Labrador, on Canada’s east coast, is one of the best places to see the northern nights
We admit it, we’re a bit aurora borealis obsessed here at Where.ca. But can you blame us? Canada is one of the best places on Earth to see the northern lights in all their glory. Travellers interested in seeing the show should know that the phenomenon is most vibrant in winter, though they can be seen all year in certain spots. In this gorgeous slide show, we’ve singled out the best places to see the northern lights from coast to coast.
• Start the slide show for the best places to see the northern lights »
• See a map of all the best places to see the northern lights »
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- Imagine seeing fjords and icebergs with an aurora backdrop. This is possible in Labrador, the mainland portion of Canada's easternmost province, Newfoundland & Labrador, which sees the northern lights an average 240 nights per year. Snowmobiling is particularly popular here, with more than 1,500 km of groomed trails to explore.<br /> <br /> <a title="www.destinationlabrador.com/guide/scheduled_tours.htm" href="http://www.destinationlabrador.com/guide/scheduled_tours.htm" target="_blank">Book</a> a tour.<br />
- Photo courtesy of Newfoundland and Labrador Tourism
- Best Places to See the Northern Lights: Labrador, Newfoundland & Labrador
- Best Places to See the Northern Lights
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- Photo courtesy of Newfoundland and Labrador Tourism
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- The capital of the Arctic territory of <a title="www.where.ca/nunavut/" href="http://www.where.ca/nunavut/" target="_blank">Nunavut</a>, on Baffin Island, Iqaluit is one of the most remote places in Canada, accessible only by air or (when weather permits) boat. But the lack of man-made lights makes for amazing light shows up above. And for nature lovers, this place is <a title="www.visitnunavut.com" href="http://www.visitnunavut.com/" target="_blank">paradise</a>.<br /> <br /> <i><a title="www.nunavuttourism.com/experience" href="http://www.nunavuttourism.com/experience/index.aspx" target="_blank">Book</a> a tour.</i>
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- Best Places to See the Northern Lights: Iqaluit, Nunavut
- Best Places to See the Northern Lights
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- Photo by annelope
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- This rural <a title="www.bonjourquebec.com/qc-en/baiejames0.html" href="http://www.bonjourquebec.com/qc-en/baiejames0.html" target="_blank">northwestern Quebec region</a> is somewhat of a DIY vacation option for intrepid wilderness enthusiasts who can take advantage of untouched snowmobile and cross-country skiing trails and even go caribou hunting.<br /> <br /> Get more <a title="www.tourismebaiejames.com/en" href="http://www.tourismebaiejames.com/en" target="_blank">information</a>.
- Photo by Axel Drainville
- Best Places to See the Northern Lights: Baie-James, Quebec
- Best Places to See the Northern Lights
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- Photo by Axel Drainville
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- Combine a northern lights tour with a <a title="www.where.ca/blog/great-trips/journey-to-the-polar-bear-capital-of-the-world/" href="http://www.where.ca/blog/great-trips/journey-to-the-polar-bear-capital-of-the-world/" target="_blank">polar bear tour</a> at this popular <a title="www.where.ca/manitoba" href="http://www.where.ca/manitoba/" target="_blank">Manitoba</a> destination on Hudson Bay that lies directly below the auroral oval.<br /> <br /> <a title="www.churchill.ca/things-to-do/main" href="http://www.churchill.ca/things-to-do/main" target="_blank">Book</a> a tour.
- Photo courtesy of Travel Manitoba
- Best Places to See the Northern Lights: Churchill, Manitoba
- Best Places to See the Northern Lights
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- Photo courtesy of Travel Manitoba
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- This region of the <a title="www.where.ca/the-prairies" href="http://www.where.ca/the-prairies/" target="_blank">Prairies</a> is one of Canada's best for ice fishing and has some of the world's best fly-in fishing lodges. Why not get a light show to boot? Most northern fishing tours leave from La Ronge.<br /> <br /> <a title="www.fishing-in-saskatchewan.com/outfitters.asp" href="http://www.fishing-in-saskatchewan.com/outfitters.asp" target="_blank">Book</a> at a fly-in fishing lodge.
- Photo by Tourism Saskatchewan/Thomas Porter
- Best Places to See the Northern Lights: Northern Saskatchewan
- Best Places to See the Northern Lights
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- Photo by Tourism Saskatchewan/Thomas Porter
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- This rural <a title="www.athabascacountry.com" href="http://www.athabascacountry.com/" target="_blank">northern Alberta region</a> is a hot spot for aurora seekers and scientists—this is the location of one of 18 of NASA's stations in North America studying the magnetic effects of the aurora borealis on the earth.<br /> <br /> <i><a title="www.altacan.ab.ca" href="http://www.altacan.ab.ca/" target="_blank">Book</a> a tour.</i>
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- Best Places to See the Northern Lights: Athabasca Country, Alberta
- Best Places to See the Northern Lights
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- Though you may not get as vibrant a light show as in Athabasca, a trip to the <a title="www.where.ca/canadianrockies" href="http://www.where.ca/canadianrockies/" target="_blank">Canadian Rockies</a>' national parks (Banff, Jasper, Yoho, Kootenay) is a great option if you want to couple northern lights viewing with winter adventures like ice walks and skiing.<br /> <br /> <em><a title="www.where.ca/listings/#/?category=4737" href="http://www.where.ca/listings/#/?category=4737" target="_blank">Book</a> a tour.</em>
- Photo by Satoru Kikuchi
- Best Places to See the Northern Lights: Canadian Rockies, Alberta and British Columbia
- Best Places to See the Northern Lights
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- Photo by Satoru Kikuchi
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- It takes a hardy soul to haul it up to this community on the shores of the Arctic Ocean—via the Ice Road (a frozen river) on the Dempster Highway if you dare—but you're practically guaranteed an unparalleled view of the northern lights.<br /> <br /> <a title="www.spectacularnwt.com/node/232" href="http://www.spectacularnwt.com/node/232" target="_blank">Book</a> a tour.
- Photo by Francis Anderson
- Best Places to See the Northern Lights: Tuktoyaktuk, Northwest Territories
- Best Places to See the Northern Lights
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- Photo by Francis Anderson
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- Though the many tours in the Yukon make it an easier place to visit, the less-populated <a title="www.where.ca/northwest-territories" href="http://www.where.ca/northwest-territories/" target="_blank">Northwest Territories</a> may have its neighbour beat in terms of spectacular night skies. In winter you have up to a 90% chance of seeing the aurora.<br /> <br /> <a title="www.spectacularnwt.com/whattodo/aurora/tours" href="http://www.spectacularnwt.com/whattodo/aurora/tours" target="_blank">Book</a> a tour.
- Aurora Village. Photo by Hikeyuki Kamon.
- Best Places to See the Northern Lights: Yellowknife, Northwest Territories
- Best Places to See the Northern Lights
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- Aurora Village. Photo by Hikeyuki Kamon.
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- Just above the Arctic Circle, <a title="http://inuvik.ca" href="http://inuvik.ca/" target="_blank">Inuvik</a> has only a couple of hours of daylight in winter and (usually) clear skies at night—the perfect palette for an aurora light show.<br /> <br /> <a title="inuvik.ca/tourism/tours" href="http://inuvik.ca/tourism/tours/" target="_blank">Book</a> a tour.
- Photo by Francis Anderson
- Best Places to See the Northern Lights: Inuvik, Northwest Territories
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- Photo by Francis Anderson
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- Canada's northernmost highway, which passes into the Arctic Circle, makes for some adventurous driving in winter (don't even think of going without a high-clearance, four-wheel-drive vehicle and several spare tires) but yields awesome scenery, not least up above at night.<br /> <a title="www.auroraborealisyukon.com/auroratours" href="http://www.auroraborealisyukon.com/auroratours/" target="_blank">Book</a> a tour.
- Photo by Government of Yukon/Robert Postma
- Best Places to See the Northern Lights: Dempster Highway, Yukon
- Best Places to See the Northern Lights
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- Photo by Government of Yukon/Robert Postma
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- The <a title="www.where.ca/yukon/" href="http://www.where.ca/yukon/" target="_blank">Yukon Territory</a> has some of Canada's best and most developed northern-lights-specific tours and some of the most reliable light displays in the country.<br /> <br /> <a title="www.auroraborealisyukon.com/auroratours" href="http://www.auroraborealisyukon.com/auroratours/" target="_blank">Book</a> a tour.
- Photo by Pete Lytwyniuk
- Best Places to See the Northern Lights: Whitehorse, Yukon
- Best Places to See the Northern Lights
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- Photo by Pete Lytwyniuk
Stay, Dine, Do
Unfortunetely I’ve still not been in Canada, but I’ve seen northern lights three time in Scandinavia. If you are planning to come in Europe, you might want to give a look at my guide!
http://www.nomadtravellers.com/content/77-nomad-travel/111-northern-lights-what-is-the-best-moment-best-place-to-see-aurora-borealis
Very interesting~! (: If you’d like to see the blog i made about unusual hotels from around the world you can click here: https://tourlab6067.wordpress.com/