo Airway’s home of the popular TV series, Ice Pilots with the Star of the show being Buffalo Joe McBryan, owner of the largest DC 3 ‘s and DC 4’s in North America. We will visit the hangar filled with vintage aircraft. These are propeller-operated WW2 legendary aircraft. We return to the downtown core and stop in at the NWT Diamond Centre which showcases diamonds from two of NWT local mines. Next, we drive to The Old Town / Latham Island and N’dilo. We will first visit Ragged Ass Road, the street immortalized by Tom Cochrane on his third album by the same name.We continue our tour with a stop at Yellowknife’s first bank (Bank of Toronto) a privately owned, historic log cabin. Next is a photo stop at the Bush Pilot’s monument, Yellowknife’s most popular lookout thatrises above Old Town, providing a stupendous view over Great Slave Lake, Back Bay and the northern reaches of the city. The monument is high up on “The Rock,” and is accessed via a winding staircase that will take you to the top. It is dedicated to the bush pilots and engineers whose lives were lost as they flew the wilderness skies of the Northwest Territories. Finally, we stop at Weaver and Devore, Yellowknife’s first Trading Store and a local carver’s shop. Local artists will be invited to showcase their artwork. The tour ends at the Visitor Centre where you can get your Yellowknife pin and your North of 60 Certificate. We visit the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre, a museum that chronicles Aboriginal and European history in the North and features environmental exhibits. After dinner, we will head out for our first aurora viewing experience in a cozy intimate cabin located 15 minutes drive away from Yellowknife in a private dark location. There will be a light midnightsnack of fresh local fish chowder, fresh bannock, tea, coffee, and hot chocolate. There are a limited number of camera tripods which are available to share and there is a generator, so power is available to charge batteries. There is an outhouse for the washroom, which is heated. Return to your hotel around 1:00 am.
Overnight: Yellowknife
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
-
Day 3: Yellowknife, NWT
An easy morning and then on today’s trip we will drive the highways of northern Canada and look for North America’s biggest buffalo (Wood Bison) and other wildlife! Our Indigenous guides will talk about the animals, and the birds, and share stories about their culture. We will stop at other spots along the tour and take many cool photos. Back in Yellowknife, we have some time at leisure to explore more of Yellowknife or relax before tonight's dinner. After dinner, we will go Aurora hunting, as Yellowknife is the best place in the world to view Aurora! If the skies are clear, you have a 98% chance to see Aurora! However, if the skies are cloudy, the chances are low. We aim to increase our chances to see the aurora and go out and “hunt” for the aurora! When we reach a suitable viewing place, we park, and view and talk all about aurora, identify some stars in the Milky Way and maybe even see wildlife while driving from location to location! Each night we don’t exactly know where we are going, as it depends on the weather and the aurora, and where we go there is nothing but wilderness, wildlife, and Aurora. Depending upon weather conditions, we may choose to substitute our second or our last night’s Aurora viewing outings.
Overnight: Yellowknife
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
-
Day 4: Yellowknife, NWT
We have an easy morning after our previous late-night aurora hunting excursion and drive out to a lakeside camp that belongs to a local Dene Indigenous family. Here we will hear stories about how the dog teams have played an important role in the daily lives of both the Indigenous peoples and western settlers in the old days, and how they have helped people survive. The dogs were like family and are still treated the same way today. This excursion to interact with the dogs and the family is carried out in collaboration with an indigenous family business that wants to keep the cultural traditions and teachings that they have learned from their grandparents and has decided to share them with others in an enjoyable way. Through their winter dog sledding, they aim to promote respect for Indigenous culture and share the survival ways of people living in the cold subarctic areas. We return to Yellowknife for some free time and dinner before we head out to experience an authentic Indigenous aurora experience and spend an evening among the Dene people, with northern lights, storytelling, Dene history, and legends, traditional drumming, hand games demonstration, and samples of traditional foods such as local Great Slave Lake fish, and freshly made bannock. We travel by minivan (followed by a short 10-minute walk) to a Dene campsite on the shores of the Great Slave Lake near the village of Dettah and spend time in a cabin and teepees and comfortable seating for everyone.
Overnight: Yellowknife
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
-
Day 5: Depart Yellowknife, NWT
Our northern Canadian Yellowknife experience comes to an end this morning. Following breakfast, we will transfer to the airport for our return journey home.
Overnight: Yellowknife
Meals: Breakfast
CAD (does not include 5% tax)
Arrival and departure flights can be booked for any time on first and last day of the tour. Aurora Viewing happens late at night, typically between 11:00pm and 3:00am.
OUR KEY TO EARNING TRUST IS
Transparency
What’s Included
4 nights of 3.5–4 star hotel accommodation in Yellowknife (or best available property)- Expert Anderson Vacations Tour Leader throughout all 5 days
- All ground transportation by local, licensed operator (including aurora excursion transfers)
- 3 guided evening Aurora Borealis hunting excursions with a local aurora expert
- Full-day guided Yellowknife City Discovery tour (Legislative Assembly, Buffalo Airways, NWT Diamond Centre, Old Town & more)
- Indigenous-led Wood Bison & wildlife safari along the NWT highways
- Authentic Dene cultural evening: storytelling, drumming, hand games & traditional food on Great Slave Lake
- Dene sled dog family camp visit
- Meals included: 4 breakfasts, 1 lunch, and 4 dinners (including welcome dinner and midnight snacks on aurora nights)
- Use of camera tripods and power access for battery charging during aurora outings
What’s Not Included
Flights to/from Yellowknife (domestic and international — not included unless specified at booking)- 5% GST/provincial tax applied to the tour base rate
- Airport transfers (available at additional cost — ask your travel agent)
- Travel insurance — strongly recommended; contact us for a quote tailored to this itinerary
- Meals and beverages not listed in the itinerary
- Optional activities and attractions not specified in the tour program
- Discretionary gratuities: Tour Leader (CDN $7/person/day suggested) and driver (CDN $3–$4/person/day)
- Credit card processing fees where applicable
- Personal items, cold-weather clothing, and equipment (a packing list is provided upon booking)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Tour Questions
Booking & Flight Questions
Do you have more questions?
If you still have questions or need more information, feel free to ask! Simply fill out the form below, and our team will get back to you with the answers you need
Ask A Questionor
YOU CAN CALL US AT1-866-814-7378
An unforgettable journey awaits you
Embark on a travel experience that will stay with you forever. We offer a blend of culture, adventure, and tranquility, ensuring every moment is filled with wonder. Whether you’re seeking thrill or relaxation, we create journeys that are truly unforgettable.
The journey Begins
-
Day 1: Arrive in Yellowknife, NWT
Yellowknife is one of the best places to view one of Earth's greatest natural wonders, the Aurora Borealis, also known as the Northern Lights. This is possible because the area experiences more clear nights than other northern locations - amazing Aurora displays are possible on over 240 nights each year. After arrival and transfer to the hotel, there will be time to relax and explore your immediate neighborhood before an evening briefing session and welcome dinner.. (Dinner provided if arriving before 7:00 pm)
Overnight: Yellowknife
Meals: Dinner
-
Day 2: Yellowknife, NWT
We begin our time in Yellowknife with a guided tour of the NWT Legislative Assembly Building, where you will learn about our consensus-style, non-partisan government, one of only a few in left Canada. Following the Legislative Building, we will make our way to the site of Giant Mine. Rich in the history of Yellowknife’s gold mining days. There is an outdoor museum available to view. When we make a quick stop at YKEA and look for local treasures! Next, we drive to Buffalo Airway’s home of the popular TV series, Ice Pilots with the Star of the show being Buffalo Joe McBryan, owner of the largest DC 3 ‘s and DC 4’s in North America. We will visit the hangar filled with vintage aircraft. These are propeller-operated WW2 legendary aircraft. We return to the downtown core and stop in at the NWT Diamond Centre which showcases diamonds from two of NWT local mines. Next, we drive to The Old Town / Latham Island and N’dilo. We will first visit Ragged Ass Road, the street immortalized by Tom Cochrane on his third album by the same name.We continue our tour with a stop at Yellowknife’s first bank (Bank of Toronto) a privately owned, historic log cabin. Next is a photo stop at the Bush Pilot’s monument, Yellowknife’s most popular lookout thatrises above Old Town, providing a stupendous view over Great Slave Lake, Back Bay and the northern reaches of the city. The monument is high up on “The Rock,” and is accessed via a winding staircase that will take you to the top. It is dedicated to the bush pilots and engineers whose lives were lost as they flew the wilderness skies of the Northwest Territories. Finally, we stop at Weaver and Devore, Yellowknife’s first Trading Store and a local carver’s shop. Local artists will be invited to showcase their artwork. The tour ends at the Visitor Centre where you can get your Yellowknife pin and your North of 60 Certificate. We visit the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre, a museum that chronicles Aboriginal and European history in the North and features environmental exhibits. After dinner, we will head out for our first aurora viewing experience in a cozy intimate cabin located 15 minutes drive away from Yellowknife in a private dark location. There will be a light midnightsnack of fresh local fish chowder, fresh bannock, tea, coffee, and hot chocolate. There are a limited number of camera tripods which are available to share and there is a generator, so power is available to charge batteries. There is an outhouse for the washroom, which is heated. Return to your hotel around 1:00 am.
Overnight: Yellowknife
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
-
Day 3: Yellowknife, NWT
An easy morning and then on today’s trip we will drive the highways of northern Canada and look for North America’s biggest buffalo (Wood Bison) and other wildlife! Our Indigenous guides will talk about the animals, and the birds, and share stories about their culture. We will stop at other spots along the tour and take many cool photos. Back in Yellowknife, we have some time at leisure to explore more of Yellowknife or relax before tonight's dinner. After dinner, we will go Aurora hunting, as Yellowknife is the best place in the world to view Aurora! If the skies are clear, you have a 98% chance to see Aurora! However, if the skies are cloudy, the chances are low. We aim to increase our chances to see the aurora and go out and “hunt” for the aurora! When we reach a suitable viewing place, we park, and view and talk all about aurora, identify some stars in the Milky Way and maybe even see wildlife while driving from location to location! Each night we don’t exactly know where we are going, as it depends on the weather and the aurora, and where we go there is nothing but wilderness, wildlife, and Aurora. Depending upon weather conditions, we may choose to substitute our second or our last night’s Aurora viewing outings.
Overnight: Yellowknife
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
-
Day 4: Yellowknife, NWT
We have an easy morning after our previous late-night aurora hunting excursion and drive out to a lakeside camp that belongs to a local Dene Indigenous family. Here we will hear stories about how the dog teams have played an important role in the daily lives of both the Indigenous peoples and western settlers in the old days, and how they have helped people survive. The dogs were like family and are still treated the same way today. This excursion to interact with the dogs and the family is carried out in collaboration with an indigenous family business that wants to keep the cultural traditions and teachings that they have learned from their grandparents and has decided to share them with others in an enjoyable way. Through their winter dog sledding, they aim to promote respect for Indigenous culture and share the survival ways of people living in the cold subarctic areas. We return to Yellowknife for some free time and dinner before we head out to experience an authentic Indigenous aurora experience and spend an evening among the Dene people, with northern lights, storytelling, Dene history, and legends, traditional drumming, hand games demonstration, and samples of traditional foods such as local Great Slave Lake fish, and freshly made bannock. We travel by minivan (followed by a short 10-minute walk) to a Dene campsite on the shores of the Great Slave Lake near the village of Dettah and spend time in a cabin and teepees and comfortable seating for everyone.
Overnight: Yellowknife
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
-
Day 5: Depart Yellowknife, NWT
Our northern Canadian Yellowknife experience comes to an end this morning. Following breakfast, we will transfer to the airport for our return journey home.
Overnight: Yellowknife
Meals: Breakfast
CAD (does not include 5% tax)
Arrival and departure flights can be booked for any time on first and last day of the tour. Aurora Viewing happens late at night, typically between 11:00pm and 3:00am.
OUR KEY TO EARNING TRUST IS
Transparency
What’s Included
- 4 nights of 3.5–4 star hotel accommodation in Yellowknife (or best available property)
- Expert Anderson Vacations Tour Leader throughout all 5 days
- All ground transportation by local, licensed operator (including aurora excursion transfers)
- 3 guided evening Aurora Borealis hunting excursions with a local aurora expert
- Full-day guided Yellowknife City Discovery tour (Legislative Assembly, Buffalo Airways, NWT Diamond Centre, Old Town & more)
- Indigenous-led Wood Bison & wildlife safari along the NWT highways
- Authentic Dene cultural evening: storytelling, drumming, hand games & traditional food on Great Slave Lake
- Dene sled dog family camp visit
- Meals included: 4 breakfasts, 1 lunch, and 4 dinners (including welcome dinner and midnight snacks on aurora nights)
- Use of camera tripods and power access for battery charging during aurora outings
What’s Not Included
- Flights to/from Yellowknife (domestic and international — not included unless specified at booking)
- 5% GST/provincial tax applied to the tour base rate
- Airport transfers (available at additional cost — ask your travel agent)
- Travel insurance — strongly recommended; contact us for a quote tailored to this itinerary
- Meals and beverages not listed in the itinerary
- Optional activities and attractions not specified in the tour program
- Discretionary gratuities: Tour Leader (CDN $7/person/day suggested) and driver (CDN $3–$4/person/day)
- Credit card processing fees where applicable
- Personal items, cold-weather clothing, and equipment (a packing list is provided upon booking)
Get Full Itinerary with all includes and exclusions
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Tour Questions
Booking & Flight Questions
Do you have more questions?
If you still have questions or need more information, feel free to ask! Simply fill out the form below, and our team will get back to you with the answers you need
Ask A Questionor
YOU CAN CALL US AT1-866-814-7378
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Make this trip matter and reduce your carbon print.
As a responsible tour operator, we believe in creating experiences that not only enrich your life but also contribute to the well-being of our planet and its communities. That’s why we will be planting one tree for every passenger that travels with us.
