Hotel: Usually 1:30-3 pm time shower may not be hot enough (maybe because too many people are after seeing the aurora, this time back to the hotel shower) tour arrangements: there is a dedicated airport transfer, city tour and to the camp to see the aurora / to chase the light Borrowed clothes will be left in the hotel on the first day, the 3rd night after seeing the aurora car left my ground flip hotel, let me ground room change and then take to the lobby to return to the guide The second and third nights were not so lucky, so the guide drove our land to camp, and after observing for a while, arranged to chase the light elsewhere. The guide also makes an effort to take pictures for each guest.
Airport pickup included a down jacket, snow pants, snow boots, and gloves. Bring your own warm clothing for Taipei winters (UNIQLO is acceptable), and they'll provide the rest. My husband and I both wore Columbia snow boots, but mine weren't slip-resistant and we kept slipping. Looking at the soles, my husband's boots had more teeth than mine, but thankfully they provided a complete set. Even the most expensive Taiwanese trendy brands aren't as warm as local clothing. The tour guides were all very nice, including people from Hong Kong and Taiwan, speaking Mandarin, English, and Cantonese. We watched the aurora from warm wooden cabins, transparent tents with heaters, and campfires. The guides would stay on the aurora and then call us out to see it. The campsite had hot water, hot cocoa, biscuits, tea, and coffee; you could even roast marshmallows. There were clean toilets and instant noodles for a fee. I've been on other tours, and while the directors were also nice, the vehicles were very cold (the snow on the ground didn't melt). Every guide was a great photographer; you can download photos online. If it's cloudy or foggy, we'll take a bus to chase the aurora borealis. On our last night, we changed locations three times. Although the aurora wasn't strong that night, there was a meteor shower. You can refer to the weather forecast to prepare mentally for chasing the aurora. You'll need to dress warmly; I recommend bringing a mask, a beanie, thermal clothing, hand warmers, and hot water—enough to cope with temperatures as low as -30 to -40 degrees Celsius. During the day, the first day's city tour included a museum, a visitor center, a park with an airplane, and a lighthouse. The outdoor scenery was quite nice. I wasn't particularly interested in indoor activities, but interspersed throughout, there was enough time to warm up and use the restroom. The rest of the day included paid tours such as ice fishing, ice motorcycling, and dog sledding, all of which were extremely cold. Ice fishing, in particular, was mainly done by locals, with tourists assisting. Riding in a sled-like vehicle was very bumpy and windy, quite thrilling. A grilled fish lunch was included. On the last night, you need to tip extra, 12 per day, and then return their winter clothing. They'll take you to the airport the next day. Because the outdoor activities were short, we didn't feel too cold without their winter clothing. As an aside, I stayed at Jenny's Airbnb, and everything was great. Jenny was very nice, and there were many good restaurants nearby. Many local Airbnbs require climbing stairs, so if you can't carry your luggage, you might need to stay in a hotel. There are many delicious foods in the area, including Japanese restaurants run by Hong Kong people (the fried rice was delicious), Hong Kong-style restaurants, as well as Indian, Ethiopian, and Greek restaurants. I was particularly impressed by the Greek restaurant; the rest were all very good. Food there isn't cheap, starting at 20-30 pesos, and it's easy to exceed 40 pesos for a meal. Tipping is optional at 15/18/20/25%, and almost everyone accepts credit cards. Although expensive, the portions are very large, and you can pack up any leftovers for dinner. Most Airbnbs have microwaves. I only wanted to go out to eat once a day, and dinner was enough with the leftovers from lunch. Yellowknife is about experiencing a relaxed and focused lifestyle, because the days are very short in winter, and you'll fall flat on your face if you're not focused.
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Northwest Territories Weather, Climate and Best Time to Visit
Data source:Meteostat Update date:2025-09
Northwest Territories year round climate
Spring (March–May): Average -4.0–8.2°C, cold climate, windy, rainfall gradually increases. Common activities: Aurora viewing (if later in spring), snow activities (e.g., snowshoeing, depending on snow conditions). Recommended clothing: Warm jacket, hat, scarf, gloves, waterproof pants and shoes.
Summer (June–August): Average 10.9–15.5°C, cool climate, June has the most rainfall, which gradually decreases afterwards. Common activities: Hiking, boating, fishing, wildlife viewing. Recommended clothing: Lightweight warm jacket, long pants, waterproof jacket.
Autumn (September–November): Average 10.2–-4.9°C, cold climate, decreasing rainfall, snow begins to fall. Common activities: Aurora viewing, autumn hiking (depending on weather conditions). Recommended clothing: Warm jacket, hat, scarf, gloves, waterproof pants and shoes.
Winter (December–February): Average -6.8–-5.3°C, very cold climate, dry, little snowfall. Common activities: Snow activities (sledding, snowmobiling), aurora viewing. Recommended clothing: Heavy warm jacket, hat, scarf, gloves, waterproof pants and shoes, layered clothing.
Northwest Territories climatological average
Annual average temperature: approx. 3.2°C / Annual rainfall: approx. 603 mm / Summer humidity: 60%–70% / Rainiest month: June
Northwest Territories monthly average temperature and precipitation
Month
Air temperature (°C)
Precipitation (mm)
January
-6.8°C
17
February
-5.3°C
25.3
March
-4°C
17.1
April
1.5°C
30.1
May
8.2°C
101.5
June
10.9°C
159.7
July
15.5°C
67.5
August
14.6°C
65.8
September
10.2°C
20.9
October
4.6°C
51.1
November
-4.9°C
37.3
December
-6°C
10.4
Northwest Territories weather for the next seven days
1/10
Saturday
Heavy snow
-20.7°C/-37.3°C
1/11
Sunday
Freezing fog
-20.1°C/-28.1°C
1/12
Monday
Mist
-27°C/-30.5°C
1/13
Tuesday
Light snow
-23.7°C/-27.4°C
1/14
Wednesday
Light snow
-20.9°C/-26.7°C
1/15
Thursday
Freezing fog
-27.3°C/-36°C
1/16
Friday
Freezing fog
-28.7°C/-31.8°C
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