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Home Story 5 Amazing Places You Can Stay, But Won’t Want To Leave

5 Amazing Places You Can Stay, But Won't Want To Leave

You’re going to want a late checkout time.
An igloo village, cruising cabins and a renewable-energy oasis experience prove that in the Northwest Territories unforgettable adventure begins the moment you step out of bed.

A Campsite That Floats

Where: Yellow Dog Lodge, a 20-minute floatplane ride from Yellowknife
Sleeps: Two to Four
Most Instagramable Feature: Reeling in your whitefish dinner without leaving your bed.
The Story: It’s part diving board, part fishing platform. And all fun. Putter around your own private lake in your pyjamas. Fish off of the deck and grill up your catch in a gas BBQ just feet away. Drift off in your snug bed, in a romantic outfitter’s wall tent, to the gentle rocking of pristine Graham or Duncan Lake. Wake up to morning calls from loons and then watch as they dive below your floating cabin in search for breakfast. With a thin mist clouding the lake, you might wonder if you’re still dreaming.

An igloo made of ice is illuminated on the dark winter tundra

An Igloo (For Real!)

Where: Tundra North Tours’s Aurora Igloo Village, outside of Inuvik
Sleeps: One to Four
Most Instagramable Feature: Umm, you’re sleeping in an igloo!
The Story: Get a taste of what life has always been like in the North. Sample tuktu (caribou) and pipsi (Arctic char). Beside a crackling fire, sip warm tea as you listen to traditional Gwich’in and Inuvialuit stories. Marvel at a giant ice teepee and inuksuit lit up in the night. Then watch the Northern Lights do their magical cosmic dance back and forth across the sky until they awe you into silence. Retreat into the sheltered confines of your very own igloo and wrap yourself in furs for an inconceivably toasty sleep in a land of snow and ice. Can you think of anything more authentically Arctic than that?

The inside of a Mongolian yurt is illuminated with a warm glow

A Tiny Home With A Twist

Where: On the shore of Great Slave Lake in Hay River
Sleeps: Two
Most Instagramable Feature: The time-travelling, space-altering effect from the ornately decorated interior.
The Story: Mongolian-style yurts may feel a tad out-of-steppe plopped down on the Canadian subarctic. But that’s what makes these charming 400-square-foot dwellings such a blessing to relax in after a long day on the water or exploring the abundance of world-class waterfalls nearby. In summer, the yurts are a short walk from the beach. In winter, your woodstove quickly heats up the compact space, giving you a comfortable, carefree night’s sleep in a yurt surrounded by the otherworldly beauty of the South Slave.

A family watches the Northern Lights from the steps of their cabin

Photography by The Expeditioners

An Oasis Of Tranquility

Where: Willow Ridge Retreat, a 45-minute drive up the Ingraham Trail from Yellowknife
Sleeps: One to Ten, (One to Two in the bedroom cabin)
Most Instagramable Feature: Cozying up with a book in a true off-grid, renewable energy-powered guesthouse with the snow falling outside the window.
The Story: This out-of-town hideaway encourages you to slow down, unplug and get back in tune with the rhythms of your natural surroundings. Overlooking the Cameron River, where it flows out of sprawling Prelude Lake, Willow Ridge Retreat allows guests to explore the area at their own pace. Pedal-boat the waters in summer or snowshoe out onto the lake for tea in a canvas outfitter’s tent in winter. Explore backwoods trails with your sketchpad or some watercolours, capturing the wildflowers, birdlife or rocky outcrops you encounter. Return to the cozy lodge, powered by renewable wind and solar energy, and relax. Cook a big meal, share some laughs, and keep thoughts of your busy life far, far away at bay.

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Winter Aurora – 3 Day Trip

Namushka Lodge (1982) Ltd.

Activities

Aurora Aurora Lodges Fall Aurora Fishing Ice Fishing Nature and Wildlife Snowmobiling Snowshoeing Winter Activities Winter Aurora

Namushka Lodge is your wilderness home away from home.  The main lodge boasts a comfortable seating area with unobstructed views of Harding Lake. Enjoy all the comforts of home with the solitude of being the only person on the lake. All inclusive (breakfast, light lunch, supper and snacks). 1 hour drive from/ to Yellowknife down […]...

Starting At

$3,125

CAD + 5% GST + Double Occupancy
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Fishing Package_2024_Gord_Yellowknife_1

Sport Fishing Package

Yellow Dog Lodge, Inc.

Activities

Fishing Fly Fishing Nature and Wildlife Tours Wilderness Lodges

Packages Include: Accommodations – main lodge rooms Bush Plane charter transportation – return Boat Rentals and Fishing Rods & Reels Fuel and oil for boats All home made meals All home baked snacks Complimentary coffee, tea hot chocolate, juice, water Outdoor hot tub, sauna, screened gazebo, hot showers Paddling equipment: kayaks, canoes, peddle boats, paddle […]...

Starting At

$1,615

CAD + 5% GST + Per Person
View this Package
Aurora Package_Gord_Yellowknife_Aurora_1

Aurora Package

Yellow Dog Lodge, Inc.

Activities

Aurora Aurora Lodges Fall Aurora Fishing Nature and Wildlife Snowshoeing Tours Wilderness Lodges Winter Activities

Packages Include Accommodations – main lodge rooms Bush Plane charter or snowmobile transportation – return All home made meals All home baked snacks Complimentary coffee, tea hot chocolate, juice, water Paddling equipment: kayaks, canoes, peddle boats, paddle boards, float tubes Self guided paddling and nature trail hiking Satellite WiFi, satellite TV, satellite telephone, movies, games, […]...

Starting at

$2,143

CAD + 5% GST + Per Person
View this Package
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The Ultimate 7-Day Fishing Trip

Trophy Lodge – Great Slave Lake

Activities

Arctic Grayling Aurora Fishing Lake Trout Nature and Wildlife Tours Wilderness Lodges

From Saturday to Saturday enjoy 7 Days on the water! Come enjoy our pristine lake, our abonnement of fish and our beautiful lodge. Numerous rivers, unique rock formations, abundant birds and wildlife and crystal clear waters make this a prime nature site, in short the scenery is terrific. We can comfortably host up to 16 […]...

Starting at

$3,899

CAD + 5% GST + Per Person
View this Package
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Winter Aurora Package

Blachford Lodge

Activities

Aurora Aurora Lodges Cross-Country Skiing Cultural Demonstrations Ice Fishing Snowmobiling Snowshoeing Wilderness Lodges Winter Activities Winter Aurora

Welcome to Blachford Lodge. 2025 New Moon dates: January 29, February 27, March 29, April 27 Opening in December, 2024 will be our 5 newly renovated cabins. We are adding more comfort, beauty, and overall enhancements to your experience with us. Winter outdoor activities include cross-country skiing on 20 kilometers of groomed trails, snowshoeing, sliding, ice skating, […]...

Starting at

$3,597

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

View this Package
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
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Okpik Arctic Village Winter Package

Tundra North Travel

Activities

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

DAY 1 Arrive at Okpik Arctic Village. Start off by settling into your home away from home. We’ll show you around our Eco-Village where you will learn about our local manufacturing and food production programs and why they are so important for Northern food security, economic leakage, as well as providing culturally relevant jobs in […]...

Starting at

$3,500

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
View this Package
Simpson Air

Náįlįcho Flight Seeing Tour

Simpson Air

Activities

Flight Tours Nature and Wildlife Tours

Embark on a thrilling flightseeing tour aboard our Cessna 185 or DeHavilland Beaver on floats, departing from Fort Simpson for a day of discovery in Nahanni National Park Reserve. As the engine purrs to life and the aircraft gracefully lifts off the water, excitement fills the air. Flying over vast expanses of untouched wilderness, your […]...

Starting at

$2,160

CAD + Includes 5% GST + Per Person + Includes National Park Fees
View this Package
Nahanni Mountain Lodge

Nahanni Mountain Lodge (3-night stay, 2 people)

Simpson Air

Activities

Fishing Paddling Wilderness Lodges

Escape to Nahanni Mountain Lodge for an unforgettable wilderness retreat unlike any other. Immerse yourself in the pristine beauty of Canada’s Northwest Territories with our exclusive 2-person, 3-night stay package, designed for those seeking solitude, adventure, and tranquility amidst nature’s embrace. Nestled on the serene shores of Little Doctor Lake, our cozy cabins offer the […]...

Starting at

$3,548

CAD + 5% GST + Per Person
View this Package
Petersons Point Lodge - Aurora Experience

Aurora Experience

Peterson’s Point Lake Lodge

Activities

Aurora Lodges Fall Aurora Nature Photography Wilderness Lodges

Approximately every 10 years the northern lights are stronger than any other time and that time is now. Book a special trip this autumn miles away from city lights and crowds of people, right under the auroral oval. Our remote fly-in lodge provides the ideal location to see the northern lights with viewing opportunities right […]...

$4,159

USD + 5% GST + Per Person
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
View this Package
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
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......

Aurora Viewing Cabins

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Trail Blazer Tours

Book an adventure with us at Trail Blazer Tours for an unforgettable experience! Your adventure with us will create lasting......

Trout Rock lodge aerial view in the summer time.

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Enodah Wilderness Travel/ Trout Rock Lodge/Enodah Kennel

Enodah Wilderness Travel / Trout Rock Lodge/ Enodah Kennel offer high-quality Aurora viewing experiences by night and dogsled tours by......

Lynx Lodges in the NWT

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Andrew Lake and Lynx Tundra Lodges

Multi-day Trips Summer

Arctic Adventure & Wildlife viewing on the edge of the tree line of Canada’s Northwest Territories. Lynx Lake 400 km......

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......

A woman holding up a large Lake Trout at Aylmer Lake on a fishing trip in the NWT.

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Aylmer Lake Lodge

DISCOVER A MOMENT THAT LASTS A LIFETIME. Aylmer Lake Lodge is located in Rocknest Bay, which is on the Barren......

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.......

A man holding up a huge lake trout smiling at the camera at Taltson lake Lodge in the NWT.

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Taltson Lake Lodge Ltd.

Fly-in fishing lodge located 150 air miles (240 kms) south of Yellowknife. Full American Plan or unguided....

A woman at Ten Stone Mountain Lodge looking out at the sky in the Sahtu region in the Northwest Territories.

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North-Wright Airways Ltd.

If are looking for a spectacular weekend retreat nestled in the serenity of the Mackenzie Mountains at Ten Stone Mountain Lodge. North-Wright......

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,......

Cessna 180 on the sandy beaches of Little Doctor Lake

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Goose Flying Service

We are a small air service with two bush planes based in Fort Simpson. Operating on floats throughout the summer......

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Trophy Lodge - Great Slave Lake

Multi-day Trips Summer

Fish for Lake Trout, Arctic Grayling and Northern Pike at the remote untouched East Arm of Great Slave Lake, one......

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Arctic Tours Canada

Arctic Tours Canada is a Yellowknife based tour operating company that offer Aurora Hunting and Viewing tours, Yellowknife sightseeing tours,......

Dease Arm of Great Bear Lake aerial shot showing the lodge and surrounding water in the Northwest Territories.

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Plummer's Great Bear Lake Lodge

Great Bear Lake Lodge is located on the Dease Arm of Great Bear Lake and is home to the biggest......

Scott Lake Lodge brightly lit under the dark sky with green aurora dancing overhead at border of the NWT and Saskatchewan.

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Scott Lake Lodge

One of the finest Pike and Lake Trout waters in North America, on the 60th Parallel. Enjoy luxurious private cabins......

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....

Aerial view over Peterson's Point Lake Lodge in the Northwest Territories.

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Peterson's Point Lake Lodge

Peterson’s Point Lake Lodge provides you access to known waters teeming with monster lake trout. Their current record is a......

Overhead view of Ten Stone Mountain Lodge brightly lit living room in the Sahtu region, NWT

Ten Stone Mountain Lodge

Summer

Book this entire cabin in the remote wilderness of the stunningly breath-taking, Mackenzie Mountains. This cabin is hands down the......

Ahmic Air De Havilland Canada DHC-2 Mk. I Beaver plane in Northwest Territories Canada.

Ahmic Air Ltd.

Floatplane charter service using classic DHC-2 Beaver aircraft based in Yellowknife’s historic Old Town. Sightseeing flights over Yellowknife and surrounding......

Sandy Point Wilderness Lodge by Gordon Lake on a sunny day in the Northwest Territories.

Sandy Point Wilderness Lodge

Exceptional fishing on Gordon Lake, 100 km northeast of Yellowknife. Fish for Lake Trout, up to to 56 lbs! Fly in by......

A group of guests with Air Tindi on Nahanni Scenic Floatplane tour in the NWT.

Air Tindi - Tours

Air Tindi is an airline company based in Yellowknife offering flights to a number of diverse destinations within Canada’s spectacular Northwest Territories!......

Two Northstar Resort boats on the sandy beach of Thekulthili Lake near Fort Smith, NWT.

Northstar Resort

Northstar Resort is a remote fishing lodge located on Thekulthili Lake, 95 miles (152 km) northeast of Fort Smith. Operates from......

Grey Goose Lodge exterior picture surrounded by trees and the Great Bear Lake at sunset in Deline in the Northwest Territories.

Grey Goose Tours & Lodge

Welcoming and friendly with a rustic charm and all modern conveniences, Grey Goose Lodge immediately catches your eye as you......

Warburton Bay Lodge two inukshuks set up among the snow in winter in the North Slave region NWT.

Warburton Bay Lodge

Warburton Bay has a magic of its own. Located on the southwest end of Mackay Lake, it is close to......

Three hikers resting on a hill overlooking mountains near Dechenla Wilderness Lodge in the NWT

Dechenla Wilderness Resort

Remote naturalist’s lodge snuggled in the Mackenzie Mountains, in the largest mountain wilderness in North America. Located along the Canol......

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© Northwest Territories Tourism 2024

Land Acknowledgement

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.

Best places to go 2024 - Condé Nast Traveler