Board a heated coach and chase the northern lights across lakes and dark pullouts around Yellowknife. This mobile aurora viewing tour combines expert guidance, hot drinks and multiple stops to maximize your chances of seeing the aurora.
More ways to explore the area's outdoor wonders
You step onto the coach as the town exhales winter — breath fogging and headlights cleaving low clouds — and the driver eases away from the sodium glow of Yellowknife. The road unspools toward quiet lakes and black shorelines; each stop is chosen for dark skies and water that dares the aurora to perform. On clear nights the lights streak, fold and ripple above, and lakes catch that light like a second sky.
Difficulty
easy
Duration
3–4 hours
Fitness Level
Minimal fitness required; mostly sitting on coach with short easy walks at stops
Wildlife
History
Yellowknife takes its name from the Yellowknives Dene, whose presence and trade routes predate the city’s mining boom; the region’s geology is marked by glacial scouring and the shoreline of Great Slave Lake.
Conservation
Minimize light pollution by using red headlamps and avoid driving onto unfrozen ice; pack out all trash and follow guide instructions to protect fragile tundra and shorelines.
Reserve your spot on the Yellowknife Tours - Aurora by bus today and enjoy a trusted, highly rated experience designed to help you make the most of your adventure.
Dress in layers
Temperatures on late-night stops can fall dramatically—use insulating base layers, a down jacket and windproof shell.
Bring a tripod
A stable tripod and a camera with manual exposure will let you capture long aurora trails during stops.
Charge devices & pack spare batteries
Cold reduces battery life quickly; keep spares warm inside your clothing until use.
Listen to the guide
Drivers pick locations based on real-time sky and road conditions—follow instructions for safe photo spots near lakes.
Insulated winter jacket
Keeps you warm during prolonged exposure at night while stops are made
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Waterproof winter boots
Provides traction and warmth for standing on icy shorelines or packed snow
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Camera with tripod
Enables long-exposure shots of the aurora and reduces blur in low light
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Headlamp with red mode
Hands-free light for walking to viewing spots without ruining night vision
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