Northern Lights in Yellowknife & Blachford Lake Lodge

After included VIP airport lounge access, arrive in Calgary on a daytime flight from the UK and check in to your overnight airport hotel, located less than five minutes from Calgary International Airport.

Stay: Hotel Clique Calgary Airport (Superior)

Head north today on a flight to Yellowknife and make your way to your hotel on arrival. Yellowknife the capital of the Northwest Territories got it's name from the colour of tools made by Dene First Nations people. Gold mining brought settlement to the city as well as prosperity until the 1980s. Now, it's diamond mines and tourism that bring wealth to the region, where vast swathes of pristine wilderness frame the pretty shores of Great Slave Lake and, from August and on through the majority of winter, the Northern Lights dance in the skies above.

Stay: Explora Hotel, Yellowknife (Superior)

Enjoy a full day here to explore, taking in the colourful old town home to the city's indigenous communities and enjoying sweeping views of the lake and its bohemian house boat community. By day, be sure to visit the fascinating Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre, and explore the city's excellent food scene, with fresh lake fish and the Northwest Territories only brewery among the highlights. In winter, there's also the chance to enjoy husky sledding and snowmobiling in the surrounding wilds. Then, as night descends, head out to spot the aurora. Our experts can help you choose from a range of options, which feature everything from private wilderness lodges to a village of tipis built especially for viewing the Lights.

You can find out more about Yellowknife on our Northewest Territories blog

Stay: Explora Hotel, Yellowknife (Superior)

This morning board your flight at the Yellowknife floatplane base for the 10:00am flight to the lodge. Enjoy a half-hour scenic flight soar above the sub Arctic landscape as you travel to the lodge. Upon arrival, you'll be greeted on the dock by the lodge staff and to be taken for a quick tour. Then, it's time to relax and enjoy your new surroundings, perhaps heading to the lakeside sauna, or taking in the views from the hot tub, a prime location for spotting the Northern Lights after dark. As part of your stay, you'll also be treated to a full spread of included dining, from succulent meats and locally caught fish to vegetables and herbs sourced from the local region. Tonight, if you wish, you can book in an aurora alarm, with one of the staff waking you if the Lights appear.

In the mornings, breakfast is served from 8.30am to 9.30am. Then, enjoy one guided interpretive experience in the morning and afternoon: exact timings and available activities will depend upon several variables including demand and weather conditions. In autumn, there's the chance to explore the lake by canoe or kayak, paddling into the wilderness while listening to the call of the resident loon - a bird native to the region. Otherwise, join one of the lodge staff for a hike or fat-bike ride, or head out by boat for some catch-and-release fishing, perhaps spotting an eagle or osprey on the way. Then, for winter guests, head out on the frozen lake by snowmobile, go snowshoeing or cross-country skiing, learn how to build an igloo, or simply choose to relax in the cosy lounge with a good book and some of the best views in the Northwest Territtories.

In the evening, perhaps head to the Tipi located up on the ridge behind the lodge for a cosy evening of drinks and conversation around a beautiful fire pit. Then, lean back and look up at the sky to hopefully enjoy the stunning aurora show. S’more kits and hot chocolate are available to enhance your evening experience.

Wrap up the trip with your choice of activity before hearing the Twin Otter heading back to the lake. Watch this plane glide into the dock, and board your afternoon flight back to Yellowknife around 11:15am for the half hour flight back to Yellowknife, arriving approx. 11:45am in Yellowknife.

Fly back to Calgary and make your way back into the city. This is a city with a burgeoning reputation for culture and the arts, with a wide array of galleries and museums showcasing everything from natural history to contemporary photography. Calgary's culinary scene, too, is garnering international acclaim with creative chefs and restauranteurs launching exciting new eateries and giving a new lease of life to long-established favourites. There's also the chance to pick up some last-minute souvenirs from the city's markets and malls, or, take it all in from above with a trip to the top of the Calgary Tower.

Transfer to Calgary airport in time for your flight home, arriving on day 9