Tuesday, June 3, 2014

Honeymoon with the Aurora Borealis

Words by Courtney Kellar
Photos courtesy of Blachford Lake Lodge

Every travel-lover has a bucket list of must-have experiences or must-see destinations, so when better to cross one off the list than your honeymoon? A common bucket list item is seeing the Aurora Borealis, or Northern Lights. Most excursions require you to hike in the early morning hours in freezing cold temperatures to see this natural wonder. However, there’s one location where you can view the majestic light show right from your own room: Blachford Lake Lodge.

Viewing the Northern Lights requires special circumstances which can’t come together just anywhere: darkness, clear skies, an active sun and being located under one of the “Aurora Ovals,” or the atmosphere in the areas surrounding the Earth’s magnetic poles. Yellowknife, in Canada’s Northwest Territories, boasts one of the world’s highest percentages of Aurora sightings and, thankfully, there’s a package perfect for honeymooners to get you there.

The Great Canadian Travel Company has introduced “The Aurora Escape” which provides either a five or eight-day itinerary to Yellowknife or subarctic Canada. Included in the package are two nights’ accommodations in Yellowknife, round-trip on a float plane from Yellowknife to Blachford Lake Lodge and two or give nights all inclusive accommodations. Your stay at the lodge includes all gourmet meals and snacks, a two-hour interpretive tour, use of the lodge facilities and gratuities.

Cost for the five-day program is $2,099 Canadian (app. $1,895 US), based on double occupancy. The eight-day program is $3,975 Canadian (app. $3,590 US), based on double occupancy. For reservations or additional information, call The Great Canadian Travel Company at 800-661-3830 or visit greatcanadiantravel.com.