Know Before You Go: Northern Lights Tours
How Do Travelers Search for the Northern Lights?
Most travelers head north, hope for clear skies, and wait in the dark to glimpse the aurora borealis. Many rely on luck or public aurora forecasts, often watching from outdoor decks, hotel windows, or shared domes.
But without expert guidance, many miss this bucket-list phenomenon. Local knowledge and flexible planning make all the difference.
Common Ways to See the Aurora Borealis
Travelers can choose from several viewing styles, each with benefits and drawbacks.
Viewing Style | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
Glass igloo / lodge | Warm, comfortable, good visibility if aurora appears | Cannot move if skies are cloudy or activity is elsewhere |
Public platform | Often free or included with lodging | Crowded, exposed to cold, limited flexibility |
Guided excursion | Experts track forecasts, flexible location choices | Comfort and privacy may be limited |
Outdoor deck / trail | Wide open sky, no barriers | Fully exposed to cold, requires self-guidance |
Aurora dome / pod | Cozy, designed for viewing, semi-mobile | Limited availability, weather still a factor |
Exclusive Aurora Viewing with Nat Hab
Natural Habitat Adventures provides private, heated, remote locations in Churchill—a level of access no other operator offers. Each site is positioned far from light pollution, ensuring clear, uncrowded views.
How do Nat Hab Guides Maximize Aurora Viewing?
Our expert Expedition Leaders monitor real-time aurora forecasts, cloud cover, and sky clarity to select the best location each night. Guests benefit from:
Flexibility: Ability to split groups so guests can stay longer or head back earlier.
Exclusivity: Private sites ensure no crowds or long waits.
Comfort: Heated shelters and small-group settings make for an intimate experience.
Nat Hab's Private Aurora Viewing Sites
Six Private Aurora Viewing Locations
Click a photo to expand details
Unique Private Settings
Each of our six private aurora-viewing locations is situated well away from the lights of town. Guests will visit a selection of settings (though not all) during their tour.
Nat Hab's Aurora Pod®
Offering an immersive northern lights experience, our custom-designed structure features a glass roof and half-walls with an unobstructed 360° view of the night sky.
Nat Hab's Aurora Sphere
This spacious, heavy-duty geodesic dome tent, with a clear top and transparent insulated panels, is heated with a wood stove and furnished with locally crafted Adirondack chairs.
Aurora Dome
Two-story Plexiglass-topped Aurora Domes offer a circular view on the night sky, with comfortable seating, snacks and hot drinks in the heated lounge space below.
Aurora Cabin
Our cozy private cabin, heated by a wood stove, is tucked deep within the boreal forest beneath the stars—and we reach it via a snowcoach ride atop a frozen creek.
Musher's Camp
A traditional dog musher's camp offers a photogenic setting, where a tepee illuminated and heated by a campfire provides an evocative foreground subject against the aurora.
Graphic Rendering - Aurora Tower
Our new Aurora Tower is a two-story structure with a curved clear top and multiple outdoor decks, offering vantage points on the sky from different levels.
Aurora Viewing FAQs
What is the most comfortable way to see the northern lights?
Heated, enclosed structures away from light pollution. Nat Hab offers:
Clear-roofed domes and pods with 360° views
Cozy interiors with stoves, seating, snacks, and hot drinks
Remote sites well beyond Churchill’s town lights
How do travelers reach Nat Hab’s viewing sites?
Guests travel via specialty northern vehicles:
Heated vans transport groups to pods and domes in the forest
A private snowcoach carries guests to the secluded Aurora Cabin via frozen creek trail
All transfers are guided and timed to match aurora conditions
Do I need to stay up all night?
No. The aurora often peaks between 9 p.m. and 2 a.m. Nat Hab guides:
Schedule outings during peak probability hours
Provide heated shelters and vehicles to prevent fatigue
Offer wake-up alerts for late-night aurora activity
Are northern lights tours family-friendly?
Yes—especially for older children. Families enjoy:
Daytime cultural and wildlife activities
Heated indoor viewing for warmth and comfort
Flexible small groups tailored to family needs
Cold-weather gear provided for all ages
Nat Hab's Northern Lights Tours
Northern Lights & Arctic Exploration
Churchill, Manitoba is arguably the best place on Earth to view the aurora borealis—see it in comfort from secluded, private viewing locations, including our exclusive glass Aurora Pod with a 360° view on the sky.
Northern Lights Photo Expedition
You'll find no better location for aurora photography than Churchill—and no better approach than this one, led by expert photographer guides, featuring remote and atmospheric private settings for stunning images.
Travel Stories & Articles
Winter 2025 Will Bring The Best Northern Lights Display in 20 Years
—By Expedition Leader Katrina Rosen
This winter will be an incredible time to bear witness to the aurora borealis as we reach the peak of Solar Cycle 25. I’m excitedly anticipating guiding in the best place on Earth to see this aerial phenomenon!
7 Northern Lights Photography Tips (That Aren’t Camera Settings)
—By Megan Koelemay
Equip yourself with the right gear and an imaginative spirit, and you’ll have a delightful experience photographing the northern lights!
Preparing for Photographing the Northern Lights
—By Nat Hab Expedition Leader Eddy Savage
I have several key preparations in my Northern Lights Photography Kit that make my life easier and the rush of photographing the aurora borealis a lot of fun...
An Expedition Leader’s Extraordinary Northern Lights Adventure in Churchill
—By Nat Hab Expedition Leader Eddy Savage
Clear skies, stunning landscapes, fascinating people and the remarkable northern lights make an adventure here one for the books. Please enjoy my recap of my first 2023 expedition to Churchill!
Myths and Legends of the Northern Lights: An Interview with a Churchill Cree Elder
—By Nat Hab Expedition Leader Katrina Rosen
Georgina is a Cree elder and spent her childhood in the flats of Churchill, Manitoba. When Georgina was young, the lights would swirl above her family’s teepee, and her parents told her not to clap or whistle at them...
15 Traditional Tales About the Northern Lights
—By WWF
When you witness the lights streaking across the sky, reaching a height of up to 620 miles, it’s easy to understand how so many cultures came to develop mystical stories about them...
