Yellowknife Aurora Hunting Tours by Bus
Recommended by 100% of travelers
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Yellowknife, Canada
- 4 to 5 hours (approx.)
- Pickup offered
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Increase your chances of seeing the northern lights while in Canada’s Northern Territories on this aurora borealis hunting tour led by local experts that goes deep into the wilderness. Enjoy convenient hotel pickup, then sit back in heated comfort as your guide heads to locations with the best changes of seeing the lights.
- Visit multiple locations to increase your changes of seeing the northern lights
- Safety a priority: Guides are trained in wilderness first aid
- Convenient hotel pickup and drop-off in Yellowknife for seamless logistics
- Includes snacks and professional photo of you enjoying the aurora
What's Included
- Shared Transportation and Shared Tour to Aurora highlights
- Snacks
- Tour guide
- Professional photo taking by us of you and aurora!
- meals
Meeting and Pickup
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
Start time.9:00 pm
Itinerary
1
Yellowknife River Territorial Park Day Use Area
1 hour • Admission Ticket Free
2
Madeline Lake Territorial Park
1 hour • Admission Ticket Free
3
Pontoon Lake
2 hours • Admission Ticket Free
4
Prelude Lake Territorial Park
1 hour • Admission Ticket Free
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Near public transportation
- Infants must sit on laps
- Most travelers can participate
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 28 travelers
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Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
5.0
based on 58 reviews
Sort by: Most insightful
It was great experience. Guide was so nice and found good place to see the aurora. And the aurora was so amazing.
Amazing experience! We were lucky enough to see a beautiful dancing Aurora, and it was truly unforgettable. Huge thanks to our guide Luke for his effort and for making the night so special. Highly recommend this tour if you’re visiting Yellowknife!
Was well planned and executed! Luke is a fantastic guide. Dress warmly and have fun. Highly recommend!
I visited Yellowknife in early August, which I knew was very early in the season for seeing the Northern Lights. Unfortunately, it was cloudy almost all day during my trip, and I honestly thought that I might not be able to see them at all. I booked a 2-night aurora hunting tour, and I’m so glad I did.
On the first night, the sky was too cloudy and dark, so seeing the aurora was basically impossible. But I was genuinely impressed by our guide, Luke. He treated us so warmly, made the night fun with a little snack time, and kept chasing every possible opening in the sky until the very end. Even though we didn’t see the aurora that night, spending the time with him was a great experience in itself.
The second night was my last chance, and unfortunately, it was cloudy again. At that point, I had almost given up on seeing the Northern Lights. I was just enjoying talking with Luke. But then he drove about an hour away from the city, and incredibly, he found a clear sky!
We finally met the Northern Lights and they were absolutely breathtaking. It felt even more special because of how difficult it had been to find a clear sky.
Soon, the clouds covered the sky again, and I was already completely satisfied. But Luke didn’t stop there. He kept looking for another open sky, and we ended up seeing another beautiful Northern Lights.
I honestly couldn’t believe how professional he was. He didn’t just take me on an aurora tour. He genuinely wanted me to experience the magic of the Northern Lights, and he never gave up.
Luke made my Yellowknife trip truly unforgettable. I’ll remember this experiences and his kindness forever.
Amazing experience, personalized, heartfelt and highly recommended. All worked very well and we felt very well received and supported by the Viator team and the guide Luke.
It was a really nice tour 😄 I saw the northern lights and the guide was super friendly! It was supposed to be a bus, but since there were only four of us including me, we went in a minivan instead. I didn’t mind at all it was nice having a small group
Hunting down the Aurora is an exercise in patience albeit a cold one! Our guide Luke was both gracious and friendly and knew exactly where to go to find the lights. At first I was a disappointed in what I was seeing but our last stop made up for it. Seeing the night sky alive in green and red was quite something. As a note, you can’t see the colors without a camera. The naked eye just sees white cloud like shapes that take time to build and then the color action starts. Prime viewing time is 10pm to 2am so during the winter months including April be prepared to dress warmly paying particular attention to your feet. You will be out standing on frozen lakes for periods of time and running shoes wont cut it. Hot chocolate and snacks were provided. Hotel pick up/drop off included. well worth it for a unique experience.
Awesome seeing the aurora on our first attempt. Our guide Luke was very helpful and patient. Certainly knows a lot about the science behind the northern lights.
Luke was so enthusiastic, warm, friendly and immediately memorized everybody’s names! He was very responsible and responsive so we didn’t have to get nervous if we are not in the right spot. The bus was warm; the hot chocolate was the best I tried in my life (honest!). The aurora was a bit pale and he was honest about it so we didn’t have our expectations high. We decided to try our luck again, booked again the next day (should I say he walked an extra mile to accommodate us) and OMG. The experience of a lifetime. The aurora was breathtaking and Luke took wonderful pictures of us. My kid and I keep bragging about the tour. I highly recommend it!
Luke was a great guide in the aurora hunting/chasing tour. Prompt pickup with great knowledge of places to visit, even allowing detours to get better view of the lights. He also took pictures for us, which he gave to us as soon as the tour ended. I would highly recommend and I kind of need to know the recipe of his hot chocolate!
This tour was great! Luke is lovely, communication is clear regarding hotel pick up time, the bus is comfortable, and there is great value for the price compared to other similar tours. Luke brought us to great spots to view the aurora, and took great pictures for us. It’s a laid back and relaxing atmosphere, we got on and off the bus a bunch so we could warm up before going out again. We had our 2 kids, 1 age 8 who slept some of the time, and our 11 year old. Hot chocolate was a nice touch. We had booked 2 days in a row with Luke before we came and are glad we did. We got lucky and the second night was spectacular! Thanks, Luke, for a great trip!
This is a small group and Luke is fabulous! He took us to where he thought there would be lights and not necessarily a preset place. He was flexible and would stop if there was a great display going on. He also sent us back outside of the small van and let us know when the lights became active. I would’ve done this a number of nights had I known how good it was.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Thanks for the kinds words.
General information about auroras. Enjoy the nature and what God give to all his people.
Every body came to get the chance to see the aurora.
Luke was an excellent guide for aura hunting. He took us out to spots that weren't crowded with other buses, explained the history and culture of the areas we were driving through, showed us how to hunt for the auras on our own, and took as many photos for us as we wanted.
Despite a very poor forecast that night, this tour turned out to be an unforgettable experience. Most other tours were unable to find the aurora, but Luke’s knowledge, persistence, and incredible effort truly saved the night. He continuously monitored the cloud movement and drove farther out, carefully timing clear breaks as the clouds shifted downward.
Thanks to his determination and strong aurora hunting instincts, we were rewarded with beautiful sightings later in the night. There was no rushing at any stop, and everyone had plenty of time to enjoy the moment and take photos. Luke’s calm confidence and dedication made all the difference, and we left feeling incredibly grateful for such a memorable night.
Response from Host, Jan 2026
Thanks for the kind words 🙏
This was the second night of aurora hunting for our family. Our operator proved his skill the first night, but it can be hit or miss. Our prayers were answered because the second night was excellent. We stayed out until about 1:30, and he saved the best for last. It was a really awesome experience, and I’ll let the pictures say the rest.
The operator has good communications. He told us what his plan was, was responsive to people’s needs and friendly. Also, he has good Aurora hunting instincts. He got some excellent Aurora pictures and shared them with everyone in addition to our own pictures. The refreshments were pretty basic. Hot chocolate and cookies on this occasion. Rest stops not available on the East side, so plan accordingly.
Tina is an excellent guide who took us aurora hunting in Yellowknife. She was very kind and patiently helped everyone on the tour take photos using a high-quality camera. We first travelled by bus to several different locations in search of clear skies. Afterwards, we visited a cozy lounge where snacks, hot chocolate, and washrooms were available for a short rest. Then we headed out to the lakeside to watch the aurora.
Although the aurora index was low that night, we were still lucky enough to see the lights dancing across the sky. It was a magical experience and truly a highlight of our trip. Tina was also generous in sharing some of the beautiful photos she had taken with us after the tour.
Our guide was excellent. On a cloudy evening he was consistently searching aurora. We went to various locations in our hunt, mainly on property. Nice lodge with snacks and kitchen with drink for us. Good aurora close to evenings end and we stayed until all had pictures and clouds came back in around 1:30. Great experience.
That was the cloudy day, we didn’t expect to see the light, but the guide made it happen. We saw the light in 3 stops and only our tour in that spots.
Also, he sent all the pictures he took at the end of the tour. He was so cheer and friendly. I would recommend this tour.
Response from Host, Dec 2025
Thanks for the kind words 🙏
Luke was a great guide and was very enthusiastic and welcoming. He picked us up right from our hotel and we drove for 4 hours trying to find a clear view of the lights. Although we were not successful in seeing the lights on the night we went, we did see some stars and still had a fun time. Luke even made everyone hot chocolate and brought cookies which we appreciated because it was very cold. We hope to come back to Yellowknife one day and do another tour.
Response from Host, Dec 2025
Thanks for the kind words 🙏
It depends pretty much on forecast but Luke was exceptional, he is a true northern lights hunter !!!
Response from Host, Dec 2025
Thanks for the kind words 🙏
We had a wonderful night. The weather was clear and there was plenty of activity in the sky to be seen. Luke was a wonderful tour guide who knew the area well. He was able to drive us to lookout points which optimised our view of the Aurora Borealis. He took wonderful photos for us and happy to answer all our questions. Overall we were totally satisfied with this tour.
Luke is very friendly and knows some great spots for aurora viewing, away from the crowds. I’m sure you’ll have a wonderful time with Luke and enjoy his small, friendly tour.
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Thank you so much for your kind words and support!
Luke was an exceptional guide and made the evening a wonderful experience even though nature was not cooperative and we did not see the Aurora.
Luke was an excellent guide and really made our tour special. He knows where to find great places to see the Aurora B.
Response from Host, Feb 2025
Thank you!
家族で参加しましたが、バスは広くて快適で、とても親切でした。英語は少ししかわかりませんが、なんとかなりました。
晴れているところを求めて、かなり遠くまで走ってくれました。
プレリュードレイクよりさらに東まで行っていたと思います。
帰り道に、とても大きなオーロラがバスの中で見えました。すぐ近くに止めてくれたので、皆素敵な写真が撮れました。
参加者の写真も彼のスマホで撮ってくれて、後からメールに送ってくれました。
マシュマロ入りホットチョコレートもおいしかったです。
ありがとう！
Fantastic!!! I've never experience that before! So much good experience and fantastic Aurora, hard-working driver guide will never forget! Full-fledged.
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Response from Host, Jan 2026
Thanks for the kind words.
Merci Luke pour cette belle excursion ! Malheureusement nous n’avons pas pu voir d’aurores car le ciel était couvert mais Luke a fait tout son possible pour qu’on en voit et nous a partagé son expérience de vie dans le grand nord !
Je recommande cette excursion les yeux fermés !
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$66.62
per personWas $70.12(-5%)
up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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Yellowknife Aurora Hunting Tours by Bus
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