..................... "I usually do not send a thank you for a thank you to our thank you (fugure that out) but I will add to Rochelle's note and say that our vacation with you was one of our best trips, and we have visited and lived in several countries."
Michael Cohen, Indianapolis, Indiana .....................  | Yukon Arctic Explorer Required participants: Min. 4 / Max. 12 Departure notes: Tour starts and ends in Whitehorse Tour Starts: March 2, 2013 Available Departure Dates
YWE 01/13: March 2, 2013 - March 11, 2013
Pricingprice | CAD $3680 ( USD $3620) * Prices per person based on double occupancy, 5% GST extra ** All transactions are in Canadian dollars  Included Services
- Arctic Circle certificate
- 4WD car -Inuvik to Tuk- (2 Persons per car)
- Support vehicle on the ice road
- Scheduled flight rom Inuvik to Whitehorse;
- 7 night's accommodation in hotels, motels and cabins as per itinerary;
- Emergency equipment including satellite phone and GPS;
- Knowledgeable and experienced driver / guide for the duration of the tour
- Meals as stated: (L = lunch).
Trip Description: Step in the footsteps of the Ice road truckers, and drive your own car over the ice road. This trip offers you a close up view of life in the deepfreeze. We'll travel a route into the last frontier to a place where people can experience the awesome beauty of a northern winter wilderness, a land which remains largely untraveled. We’ll cross the Arctic Circle as we head to Inuvik. And still we head north - on the famous Ice road to Tuktoyaktuk on the shores of the Arctic Ocean. After arriving at the airport take the shuttle bus or taxi to the hotel in downtown Whitehorse. The rest of the day is at your leisure.
 Start of our adventure trip to the north: We’ll drive along the famous Alaska- and Klondike Highways and stop en route to take pictures. We drive along Fox Lake, where a few years ago the record temperature of - 64 ° C was measured. We’ll see the Five Finger Rapids and cross some of the great northern rivers: Yukon River, Pelly and Stewart River are on our route today. We’ll arrive in Dawson City (540 km / 340 miles) in late afternoon. The flair of the city puts a spell on everyone who’s been here once, especially in winter. Walk around town and admire the many old and beautifully restored buildings from over a century ago, try the Sour Toe Cocktail, have a gamble at Diamond Tooth Gertie’s or have a drink in the Pit, one of the oldest pubs in Dawson. Meals included: L ^TOP After breakfast we drive over the ice bridge up to the "top of the world", for a beautiful view over Dawson City. On our way north we visit "Dredge # 4", a very well preserved gold dredge at Bonanza Creek Then we're off on the road less traveled! We'll leave the last trappings of civilization behind and head north on the Dempster Highway. In 1979, the Canadian government built this 800 km (500 miles) gravel highway to open up the oil and gas riches in the Mackenzie Delta. But the real riches are in the unsurpassed views, overwhelming beauty and magnitude of the landscapes. We'll stop at various spots to marvel at the immense landscape. With a little luck we’ll see moose, caribou or even wolves. After crossing several mountain passes we reach Eagle Plains in late afternoon. Here we'll find the only hotel, gas station and repair services along the entire highway. Don't expect a luxury hotel, but practical and clean accommodations that we'll share with highway work crews, exploration camps and worldwide travelers. Here is a good chance to see the Northern Lights. No meals included  We leave Eagle Plains and after a short time we reach the Arctic Circle. Here we can marvel the grand vistas over the Richardson Mountains and the road winding through the snowy mountains. And a few miles farther we cross the border into the Northwest Territories. Soon the landscape changes as we come to the MacKenzie delta. Here we drive over the ice bridge across the Peel River and a bit later the ice bridge over the MacKenzie River, the third largest river in North America. In the afternoon we reach Inuvik (379 km). We stay at the Nova Inn. Meals included:L ^TOP We’re off to one of the highlights of the Arctic: on the ice road to Aklavik, a typical Indian settlement, 112 km from Inuvik. Aklavik is located on the West Bank of the Peel channel in the MacKenzie delta. There are 631 First Nations living here, who make their living from trapping, hunting and fishing. Aklavik is connected to other places in the Beaufort Delta only in the winter by ice road. The "mad Trapper" from Rat River, hunted down and shot by the police in the winter of 1931-32, is buried in Aklavik. Then we drive back to Inuvik. Overnight in the Nova Inn. Meals included: L  The Iceroad to Tuktojaktuk the absolute highlight of our trip! Each participant is entitled to drive 190 km on the ice road. We start in a tributary of the MacKenzie River and then turn North on to the main ice road to the frozen Arctic Ocean. The ice is up to 1.5 m thick and in some places up to 100 m wide. Here and there the ice is really blue, and you can see the cracks. But don't panic, if the big trucks we’ll encounter can make it, so can we. On the ice road the maximum speed is 70 Km / hour and the bends and curves are signposted early enough, so you can reduce your speed in due time. It is quite an experience to drive on pure ice. On the way we see small cabins, different exploration camps and with a little luck you also can see moose. After 190 km, we’ll arrive in the small Inuit settlement Tuktojaktuk. A city tour will enlighten us about how these people can survive this harsh climate. In the afternoon we drive back to Inuvik, back to our rooms at the Nova Inn. Meals included:L. ^TOPIn the morning we can look around a little in Inuvik, later this day you fly back to Whitehorse. Souvenirs can be purchased before we go to the airport. The flight leaves around noon and back in Whitehorse, you will stay at the hotel down town. Departure, or of to your next adventure; Aurora viewing, Dog sledding, stay in a cabin; Ask us for possibilities. ^TOPWe can customize this tour! We understand the meaning of 'my way'.
Change the dates or other ideas? Just let us know and we take it from there. Trip Options: Yukon Winter Dempster Highway Excluded:
- Arctic clothing package (can be rented from Nature Tours of Yukon).
- Meals and beverages other then stated;
- Trip cancellation & medical insurance: We strongly recommend you purchase adequate insurance coverage at the time of booking. Your policy should cover injury, illness or death, trip cancellation, emergency medical search & rescue, flight accident, travel accident, loss of baggage and personal effects.
^TOPNotes:
- Average temperatures at this time of winter are between -2° and - 24° Celsius (28 to -31 Fahrenheit), but extremes may be as low as -45° Celsius (-50 Fahrenheit). We ask you to bring adequate clothing to withstand these temperatures. Upon request you can rent a clothing package from Nature Tours of Yukon.
- Changes in the itinerary due to weather and road conditions are a possibility. Nature Tours of Yukon explicitly reserves the right to adapt the tour itinerary.
- Nature Tours of Yukon provides all necessary emergency equipment including satellite phone and GPS.
- We require that you sign a ‘release of claims and waiver of liability form’ prior to participating on this trip.
^TOPThe Aurora Borealis in Canada is without a doubt a phenomenon that nature has so generously bestowed upon us, and thousands of people every year make the trek to the Yukon countryside to see this dazzling display of magical lights. In fact, at Nature Tours of Yukon, our guests by and large come to Whitehorse to take part in a Northern Lights tour that will likely render them speechless. If you would get a thrill out of experiencing the razzle-dazzle of the Aurora Borealis firsthand, we would be just as thrilled to help you plan a customized trip. You may have heard about the Aurora Borealis, or perhaps even seen some captivating pictures of the Northern Lights in books. We assure you that these photos you may have seen can in no way compare to actually viewing the Aurora Borealis in person. The magnetic pull of the dancing lights in the midnight sky will lock your eyes in the upwards position, as you will not want to blink for fear of missing one moment of such exquisite natural beauty. The Northern Lights have been inspiring people around the world for centuries, simply because they are so wondrously captivating and magical, that no man-made display of lights could ever match their twinkling beauty and grace. Lose Yourself in the Aurora Borealis Could you use a little rest and relaxation? Perhaps you could use a little reprieve from the high-tech world we live in for some quiet solitude out in the Canadian Yukon. Imagine sitting in a heated tent surrounded by pristine wilderness, with the Northern Lights being the only illumination around you. If you long for some peace and quiet, let the sparkling lights of the Aurora Borealis transport you to that place in your heart and mind that feels content just being the observer. There is nothing for you to do but simply enjoy the natural fireworks display of the Aurora Borealis. You and your fellow travelers can enjoy some hot chocolate and good conversation, from the comfort of a heated tent or cabin, without any ‘To Do’ lists to worry about or errands to run or people to call. When you take a Northern Lights adventure tour with us, you can check your responsibilities at the door and allow the natural beauty of the landscape to envelop you and intoxicate your senses. |
Nature Tours of Yukon P.O. Box 31187, Whitehorse, Yukon Canada Y1A 5P7 Phone: 867-667-4868 Fax: 867-667-2028 Email:info@naturetoursyukon.com
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