Canada
Canada spans an enormous range of aurora-viewing latitudes, from the Rocky Mountain parks of Alberta in the south to the Arctic tundra of the Northwest Territories in the north. The country’s sheer size, low population density and vast stretches of uninhabited wilderness mean dark skies are never far away, and several Canadian locations rank among the best in the world for Northern Lights viewing.
Yellowknife, directly beneath the auroral oval, is one of the most reliable aurora destinations anywhere, with displays visible on around 240 nights per year. Whitehorse in the Yukon and Churchill in Manitoba offer their own distinctive experiences, hot springs under the lights and polar bears respectively. Further south, the Dark Sky Preserves of Jasper and Banff in the Canadian Rockies deliver dramatic mountain-backed displays during strong geomagnetic storms.
Canada’s aurora season is long, running from late August through to April in northern locations. Dog sledding, snowmobile tours, ice fishing and Indigenous cultural experiences add depth to any Northern Lights trip.
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Banff
51°10'42"N, 115°34'14"W
Aurora probability in Banff: 0%
Banff, in the Canadian Rockies at 51°N, is a Dark Sky Preserve where strong geomagnetic storms produce spectacular aurora displays above glacial lakes and mountain peaks. Further south than most aurora destinations, but dramatic when conditions align.
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Churchill
58°46'4"N, 94°10'10"W
Aurora probability in Churchill: 1%
Churchill, on Hudson Bay in northern Manitoba at 59°N, is the polar bear capital of the world and a superb aurora destination. Its extreme remoteness and zero light pollution produce spectacularly dark skies beneath the auroral oval.
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Edmonton
53°32'39"N, 113°29'27"W
Aurora probability in Edmonton: 0%
Edmonton, Alberta’s capital at 53°N, is one of North America’s most northerly major cities. Flat prairie horizons and nearby Dark Sky Preserves offer good aurora viewing, and the city serves as a gateway to Jasper and Canada’s north.
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Jasper
52°52'24"N, 117°57'15"W
Aurora probability in Jasper: 0%
Jasper, at 53°N in the Canadian Rockies, sits within the world’s largest Dark Sky Preserve. Its remote location, dark skies and mountain lake reflections make it one of the best aurora viewing spots in the Rockies.
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Whitehorse
60°43'10"N, 135°3'8"W
Aurora probability in Whitehorse: 2%
Whitehorse, capital of Canada’s Yukon Territory at 61°N, combines dry interior skies with easy access to dark viewing locations. Takhini Hot Springs, boreal forest and gold rush heritage make it a distinctive base for Northern Lights viewing in western Canada.
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Yellowknife
62°27'14"N, 114°22'18"W
Aurora probability in Yellowknife: 3%
Yellowknife, capital of Canada’s Northwest Territories at 62°N, sits directly beneath the auroral oval. A dry continental climate and around 240 aurora-active nights per year make it one of the most reliable Northern Lights destinations in the world.
Book an amazing adventure in Canada
Explore this selection of tours and activities to make the most of your visit to Canada.
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Skagway Shore Excursion: Full-Day Tour of the Yukon
4.9 (886)
6 hours 30 minutes From £131.22
Enjoy your port time in Skagway with a full-day shore excursion by mini-bus into the Yukon, Canada's westernmost territory. Explore some of North America's most stunning wilderness, and stop at Wild Adventure Yukon for lunch. Lunch is BBQ chicken with sides of roasted potato, coleslaw, rolls, homemade donuts, tea/coffee (Vegetarian/Vegan/Gluten free option of lentil curry is available as alternate). Included are a Wildlife Taxidermy museum with over 100 Yukon and Arctic species and recreations of Ice age animals. Historical Gold Rush and Canadian Mountie display also included. Onsite is a sled dog camp where you can see the huskies preparing for the Yukon Quest race. There is also a petting farm with animals to interact with and gift shop. Be prepared to stand in awe of natural beauty of southeast Alaska, British Columbia and Yukon Territory on this Skagway sightseeing tour. All passengers must bring a current valid passport (and/or USA/Canada Visa if required by your nationality)
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Arctic Day: Carcross & Southern Lakes Hiking Tour | full day
5.0 (1)
6 hours 30 minutes From £159.75
Starting in Whitehorse, we take the South Klondike Highway where the mountains rise as we approach Carcross and the Southern Lakes region. On the way we will admire Emerald Lake, called "Rainbow Lake” from the locals due to its sensational coloration. We visit Carcross, a charming lakeshore village teeming with First Nations and gold-rush history. On a moderate hiking tour on scenic trails we will be overlooking the grand Southern Lakes. We visit the smallest desert in the world - the Carcross desert.
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Arctic Day: Yukon Wildlife Half Day Viewing Tour
4.3 (16)
3 hours From £102.49
We will visit the Yukon Wildlife Preserve where you’ll have the opportunity to view and photograph wildlife in its natural habitat. Dalls sheep, bighorn sheep, mountain goats, mule deer, wapiti (elk), woodland caribou, wood bison, musk-ox, moose, arctic fox and even lynx can all be seen on this tour. It's a photographer's and naturalist's dream to see Yukon's wildlife up close and you will be in the front-row to learn about wildlife living year-round in the True North.
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Day-Trip To Skagway - Gateway to the Klondike Goldrush
4.6 (10)
9 - 10 hours From £205.56
Follow the footsteps of the early prospectors of Klondike Goldrush. Experience a scenic drive from Whitehorse to Skagway, passing Emerald Lake, Carcross Desert, the Village of Carcross and White Pass. Enjoy the spectacular scenery on the way to the Pacific Ocean and listen to the stories from the experienced local tour guide. Please note: Some attractions are only available seasonally and might not be entirely accessible within specified times.
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Arctic Day: Aurora Viewing Tour | late night
4.3 (82)
4 hours 30 minutes From £96.77
As one of the most sought-after Northern experiences, a Yukon vacation is only complete with a viewing of the aurora borealis cascading across the Yukon night sky. We invite you to join us at our custom built Aurora viewing location, far from the lights of the city, so you can experience the Northern Lights for yourself – and create your own legends.
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Yukon Gold Experience feat. Emerald Lake & Carcross
5.0 (18)
5 - 6 hours From £154.03
This half day excursion is packed with some of the best sights in the Yukon! We start by making a stop at a viewpoint over Miles Canyon, a crux of the stampeders journey from Alaska to the Klondike. From there we head down the South Klondike Highway to Emerald Lake, then onto the Carcross Desert, the smallest desert in the world. After a quick orientation around Carcross you will have some free time to explore the artisan stores, or walk the beach on Bennett Lake. On the way back to Whitehorse we make a stop and Caribou Crossing for you to try your hand at gold panning, and you can keep anything you find! Oh, and they also have puppies. Little fluffy husky puppies that love to be petted! This day trip really packs in the best of the Yukon, you won't be disappointed!
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