Dear Guest,

The first thing you will probably notice after breaking through the clouds on your descent into Yellowknife, is the never-ending water. You might think the pilots have veered off course and you’re now about to land on the ocean. Fear not Dear Guest, it’s just the deep waters of Great Slave Lake. The deepest lake in all of North America.

Now, before you step off that plane, there are a couple of things you should keep in mind. Yellowknife is situated in Chief Drygeese Territory, on the traditional lands of the Yellowknives Dene First Nation, from time immemorial. The Indigenous population of the Northwest Territories is about 51% of the total population, with around 6,000 First Nations, Tłı̨chǫ, Inuit and Métis residing in Yellowknife. The remaining 15,000 residents of Yellowknife represent a vibrant international community, creating a remarkable cultural melting pot.

Northern Lights over Back Bay of Great Slave Lake in Yellowknife, NWT.

We encourage you to explore the city's exceptional culinary diversity:

Zehabesha serves a delicious Mahberawi Combination Plate with Injera—some of the best Ethiopian food north of 60. Sizzlin’ Filipino offers mouth-watering pancit, brought to us by long-time Yellowknifers from the Philippines and Bluebell Eatery is where you'll find some of the best Indian curries in town.

Of course, you can't leave without trying our local specialties:

Check out Bullock’s Bistro for fresh, locally caught fish, The Black Knight Pub for a juicy Bison Burger with all the fixings and for a taste of traditional Northern cooking, visit the Yellowknife Community Arena where Chef WhiteKeyes often serves fresh, out-of-the-oven homemade bannock.

Tastes of the North is dedicated to featuring NWT made, grown, harvested, and food related products. Conveniently located on Franklin Avenue, downtown.

We are so grateful to share our home with you, our Dear Guests. Happy eating!

The second thing you'll notice as you step off the plane, is the air—it’s some of the freshest you'll ever breathe. Yellowknife sits on the Canadian Shield and is surrounded by the Boreal Forest, deep in the Taiga Climate region. This is a place where people have lived for thousands of years, adapting to long winters and dramatic seasonal shifts. Have no fear Dear Guest, My Backyard Tours has you covered. Visit our site to rent your cozy outdoor winter uniform to keep you toasty warm and out on the ice for a full day of experiencing our beautiful scenery. Have you heard of Hoar frost? You will leave with many pictures of it because it is what makes this place a genuinely magical winter wonderland.

They say that only the strong can survive here and that only the strong can visit, so Dear Guest - challenge extended!

Another fun fact to add to your bragging rights after leaving this unique town, is that when you land on our soil, you are landing on some of the oldest rocks on the planet. Visit the Yellowknife Historical Society Museum to purchase your very own piece of history to take back home with you or pick up one from along one of our many shores and trails. Along with that fresh air, we also have lots of fresh water and in the winter months, which span from November to May, you’ll be able to experience lots of fresh snow. Some locals like to collect the snow to make tea year-round. There really is nothing like fresh snow tea in July if you can get your hands on a hot mug of it. Happy Sipping!

During your Signature City Tour of Yellowknife, (Sǫǫ̀mbak'è, the Dogrib name for Yellowknife, meaning “where the money is”), keep an eye out for wildlife. Yellowknife is teeming with habituated critters, like foxes (nǫgèe) who scamper confidently around the sidewalks like they own the place and ravens (tatsǫ̀) who will talk behind your back as you pass them by, and if you are here during the winter months, keep your eyes peeled for the ptarmigan, (k'àba) who camouflage themselves into the snow. The only way to notice them is if you see two black, beady eyes moving about, or inevitably, cars slamming on their brakes for seemingly no reason in the middle of the road, only to see the flock of white birds running across, wild and carefree. Truly one of the more hilarious parts of being in Yellowknife. I brake for Ptarmigan!

Another thing to take note of is our rich mining history. The remnants of the gold rush and subsequent gold mining industry are everywhere. From old mining carts and tools along the streets of Yellowknife to the ongoing remediation efforts at the Giant Mine site, you’ll find yourself seeing gold in a different light. These days, however, we are known as the Diamond Capital of North America and diamonds are more our speed and if you’re lucky enough to be here for the NWT Diamond and Jewellery Centre Scavenger Hunt in December (Toyatı Zaà – Christmas month), you might just fly away with your very own Northwest Territories treasure. Happy Hunting!

Speaking of hunting and the reason you probably booked Yellowknife as your northern travel destination, the Aurora Borealis! Often called the “Aurora Capital of the World”, Yellowknife boasts the highest number of Aurora (nàhkà) sightings per year. The skies will not disappoint—just don’t forget to look up!

Northern Lights viewing on the frozen Great Slave Lake in Yellowknife, NWT.

If the Northern Lights are not your pull to the Northwest Territories, then you must be coming to fish under the Midnight Sun. Getting lost in the endless days of summer is why people stay in the North and endure the long, cold, dark winter months. If you ask a long time Yellowknifer how they ended up living here, you’ll most likely hear that they came up for a visit and had a timeline to leave but once they got here, they fell in love with the city and decided to call Yellowknife their new home.

They say the North never leaves you. Once it’s in you, it’s there for life. Either you immerse yourself in it, or you carry it with you, the knowledge of the land, the air, the water, the people.  Experiencing this unfiltered destination will change how you see the world. As your plane lifts off and you catch that last glimpse of our small town, just know you’ve taken a piece of the North with you. We encourage it, because we know you’ll bring it back on your next visit, along with the friends and family you’ll want to share this place with.

Book a tour with My Backyard Tours now to gain local perspective in small group sizes. Safe Travels Dear Guest!

Purples and reds can be seen along with green Northern Lights over Yellowknife, NWT.