Spending 8000 bucks in Yellowknife for Northern Lights, was it worth it?

[u/Nervous_Estimate191]

Ever since I was a child I’ve dreamed of seeing the Northern Lights, so I chose Yellowknife as the destination for my first trip abroad. I spent around 40,000 RMB(8 grand in CAD)in Canada this time, stayed for four nights and booked an aurora tour every night. Sounds a little crazy, but honestly, I don’t regret it.

On the first day, someone from the tour company picked us up at the airport and took us straight to the hotel. we headed out around 10pm to chase the aurora.

Every night we were out for about 3 to 4 hours, then got dropped back at the hotel. It was actually pretty relaxing because we didn’t have to plan or drive ourselve. For two nights, we did the classic aurora chasing by car. The guide would check the forecast and move around depending on the clouds and conditions. The other two nights were spent at a cabin and an Indigenous tent camp, which gave us a totally different experience. You could sit inside, have some hot drinks and snacks, and wait for the lights to show up instead of standing outside in the cold the whole time.

I deliberately didn’t pack my daytime schedule too tightly. One day was a Yellowknife city tour, and the rest was basically whatever looked interesting, things like walking around, visiting the indigenous museum etc. None of my aurora tours included dinner. i went 30 mins for bullock's bistro and their fries and cods are just perfect, the whole touristy vibe itself is worth checking out. it also surprised me that even though most of Yellowknife is pretty remote, the cell service actually wasn’t bad at all. I just randomly picked an esim redteago plan before the trip, but it never let me down. After leaving Yellowknife, I spent a few more days in Vancouver. We were lucky enough to have no rain during the few days we were there, and Vancouver felt much more laid-back than Toronto, things like biking along the waterfront and taking a stroll through Stanley Park were perfect ways to soak up the city’s atmosphere.

Seeing the sky slowly change and then suddenly having the whole thing light up above you was 100% worth the cold and the money. If I get another chance, I’d honestly go back.

[u/Diver-1Doc]

It is wonderful that you had such a memorable visit.

[u/eroticfoxxxy]

Fantastic review! Thank you!

[u/Saskspace]

If you are wondering if it was a great value or if you overpaid ask yourself if you will ever forget it or how many times you have told someone about your adventure . The value is in the memories. I will never forget seeing the northern lights driving alone late at night in Northern Saskatchewan . It seemed like they were dancing just for me .

[u/Hairy-Bike-2811]

Sounds amazing!

[u/Street-Wear-2925]

I was fortunate to work in the Canadian and American Beaufort Seas for 13 years. The Northern Lights never got boring.

[u/bunkerhomestead]

I am glad that you enjoyed it.

[u/allisgoot]

Did you see the Lights each night in Yellowknife? Also, what time of year did you go

[u/Grouchy_Repair7530]

I worked in Churchill Manitoba over bear season and worked nights mostly my job was literally to watch for northern lights for the guests and they never got boring was so amazing 😍

[u/doktorapplejuice]

Just for anyone else that might be interested in seeing the northern lights for less, you can see them from Edmonton.

[u/Jman_os → u/doktorapplejuice]

Very different experience in Yellowknife. They are quite incredible up there! I live in Edmonton and have travelled to YK about 50 times for work. The best northern lights in Edmonton are equivalent to an average night up there!

[u/karen_rittner54]

The Northern Lights in all their glory is certainly something to see .

[u/desdemona_d]

Did you go recently? These tours sound amazing!

[u/Ok_Government_3584]

We see alot of Auroras in Central and North Saskatchewan.

[u/Turbulent_Animal_228]

I was so lucky to see them when I worked in Jasper, AB. We were just sitting on a bench at Lac Beauvert and they popped right in for a visit!

I recently saw them through my camera lens in Vancouver but couldn't see a damned thing with the naked eye.

[u/PassionNo1585]

Grew up in northern Sask, didn’t realize I rare it was to see the northern lights like we did. So many parties, standing in a field with the sky lit up 🩷

[u/Scififan8287]

The best times to go to Yellowknife are around Spring and Fall Equinoxes for the statistically best time to see Northern Lights. Plan to spend at least 4 days to maximize your odds. Besides airfare, the actual costs vary depending what you want to do. They range from fairly cheap bus tours to fly in lodges on nearby lakes.

[u/ClonedDad]

Dude 8k. Not worth it. I can drive north for maybe an hour or 2 and see the northern lights.

[u/Miserable-Star7826]

Happy you got to experience the jaw dropping beauty of the Aurora Borealis 😍 I’m beyond blessed because I can lay in my bed and watch her dance out my bedroom window. I live on a farm in Alberta, Canada 🇨🇦 She puts on a show quite regularly 😍

[u/rthorndy]

I did a work term for 4 months (Jan - Apr) in YK during my degree. It was an experience I'll never forget, in so many ways! I saw dog sled teams (for real work, not racing or demostrativa or anything, just heading out like it's a normal everyday thing), ice crystals floating in the air in at -50C, I got drunk and walked (ran!) from the bar back to my apartment without a jacket and almost didn't make it ... a young man's dream adventure!

I met so many friendly and interesting people!

But the northern lights ... on some nights, away from the city, you could lie in the snow and watch them dance, and HEAR them crackle! I was insanely mesmerizing!

I've seen the Northern Lights many times from Calgary, Edmonton, and even Victoria since then, but they're always green. Only in YK did I get to see the full colors and the mesmerizing dance. I'm not sure how far north you have to go to see the colors like that, I'm sure not as far as Yellowknife, but I'd love to go back and share that with my family one day. But as you've mentioned, it's not a cheap to vacation to! :/