..................... "I really enjoyed the extreme cold, even though people back here in FL think I'm nuts! :-) I'm so glad the snow was still on the trees & everywhere else when I was there!"
Martha Spencer, Fort Lauderdale, Florida .....................  | Yukon Winter Road Required participants: Min. 4 / Max. 12 Departure notes: Tour starts and ends in Whitehorse Tour Starts: February 12, 2011 Available Departure Dates
Pricingsingle supplement | CAD $500 ( USD $482) * Prices per person based on double occupancy, 5% GST extra ** All transactions are in Canadian dollars  Included Services
- Airport transfers in Whitehorse and Inuvik;
- All transportation by van as per itinerary;
- Scheduled flight by Air North from 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.
Trip Description: This trip offers you a close up view of life in the deepfreeze. We'll travel over the North's legendary roads; the North Klondike Highway, the spectacular Dempster Highway and the famous ice road to Tuktoyaktuk. Step in the footsteps of the Ice road truckers, travel the 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 we'll transfer you to the Hotel in downtown Whitehorse. Meet your guide and the other participants for an information meeting. 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. See the Five Finger Rapids and cr  oss some of the great northern rivers: Yukon River, Pelly and Stewart River are on our route today. We’ll arrive in Dawson City (540 kms / 340 miles) in late afternoon. There is time to visit the Dredge #4 and the Midnight Sun Dome. Walk around town and admire the many old and beautifully restored buildings from over a century ago. ^TOPWe're off on the road less traveled! We'll leave the last trappings of civilization behind (we are well equipped) 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. We'll make good time on the road despite the gravel surface, crossing several mountain passes to 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. Overnight at Eagle Plains Hotel  Just a half hour outside of Eagle Plains we'll reach the Arctic Circle Interpretative Display, with panoramic views of the Richardson Mountains. Shortly after, we'll cross in to the Northwest Territories. We may take a hike near the border (optional). Once through the last mountain pass, we'll descend into the seemingly endless Mackenzie River valley. We'll cross the Peel River over the ice bridge before arriving in Fort McPherson, a small First Nations community. After visiting the village, we'll continue to the Mackenzie River which we'll also cross over the ice bridge. Another hour and a half gets us to Inuvik and our room for the next nights in a charming B&B. ^TOP This will be another fascinating day! We'll drive onto the ice of a side arm of the Mackenzie River and head north towards the frozen Polar Sea. You’ll be amazed about the thickness of the ice (up to 1.5 m). We’ll drive past remote cabins and frozen in tug boats. After 180 km we'll make landfall at Tuktoyaktuk, a small Inuit town. In "Tuk", the Inuit (Eskimo) population lives a partly traditional life style with hunting, trapping and fishing but the oil and gas industry is also very evident in and around the town. The town is nicely situated in a sheltered bay on the Beaufort Sea. You can take photos of the old mission ship, cabins, small boats and the many tied up dogs. By mid-afternoon we'll return to Inuvik.  Today we’ll drive on another ice road through the Mackenzie Delta to the small Inuit settlement of Aklavik (120km). This ice road follows the smaller arms of the Mackenzie, which turn more. In Aklavik we have time to look at the houses and have a hot chocolate at the local store before returning to Inuvik. ^TOPBefore we fly back to Whitehorse we’ll have time to explore Inuvik and to talk to some of the locals. If at all possible we’ll visit some of the local artists where you may see how these objects are made and you may also purchase them. At the airport we will be picked up and transferred to your hotel in downtown Whitehorse.
After breakfast, you'll take off on your next adventure! ^TOPExcluded:
- Meals and beverages;
- 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.
- Canadian law requires 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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