With mystery and danger comes the raw, unspoiled beauty of one of the world’s last wilderness regions. Canada’s North—encompassing the Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut—is home to white wolves, polar bears, massive walrus and giant bowhead whales up to 59 ft in length. Fly over the greatest caribou migrations in the world, Thule archaeological digs, vast wildlife preserves and inukshuks, stone figures pointing the way across tundra. In summer, golf, fish and dance at an outdoor music festival under the midnight sun.
The search for treasure fueled a frenzy of immigration to the Yukon during the Klondike Gold Rush in the late 1800s. The rush for ice-white diamonds, discovered in 1991 in the Northwest Territories, has brought a sparkling new city skyline to its capital city, Yellowknife. And in Nunavut’s capital, Iqaluit, on the edge of Frobisher Bay, treasured Inuit art is attracting its own frenzy of interest from around the globe. Come see it for yourself.
Breathe in the crisp Yukon air. Smell spruce sap and earthy tundra. Listen for the excited howls of husky sled dogs. Wander the landscape under the midnight sun or aurora borealis. Walk in the footsteps of northern pioneers, talk to the locals and discover the Yukon spirit.
This is a land of untamed wilderness, with outdoor adventures like no other. You'll be fascinated by caribou migrations, First Nations culture and the northern pioneer character. In summer, hike or paddle in spectacular Kluane National Park and Reserve; in winter, cross-country ski or snowmobile in this breathtaking location, part of a World Heritage Site. You'll want to photograph the mesmerizing black granite peaks, idyllic alpine lakes and subarctic tundra landscapes of Tombstone Territorial Park, or watch the swans and fish for Arctic grayling on M'Clintock Bay.
Board a plane from Whitehorse, Haines Junction or Dawson City to flightsee across this vast, captivating land. Or take a little longer with a road trip north from Dawson City up the Dempster Highway, crossing the Arctic Circle on your way to Inuvik in the Northwest Territories.
There are many activities that are perfectly suited for the Territory of Nunavut. Hiking, canoeing and camping enthusiasts will find the terrain ideal for their passion, while animal lovers can visit some of the most unique wildlife on the planet in our bird and wildlife sanctuaries.
Kayakers will of course know that kayaking is part of Inuit heritage and Nunavut offers one of the world’s most diverse sea-kayaking environments, as well as many experienced guides.
And for those who just like to watch, you’ll never find anything quite as amazing as standing on a Floe Edge watching icebergs after the ice breaks up.
Drum dancers and throat singers tell the same stories of hunts, travels, gods and beasts that were told a thousand years ago.
Inuit traditional games are based on hunting and survival skills. Bones, stones, thread – items found in ancient homesteads – become pieces in skill testing challenges. The Inuktitut language is the first language in Nunavut schools. Culture in this part of Canada is simply different from anywhere else in the world.
Everywhere you turn you encounter people living with traditions and customs completely different from those found anywhere else. It’s totally authentic, casual and wonderful.
Inuit in Nunavut are recognized internationally for their stone sculptures, fine art prints and fabric arts. Over 27% of the population is involved in the production of Inuit art. Every community has amazing, artists producing original works in stone, bone, cloth, skins, prints and paints. It is pure magic!
Northern foods will surprise you with their texture and flavours. Arctic Char (pipsi) is a wonderful example. You can have this salmon-like fish smoked, dried, cooked in a stew or baked. Caribou (mikku) meat has a very fine texture. Other foods can be exceptionally exotic.
In a land without wood for cooking, uncooked meats are common. Certain walrus and whale dishes are for the extremely adventurous only. Even seeing these unique foods prepared and eaten will be a cultural experience you’ll remember forever.
Imagine hiking in a National Park at the top of the world, where caribou spend the summer. Canoe a wild northern river few have ever seen. Hop a bush plane and go flightseeing over the Nahanni, the Mackenzie Delta, or Great Slave Lake's East Arm. Or relax aboard a jet boat, and travel a northern river to a secluded mountain lodge.
Drive our uncrowded roads and marvel at the wildlife. Our roadside parks and campgrounds welcome you with scenic waterfalls. Wood bison, moose and bears can be spotted right from the road. And rare birds from across the Americas nest here each summer.
Source: Canadian Tourism Commission, Nunavut Tourism, Northwest Territories Tourism
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Visit historic Dawson City and relive the heady days of the Klondike Gold Rush. The lure of the Klondike drew thousands of young men―and some determined women―with the glint of gold in their eyes to Dawson City. Entrepreneurs keen to turn a dollar erected hastily constructed buildings with elaborate false fronts. Horses trotted through the muddy streets and dancehall tunes filled the air. Dawson City became a bustling commercial centre at the turn of the century, and for a time was the largest city north of San Francisco and west of Winnipeg.
A tight-knit town of 1,500 people and the Yukon’s second largest community, Dawson City is a colourful place where you can still meet placer miners, dog mushers and other Klondike characters. Today, Dawson City is in many ways just as it was at the height of the Gold Rush in 1898. The streets of this authentic frontier town are lined with wooden boardwalks, and you can sense the grit, heartache and golden dreams of the Klondike Gold Rush as you meander down Dawson City's streets. A lively place bursting with heritage sites and attractions, there is lots to do in Dawson and the city hosts many visitor services, amenities and attractions.
Walk among the carefully restored buildings with costumed interpreters and feel like you’re stepping back in time. Visit the Dawson City Museum, Dawson City Visitor Information Centre on Front Street, take a walking tour with Parks Canada, explore Dawson City Museum and Dänojà Zho Cultural Centre. During the Gold Rush, Dawson was home to a wide assortment of casinos, beer halls and brothels—try your hand at blackjack or take in a show at Diamond Tooth Gerties gambling hall. First Nations cultural experiences and wilderness adventures are an important part of the Klondike experience. Dawson City is a convenient base from which to explore the Dempster Highway to Tombstone Park, the Arctic Circle and North Yukon, and across the Yukon River to the Top of the World Highway.
Source: Tourism Yukon
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Land of the Midnight Sun and Gateway to the Beaufort-Delta. Located 2 degrees above the Arctic Circle on the scenic Mackenzie River and Delta, Inuvik offers you a wide range of services and experiences to make your visit enjoyable and memorable. Inuvik (place of people) is the homeland of the Inuvialuit and Gwich'in and a wide variety of other aboriginal and non-aboriginal people and cultures. Inuvik is a place of rich diversity, located on the Mackenzie Delta - Canada's largest fresh water delta, close to the Arctic Ocean, with a spectacular view of the Richardson Mountains. Inuvik is nested between the treeless tundra and the northern boreal forest, and overlooks the incredible maze of lakes and streams of the Delta. Whether you are looking for northern arts and culture, remote rivers and wilderness, a chance to see arctic wildlife, or just a place to relax and enjoy the midnight sun - Inuvik is your destination. Inuvik has a lot to offer and is also the gateway to other northern communities and adventures.
Source: Town of Innuvik
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The community of Whitehorse in Yukon has it all―wilderness out the back door as well as all the modern conveniences and amenities of downtown. A network of hiking trails surrounds what's known as the Wilderness City, and the Yukon River flows right through town, with trails and parks on its banks. Visitors are often surprised to learn that this cosmopolitan capital city of about 25,000 people offers all the amenities and comforts of a southern metropolis.
Whitehorse welcomes headline entertainment acts and international performers, and hosts a large number of superb festivals throughout the year. The city has an international airport with daily flights from Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary; scheduled departures to Inuvik and other points north, plus charter carrier services.
The city of Whitehorse lies in the traditional territory of two First Nations―the Kwanlin Dun and the Ta’an Kwach’an―and boasts a vibrant arts and cultural community. The classic ambiance of Main Street coupled with great shopping, restaurants and quality visitor accommodation make Whitehorse a superb destination as well as a base for explorations around the Yukon.
Whitehorse hosts a thriving number of supermarkets, camping supply retailers, vehicle and equipment rentals, and just about everything you'd expect to find in a major city. With a full range of visitor services, including two golf courses, a hot springs, fine dining and cafés, great museums, well-appointed accommodation and an assortment of spa and salon offerings, visitors to Whitehorse can relax and enjoy their vacation fun.
Take the time to visit some of the Yukon’s top attractions during your stay in Whitehorse. Tour Parks Canada’s restored sternwheeler, the S.S. Klondike, and explore the Yukon Beringia Interpretive Centre and MacBride Museum. Wander the Whitehorse waterfront where you’ll discover many ways to enjoy the historic Yukon River―by raft, canoe, or tour boat.
And there’s so much to do just a stone’s throw from Whitehorse. Explore hiking trails minutes from downtown at Miles Canyon, ride mountain ridges overlooking the city, or fish in a pristine alpine lake just a short flight by bush plane.
Source: Tourism Yukon
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