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Home Story It’s better in the Barrenlands
Rocks stacked on the Barrenlands, in Canada's Northwest Territories

It’s better in the Barrenlands

East of Great Slave is a regal, lonesome realm – the treeless zone of the Barrens. Here, rivers flow clear, herds of caribou stretch to the far horizon, and wolves survey their empire from atop ancient outcrops, impervious to human visitors.  

Paddling the Thelon, Coppermine, Dubawnt and other wild rivers of the Barrenlands in Canada's Northwest Territories

Rivers that run God knows where

The Barrenlands give birth to icy rivers that jostle through the rock-ribbed landscape, bound for the far Arctic. These iconic waterways – the Thelon, Coppermine, Burnside, Dubawnt and Back – are rich in history, legend and beauty.

Muskoxen live on the Barrenlands in Canada's Northwest Territories

Creatures with a foot in both worlds

Here, the forest dwindles to sticks and the Subarctic and Arctic collide. The beasts of the Barrens are a strange mash-up of the polar and the boreal: Muskoxen and moose, caribou and grizzlies, beavers and wolverines, ptarmigans and geese. This place is a strange paradise, intriguing to behold.

The Barrenlands explode with colour in the fall in Canada's Northwest Territories

A place that’s like a postcard

Think autumn colours are pretty in New England? The Barrenlands in August and September turn crimson, as a million delicate flowers explode into colour and berries erupt on every bush.

The town of Wekweeti, Northwest Territories, Canada, on the cusp of the treeline.

People on the edge

Thriving at the cusp of the Barrenlands, placid Wekweètì is one of the North’s most scenic communities. The tiny Tłįchǫ settlement huddles among sandy eskers and tiny pines not far from the treeline – our closest community to the caribou country northeast of Great Slave Lake.

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
Dancing Skies Aurora Tours_Yellowknife_2024_1B

Private Aurora Chasing and Photo Session

Dancing Skies Photo Tours

Activities

Aurora Nature and Wildlife Nature Photography

Enjoy a fully personalized experience for you and your group of up to five people with a single rate for the entire group in a Private Aurora Photo Session. For those seeking the ultimate northern lights experience, this session focuses on capturing you under the auroras with dozens of beautiful portraits and timelapse videos, all […]...

$750

CAD + 5% GST + Price for the whole group (max 5 people)
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Dancing Skies Aurora Tours_Yellowknife_2024_1A

Intimate Aurora Chasing Adventure

Dancing Skies Photo Tours

Activities

Aurora Fall Aurora Nature and Wildlife Nature Photography Tours Winter Activities Winter Aurora

Unlike conventional tours, which often involve large groups and crowded spots, our tours focus on intimate experiences in small groups of no more than 5 people. This approach ensures tranquility and allows for a deep, personal connection with the starry sky and the mesmerizing auroras. Silence is key to embracing the beauty of the Northern […]...

$150

CAD + 5% GST + Per Person
View this Package
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%)

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%)

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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
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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
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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
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Polar Pack Adventures - Mackenzie River

Fishing Tour on the Mackenzie River

Polar Pack Arctic Adventures

Activities

Birding Fishing Inconnu Nature and Wildlife Northern Pike Tours

We offer an exciting fishing tour along the Mackenzie River, where you can try your hand at catching both large and small fish, including Jack fish and Coney. All the necessary equipment is provided. Alternatively, you can enjoy a scenic tour of the Mackenzie River, which includes a visit to Reindeer Station—the original site of […]...

$500

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
Sundog Trading Post -Houseboat and Heritage Lunch

Houseboat and Heritage Lunch

Sundog Adventures

Activities

Boat Tours Nature Tours Tours

Climb on board a guided boating tour of Yellowknife Bay. We will travel along the shoreline of Yellowknife’s largest gold mine, Giant Mine, N’dilo, a Yellowknives Dene Community, and pass through the eclectic houseboat community. You will then refuel with a delicious lunch and ice cream at the Sundog Trading Post in Old Town.  Itinerary […]...

Starting At

$115

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......

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......

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......

Bright green aurora blast over the sky with Ji Guang Tour in Yellowknife, NWT.

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Ji Guang Tour

With over 30 years of living in Yellowknife, we offer a variety of tourism experiences for our guests. We are......

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......

Destination NWT

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Destination NWT Ltd.

Day Trips Northern Lights Winter

Destination NWT Limited is a tourism operator located in Yellowknife, Canada. DNWT specializes in outdoors adventures, aurora photography, and cultural experiences: Best rated Snowmobile Tour, winter gears included, exciting trail riding Aurora Tour in a Luxurious lakeside Lodge Unique Aurora tour while Ice Fishing indoors Full panoramic moonroof vehicle for Aurora Viewing DNWT’s tours allow […]...

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.......

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......

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Yellowknife Outdoor Adventures

For a Great Northern Experience! Yellowknife Outdoor Adventures offers a variety of day trips ranging from 2 to 10 hours......

Beautiful sunset over the waterfall at Watta Lake Lodge in the NWT

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Watta Lake Lodge

Comfortable lodge a 20 minute by floatplane ride from Yellowknife. Guided fishing for Lake Trout (to 34 lb), Arctic Grayling (to......

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,......

Yellowknife Tours Spectacular Aurora green and purple in the sky in the NWT.

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Yellowknife Tours

Northern Lights Summer Winter

Come experience world-class Aurora Borealis viewing in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada. We are the only guides in the Northwest Territories......

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......

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......

Dancing Skies Photo Tours

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Dancing Skies Photo Tours

Northern Lights Winter

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, […]...

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 […]...

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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,......

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......

Tukto Lodge red and yellow float plane flying at sunset to Mosquito Lake in the North Slave in the NWT.

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Tukto Lodge

Tukto Lodge has been exceeding anglers’ expectations for more than fifty years. As the only fishing and eco-tourism lodge in......

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......

Narwal Northern Adventures voyageur canoe on Great Slave Lake

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NARWAL Northern Adventures

Northern and Remote Wilderness Adventures Ltd. (NARWAL) is a small, friendly, majority Aboriginal owned and operated family business. Our reputation......

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....

A Dall Sheep peeking its head out of the brush in the Mackenzie Mountains in the Northwest Territories.

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Gana River Outfitters Ltd.

Gana River Outfitters is a family owned and operated outfitting business offering remote wilderness hunts in the beautiful Mackenzie Mountains......

Multi-layered Waterfall in Hay River with three people on a grey speed boat passing by in Northwest Territories.

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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......

South Nahanni Outfitters hunt with many moose in the green field in the Dehcho region in the Northwest Territories.

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South Nahanni Outfitters Ltd.

Outfitting to all of us is a way of life, one that we cherish because we love to hunt, love the......

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......

aurora village tipi yellowknife

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Aurora Village

Indigenous

Aurora Village – A Class of Its Own Aurora Village is a unique Aurora-viewing facility situated 25 minutes from downtown......

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......

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!......

Pehdzeh Ki First Nations picture of picnic benches on a cloudy day in Wrigley with the Mackenzie mountain range in the background in the NWT.

Pehdzeh Ki First Nation

Pehdzeh Ki First Nation is located in the community of Wrigley, Northwest Territories, Canada. We are a Designated Authority in......

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......

Arctic Safaris man taking a photo in the Barrenlands in the Northwest Territories.

Arctic Safaris

Fishing and Barrenlands wildlife photography, including migrating caribou, at the Obstruction Rapids in the central Barrenlands north of Yellowknife....

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Northwest Territories Parks

To truly experience the Northwest Territories, take your camping gear for a highway driving adventure! Long ribbons of road without......

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......

Beaufort Sea Adventures

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Beaufort Sea Adventures

Indigenous Northern Lights Summer Winter

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 […]...

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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