Itinerary: Inuvik and Tuktoyaktuk in three thrilling days
Inuvik – the metropolis of the Mackenzie Delta. Tuktoyaktuk – the most famous town on the Arctic Ocean. Together, they promise a wealth of exotic experiences for visitors to the Western Arctic. You could wander the Dempster Highway for a week, or spend days trekking Tuk’s intriguing, pingo-pocked landscape. But if you’ve just got a long weekend in this northernmost bit of the Northwest Territories, here’s how to make the most of it.
DAY ONE
Begin your polar adventure at Inuvik’s Western Arctic Regional Visitor Centre, with museum-quality exhibits on local culture, flora and fauna, plus plenty of friendly travel advice, maps and brochures. Learn all about the Western Arctic’s history to better appreciate everything you’re going to see.
Next, hit the highlights on the town’s main drag, Mackenzie Road. There’s the famous Igloo Church, possibly the most photographed building in the North, which has been a beloved local landmark since 1960 and is decorated with paintings by Inuvialuit artist Mona Thrasher.
You’ll also find a number of gift shops, offering Gwich’in and Inuvialuit artworks, clothing and crafts from across the Western Arctic. Treat yourself to a handy crescent-shaped ulu knife, a pair of plush beaded mittens, or even a stunning Mother Hubbard-style parka with a sunburst hood.
Do some local hiking. There are great trails looping around Boot Lake. It’s also worth the trek to Jak Territorial Park to climb the viewing tower – a stunning place to survey the Mackenzie Delta.
Tee off for the northernmost round of golf you’ll ever play. The Road’s End Golf Course will rent you clubs and balls, and offers surprisingly lush fairways.
If you’re here in mid-to-late July, revel in the displays and activities at the remarkable Great Northern Arts Festival. The event draws hundreds of artists and performers from around the polar world, making Inuvik a vibrant creative mecca. The Globe and Mail newspaper has deemed the festival one of Canada’s Top 50 Summertime Events.
Finally, be sure to watch the sun not set. Situated well above the Arctic Circle, Inuvik enjoys 57 straight nightless days, from late May to late July.
Stroll back to your campsite at Happy Valley Territorial Park, just minutes from downtown. Zip up your tent, get snug in your sleeping bag and rest up for another day of adventure.
DAY TWO
Today, take a tour of the surrounding region. Options abound.
You could join a boat cruise through the Mackenzie Delta, weaving through the maze of creeks and channels to glimpse local wildlife and birds, check out traditional hunting-and-fishing camps, and hear legends and tales about the old days when locals were nomadic and roamed the delta year-round.
Or, join a driving tour of the Dempster Highway to the Arctic Circle and back. This frontier road leads through quaint Gwich’in communities, across the broad Peel and Mackenzie Rivers, and up into the Richardson Mountains, where eagles, wolves, moose and grizzly bears abound.
Or, take a airplane tour to historic Herschel Island on the coast of the Arctic Sea. Here, you’ll have a chance to spot seals, whales and rare birds; see the historic structures and hear the wild tales about this former whaling port; learn about Inuvialuit culture; and possibly witness ongoing archeological digs.
DAY THREE
It’s time to explore the most intriguing town on the Arctic Ocean. Join a airline tour or hit the road on the new Inuvik to Tuktoyaktuk Highway.
Opened officially in November 2017, the highway’s construction took four years – local crews set out from each community to build the road and eventually met in the middle. A clever feat of modern engineering, the Inuvik to Tuktoyaktuk Highway was strategically built up on an embankment to minimize permafrost disturbances. In total, the roadway winds 138 kilometres over rolling tundra, with opportunities for unrivaled berry-picking and wildlife-watching along the way. It’s the only highway in all of Canada to connect to the Arctic Ocean.
Tuk is an Inuvialuit town of 900 souls on the shores of Kugmallit Bay.
On your Tuk town tour, you’ll experience the bizarre frozen domes of Canadian Pingo National Landmark, home to 15-storey-high Ibyuk Pingo, the largest pingo in Canada.
You’ll visit the Cold War-era DEW Line Site, the historic Lady of Lourdes schooner, and a traditional sod house, much like those that the area’s Inuvialuit called home in past centuries…
Finally, no trip to the Western Arctic would be complete until you’ve dipped your toe (or your whole body, if you dare!) in the Arctic Ocean. Make sure that your bold deed is documented. Pictures or it didn’t happen!
Intriguing tales from Canada's Northwest Territories
Member
Book an adventure with us at Trail Blazer Tours for an unforgettable experience! Your adventure with us will create lasting......
Member
Your Dene Connection in Yellowknife. B. Dene Adventures is a Traditional Dene Culture Camp business which teaches the Dene way......
Member
We are the Łı́ı́dlı̨́ı̨́ Kų́ę́ got’ine. People of the community of Łı́ı́dlı̨́ı̨́ Kų́ę́, “the place where rivers come together”, in......
Member
Tundra North Travel is an Inuit company based in Inuvik, Northwest Territories that was established with the dream of being......
Member
Red Cliff Adventures has a traditional camp that is located in Lutsel K’e, on the shores of the East Arm,......
Member
Arctic Adventure & Wildlife viewing on the edge of the tree line of Canada’s Northwest Territories. Lynx Lake 400 km......
Member
Commercial air charter service providing air support for hikers on Canol Road, sightseeing in the beautiful Mackenzie Mountains, and fly-in fishing......
Member
Best Northern Road Trip! Now you can drive all the way to the Arctic ocean linking Canada from coast to......
Member
Agritourism is where agriculture and tourism meet to provide you with an amazing educational experience, whether it be a tour......
Member
DISCOVER A MOMENT THAT LASTS A LIFETIME. Aylmer Lake Lodge is located in Rocknest Bay, which is on the Barren......
Member
Simpson Air (and its predecessor) is the oldest continuously-operated flying service in the Mackenzie Valley, established in the early 1960s.......
Member
For a Great Northern Experience! Yellowknife Outdoor Adventures offers a variety of day trips ranging from 2 to 10 hours......
Member
With Bluefish Outfitting you’ll get an unforgettable trip of a lifetime. Bluefish Outfitting offers personalized, guided fishing trips and boat tours on......
Member
We are an Inuvialuit owned and operated family business, run by locals Enoch and Amanda Pokiak, based in Inuvik in the Western......
Member
100% Indigenous owned! We are the world’s first Aurora Hunting tour company, we know Aurora. Learn about Aurora, why Yellowknife is the......
Member
Remote private wilderness paradise on Little Doctor Lake, 100 km west of Fort Simpson. Accommodates 20 in cabins. Fishing, swimming,......
Member
Great Slave Lake Tours offers winter and summer trips on Great Slave Lake, the ninth biggest lake in the world......
Member
Come experience world-class Aurora Borealis viewing in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada. We are the only guides in the Northwest Territories......
Member
We are a small air service with two bush planes based in Fort Simpson. Operating on floats throughout the summer......
Member
Canada has a deep love for our natural resources with diamonds being the highest expression of love. Thanks to Canada’s world class standard for sustainable mining, we are custodians of our precious lands and take great pride and care releasing these rare gems. From the moment our land is surveyed to the final reclamation (the […]...
Member
Dancing Skies is a new tour operator in Yellowknife, led by an experienced northern lights chaser and photographer with a passion for contemplation. Specializing in private tours and small groups of up to 5 people, we prioritize silent, serene observation and photography of the aurora, far from the crowds. With expertise in Space Weather data, […]...
Member
We offer winter clothing rentals. Our winter clothing will keep you warm and comfortable for your outdoor fun – ask us......
Member
Arctic Tours Canada is a Yellowknife based tour operating company that offer Aurora Hunting and Viewing tours, Yellowknife sightseeing tours,......
Member
We operate a fully equipped luxury coach and offer City Tours, Aurora Tours and tours to the Nahanni National Park Reserve......
Member
Extend your trip to Fort Simpson with a visit to our Dene Camp, K’iyeli. We have options available for an......
Member
Northern and Remote Wilderness Adventures Ltd. (NARWAL) is a small, friendly, majority Aboriginal owned and operated family business. Our reputation......
Member
Etching popular northern designs on unique 100% recycled glass, since 1994. Visit our gift shop in Old Town or come......
Member
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....
Member
2 Seasons Adventures is a family-owned company. Our professional guides boast a lifetime of experience enjoying the unique lifestyle of......
Member
Peterson’s Point Lake Lodge provides you access to known waters teeming with monster lake trout. Their current record is a......
Create your own story. We offer a variety of services to make your Sahtu adventure a reality! We offer everything from......
Floatplane charter service using classic DHC-2 Beaver aircraft based in Yellowknife’s historic Old Town. Sightseeing flights over Yellowknife and surrounding......
Air Tindi is an airline company based in Yellowknife offering flights to a number of diverse destinations within Canada’s spectacular Northwest Territories!......
An Indigenous, family owned business with much history, knowledge and stories to share about the Spectacular Northwest Territories! We used......
Our vision is to see the Beaufort-Delta Region of Canada’s western arctic become the dream destination for motorcycle adventure enthusiasts from......
Pehdzeh Ki First Nation is located in the community of Wrigley, Northwest Territories, Canada. We are a Designated Authority in......
Boat tours in the wildlife-rich Slave River delta and fishing at Taltson Big Pike Lodge....
For 35 years, Sambaa K’e has offered world-class fishing on Trout Lake just north of the Northwest Territories-British Columbia border.......
Fishing and Barrenlands wildlife photography, including migrating caribou, at the Obstruction Rapids in the central Barrenlands north of Yellowknife....
To truly experience the Northwest Territories, take your camping gear for a highway driving adventure! Long ribbons of road without......
Member
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 […]...
Member
Beaufort Sea Adventures is a family-owned and Indigenous-operated business, proudly offering Arctic experiences in Tuktoyaktuk. Our family lives and breathes the North, giving us a unique insight into the hidden gems that make Tuktoyaktuk truly special. We offer guests an authentic cultural immersion, sharing our Inuvialuit heritage, stories, and deep connection to the land and […]...
