91É«ÇéƬ

3 February 2027 – 7 days for US$10,484 per person (US$8,795 tour + US$1,689 private charter flights)

13 February 2028* – 7 days for US$10,484 per person (US$8,795* tour + US$1,689* private charter flights)

*Please note that the 2028 departure date is provisional and subject to change. The price shown is based on the 2027 departure, with 2028 pricing expected to be confirmed over the next few months.

Alternative dates are available for 2027 and 2028 please contact Natural Habitat Adventures for more information.

Register your interest for 2029 and we will contact you when confirmed details including finalised dates and prices are available.

---

Witness the aurora borealis like never before in Churchill, Canada, where Arctic winter skies reveal one of Earth’s most spectacular natural shows. Explore this remote Arctic town by day and, by night, study the northern lights in all their glory from heated observatories, remote vantage points, and custom platforms beneath crystal-clear skies offering a truly unforgettable adventure.

This expedition places you in the heart of the subarctic, where long winter nights create ideal conditions for observing auroral activity at peak intensity. By day, enjoy hands-on Arctic experiences that will deepen your understanding of this environment’s role in the auroral story including dog sledding and snowshoeing. Cultural encounters will reveal how northern communities and ecosystems adapt to extreme conditions, adding ecological and human perspectives to the science you explore each night. Each evening, you’ll travel to a variety of purpose-built viewing sites – from a 360° glass-topped Aurora Pod® to a secluded forest cabin accessed by snow coach – to compare how different environments frame the science and spectacle of the lights. 

Throughout the journey, you’ll be joined by experts in fields such as atmospheric physics, solar science and northern Canadian ecology. They’ll break down the mechanics of geomagnetic storms, explain how solar winds energise our upper atmosphere and connect what you see overhead with real-time space weather data and decades of auroral research. 

This journey is crafted for anyone that is eager to go beyond simply admiring the northern lights and uncover how they work. Whether you’re fascinated by space weather, captivated by Arctic nature, or simply driven by curiosity, this adventure lets you experience the aurora borealis with wonder, insight, and a deeper connection to the Arctic skies.

In partnership with Natural Habitat Adventures.  

---

Itinerary

This itinerary has been carefully planned, but this type of travel requires a degree of flexibility. Local conditions, weather, transport or other unforeseen circumstances may require changes to the programme. Natural Habitat Adventures experienced tour leaders will manage any changes on the ground, and while every effort will be made to operate the tour as described, the itinerary may be amended where necessary.

Day 1: Arrival in Winnipeg, Manitoba

Your northern lights adventure kicks off in Winnipeg, a city shaped by its fur-trading past and later by the rise of the Canadian Pacific Railway. Today, it’s a lively cultural hub at the edge of the prairie. When you arrive, you’ll be met and taken to the historic Fort Garry Hotel, a grand 1913 French chateau-style landmark that remains one of Winnipeg’s most iconic places to stay. 

In the afternoon, you’ll visit the hotel’s gear room to pick up the full set of cold-weather clothing you’ll need for the Arctic – parkas, insulated boots, snow pants, fleece layers, mittens, hats, neck gaiters and warmers – so you don’t have to purchase or pack your own. This evening, you’ll join your expedition leader and fellow travellers for a welcome dinner. 

Day 2: Fly from Winnipeg to Churchill and first evening aurora outing

This morning, board a private charter flight to Churchill. When you land, you’ll be transferred into town for a short introduction to this historic settlement, once home to a major Hudson’s Bay Company outpost. After dark, you set out on your first outing to look for the northern lights.

The aurora often begins as a soft glow on the northern horizon before blossoming into waves of dancing colour – greens most commonly, but sometimes pinks, reds or purples. While science explains the lights as the meeting of solar winds and Earth’s magnetic field, old stories, like the Hudson Bay Inuit belief that the lights are the spirits of ancestors, give the spectacle a deeper magic. 

Days 3 to 5: Daily Arctic excursions and evening aurora outings

Over the next three days, activities will showcase the wild character of the Canadian north. A highlight is travelling by custom-built snow coach deep into untouched boreal forest, exploring terrain far beyond the usual routes. You’ll also snowshoe in search of wildlife tracks – looking for Arctic hares, ptarmigan, foxes and more.

Around Churchill, you’ll gain insight into northern Canadian history and culture, from the region’s Indigenous heritage to its fur trade legacy. You will also visit the Itsanitaq Museum, ride behind a dog team through the forest and learn about the traditions of Inuit, Dene and Métis communities. 

On clear winter nights, head beyond the town lights to watch for the aurora from a rotating selection of six private, heated viewing sites, so you stay warm and comfortable while waiting for the sky to come alive. You may spend time in the two-storey Aurora Tower with its curved glass roof, the 360° Aurora Pod®, the cosy stove-heated Aurora Sphere or the Plexiglass-topped Aurora Domes. You might also watch from a musher’s camp, warming yourself by a fire in a traditional tepee or in a remote forest cabin, reached by snow coach along a frozen creek. Whichever locations you visit, each is designed to give you optimal views of the night sky without sacrificing comfort. 

Day 6: Fly from Churchill to Winnipeg

Spend your final morning in Churchill browsing local shops for authentic northern crafts before catching your charter flight back to Winnipeg. In the evening, share a farewell dinner celebrating all you’ve experienced beneath the Arctic sky. 

Day 7: Depart Winnipeg

After breakfast, you’ll be transferred to the airport for your journey home. 

Please note: We cannot guarantee that the aurora borealis will make a showing, however, the itinerary has been designed to give the best possible opportunity, departing in one of the darkest months of the year and at the time of a waning crescent moon. Please see “Northern lights viewing conditions” below for more information.

---

Booking administration 

This tour is operated by our trusted partner Natural Habitat Adventures on behalf of New Scientist Discovery Tours. Their dedicated specialist team will be your main point of contact from booking until you return home, handling your reservation, payments, travel documents, pre-departure information and any questions about your tour or travel arrangements.

Highlights

• Witness peak auroral activity in one of the world’s most reliable northern lights destinations 
• Enjoy exclusive access to six private, heated viewing sites designed for optimal aurora observation 
• Explore the science of solar winds, magnetism and atmospheric chemistry with expert guides 
• Watch the lights from a 360° glass-topped Aurora Pod® and other custom-built structures 
• Venture by private snow coach to a remote boreal forest cabin beneath exceptionally dark skies 
• Experience classic northern activities, including dog sledding and snowshoeing in the subarctic wilds 
• Learn from specialists in atmospheric physics, space weather and Arctic ecology throughout your journey 
• Maximum group size of 15 guests

Meet the expert

Your expedition leaders average more than 15 years’ experience, with top-level training including resources from World Wildlife Fund (WWF) scientists. You won’t find more knowledgeable, personable or enthusiastic guides than those who are proud to work for us.  

Each guide undergoes specialised training and has access to exclusive scientific resources provided by WWF’s team of leading researchers. Many hold advanced degrees, such as master’s or doctorates, in fields like ecology, wildlife biology and environmental science. However, their selection isn’t solely based on academic achievements: their exceptional communication skills, engaging personalities and passion for sharing scientific knowledge are equally important. 

Their enthusiasm for the natural world is engaging, sparking curiosity and awe as you explore diverse ecosystems together. 

What’s included

• Six nights’ accommodation on twin share basis
• Services of Natural Habitat Adventures’s professional expedition leader(s) and assistants
• Excursions to exclusive Aurora Pod® and Aurora Domes
• Dog sledding excursion
• Private round-trip charter flights from Winnipeg to Churchill – $1,689
• All meals from dinner on day 1 to breakfast on final day
• Some gratuities
• Airport transfers on day 1 and final day
• Cold-weather gear, including a parka, fleece neck buff, fleece jacket, waterproof pants, mittens and Arctic boots, for use during your trip
• All activities and entrance fees
• All taxes, permits and service fees
• 24-hour support

What’s not included

• Optional travel protection and medical evacuation insurance
• Travel to and from the start and end point of your trip
• Alcoholic beverages
• Optional activities
• Single supplement – $945

Accommodations

Fort Garry Hotel, Winnipeg

The Fort Garry Hotel is one of Canada’s elegant railway hotels, built by the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway in 1913, which have long been a symbol of this prairie city’s importance as a transportation, commerce and culture hub. Located downtown, just one block from Union Station, this historic landmark is built in the French chateau style and is Winnipeg’s finest hotel, retaining the air of gracious opulence from an earlier era. Relax in the lounge, enjoy a drink in the antique bar or indulge in a sumptuous treatment at Ten Spa, an authentic Turkish-style bath and spa located on the top floor of the hotel.

Churchill (exact hotel to be confirmed closer to departure)

In the subarctic frontier outpost of Churchill, with a population of just under 1000, hotels are small and basic. All hotel options are clean, comfortable and conveniently located in the centre of town. Every room has an en suite bathroom with a shower. 

Please note: If required for reasons beyond our control, we reserve the right to substitute alternative accommodation of equal or higher quality or adapt the itinerary if required.