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People camp and canoe in Fort Smith in the Northwest Territories

What’s your ultimate Fort Smith weekend?

Are you a thrill-seeker always up for a new adventure, or do you prefer a nice, relaxing escape from the ordinary? What about a combo of the two? Whatever kind of traveller you are, Fort Smith has the perfect extended-long weekend or week-long staycation options.

There’s almost too much to see and do in this South Slave community, which is why we’ve curated some can’t-miss itineraries. Take this quiz and find out what your ideal Fort Smith staycation should look like:

A person looks out over the Slave River in Fort Smith in the NWT

Ahhh, vacation time! What are you hoping to do?

1. Paddle, bike, hike, camp, trek – vacations are my time to get outside and do what I love! (3 points)

2. A little bit of learning, a little bit of relaxing, a little bit of the great outdoors. (2 points)

3. So excited to get away and relax. I need to de-stress. (1 point)

Northern lights Aurora dance in the sky above slave river by Forth Smith in the Northwest Territories

The stars are out and the aurora are dancing. Where are you?

1. Out in my vehicle, chasing them! Where else would I be? (3 points)

2. At my campsite, looking up! (2 points)

3. Taking a peek out the window, or I’ve already booked an aurora tour. (1 point)

People enjoy a meal camping in the Northwest Territories

Arguably the most important thing about vacations is the food. What are you eating?

1. I’ve pre-packed and can’t wait for those campfire-cooked meals. (3 points)

2. I like a good balance. Some meals cooked over the charcoal at the campsite, a couple meals out, if possible. (2 points)

3. I can’t wait to eat out and not have to think about food! (1 point)

3 people enjoy a cabin in Fort Smith in the Northwest Territories

It’s time to sleep. What’s your go-to bedding?

1. Put me under the stars, please! Backcountry camping or tenting it, always. (3 points)

2. My RV, every time. (2 points)

3. Give me a solid roof – I like nature, but I’m not looking to be “one with it.” (1 point)

A pelican on the Slave River in Fort Smith, N.W.T.

Fort Smith has some incredible wildlife. Where do you want to encounter those critters?

1. In their natural habitats – safely and not disturbing them, of course! (3 points)

2. Bird-watching with my morning coffee, please. (2 points)

3. I’ll stick to a museum or farm, thanks. (1 point)

Kayakers on the Slave River near Fort Smith in the N.W.T.

The water is calling to you. How are you going to take the plunge?

1. I want to hit those rapids, in a canoe or trying my hand at stand-up paddleboarding. (3 points)

2. A guided paddle tour is more my speed. (2 points)

3. I’m going to watch the pelicans on the waves and enjoy the sunset from the shore. (1 point)

Paddlers high five on the Slave River in the Northwest Territories

Now add up your score!

15-18 points: Adventure time itinerary

You’re a rugged adventurer who loves to blaze their own trail. Your personal Fort Smith staycation starts at the Pine Lake Campground in Wood Buffalo National Park. Rent a canoe or stand-up paddleboard from the Fort Smith Paddling Club and play around on the water at Pine Lake. Explore the area with a hike or bike along the trails surrounding the lake. Then, have an out-of-this-world experience on a self-guided trek to Grosbeak Lake. Click here to check out the full weekend itinerary and special offers for staycation travellers.

11-14 points: Local immersion itinerary

You like the best of both worlds – comfort and excitement. Start your ideal Fort Smith staycation at the Pelican Rapids Inn. Then head over to the Desnedé Farmers Market and delight in its many treasures. Check out locally grown produce, baked goods, and other locally made products every Sunday from 1 until 4 p.m. in season at Mission Park. Head down to the Rapids of the Drowned to view Fort Smith’s famous pelicans up close or book a stand-up paddleboard lesson with the local Paddling Club. Click here to check out the full weekend itinerary and special offers for staycation travellers.

6-10 points: The Retreat itinerary

Take it easy with the perfect staycation to unwind. There are plenty of comfy options for a relaxing stay in Fort Smith, from the WBNP Pine Lake Cabins, to the Pelican Rapids Inn or the Wood Buffalo Inn. Grab your favourite coffee at the NSixty Trading Company and enjoy a self-guided walk along the Thebacha Trail boardwalk. Be sure to book a free tour at the Northern Life Museum & Cultural Centre for a behind-the-scenes look at the art, culture and history of the region. Don’t miss the gift shop! Click here to check out the full weekend itinerary and special offers for staycation travellers.

Nahanni, NWT, Canoe, Nahanni Park_2024_Nahanni River Adventures

Nahanni Canyons from Virginia Falls - 12 Day Rafting Trip

Nahanni River Adventures

Activities

Arctic Char Arctic Grayling Aurora Birding Boat Tours Camping Canoeing and Kayaking Experienced Paddling Fall Aurora Fishing Fly Fishing Hiking Tours Inconnu Lake Trout Nahanni to Dehcho Nature and Wildlife Nature Photography Nature Tours Northern Pike Novice Paddling Paddling Rafting Road Trips Tours White Water

This trip takes you through some of the iconic features for which this historic river is renowned, including Canada's deepest canyons and Nailicho / Virginia Falls - twice the height of Niagara! Our Nahanni River 12-day trip covers the same distance as our seven day trip but allows more time for additional hiking and exploring, as well as savouring the beauty of the Nahanni Valley area because… why rush if you don’t have to?...

$10,595

CAD + 5% GST + $220.48 CAD National Park fees.
View this Package
Enoch Pokiak_Region_Western Arctic_Polar Pack Arctic Adventures_Aurora_Witner_2024_2

Winter Package – Northern Lights Tour

Polar Pack Arctic Adventures

Activities

Aurora Aurora Day Trips Dempster Highway to the Arctic Ocean Nature and Wildlife Road Tours Tours Western Arctic Winter Activities Winter Aurora

Experience the Northern Lights on the Inuvik to Tuktoyaktuk Highway Join us for a breathtaking tour along the stunning Mackenzie River, where we embark on an adventure to chase the mesmerizing northern lights. As we traverse the icy landscape, you’ll have the opportunity to spot a variety of wildlife! Tour Details: Time: 9 PM to […]...

Starting at

$500

CAD + 5% GST + Per Person
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Two people in a boat holding up a huge fish at Blachford Lake Lodge

Summer Fishing Adventure

Blachford Lodge

Activities

All-Inclusive Lodges Canoeing and Kayaking Fishing Housekeeping Lodges Lake Trout Nature and Wildlife Northern Pike Stand up Paddling

Summer Adventure & Relaxation Welcome to your summer getaway, north of 60. Far from the noise and bustle of any city, Blachford Lodge is happy to be your home away from home in the summer months. Bask in the midnight sun (yup, you can read a book outside all night long!), catch a trophy fish, […]...

Starting at

$2,997

CAD + 5% GST + Per Person + $499 Air Charter + Gratuities (10%)

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Blachford Lake Lodge - Aurora

Autumn Aurora Package

Blachford Lodge

Activities

Aurora Aurora Lodges Canoeing and Kayaking Cultural Demonstrations Fall Aurora Fishing Lake Trout Nature and Wildlife Northern Pike Stand up Paddling Winter Activities Winter Aurora

Welcome to Blachford Lodge. Aurora watchers and stargazers agree there are few better places to see the Aurora than Blachford Lodge. From mid-August, when night skies turn a velvety black to late October when the lake begins to freeze, Blachford guests can be treated to late night shows of the northern lights. On calm nights […]...

Starting at

$3,597

CAD + 5% GST + Per Person + $499 Air Charter + Gratuities (10%)

View this Package
Jad Davenport _Western Arctic_Winter_2024_5

Okpik Arctic Village Day Stay - Winter

Tundra North Travel

Activities

Arts and Culture Cultural Demonstrations Dogsledding Nature and Wildlife On the Land Road Tours Tours Western Arctic Winter Activities

We will pick you up in Inuvik and take you for a drive along the Inuvik-Aklavik ice road to the Okpik Arctic Village about 16 km north of town where you will spend the day with us to reconnect to nature. Together with your local guide you will learn how to build an igloo, check […]...

$925

CAD + 5% GST + Per Person
View this Package
Okpik Arctic Village_Western Arctic_Winter_2024_1

Great Northern Adventure Signature Package

Tundra North Travel

Activities

Arts and Crafts Tours Arts and Culture City Tours Cultural Demonstrations Dempster Highway to the Arctic Ocean Dogsledding On the Land Road Tours Road Trips Tours Western Arctic Winter Activities

Day 1 Catch your morning flight from Dawson City to Inuvik crossing the Arctic Circle and enjoying the amazing Arctic scenery. Meet your guide at the airport in Inuvik, collect your bags and start your adventure. You will experience a town tour of Inuvik, learning about the Northern community before we take you on a […]...

Starting at

$6,000

CAD + 5% GST + Per Person
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My Backyard Tours - Whati

My Backyard Tours - WHATÌ

My Backyard Tours

Activities

Arts and Culture Cultural Demonstrations Ice Fishing Road Tours Snowmobiling Snowshoeing Winter Activities

Whati is situated on the third largest lake, Lac La Martre, in the NWT and the location offers guests a pristine and untouched environment to view the Aurora Borealis, while you can also enjoy an uninterrupted view of the beautiful scenery of the Lac La Martre lake. Guests can sit back and relax in a […]...

Starting at

$490

CAD + 5% GST + Double Occupancy
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paddling the Nahanni River canyons in NWT with Black Feather

Nahanni River 14 Day "Classic"

Black Feather – The Wilderness Adventure Company

Activities

Canoeing and Kayaking Experienced Paddling White Water

The two week Nahanni River (Nahʔą Dehé) trip is the most popular canoe expedition on the Nahanni River. It offers the perfect opportunity to paddle the highlights of the Nahanni (Nahʔą Dehé). You may get to hike to the rare Tufa Mounds - the largest "warm-spring" tufa formation in the north, and will definitely reach the awe-inspiring Virginia Falls (Náįlįcho), and paddle through four canyons that are, in places, deeper than the Grand Canyon!...

$9,495

CAD + 5% GST + Per Person + National Park Fee
View this Package
A person photograph a muskox in the Northwest territories

Guided Canoe Trip in Thaidene Nene National Park (12 days)

Jackpine Paddle

Activities

Birding Canoeing and Kayaking Experienced Paddling Lake Trout Nature Photography Nature Tours Novice Paddling On the Land White Water

This is our top trip for spectacular campsites and world-class hiking opportunities in a very remote tundra wilderness. Our guided Eileen River/Sled Creek canoe adventure offers exclusive access to one of the best wilderness wildlife trips in the Northwest Territories!...

$12,275

CAD + 5% GST + Per Person
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Thaidene Nëné Authentic Wilderness Camp

Wilderness Camping Adventures

Red Cliff Adventures

Activities

Camping Cultural Demonstrations Fishing Nature and Wildlife Nature Tours On the Land

Thaidene Nëné Authentic Wilderness Camp Spend two days and two nights getting a completely authentic experience of the area around Thiadene Nëné and Łutsël K’é. Tour the community itself and enjoy a scenic boat trip out to Red Cliff Island, learning the history and hearing Indigenous storytelling from Ron himself. Hearty meals and an authentic […]...

$1,445

CAD + 5% GST + Per Person
View this Package
Nahanni River Adventures a big group of hikers in the Nahanni National Park in the Dehcho region

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Nahanni River Adventures

Multi-day Trips Summer

Spectacular river journeys on Canada’s most iconic rivers. Travel with expert guides by raft or canoe and immerse yourself in......

Trail Blazer Tours aurora trip with the purple and green aurora in the sky over the lake and trees in Yellowknife NWT.

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Blachford Lodge

Summer Winter

What began as a “part time fishing lodge” has now become a “full time Aurora Wilderness Lodge” open year round......

3rd Canyon on the Mountain River in the Northwest Territories

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Canoe North Adventures

Multi-day Trips

For over 30 years, Canoe North Adventures has made it our mission to create spectacular memories for life, and to show......

Hunters on horseback in the Mackenzie mountains with Ram Head Outfitters hunting big game in the Dehcho region in the NWT.

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Ram Head Outfitters Ltd.

Commercial air charter service providing air support for hikers on Canol Road, sightseeing in the beautiful Mackenzie Mountains, and fly-in fishing......

Arctic Chalet Tours dog sledding with man on skidoo snowmobile transporting supplies in winter in Inuvik Northwest Territories.

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Arctic Chalet Tours

Best Northern Road Trip! Now you can drive all the way to the Arctic ocean linking Canada from coast to......

Culinary Festival Logo

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Territorial Agrifood Association

Agritourism is where agriculture and tourism meet to provide you with an amazing educational experience, whether it be a tour......

Simpson Air Float Plane at Glacier Lake in the Nahanni National Park in the NWT

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Simpson Air

Simpson Air (and its predecessor) is the oldest continuously-operated flying service in the Mackenzie Valley, established in the early 1960s.......

Canoe North Adventures paddler on a serene lake with the sunset in the horizon in Hay River Northwest Territories.

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Canoe North

Canoe North, located in Hay River, Northwest Territories offers kayak and canoe rentals and sales. We can set you up for a......

View of Little Doctor Lake and Nahanni Mountain Lodge in Nahanni National Park in the NWT.

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Nahanni Mountain Lodge

Remote private wilderness paradise on Little Doctor Lake, 100 km west of Fort Simpson. Accommodates 20 in cabins. Fishing, swimming,......

Guided Canoe trip on the Keele River

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Jackpine Paddle

Day Trips Multi-day Trips

Unplug from the commonplace with our Northwest Territories canoe and kayak expeditions. We specialize in true wilderness adventures to the......

Huge Lake Trout caught by fisherman holding it up with a friend next to him on a boat and on sunny day in Kasba lake in the Northwest Territories.

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Kasba Lake Lodge

Multi-day Trips Summer

World Class Fishing Within Reach Yet Beyond Belief For 3 generations we have been honing the Kasba experience to be like no-other. Our level of hospitality, dedication to the fishery, and a legendary passion for the experience that permeates through our entire team is undeniably contagious. No matter what you’re looking for in your fishing […]...

Black Feather - the wilderness adventure company logo with picture of a yellow canoe and a paddler in the Nahanni National Park.

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Black Feather - The Wilderness Adventure Company

Multi-day Trips

For over 50 years, Black Feather has had the opportunity to operate canoe, hiking and sea kayaking expeditions throughout the......

Narwal Northern Adventures voyageur canoe on Great Slave Lake

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NARWAL Northern Adventures

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Yellow Dog Lodge aerial view among trees on a bright sunny day along the Duncan and Graham lakes in the Northwest Territories.

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Yellow Dog Lodge, Inc.

Multi-day Trips Northern Lights Summer

Yellow Dog Lodge is a comfortable lodge with 3 private cabins for our guests. The lodge is a short (15 minute) floatplane ride from Yellowknife. Located on Duncan and Graham Lakes, the lodge is your hub for adventure. Choose from an additional 5 lakes for guided day trip excursions. Each lake is unique and offers unspoiled first class fishing. We are the only lodge that operates guided trips on each of these remote lakes located in the NWT taiga wilderness. Packaged trips feature superb sport fishing and safe outdoor adventure. The lakes and streams offer the finest Lake Trout, Northern Pike, Walleye and Arctic Grayling in the region. As an added bonus, our guests will enjoy the midnight sun and may even catch the northern lights later in the fall or early spring....

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2 Seasons Adventures

2 Seasons Adventures is a family-owned company. Our professional guides boast a lifetime of experience enjoying the unique lifestyle of......

Arctic Motorcycle Adventures with a motorcycle parked at sunset in the Western Arctic Region of the NWT.

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Our vision is to see the Beaufort-Delta Region of Canada’s western arctic become the dream destination for motorcycle adventure enthusiasts from......

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Inuvik is located 200km North of the Arctic Circle, on the East Cannel of the incredible ecosystem that is the Mackenzie Delta. We are located within the Taiga Forest just south of the treeline and Arctic Tundra. Inuvik acts as the gateway to the Western Arctic as the Mackenzie River, Dempster Highway and Inuvik-Tuktoyaktuk Highway […]...

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Northwest Territories Tourism acknowledges that we are located in Chief Drygeese territory. From time immemorial, it has been the traditional land of the Yellowknives Dene First Nation, and more recently, the homeland of the North Slave Métis Alliance. We respect the histories, languages, and cultures of Inuit, First Nations, Metis, and all First Peoples of the NWT and Canada, whose presence and cultures continue to enrich our vibrant communities.

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