Northern Tales - Yukon Journeys

“We had a fabulous Yukon adventure and made many memories thanks to the excellent service.”

Patricia G.

“Northern Tales Travel was a fantastic company to deal with. Everything was so easy.”

Lizanne F.

A quick glimpse of some of the Yukon magic you might experience.

Enjoy your tour from a unique vantage point

-Exclusive and unique Northern Lights viewing site
-North facing and unobstructed, away from city lights
- Historic and heated wall tents with campfires outside
- Wood-fired stove to stay comfortable and warm
- Hot drinks provided (coffee, tea, hot chocolate)
- Snacks provided (chips, cookies, marshmallows)
- Photos available to download (free!)
- Located only 25 minutes north of Whitehorse
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Visit our cabins

Our tours are customizable!

To answer this, we start with the sun whose energy production is far from even and fluctuates on an 11 year cycle. 2025-2026 is a peak year. Maximum production coincides with high sunspot activity when processes on the sun’s surface throw particles far out in space. These particles are called the solar wind and cause the northern lights.

The sun’s surface temperature is approximately 6,000°C, much cooler than the interior which is several million degrees. In the sun’s atmosphere or corona, the temperature rises again to several million degrees. At such temperatures, collisions between gas particles can be so violent that atoms disintegrate into electrons and nuclei. What was once hydrogen becomes a gas of free electrons and protons called plasma. This plasma escapes from the sun’s corona through a hole in the sun’s magnetic field. As they escape, they are thrown out by the rotation of the sun in an ever widening spiral – the so-called garden-hose effect.

After 2-5 days’ travel trough space, the plasma reaches the earth’s magnetic field compressing it on the daylight side of the earth, and stretches it into a “tail” on the night side. A few of the particles penetrate down to the earth along the lines of magnetic field in the polar areas. Most, however, are forced around the earth by the magnetic field and enter the “tail” which stretches out into a long cylinder. Its diameter is equivalent to 30-60 times the earth’s radius, and its length up to 1000 times the same radius. It is, in effect, as if the earth’s magnetic field creates a tunnel in the plasma current from the solar wind. Inside one end is the earth, and around its surface the earth’s magnetism and the solar wind interact. The magnetic tail is divided into two by a sheet of plasma. The magnetic field lines from the earth’s north and south pole stretch out in their respective halves such that the fields are in opposition. The electrons and protons in each half of the plasma rotate in opposite direction forming a huge “dynamo” with the positive pole on the side of the plasma sheet facing dawn and the negative pole facing evening. The “dynamo” is driven by the current of charged particles between the two poles.

When the northern lights break out the following happens. The solar wind strengthens and the magnetic tail becomes unstable. Charged particles dive inwards towards the center of the tail and cause it to increase in length and to taper. The particles draw the magnetic field lines toward the center where they meet causing a magnetic “short-circuit” approximately 15 times the earth’s radius above the earth on the night side. This occurs especially at the “dynamo’s” two poles where a large amount of energy becomes stored. The magnetic field lines from both sides of the plasma layer now act as conductors in the “dynamo’s” outer circuit.

What Yukon experience calls you?

I want to see the aurora borealis. I want to experience the Yukon winter. I want to do a short activity for the day. Show me all of these!

I want to hunt for aurora borealis.

‍I want to experience the Yukon winter.

‍I want to do a short activity for the day.

‍Show me all of these!

au·ro·ra

/əˈrôrə,ôˈrôrə/
aurora borealis

An aurora is a colorful light show in the sky caused by the Sun. Auroras happen when particles from the Sun interact with gases in our atmosphere, causing beautiful displays of light in the sky. Auroras are often seen in areas near the North Pole or South Pole.

Frequently asked questions.

Is there a trial period?

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Do larger teams attract a discount?

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Which payment methods are accepted?

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Do I need a credit card to start the free trial?

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Adventure Awaits

Discover our Experiences

Aurora Tours

Winter Tours

Day Activities

Featured Experiences

Yukon Wildlife Preserve Tour

Rendezvous Festival & Aurora Borealis Package

Aurora Borealis and Southern Lakes Resort

5-Day Winter Adventure Tour

Basic Aurora Borealis Package

“We had a fabulous Yukon adventure and made many memories thanks to the excellent service.”

“Northern Tales Travel was a fantastic company to deal with. Everything was so easy.”