We invite you to Mother Nature's spectacular fare-well to summer and visit Yukon at a unique time of the year, that brings together two of the most spectacular phenomena in nature: Aurora Borealis and the fiery autumn colors of the tundra.

Yukoners know that autumn can be the best time of year for viewing northern lights. Spend crisp days strolling Whitehorse's riverside trails wrapped in fall colour. Visit museums and taste local cuisine. At night, enjoy the fresh air and perfect conditions for aurora viewing.

First you might see a hint of neon colour in the starry sky, then a jagged burst of green, and soon you're transfixed by an ethereal display of shimmering aurora borealis. Depending on auroral activity and cloud conditions, you could spend hours watching with rapt attention as the magical show unfolds overhead. Whether you're fascinated by the science or thrilled by the opportunity to photograph the aurora, the sight of dancing lights in the night sky nourishes all souls.

Aurora forecasting technology also helps increase the odds and Tourism Yukon have developed a tool at: http://travelyukon.com/Plan/Travel-Info/Aurora-Forecast to help predict when you can see this amazing phenomenon. With scientific data collected from the Space Weather Predicition Center, we're able to forecast the aurora every 15 minutes.


Day 1 – Bright Lights, Northern City

Settle in to your hotel, cabin or B&B, then soak in Whitehorse's bustling Main Street atmosphere. Enjoy dinner at one of our fine downtown restaurants. You might want to squeeze in a nap because this will be your first night watching for the northern lights. Join a scheduled aurora tour or explore our dark skies on your own.


Day 2 – Parade of Colour

Southern Yukon is awash in fall colour, so take a scenic day trip south to Carcross or west to Haines Junction. Try some gentle hiking, watch for wildlife and explore local visitor centres and museums. Get ready for another night of northern lights viewing.


Day 3 – Discover Yukon Arts and Culture

Late nights are part of the aurora experience, so enjoy a slow start in a café. Wander through Whitehorse galleries, visit the Kwanlin Dün Cultural Centre, and keep an eye out for a special piece of Yukon art to take home. Tonight you might even catch another glimpse of the aurora.


Did you know?
The Northern Lights, or Aurora Borealis, are caused by huge explosions on the surface of the sun that send out streams of charged particles that interact with the Earth's upper atmosphere. These reactions occur 60 to 80 miles above the Earth's surface, so it doesn't make any sense that they can be heard. Still, many people report hearing a crackling or rustling noise when they see the lights. It could be that the sound is created near the ground by electrical phenomena associated with the aurora. It could also be that watchers are being affected by psychological or physical processes that we don't yet understand. Of course, seeing the aurora on a dark, silent night is so exciting it might just be the sound of blood rushing through veins that's being mistaken for the sound of light!

Background on Yukon

Situated in the upper Northwest corner of Canada, next to Alaska, the Yukon is Canada's most accessible northern destination.  Home to Canada's highest mountain (Mount Logan) and one of the largest non-polar icefields located in Kluane National Park - a UNESCO World Heritage site - breathtaking doesn't describe the vastness, or the beauty!

The Yukon is one of North America's major wilderness attractions; close to 80 percent remains pristine wilderness with 5,000-metre peaks, forested valleys, unspoiled waters and untamed wildlife. Roughly the size of France at 483,000 square kilometers, The Yukon is home to more than 160,000 caribou, 70,000 moose, 22,000 mountain sheep, 7,000 grizzly bears, 10,000 black bears and 250 species of birds… and only 34,000 humans!


Abercrombie & Kent offer a new 4 day  'Land of the Northern Lights' package from £1,980 per person based on two adults sharing, guiding and economy flights from the UK (www.abercrombiekent.co.uk)

Scott Dunn offer packages to Takhini River Lodge, Inn on the Lake and Northern Lights Resort & Spa, all of which are perfect for Northern Lights viewing (www.scottdunn.com)

1st Class Holidays offer a 3 day Aurora Borealis Tour with 2 nights at the Best Western Goldrush Inn, Whitehorse for £314 (land only) per person (www.1stclassholidays.com)