As solar activity builds towards the peak of Solar Cycle 25, travellers with aurora borealis firmly on their bucket lists are turning their attention north , far north.
In Yukon, one of the world’s longest and most reliable aurora viewing seasons is already well underway, promising brighter, more frequent displays throughout the winter months.
This rare convergence of geography and astrophysics places the Yukon in an enviable position. Situated in Canada’s far northwest, close to the Arctic Circle, the territory combines minimal light pollution with vast, open skies. With aurora season stretching from mid-August to mid-April — and optimal viewing between 10pm and 3am — it remains one of North America’s most compelling yet underexplored winter destinations.
For 2025–26, a wave of thoughtfully curated experiences is elevating aurora tourism beyond simple sky-gazing, blending wilderness, comfort and sustainability in ways that appeal strongly to discerning travellers.
Romance beneath the lights: wild adventure Yukon
One of the most intimate new offerings comes from Wild Adventure Yukon, which has launched Romance Under the Aurora, a premium experience designed for couples seeking both spectacle and seclusion.
Guests are transported from their hotel by executive shuttle before settling into a private, heated viewing dome crowned with a panoramic glass ceiling. From here, the northern lights unfurl overhead while guests enjoy a gourmet charcuterie board, warming Yukon chilli and hot chocolate, followed by time around a crackling outdoor fire.
The experience extends beyond the aurora itself, incorporating a guided snowshoe trek through the snow-laden trails surrounding Whitehorse, a scenic drive to Carcross, and entry to Northern Canada’s largest wildlife museum. Priced from £213 per person (CAD$799 per couple), it is a refined way to experience the Yukon’s winter magic while supporting sustainable tourism.
Fly-in exclusivity: up north adventures’ aurora island lodge
For travellers seeking true remoteness, Up North Adventures offers a rare opportunity to access an off-grid island lodge by private charter flight.
Touching down on a frozen wilderness airstrip, guests enter a world far removed from modern distraction. Days are spent snowmobiling, snowshoeing or ice fishing across pristine terrain, followed by evenings of aurora viewing beneath unpolluted skies. A traditional sauna and handcrafted meals complete the experience, delivering a sense of elemental luxury that feels deeply rooted in place.
Ice fishing beneath the aurora
Combining adventure with astronomical drama, North Country Outdoor Adventures has created a Full Day Ice Fishing and Aurora Night Trip that offers a distinctly northern perspective on winter travel.
Departing Whitehorse at sunset, guests are taken deep into the Yukon wilderness for prime ice fishing, targeting burbot with the chance of lake trout. As the night deepens, the aurora often appears overhead, reflected in the frozen landscape below. Hot drinks, snacks and transfers are included, with a return to hotel by around 4am. The six-hour guided experience is priced at £373 (CAD$700) for one or two people, with additional guests welcome.
A curated winter escape with Canadian sky
For UK travellers seeking a seamless introduction to the region, Canadian Sky offers a five-night Northern Lights of the Yukon itinerary, departing 12 January 2026.
Priced from £1,799 per person (based on two sharing), the journey begins with a direct Air Canada flight from London Heathrow to Vancouver, followed by an overnight stay before continuing to Whitehorse. Guests spend four nights at the Best Western Gold Rush Inn, with a city sightseeing tour and four dedicated evening aurora excursions included. The itinerary balances structure with downtime, making it well suited to travellers experiencing the Yukon for the first time.
Why the Yukon stands apart
What truly distinguishes the Yukon is scale. Roughly the size of Spain, yet home to just 46,000 people, nearly 80 percent of the territory remains untouched wilderness. It is a land of 5,000-metre peaks, vast icefields and extraordinary wildlife corridors, from caribou and moose to grizzly bears and mountain sheep.
Much of this wilderness is protected within Kluane National Park and Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that contains Canada’s highest mountain, Mount Logan, and the planet’s largest non-polar icefields.
Despite its remoteness, access is straightforward. Air North offers year-round services from Whitehorse to major Canadian hubs, while Air Canada operates daily flights from London via Vancouver. Seasonal services are also available via Calgary with WestJet.
A winter spectacle worth the journey
With Solar Cycle 25 intensifying auroral activity and a new generation of immersive experiences coming online, this winter represents a rare moment for northern lights travellers. The Yukon offers not just sightings, but stories, nights spent beneath living skies, framed by silence, snow and extraordinary scale.
For those willing to venture beyond the familiar, the reward is one of nature’s most unforgettable performances, seen at its very best.