What happens in case of bad reviews

This is an example of a bad review and it gives us a chance to explain you all the expectations from a tour, guest disappointments and all you need to know.

 

Do not let anything discourage you! book your tour with any travel company you feel comfortable with, ensure it is a licenced company by Industry Tourism and Investment – Government of the Northwest Territories. 

Wish you all the best of the Northern Lights!

 

In this particular situation, we were not able to verify the tour however we embrace it and will explain to all what you all need to expect from an Aurora Tour by Bus or also known as Northern Lights Tour by Bus.

 

The first thing you need to remember is what is your expectation from the tour?

Seeing the Northern Lights of course! Can anyone promise Nature or Guarantee Nature or Northern Lights? Answer is No

None of the tour companies anywhere in the world will never guarantee nature.

Then why Join a tour? To make sure the best travel company provides you with the best attempt to see the Northern Lights!

Secondly: Make sure which company you are booking your tour with. There may be multiple companies offering Northern Lights Tour or Aurora By Bus tour “or” a company name itself may be Northern Lights or Aurora By Bus. So make sure which company and what tour you are booking.

In the case of No Aurora Or No Northern Lights? Why it happens? 

The Most common cause is Clouds or Rain (This does not happen very often). What can a company do in the case of clouds or rain? 

A few companies cancel the tours and few companies provide guaranteed departures, which means a rain or shine tour will happen. 

Benefits of Guaranteed departures?

Should the clouds clear up or rain stop the Northern Lights will be visible.

You are not missing a chance should the weather be in your favor.

What you can do? 

Be thankful to your company who provided a guaranteed departure instead of canceling your tour which the other companies commonly do.

Does any company guarantee Northern Lights? No, No one can guarantee the Nature. It is the same as a whale-watching tour. Does anyone guarantee whales? However Auroras happen more often than whale watching, in fact, Auroras are there all the time, and all you need is clear dark skies.

How do you know if the company did their best in case of bad weather? Make sure your company takes you to both the highways (Hwy 4 & Hwy3). There are only 2 highways in Yellowknife Hwy 4 & Hwy 3.

The most common tourist highway is Hwy 4, in case of a clear night this is the best highway as this highway has many lakes and beautiful landscapes to have as a background in your Northern Lights Pictures. 

Why go on Hwy 3 ? Only in case of a cloudy or rainy night the company must try Hwy 3 as well, as the best attempt to find clear skies to see the Northern Lights. 

If the skies are clear then all the tour companies stick to Hwy 4 only as it has beautiful landscapes and lakes and take Hyw 3 only in case of bad weather, Highway 3 has only one parking lot closest to Yellowknife approximately 30 Km and in the first lake is approximately more than 100 km away and in case of bad weather, no one should be driving more than 100 kilometers away as the guest’s safety must be your company’s top priority.

Why a tourist could be disappointed with the tour? 

Your expectation of seeing the Northern Lights. It is true all of that 100% of guests coming to see the Northern Lights want to see the Northern Lights however once in a blue moon it happens “No Northern Lights” No can guarantee Nature.

All you need to ensure during your tour is “If” there was a cloudy night did your company take you to both the highways, Hwy 4 & Hwy3? and did they stay long enough outside (extended duration of the tour, in case of bad weather) to wait for the Northern Lights that’s all. It does not matter how high the level (kp index) of the Northern light is on a particular night, you need clear skies to see any level of the Northern Lights.

Don’t be fooled around, If another company says they saw the Northern Lights even in bad weather then you should always go to the Aurora Max website and verify with the Live recordings available for the past 14 Nights where you can see if there were Northern Lights on the night you went out for the tour.

All we can say is if your company provides you with a guaranteed departure tour, try all highways in case of a cloudy night and stay long enough (duration of the tour) in case you need to wait due to the weather then it is already a good tour! 

“Seeing the aurora does not make a tour good or bad”

Your company’s best efforts to show you the Northern Lights in all kinds of weather make it a good tour. Tour Companies are only providing a tour “Not Northern Lights” A good tour is the best attempt to facilitate you to see the Northern Lights, that’s all!”

If you realize any company is providing a Northern Lights Tour Or an Aurora By Bus Tour, which is only a tour to facilitate you in the best possible way to see the Northern Lights, no one is guaranteeing the Northern Lights and no one will Guarantee the Nature.

So please read below of all the things mentioned in this review and how this clears a lot of your queries. 

However, do not be discouraged!

In 365 days of the year Minus the 90 days due to 24 Hours of Sunlight (May, June, and July).

Out of 275 Days in a year, you will see Northern lights 244 days a year in Yellowknife! Between August till the end of April.

Google search it for your self 🙂

Cheers to you all!

See below to find out what can happen and what expectations you should have with not just us but with every other company in Yellowknife or around the world regarding Northern Lights Tours.

 

Understand your travel time to the Northwest Territories has nothing to do with the Northern Lights.

 

Northern Lights are only visible with clear skies, it does not matter how high the level of aurora forecast is, Is the weather forecast clear? 
However, even on a cloudy night, it has happened many times when the skies cleared up and Northern Lights were visible. Just like the Picture below. Seeing the northern lights does not make a tour good or bad ! Your tour did their best by moving around the locations and staying out long enough to try their best matters. 

The Only bad reviews that could arise from a tour (at least our tour) are when the northern lights are not visible and there are complaints about everything. You will see at least 3 reviews online in the last 7 years and all 3 are weather-related.

So…

Make sure which company you booked with!

Did they cancel your tour or provide a guaranteed departure to make sure that, if there is a chance then you will see the Northern Lights?

Did they stay out for an extended long time to wait in case of bad weather?

Any level of auroras on any night still needs clear skies.

Did your company move around and change the spots to try different locations? There is nothing such as a wrong spot. If there is Aurora then everyone will see it If not then no one sees it. Verify it on the Aurora Max website with the live recordings from the past 14 Nights.

 

We tried to clear as many as possible queries regarding the weather-related issue to all of you, these can happen once in a while.

“Seeing the aurora does not make a tour good or bad”

‘Your company’s best efforts to show you the Northern Lights in all kinds of weather make it a good tour.”

A good tour is the best attempt to facilitate you to see the Northern Lights!

We welcome all of you to Yellowknife and enjoy nature’s best shows Northern Lights in Yellowknife!