The biggest lake. The longest river. The wildest mountains. The toughest trail. And the friendliest little towns. Here’s why the Sahtu is like nowhere else on Earth:

A wild hodgepodge of artefacts can be found at this museum, which showcases the marvels of the central Mackenzie region. There are displays on geology, bushplanes, oil-drilling, military history – the list goes on. The giftshop is amazing too, with crafts from a range of local creators.

Possibly the most spiritual of all the North’s communities, idyllic Déline lives in lockstep with its wild environment. The small town huddles on the shores of Great Bear, and the people take their role as “keepers of the lake” seriously. It’s one of the best places to learn about Dene lore, values and history.

This is the hardest hike you’ll ever do – a three-week-long epic through the brooding Mackenzie Mountains, following the rough tracks of the Canol Road and Pipeline that pierced this wilderness back in World War II. You’ll face bugs, bears and bitterly cold river crossings. You’ll also become tough as nails, and proud as hell.

The oldest building in the Northwest Territories may also be its prettiest. Designed by the legendary Oblate priest Émile Petitot, the walls of this quaint cathedral highlight local wildlife and lifeways. The building was designated a National Historic Site in 1977.

Big and bountiful, Great Bear is the king of Northern lakes, with more sprawling surface than any other water body in Canada. It holds nearly every world record for sport-caught Lake Trout, is home to the vast new Saoyú-?ehdacho National Historic Site, and ripples with history – heck, the first-ever documented game of hockey was played here in 1825. v