4 days ago
Yellowknife, Canada is the best spot to see the Northern Lights says this tour guide
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Joe Bailey, owner of North Star Adventures, reveals why visiting Canada's Northwest Territories is a must.
Joe Bailey: owner of North Star Adventures
My favourite destination is…
The Northwest Territories because of the Dehcho Region, home to the wild, free-roaming buffalo; the Dehcho, the Dene name for the Mackenzie River, which is the longest river in Canada at 1600 km; and the world-famous Nahanni National Park Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is also home to resilient, hospitable and genuine Indigenous people, communities and culture.
My favourite place…
To see the Northern Lights is Yellowknife, the capital of the Northwest Territories. Yellowknife offers the highest chance to see spectacular aurora borealis, more than any other place on Earth.
Aurora Borealis in the Northwest Territories, Yellowknife
The trick with aurora hunting is…
Knowing how to read the local weather patterns and the aurora forecasts. As an Indigenous person raised on the land by my grandparents, I was taught to read the weather so as to properly prepare for what was coming. This skill comes in handy for aurora hunting on cloudy nights.
One of the best places to stay is…
The Explorer Hotel, because they have the most experience in Yellowknife and, with top management looking after day-to-day operations, guests are treated to comfortable rooms and excellent professional service from their initial inquiry to check-out.
The Explorer Hotel
The best time to see…
The lights is summer, from August 15 to October 15. As the world's first aurora hunting tour company, founded in 2007, we have always said 'the warmer the weather, the better the aurora'. An aurora max year and solar max year, and the kp and Bz indexes (aurora activity indicators) don't matter here in Yellowknife. March and April are the third and fourth best months to also see the lights. On a clear night you can have a 98 per cent chance of seeing amazing aurora.
The one thing to know…
About Northern Lights viewing is you should always go with a local aurora hunting tour company. Unfortunately, there are many non-resident aurora tour companies and most do not know the weather systems or where to go other than the popular places. When you go with an aurora camp, you are in one location all night. With an aurora hunting tour company you will move around. This increases your chances to see the aurora, especially on cloudy nights.
Joe Bailey says you should always go with a local aurora hunting tour company
The people of…
The Northwest Territories are very genuine. We are the Dene people of the Dene Nation, living in Denendeh, meaning 'the land of the people' in Northwest Territories. Many of us in the smaller, often isolated, communities still live a traditional Dene on-the-land lifestyle. At North Star Adventures, our summer adventure tour packages include many culturally immersive experiences.
Make sure you never…
Choose a non-resident Northern Lights tour company. Support our local economy and choose legitimate companies run by full Northwest Territory residents.
Night skies over Yellowknife
If you go…
Make sure you familiarise yourself with the community you are going to, particularly adhering to and respecting cultural protocol. If you go aurora hunting with an Indigenous tour company, you will be properly educated on the culture and traditions. North Star Adventures tours are perfect for everyone because they are small group, personal tour experiences with local, Indigenous guides. They are 100 per cent Indigenous owned. You should definitely pack a camera to capture all your experiences. However, all of our tours and packages include free professional photos and videos too.
North Star Adventures is 100 per cent Indigenous owned
The best place to eat…
Is Bullock's Bistro, in Yellowknife. I always order the pan-fried pickerel (fish), but they also serve a fisherman's chowder lunch and buffalo steak. Copperhouse Eatery and Lounge, also in the capital, is a very close second, and I always order the blackened whitefish, which is a local species.
If you like adventure…
You should also book a traditional dog-sled ride with Tugáh Northern Experiences or North of 60 Aurora Adventures. Both companies are Indigenous, and offer small, personal tours.
Originally published as Why Yellowknife in Canada is the No.1 spot to see the Northern Lights
