Northern lights in April: the last weeks of the season
Whitehorse, Fairbanks, Yellowknife and Reykjavík are still dark enough for a usable night. The other eight places are not.
- Best sky: Whitehorse
- 5 to 6 dark hours
- 4 places compared
Most reviewed tour in Whitehorse
Minibus tour
Whitehorse Northern Lights Tour
If no aurora shows: second attempt offered.
If the lights don't appear during the tour, you can contact us, and we'll offer you the opportunity to repeat the tour.
from €111
See dates and price
Links go to Civitatis. Scores are Civitatis customer ratings. Check the listing for the current price and conditions.
Where to see the northern lights in April
Places are ordered by how often a five-night stay included at least one dark night with a usable sky.
See the full table
| Destination | Dark hours per night | Nights with a usable sky | At least one in 3 nights | At least one in 5 nights | At least one in 7 nights | Kp for overhead aurora | Night temperature |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1WhitehorseCanada | 6.3 h | 79% | 91% | 96% | Kp 3 | -7 °C | |
| 2FairbanksAlaska, USA | 5 h | 75% | 84% | 87% | Kp 2 | -6 °C | |
| 3YellowknifeCanada | 5.8 h | 69% | 80% | 86% | Kp 1 | -7 °C | |
| 4ReykjavíkIceland | 5.2 h | 33% | 44% | 52% | Kp 2 | 2 °C |
A usable sky means at least two dark hours in a row with half the sky or more free of cloud, over an area of about 110 km. It says nothing about solar activity, so it is not the chance of seeing the aurora. How we calculate this
What April is like
April is where the season runs out of night. Mid-month, the sun stays more than 10 degrees below the horizon for only 1.2 hours in Tromsø, 2.9 in Abisko and 4.2 in Rovaniemi. Fairbanks gets 5.0 hours, Reykjavík 5.2, Yellowknife 5.8 and Whitehorse 6.3. Our tables leave out any place where the darkness is too short to count, which here means eight of the twelve: every place in Norway, Sweden and Finland, and Akureyri. Akureyri (4.6 hours) and Luleå (4.7) are out because too many of their late April nights have under two dark hours.
The tourist boards agree it is the end. Visit Tromsø and Visit Rovaniemi give early April as the close, Explore Fairbanks gives 21 April, Visit Reykjavík the end of April and Destination Canada mid-April. Mean air temperature during dark hours has reached 2C in Reykjavík, -6C in Fairbanks and -7C in Yellowknife and Whitehorse.
Where the sky is on your side
A usable night means at least two dark hours in a row with half the sky or more free of cloud, averaged over a satellite cell about 110 km across. Only four places qualify. Whitehorse leads: 91% of its five-night stays had at least one usable night, and 46% of single nights qualified. It is the most southerly of the three North American places, so it keeps the most darkness. 84% of five-night stays in Fairbanks had at least one usable night, and 80% in Yellowknife. Fairbanks had a usable sky on 49% of April nights, Yellowknife on 40%.
Reykjavík is a long way behind on 44%, with 14% of nights usable. The North American places have a clear lead. Reykjavík is the only Nordic place left, and even a week there gives 52%.
How many nights to plan
Whitehorse gives 79% for three nights, 91% for five and 96% for seven. Fairbanks gives 75%, 84% and 87%. Yellowknife gives 69%, 80% and 86%. Reykjavík gives 33%, 44% and 52%. Seven nights in Fairbanks (87%) are only three points above five nights (84%), so a longer stay buys little there. It buys more in Reykjavík, from 44% to 52%. Use the nights calculator to compare.
Is it a good month to book a tour?
Only if the dates fit. The cards below are for Whitehorse and Fairbanks, the month's top two places. The Whitehorse tour is from EUR 110.68 per person for four hours (checked 5 October 2026), with free cancellation up to 14 days ahead and a repeat offered if the lights do not appear. The Fairbanks viewing lodge evening is from EUR 177.66 for five hours, with no stated no-aurora policy. We have not confirmed April departure dates for each listing. Travel Yukon dates its winter season to early April and Explore Fairbanks ends its season on 21 April, so check before you book. Read whether a tour is worth it and what to expect if no aurora shows.
Tours in the best-placed destinations for April
The two places with the most usable nights this month, with what each listing says about a night without aurora.
Fairbanks
Day trip with aurora stop
Chena Hot Springs & Northern Lights Tour
If no aurora shows: the listing does not say. Ask before booking.
from €244
See dates and priceViewing lodge
Fairbanks Aurora Viewing Lodge Experience
If no aurora shows: the listing does not say. Ask before booking.
from €178
See dates and price
Common questions
Can you see the northern lights in April?
In some places. Whitehorse, Fairbanks and Yellowknife still have usable nights (91%, 84% and 80% of five-night stays had at least one), and Reykjavík less so at 44%. The other eight places have too little darkness for our statistics.
Where is the best place for the northern lights in April?
By sky, Whitehorse (91% of five-night stays with a usable night), then Fairbanks (84%) and Yellowknife (80%). Reykjavík is the only Nordic place still in our table, at 44%.
When does the northern lights season end?
It varies. Visit Tromsø and Visit Rovaniemi say early April, Explore Fairbanks says 21 April, Destination Canada says mid-April, Visit Reykjavík says the end of April.