Multicolored northern lights (Aurora borealis) on Canadian forest. (Photo by Sylvie Corriveau on Shutterstock)

YELLOWKNIFE, Northwest Territories — Seeing the Northern Lights is on the bucket lists of countless people worldwide. However, picking the right place to visit, the right time of year to go, and even the right moon cycle can make this trip challenging to plan. Don’t worry, I did the homework for you and found a way to save lots of money at the same time!

If you’ve read StudyFinds’ 2024 guide on the best places to see the Northern Lights, you noticed one country that didn’t make the top five, Canada. Well, I’m here to say that it’s time to update those aurora viewing recommendations. This is especially true if you live in the United States.

In a single week, I was able to see the Northern Lights multiple times, stayed in a comfortable hotel in the city center, and did it all without breaking the bank.

Let’s break down why Yellowknife, in Canada’s Northwest Territories, is my personal pick for viewing auroras in 2025 and what you need to know when booking a trip to see the Northern Lights.

Canada is international travel with all the comforts of home

For American tourists looking for a little familiarity as they travel abroad, Canada is an ideal place to visit. From Toronto to Edmonton to Yellowknife, our neighbors to the north enjoy the same cultural melting pot you’ll find in most U.S. cities.

There is no language barrier. Nearly everyone you’ll encounter speaks English, and many Canadians are likely multilingual. French is the other dominant language spoken across the border.

An American tourist will have no trouble blending in when they go shopping, sightseeing, or dine at a local restaurant.

What makes Yellowknife ideal for auroras?

Just like Fairbanks, Alaska, which did make our experts’ list in 2024, Yellowknife is in a unique position near the North Pole, which makes aurora viewing an almost certainty on clear nights.

“The city and surrounding area are directly beneath the aurora oval, which is a halo-like ring found around both of the earth’s magnetic poles. Although there are other places just below the aurora oval, the Yellowknife area is the best because of its relatively flat topography, coupled with few geographical obstructions. This allows for a higher percentage of clear weather, particularly in the winter, and therefore a much higher viewing probability,” according to the website for Aurora Village, one of Yellowknife’s local tour companies.

On my recent trip to Yellowknife, I signed up for a three-night aurora-viewing adventure. On two of those nights, the sky lit up with a brilliant display of Northern Lights. As the old song goes, “Two out of three ain’t bad.”

The exchange rate will save you a fortune

This is what puts a city like Yellowknife above a similar trip to Alaska. While going through customs and border security checks can be annoying, American tourists will find a pleasant reward after crossing into Canada: a much stronger dollar.

As of Feb. 9, $1 Canadian is worth just 70 cents USD. So, if you were to create a $1,000 budget for a week-long trip to see auroras in Canada, you would actually have over $1,429 in Canadian currency.

It’s important to note that if you intend to carry cash, you should make this currency exchange before your trip. Canadian businesses and all airports in the country accept their local currency, not the American dollar.

Personally, I would recommend carrying cash if you’re an aurora hunter on a budget. It’ll allow you to better plan out how much money you have left and how much you have to splurge each day on food, travel, and souvenirs.

5 tips for planning a Northern Lights vacation

1. Pick the right month.

Winter is prime time for viewing the Northern Lights. According to the local guides in Yellowknife, the annual window lasts from September through March, with those two months in particular being your best chance to see auroras regularly.

“The weather is pretty much stable, and it’s not too cold. We still have -20 degree Celsius [temperatures] in March, but the weather is not going to change that often,” says Areum Kim, a guide with Aurora Village for the last four years.

2. Avoid a full moon.

When it comes to seeing the Northern Lights, darkness is your best friend. A clear and still night is key for the colors to come forward. That means even the light of the Moon can affect your view.

“If my friends are coming here, I would say, ‘Avoid a full moon.’ That’s the only thing we know before you make a reservation. We cannot control the weather, so even if it says it’ll be a clear night, we won’t know until we’re here. But a full moon, we can see it on the lunar calendar,” Kim tells StudyFinds.

3. Make sure to pick a tour that speaks your preferred language.

If you’re selecting a guided tour to see the Northern Lights, don’t assume they speak English without checking first.

Canada has a very diverse population. In Yellowknife, a large portion of the city’s population is Asian, with many local businesses representing Chinese, Japanese, and Vietnamese cultures.

In fact, the vast majority of the tourists during my stay in Yellowknife were Japanese citizens, taking part in strictly non-English tours. So, make sure you sign up with the right tour guide before stepping onto your tour bus.

4. Dress properly. Don’t get frostbite while playing with your smartphone!

No matter where you go to see auroras, from Canada to Norway, it’s going to be cold. Really cold!

On my recent trip, the temperature dropped down to -21 degrees Fahrenheit. Many local tour companies actually offer visitors Arctic clothing (for an additional fee). Whether you opt for this extra gear or not, winter gloves won’t protect you if you take them off to use your smartphone.

“In this kind of weather, do not take your gloves off,” Kim urges. “These days, everyone has a good smartphone, so they’re excited to take the gloves off, even if they have the touchable gloves.”

5. Stay positive. Your results may vary.

Regardless of how well you plan, trying to see the Northern Lights is a gamble.

On this particular trip, I booked to stay in Yellowknife for two extra days, just in case I struck out during my three-night guided tour. It turned out that the auroras appeared during those first three nights, making the trip a smashing success.

However, the next two nights, it snowed in the Northwest Territories, making it impossible for anyone who went out on those days to see the lights. Simply put, there’s no guarantee a Northern Lights trip will end with actually seeing the Northern Lights.

The best way to increase your chances is to plan well, expect it to take multiple days to see an aurora, and dress warmly — aurorae often appear after midnight when temperatures drop to their lowest.