Canada, the world’s second largest country, is composed of ten provinces and three territories; on this journey, travelers will be able to explore two of these territories, Yukon and the Northwest Territories. Starting in Dawson City, a town on the Yukon River which was home to the 19th-century Klondike Gold Rush, travelers can experience its frontier-style architecture and learn more about the history of the gold rush. On this trip, the group will also take a scenic drive along the famous Dempster Highway, which connects the Klondike Highway in Yukon to Inuvik, visit sled-dog kennels in Inuvik to learn from a musher, a sled-dog driver, about how to train successful sled dogs and tour the Inuvik Community Greenhouse, the largest and most northern greenhouse in the world. They will enjoy a boat tour of the Mackenzie River Delta and learn more about local Indigenous populations at the Okpik Arctic Village. A local Inuit guide will take travelers through the Village, explaining local manufacturing and food production programs and their importance for northern food sovereignty, economic leakage and the provision of culturally relevant jobs in the community. Travelers will also gain a deeper understanding of how locals mix traditional ecological knowledge with modern science, while experiencing traditional activities such as hide tanning and fishing. At Tuktoyaktuk, an Inuvialuit hamlet, a local Inuit guide will share the history and culture of the area and offer a cultural tasting of some local delicacies.
This 5-day experience starts at $5,550 per person and includes accommodation, meals and transportation. Arctic weather can be capricious and unpredictable, so travelers are advised to bring clothing for all weather conditions. This trip is run by Tundra North Tours, an Inuit company based in Inuvik whose mission is to provide visitors from all over the world with an authentic experience of the atmosphere and culture of Canada’s North; the company works closely with the local Inuit community and all tours are led by Inuit guides.