Join us this fall for a trip of a life time to watch the northern lights
Yellowknife is the best place in the world to view the aurora borealis.
COME FOR THE LIGHTS
LEAVE ENLIGHTENED
I have been photographing the aurora since 2015 in various locations in Canada and northern Europe (Iceland and Norway), and I really want you to see them with us and check them off your bucket-list especially in this beautiful place, Yellowknife, which is also called the Aurora Capital of the World.
Watching the Northern Lights changed my life! Auroras are unique because they come in different shapes and colours, but also because being in places in the Far North brings a sense of comfort.
So I really hope you can join me on this Zenderfull astronomy trip, and I promise you won't be disappointed.
Please note that I am the only Quebec company licensed to be your guide in Yellowknife (License number: NS-156-2023).
In addition to astronomy and aurora viewing, we'll explore the beautiful Yellowknife region and do a few local activities. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact us by e-mail at info@zenderfull.com.
Travel dates & Pricing
6 days, 5 nights - 2 tour dates available:
Group 1: September 1st for 7th 2024
Group 2: September 7th to 13th 2024.
Group size: Minimum 3 participants, Maximum 6 participants
Physical activity level: Low (we will be always close to the car, read more in the FAQ)
See our cancellation policy below.
Your travel guide
Samer Hobeika
Samer creates communities around him centered on wonder, discovery of the sky and adventure. An avid astrophotographer and software engineer, he thrives when surrounded by nature and sharing his passions. His journey began in 2016, in Montreal, when he organized his first expeditions to the stars, in places where light pollution was fading. His spellbinding adventures stimulated his mission. He founded Zenderfull in 2020 with the aim of democratizing access to the starry sky and outdoor experiences for all. After all, we're all just stardust.
What’s included
I will teach you how to capture the aurora.
Aurora hunting techniques, spotting and observing the northern lights every night
Photo processing showing all my editing process and secrets.
Astronomy outings, I will help you better understand the sky.
Light Painting sessions.
Transportation during trip and to/from airport.
Photos and videos of the trip in digital format.
Links to all tools and websites mentioned during the trip.
I will also help you find accommodation and answer any questions you might have.
What’s not included
Flights and travel to Yellowknife, NWT.
Accommodation (I will help you finding the best one)
Food/drink (We'll be together and it would be possible to cook together, I can also recommend amazing restaurants)
Medical and travel insurance: Please note that this is required! We strongly recommend that you purchase equipment insurance before participating in this trip.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Please book your flight/hotel with refundable options, in case of any wildfires or emergency happens so you don’t get charged. Example, last year they had to evacuate Yellowknife due to wild fires.
Trip program
During the day, we'll cover theory sessions on photography, aurora hunting and photo processing. We'll also walk around Yellowknife and do the other activities mentioned above (dog sledding, etc.).
During the night, we'll go aurora hunting, and if there are no auroras, we'll do astrophotography and astronomy, conditions permitting. If conditions are poor, we'll do a mix of light painting and theory sessions indoors.
Important info
We always communicate with you by e-mail, and if ever we need to, we can call you.
This trip requires a minimum of 3 people to take place, otherwise it will be cancelled with 30 days' notice. Should this happen, we will contact you by e-mail.
Guided tours and lectures will be given in English and French.
Credit cards are charged in CAD$. Please contact us if you wish to pay the full amount in one lump sum.
Please read the frequently asked questions below.
Live this unique experience
What Participants Say
“Very nice activity with a dedicated guide and expert in the field. He was able to help all participants regardless of our equipment.”
“Samer is both a photo and astronomy enthusiast and teaches us how to take great night pictures. We also had a great time making creative photos using light sticks (light painting). The accommodation at his chalet is very comfortable. In short, a truly magical stay! ”
“I have done two weekend retreats with Samer and will do it again tomorrow morning. Samer shares his knowledge of astronomy and photography with passion and generosity. These activities are highly recommended!”
Frequently Asked Questions
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Our trips are directly led by our experts, Samer takes care of everything from start to finish, snap spectacular photos of you (if you want it), also ensure your safety and understanding of the workshops and keep the positive vibes flowing so that you can profit from your adventure.
We will provide you a list of photos and videos after the trip in a digital format.Once the trip is done, we will be sharing with you via email a recap about it including all the photos and videos we took of you so you can share with your friends and family. -
Clothing: Yellowknife is going to be cold and as we do astrophotography we don’t move much, so be prepared and bring your cold weather clothing. We recommend the multi layer system, bring 2 pairs of mitts, a beanie/toque, insulated boots, thermals, down jacket, rain jacket, face/neck warmer, headlamp with the red light & some hand/foot warmers, and don’t forget your amazing energy!
Equipment: We recommend using a DSLR/Mirrorless camera with a wide angle fast lens. A fast lens lets more light in, we’re looking at lenses with aperture 1.4 or 2.8. Bring a tripod, a trigger/intervalometer to keep the camera shooting on its own. Bring extra batteries and memory cards too.
If you wish to rent equipment, we are partners with Royal Photo, get in touch with us so we provide you with a 20% discount code for the rental. -
All of our events are made for all levels, even people who have zero knowledge in photography will profit from our outings, especially on trips like that where we spend a lot of time together, weI will make notes of all your questions so we can have them answered.
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We will mostly be next to the cars for the shots with very few walks, we don’t have any hikes planned other than walking aroundYellowknife.
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No hiking is planned but we encourage you to go on a small hike in the area, get in touch with us so we can help you plan it.
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We will pick you up from the airport and drive you around with us when we’re out shooting but you also have the option of renting a car on your own. We hope to minimize the usage of cars to reduce your cost and save the environment.
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September is a really good time of the year where temperatures varies between 5°C and 15°C
This is also a great time to profit from the water before it freezes.
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We understand that unforeseeable situations may arise and for these reasons we try to be as understanding as possible and want to accommodate each of you as much as possible. However, cancellations do incur costs for us as reservations are made as a result. For these reasons, we will not be able to refund the entire trip, here’s a breakdown of our policy:
30 days or more before the trip starts: 50% of the trip after deposit is non-refundable.
Example: if you wish to cancel your trip on June 16th, 2023, I will refund you 300$ CAD + tax
For cancellations made less than 30 days before the departure date, we cannot offer any refund. -
Although extremely unlikely, Zenderfull reserves the right to cancel the trip at any time for any reason, in its sole discretion (including but not limited to failure to meet a minimum number of participants for the trip). Notwithstanding the foregoing paragraph, in the very unlikely event of a cancellation for reasons within Zenderfull’s control, all deposits, trip fees, or other fees paid by you to Zenderfull would be refunded as a genuine estimate of damages, and you agree to not take or pursue any further remedies you may have at law or in equity against Zenderfull, its directors, officers, agents, representatives or employees. In no event shall Zenderfull be liable for any indirect or consequential damages including flight change or cancellation fees, or any other associated travel costs or associated damages.
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Contact me via email on info@zenderfull.com we are happy to answer any other question.
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I am working on setting up 2 tours per year to Yellowknife, one in March and one in the fall.
I recommend you visit Yellowknife for 1 week at least to get the best chances to watch the aurora.
For example, you can visit Yellowknife before our tour starts, or stay after our tour ends.
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Yellowknife has amazing activities to do in the fall. From Kayaking, Canoing, Running and hiking.
I can recommend some specific activities based on your needs. I know I will be definitely bringing my running gear.
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Other than your ticket for my services, you will need to spend money on:
Flight (about 1000$)
Airbnb/Hotel (About 500$)
Food ( Restaurants average prices are 25$/meal)
Transportation (Gas is very much similar to quebec, and you won’t drive too far, only 20 mins from the city)
That said, on average, the total trip cost varies between 2500$ and 3500$
