The Explorer Hotel

We were booked at the Explorer Hotel here by our tour group, Aurora Dream Tours for 5 days & nights in late February 2026. We were on the 7th floor & were pleasantly surprised at the size of the room, how well appointed it was & how large & comfortable the bed was. The whole floor was quiet & the common areas were very clean. The exercise room has lots of options to choose from & is open 24 hrs. All the staff are professional, friendly & helpful. There is 24 hour security, so we felt safe & secure. There was plenty of complimentary parking & a great regular shuttle service. We recommend staying here while visiting Yellowknife.

We stayed at The Explorer Hotel in Yellowknife this March during our trip to view the Aurora Borealis, and it turned out to be a great choice. This is considered one of the best hotels in Yellowknife and is located at one of the highest points in the downtown area. There are many restaurants and a supermarket within walking distance. We even walked to NWT Brewing restaurant which is about 1.4 km or 18 min walk.nnOur room was on the 6th floor facing the frozen lake, and the view was absolutely amazing. We could see the vast frozen lake, a breathtaking snowy landscape as well as part of downtown Yellowknife — it truly felt like a million-dollar view. The room itself was very spacious, almost like a suite.nnThe only small downside was that our room was located next to the elevator. However, after our late nights returning from the Northern Lights tours, we were so tired that the elevator noise didn’t bother us at all. The bathroom design has a bit of a 90s vibe, but everything was clean and functional. The bed was very comfortable and we had a great night sleep.nnThe hotel also has a lounge and a restaurant. We had lunch at Trader's Grill, where we enjoyed a nice meal while looking out at the beautiful snowy scenery.nnOverall, we had a very pleasant stay and would definitely recommend for anyone visiting Yellowknife.

We didn't have much expectation for a hotel in Yellowknife but it was surprising great hotel. The room is large with lots of room to relax. Perfect room to rest after some winter activities. Service was also excellent and the location is right next to Shoppers Drug Mart and PC Independent Supermarket. It's just less than 10 mins walk to many of the restaurant and the Museum. Not to mention that they also have one of the best restaurant in town, Trader's Grill.

Instead of embracing the idea that they are likely one of the better hotels in town, the staff treat customers as an inconvenience. Reception staff barely acknowledges your presence. There is no eye contact. They no interest in whether you enjoyed your stay . Ask to leave luggage while you take a tour and they’ll tell to talk to that person and randomly wave to someone in the lobby. The lift is slow and you can’t take luggage into the lift. Set your expectations very low and you won’t be disappointed

Very busy centrally located hotel. With high throughput comes mediocre room cleaning. Surfaces done but spills and messes in carpet not addressed. Good staff with good polite responses and helpful.