Arctic Winter Explorer | Ice Road to the Arctic Sea

Arctic Winter Explorer | Ice Road to the Arctic Sea

138 Views
8 Days From

$3345

$3186

Arctic Winter Explorer | Ice Road to the Arctic Sea

8 Days Starting and ending in Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada

Visiting: Whitehorse, Dawson City, Eagle Plains, Inuvik, Tuktoyaktuk, Aklavik

Tour operator:

Arctic Range Adventure

Tour code:

AWE

Guide Type:

Fully Guided

Group size:

5 - 12

Physical rating:

Low

Age range:

7-89

Tour operated in:

English
From: $3345 $3186 Travel Club discount: -$159

NB: Prices correct on 19-Sep-2024 but subject to change.

This tour is no longer available, please see similar tours below or send an enquiry

Tour Overview

Join us as we travel overland from the Pacific to the Arctic, along snow covered highways and roadways built of ice along ancient wildlife corridors, and traditional trading routes of First Nations traders - later used by Klondike Gold Rush prospectors and NWMP patrolmen. The route offers some of the greatest geographic diversity in the country; the Tombstone Mountains in the central Yukon are among the youngest mountain ranges in North America, while the low rolling Ogilvie’s with their naked spines were not glaciated during the last Ice Age, and thus are among the oldest. North of the Ogilvie Mountains, the landscape gradually flattens to low tundra and just after crossing the Arctic Circle the Richardson Mountains, the Northern-most extension of the Rocky Mountains, come into view. From there, the roadway will begin it’s descent into the impressive Mackenzie River Delta; 12th largest in the world, to arrive at Inuvik, known as the Place of Man. We will travel to the isolated community of Aklavik, once the region’s administrative centre, locals were slated to be moved to Inuvik, but refused – hence their motto, “Never say die.”, on the Arctic coast, accessible only by a winter “ice-road” constructed out of the frozen ice of the Mackenzie River and the Arctic Ocean. Exploring this remote village we will visit the grave of the Mad Trapper, the mysterious backwoods killer who led Mounties on one of Canada’s greatest manhunts. The tour finishes with a exciting excursions to the Inuvialuit village of Tuktoyaktuk, on the Arctic coast, where we learn about the local history and culture.

Highlights

  • Cross the Arctic Circle

  • Visit the Arctic community, Tuktoyaktuk

  • Travel the Dempster Highway

  • Historic First Nation City Tour in Tuktoyaktuk

  • City sightseeing tour in Whitehorse and Dawson City

Places You'll See

Arctic Circle

Dawson City

Ice Road

Tuktoyaktuk

Itinerary

Expand All

Day 1 : Arrive Whitehorse

Location: Whitehorse

Accommodation: Hotel

Meet and greet and transfer to your downtown hotel. En route, your guide will offer a city highlight tour that includes SS Klondike National Historic Site, the Old Log Church and the Log Cabin Skyscraper. You’ll meet your fellow travellers and your guide will review the itinerary and your equipment at our group meeting this afternoon. The remainder of the afternoon and evening is free to explore the city and do any last minute shopping. Accommodation: Whitehorse

Day 2 : Whitehorse - Dawson

Location: Dawson City

Accommodation: Hotel

Prior to the late 1950’s, the only way to travel to Dawson City in summer was on a majestic paddlewheeler like the SS Klondike. Today, we’ll cover the 550km distance in just a few hours. Our route today takes us through the heart of the Yukon interior more or less along the Yukon River valley. We’ll stop for a coffee in the morning at Braeburn Lodge, famous for its massive cinnamon buns, then continue northbound on the Klondike Highway passing through several small native villages and settlements including, Carmacks, Pelly Crossing and Stewart Crossing. Near Carmacks, the road offers great views of famous Five Finger Rapids and about an hour outside of Dawson, we’ll stop at the Tintina Trench overlook for views of the expansive Yukon interior with the Ogilvie Mountains beyond that we’ll pass through the day after tomorrow. After check-in, we’ll have a bite to eat, and then we’ll keep an eye out for the Northern Lights, which can often be seen right over the town. Accommodation: Dawson

Day 3 : Dawson

Location: Dawson City

Accommodation: Hotel

Home to the world’s greatest Gold Rush, some 50,000 gold seekers arrived here in 1898 making Dawson City the largest town west of Winnipeg and North of Seattle (USA) at that time. The entire community is now a national historic site, and the romance of the Old West can be felt on every corner. Dawson’s unpaved streets and wooden boardwalks are still roamed by miners, hunters and trappers. Parks Canada has restored many of the original buildings including the Palace Grand Theatre, the Commissioner’s Residence and the cabins of Jack London and Robert Service’s cabin, among many others. We’ll travel up Bonanza Creek road to the actual claim where gold was discovered in 1896. Discovery Claim is located near the impressive Dredge #4 National Historic Site and we’ll stop for a photo here as well. In the evening you will have the chance to discover Dawson City’s small but authentic bar scene and you will find many longtime residence who can tell you more tales of the far north. Accommodation: Dawson

Day 4 : Dawson - Eagle Plains

Location: Eagle Plains

Accommodation: Hotel

We’ll get an early start today. The Dempster is one of the truly great Canadian roadways. Completed only in the late 1970’s, the Dempster is still the only fully public road in North America to cross the Arctic Circle. Today’s drive is considered most scenic; Tombstone Territorial Park encompasses the jagged peaks to the West that give the park its name and further along, the Ogilvie Mountains offer superb scenery and stunning vistas. Wildlife is often spotted along the roadsides, so keep a good watch for foxes, the occasional wolf and caribou. As we arrive at Eagle Plains in the late afternoon/early evening, the modest hotel, fuel station, and highway maintenance station – the only civilization for approximately 300km in either direction - feels like an oasis! Accommodation: Eagle Plains

Day 5 : Eagle Plains - Inuvik

Location: Inuvik

Accommodation: Hotel

Departing Eagle Plains, our first stop is at the Arctic Circle crossing, where we’ll enjoy a celebratory glass of champagne to commemorate this special occasion. After crossing a mountain range and two rivers (the Richardson’s and the Mackenzie and Peel Rivers), we’ll visit the First Nations community of Fort MacPherson. The famed Lost Patrol, found after they perished by RNWMP Corporal Dempster - for whom the highway is named - is laid to rest here. A former Hudson Bay trading post, some native elders still wonder the village in Hudson Bay print dresses. Inuvik is a relatively young community with an ancient history. The Canadian government commissioned the building of the town in the 1950’s when it became apparent that the nearby traditional village of Aklavik, was slowly sinking into the delta. Inuvialuit people (Inuit, once referred to pejoratively as Eskimos) were also moved down from various points on the Arctic coast. Appropriately, the name Inuvik means Place of Man in the Inuvialuit language. We’ll take a short tour of the village on the way to hotel and you’ll have time to explore the town on foot in the evening. Accommodation: Inuvik

Day 6 : Inuvik - Tuktoyaktuk

Location: Tuktoyaktuk, Aklavik

Accommodation: Hotel

Today will be memorable; at the rivers entrance into the Arctic Ocean, the road turns northeast and travels along the coastline of Arctic Ocean toward the village of “Tuk” as it is known by residents. Not far from town, you’ll see the first of several ‘Pingos’. These are mountains literally made of ice; heaved-up season after season with the annual freeze and thaw. The tallest is over 100m! We will be met by local guides who will take us on a tour of their unique village. Stops along the way include the historic Lady of Lourdes schooner and some of Tuk’s famous community buildings such as sod houses and churches. You’ll also see the Northern Early Warning site (formerly DEW Line) and even get a chance to dip your toe in the Arctic Ocean! You’ll be invited to a local resident’s home including a "traditional lunch and display of Inuit clothing" for a glimpse at home-life in a northern community. Return to Inuvik in the late afternoon. Accommodation: Inuvik

Day 7 : Inuvik - Aklavik

Location: Inuvik

Accommodation: Hotel

After breakfast, we'll visit the town Aklavik, established on the Peel River in 1918, not far from the foot of the Richardson Mountains, accessible only by a winter “ice-road” constructed out of the frozen ice of the Mackenzie River and the Arctic Ocean. Aklavik is the most westerly community in the NWT, with a population of approximately 735 people. It has always been, and still is, a meeting place and home for both the Gwich’in and the Inuvialuit peoples. Many of the inhabitants still follow the traditional way of life – hunting, fishing and trapping. Aklavik was the trapping, trading and transportation centre for the Mackenzie Delta until the establishment of Inuvik, which was built to take over this function. But many residents of Aklavik refused to relocate and are now proud to call their home “the town that wouldn’t die”. Return to Inuvik in the afternoon. Accommodation: Inuvik

Day 8 : Inuvik - Whitehorse

Location: Whitehorse

Transfer to Inuvik Airport, check in, board southbound aircraft. Tour services end on arrival at Whitehorse Airport. Optional evening in Whitehorse or connecting flights.

What's Included

  • Accommodation

  • Airport Transfers at Destination

  • All Domestic Transportation (including internal flights)

  • Fully Guided

  • Historic First Nation City Tour in Tuktoyaktuk

  • Arctic Circle ceremony

  • Flight Inuvik - Whitehorse

  • Emergency equipment including First Aid kit, satellite tracker

  • City sightseeing tour in Whitehorse, Dawson City and Tuktoyaktuk

  • Traditional Lunch & Display of Inuit Clothing in Tuktoyaktuk

What's Not Included

  • Meals – Full Board

  • Tipping and Gratuities

  • Outdoor winter clothing (rental available)

Check out our Q&As

  • Are flights included in this tour?

    The flight from Inuvik to Whitehorse is included

  • What is the fitness level required to do this tour?

    This tour program is designed for beginners and requires only a basic fitness level.

  • When are the best months to see the northern lights?

    Statistically, springtime (March/April) and autumn (September/October) contain the most "geomagnetically disturbed days" which means more aurora activity...although you're bound to see the lights in October, November, December, January and February if you spend enough time looking up. In Yukon, it's dark enough to see the northern lights from about August-through-April. During May, June & July it's just too bright in to see them in the "Land of the Midnight Sun."

  • Should I wear rental winter gear for every tour?

    It is not mandatory, but we recommend it. December to April, the temperature drop to around -20 to -25℃, so our winter gear helps you to enjoy any tour comfortably and safe. We strongly recommend to wear our rental winter gear during snow shoeing, ice fishing, and Aurora Viewing tours.

  • How to photograph the Northern Lights?

    For starters set the camera on a tripod, adjust the ISO setting up to 800 or 1600, set the f-stop wide open (lowest number like f2.8) and start bracketing the exposure times. Try 5 seconds, 10 seconds and 20 seconds. If the picture is still black and underexposed then try 30 seconds and keep raising the ISO until something shows up on your LCD monitor.

  • Where is the best place to see aurora? And what time is best?

    To see aurora you need clear and dark sky. During very large auroral events, the aurora may be seen throughout the US and Europe, but these events are rare. During an extreme event in 1958, aurora was reported to be seen from Mexico City. During average activity levels, auroral displays will be overhead at high northern or southern latitudes. Places like Whitehorse, Yukon; Yellowknife, NWT; Gillam, Manitoba; the southern tip of Greenland; Reykjavik, Iceland; Tromsø, Norway; and the northern coast of Siberia all offer a good chance to view the aurora overhead. In North Dakota, Michigan, Quebec, and central Scandinavia, you might be able to see aurora on the northern horizon when activity picks up a little. In the southern hemisphere the aurora has to be fairly active before it can be seen from places other than Antarctica. Hobart, Tasmania, and the southern tip of New Zealand have about the same chance of seeing aurora as Vancouver, BC, South Dakota, Michigan, Scotland, or St. Petersburg. Fairly strong auroral activity is required for aurora viewing in those locations. The best time to watch for aurora is around midnight, but aurora occurs throughout the night. There are very few places on Earth where one can see aurora during the day. Since clear sky and darkness are essential to see aurora, the best time is dictated by the weather, and by the sunrise and sunset times. The moon is also very bright, and should be taken into account when deciding on a period to travel for the purpose of auroral observation. You might see aurora from dusk to dawn throughout the night. The chances are higher for the three or four hours around midnight.

  • What time should I arrive to Whitehorse?

    If you are planing to join the Aurora Viewing Tour, we recommend to arrive at the Whitehorse Airport before 8pm, then you have enough time to prepare for the tour.

Reviews of this operator

monalisa bandyopadhaya (Google Reviewer)  

I booked two tours in...

28-Feb-2024

I booked two tours in Whitehorse to view the Aurora borealis through Arctic Range Adventures and both of them were amazing. The tour guides were very nice , kind and made sure we had the best time. There were snacks and hot beverages available and the cabins were well heated. There was also a fire pit in the Tipis where we could roast marshmallows while waiting for the lights to show up. Yuri, one of the tour guides was especially very nice and warm.. She was very knowledgeable and gave very good information on the Northern lights and other activities to do in the area.. Big shout up to Yuri for being so exceptional..Your service was very much appreciated..Keep up the good work..

Susan Nicks (Google Reviewer)  

We booked a few tours...

12-Mar-2024

We booked a few tours over 4 days. By far the best was the half day dog sledding. Learned lots, had great food over an open fire and had a fun sled ride. Wish we booked the full day. The Aurora watching was fun and we did get to see some but our cameras showed better colour than we actually saw. Great we could warm up in the teepee or yurt and get a hot drink. The wildlife tour was good but not all the animals were cooperating with us and were hiding. What we did see was exciting. Overall our guides were fun and informative. Thanks for the great adventure.

Laura C (Google Reviewer)  

We went on the Arctic...

09-Sep-2024

We went on the Arctic Day Kluane National Park Tour and it exceeded my expectation and I was amazed by all the spectacular scenery. I could not have asked for a better tour of the park. Tour bus was comfortable with big windows. We made many stops for photo ops and bathroom breaks. We ended up doing 3 good hikes of various difficulty levels but they were all worth it and I was pretty tired by the time I got back to the hotel. Tour guide was excellent and gave us water and snack and good information about the park and Whitehorse. There is also a stop at the Kluane interpretation centre which has a combination of Parks CDN and Indigenous displays and a short film to watch. This was a wonderful tour and I highly recommend it. Bring good hiking shoes, snacks and lunch. So many great pics. This tour is a feast for the eyes and the soul. 😊

Cher Cleveland (Google Reviewer)  

We thought about trying to...

22-Aug-2024

We thought about trying to see the northern lights on our own. We are so glad we went on the tour with Artic Range instead. The guide picked us up at Edgewater Hotel and drive us an hour out of the city lights on a very comfortable bus ride. He brought us to private property that had a warm cottage with hot drinks and cookies, and a really big teepee with a bonfire inside to roast marshmallows, and an open field with camping chairs and tripods. When we first walked to the open field I saw a light aurora cloud right away. Our guide taught us about aurora, helped us all take better photos and even took pics of us with the aurora! I thought the tour would seem long but it went by so fast. It was truly an amazing Aurora experience because of Artic Adventure! I highly recommend!!! A++

Mandy Leung (Google Reviewer)  

I joined Arctic Range Adventure's...

20-Apr-2024

I joined Arctic Range Adventure's multiday tour with 3 aurora viewing nights, city tour, wildlife preserve, and hot springs. I also added 2 more nights and a full day snowshoe at Kluane National Park. On the first night, the Auroras made a spectacular show, it was so satisfying that I felt like I could go home after that! The Auroras weren't as amazing on my 2nd and 3rd nights, but they were still there and visible at some point. Their Aurora Centre has a warm cabin with cookies and hot drinks, while their yurt/tipi has a campfire where you can roast marshmallows. There is also a waterless washroom just 30 second walk from the cabin if needed (cleanest and best smelling one I have ever seen!). All the tour guides were friendly and helpful anytime I had a question. For the wildlife preserve, the tourguide drives the bus through, and stops at each animal for you to get out and take photos. At the hot springs, photos are not allowed, but the view of the mountains from the water baths were amazing. Would've been more peaceful and relaxing if there weren't groups of chatty people everywhere, but that is always a hit and miss anywhere you go. During free time on the multiday tour, the hotel they put you in is near the Yukon River, so I walked along there a few times, admiring the scenery. The drive to Kluane National Park included a stop halfway both ways for quick bathroom break and sight seeing. Waterless washrooms again, pretty clean for being so remote. They have sanitizer on the bus if you forgot your own. Upon arrival at the park, they gave us a brown bagged lunch containing a sandwich, banana, and a granola bar. After snowshoeing on the lake, they provided hot drinks and cookies. The view while snowshoeing on Kathleen Lake was beautiful! So much space for just our tour group to explore. Not enough time. I would definitely join another tour with Arctic Range in the summer. Everything is very organized and they are punctual based on the start times they give you on the itinerary printout. The admins are also very helpful and easy to communicate with. The guides are stellar. Thank you for a great time visiting the Yukon! I will definitely be back :)

Andrew Yin (Google Reviewer)  

We did two tours with...

06-Mar-2023

We did two tours with Arctic Range: Wildlife Preserve & Hot Springs (Feb. 22, with Bárbara) and Kluane (with Shungo and Bárbara). First, I'm grateful to the office staff of Arctic Range (namely, Jessica, Karin, and Skylar) for their prompt email replies and bearing with my many schedule and tour changes! Our guides, Bárbara and Shungo, are kind and knowledgeable, and both tours were really worthwhile! I especially enjoyed the Kluane tour. It was just the two of us so we essentially had a private bus/guide! The majestic scenery aside, Shungo was such a fun person. He shared a lot of his experiences and kept us entertained throughout the trip. I wanted to go a bit further and see more scenery (like I had done during the earlier Tombstone day tour) and they easily accommodated my request by shortening the snowshoeing time, which allowed us to drive until Dezadeash Lake, which was truly amazing for a panoramic view. It was also fun to be taken a photo of us sitting in the middle of the near-empty highway! The Yukon Wildlife Preserve and Hot Spring are also must-visits! Bárbara drove for the most part and provided commentary in English and Spanish. She is friendly, enthusiastic about the animals, and were able to answer our questions. However, a suggestion for improvement - it'd be great if we were provided with more background information about the animals and the hot spring (for example, while we were waiting for a previous group to finish before entering the preserve). Otherwise, I had a great time. If you get Bárbara as your guide, make sure to ask her about her adventure in Beijing! And if you get Shungo, Ask him about his bear encounter! Would love to take a tour with them again.

Erica (Google Reviewer)  

Joined a 7 days tour...

24-Jan-2023

Joined a 7 days tour on my own. I did ice fishing, husky sledding, city sightseeing tour, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, wildlife tour and aurora viewing. All the activities are absolutely fun and interesting! Some activities like husky sledding and snowmobiling are operated by other companies but they will figure out all the transportation for you. You get different guides for different activities. They mostly speak in English, Spanish and Japanese. The guides are all very friendly, knowledge, professional and helpful. Ben, Ryan, Barbara, Naomi, and many more, which I couldn’t remember all their names, were absolutely welcoming and amazing! They all have their own specialties so it’s great to get to learn something new from each one of them. We went to this special place for aurora viewing which is about 40-50mins drive at night from 11:30 p.m. to 4 a.m.. There are heated cabinets and teepees where to keep you warm. They provide coffee, teas, hot chocolate and cookies. I was pretty lucky that I got to see the aurora 2 out of 4 nights. One night we didn’t get to see the aurora so the guides taught us how to make toffee in the snow! Just a heads up, you will definitely not get enough of sleep if you joined the aurora viewing every night on top of all the other activities during the day. However, I think it’s totally worth it. Many thanks to all the staff members. I absolutely had a great time in Whitehorse!

Vandana Jain (Google Reviewer)  

I went with them for...

25-Apr-2023

I went with them for wildlife a sanctuary trip in Yukon and it was definitely worth my money. The trip was very well guided and we saw each and every animal that is said to be there in the sanctuary. The guide explained to us about every animal and how they survive in this habitat and gave us a lot of valuable information. Even though during the tour we had a couple who could not understand English so he explained everything to them in Spanish, which I find very commendable, I don’t think any one felt left out or un understood which I admire I would definitely recommend the trip with arctic range adventure.

Shannon MacKinnon (Google Reviewer)  

Would not recommend this company...

06-Sep-2024

Would not recommend this company at all. I can totally empathize that weather is a major factor and sometimes unreliable however, they made the irresponsible and greedy decision to go ahead with the tour when the weather was predicted to be horrible hours before. They should have cancelled the tour and offered guests to come another night or a small percentage of the cost back. We were offered nothing and when we spoke to the owner, we were told that most people buy 3 nights instead of the 1 night that we purchased but with all due respect, why would we purchase more nights for something we didnt enjoy the first time? There was no accountability, just excuses. The guide was late arriving and the hot chocolate and cookie we were offered was not worth what we paid at all. Total cash grab, do not waste your money.

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Feb 21, 2025 - Feb 28, 2025
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Travel Club discount: -$159

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Travel Club discount: -$159

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