August 17
Toronto - Vancouver - Whitehorse
Erik Hersholt Nielsen PC DFC QC was a Canadian lawyer and politician. He served as the longtime Progressive Conservative Member of Parliament for Yukon and was Leader of the Opposition and the third deputy prime minister. He was the elder brother of actor Leslie Nielsen.
Whitehorse Airport pick up to hotel.
OVERVIEW
YUKON AND NORTHWEST TERRITORIES
Join us as we travel overland on a fascinating route to the Arctic, along untouched wilderness and ancient wildlife corridors, and traditional trading routes of First Nations traders - later used by Klondike Gold Rush prospectors and NWMP patrolmen.
The route offers some of the greatest geographic diversity in the country; the Tombstone Mountains in the central Yukon are among the youngest mountain ranges in North America, while the low rolling Ogilvie’s with their naked spines were not glaciated during the last Ice Age, and thus are among the oldest. North of the Ogilvie Mountains, the landscape gradually flattens to low tundra and just after crossing the Arctic Circle the Richardson Mountains, the Northern-most extension of the Rocky Mountains, come into view.
From there, the roadway will begin it’s descent into the impressive Mackenzie River Delta; 12th largest in the world, to arrive at Inuvik, known as the Place of Man. The tour finishes with a thrilling excursion to the Inuvialuit village of Tuktoyaktuk, on the Arctic coast, accessible by a gravel road along the Mackenzie River and the Arctic Ocean, where we have the chance to ‘dip our toes’ in the Arctic Ocean.
Unlike most tours there are no meals included in this package!
It does include:
City sightseeing tour in Whitehorse and Dawson City
Entrance fee for "Diamond Tooth Gerties"
Casino Guided Gold Panning Tour
Historic First Nation City Tour in Tuktoyaktuk
Overnight stay with First Nation Family
Arctic Circle ceremony Whitehorse/Inuvik Airport shuttles
August 20
Meet and greet and transfer to your downtown hotel. En route, your guide will offer a city highlight tour that includes SS Klondike National Historic Site, the Old Log Church and the Log Cabin Skyscraper.
You’ll meet your fellow travellers and your guide will review the itinerary and your equipment at our group meeting this afternoon.
The remainder of the afternoon and evening is free to explore the city and do any last minute shopping. Dinner Accommodation: Whitehorse
August 21
WHITEHORSE - DAWSON CITY
Prior to the late 1950’s, the only way to travel to Dawson City in summer was on a majestic paddlewheeler like the SS Klondike. Today, we’ll cover the 550km distance in just a few hours. Our route today takes us through the heart of the Yukon interior more or less along the Yukon River valley. We’ll stop for a coffee in the morning at Braeburn Lodge, famous for its massive cinnamon buns, then continue northbound on the Klondike Highway passing through several small native villages and settlements including, Carmacks, Pelly Crossing and Stewart Crossing. Near Carmacks, the road offers great views of famous Five Finger Rapids and about an hour outside of Dawson, we’ll stop at the Tintina Trench overlook for views of the expansive Yukon interior with the Ogilvie Mountains beyond that we’ll pass through the day after tomorrow. After a relaxed dinner we pick you up from your hotel for our evening program and visit Diamond Tooth Gerties Gambling Hall with poker game and Cancan-Dance-Girls. Accommodation: Dawson City
August 22
DAWSON CITY
After breakfast, we discover Dawson City. A visit to the Jack London and Robert Service cabins and the museum are on the program. A highlight is the drive into the Bonanza and Eldorado Creeks where we visit the historic Dredge #4 and an active gold mine. You have the chance to try your luck panning for gold in the Klondike.
In the late afternoon we travel up the Midnight Dome Road for fantastic views of Dawson City and the Yukon River. After a true northern dinner you have the time to explore the city yourself by foot. Overnight accommodation in Dawson City.
August 23
DAWSON CITY - EAGLE PLAINS
We’ll get an early start today and travel to the Dempster Highway. The Dempster is one of the truly great Canadian roadways. Completed only in the late 1970’s, the Dempster is still the only fully public road in North America to cross the Arctic Circle. Today’s drive is considered most scenic; Tombstone Territorial Park encompasses the jagged peaks to the West that give the park its name and further along, the Ogilvie Mountains offer superb scenery and stunning vistas. Wildlife is often spotted along the roadsides, so keep a good watch for foxes, the occasional wolf and caribou. We’ll stop for a picnic lunch at a creek-side campground, where gray-jay’s, or ‘camp-robbers’ as they’re known locally will keep us company always happy to help with leftovers. As we arrive at Eagle Plains in the late afternoon/early evening, the modest hotel, fuel station, and highway maintenance station – the only civilization for approximately 300km in either direction - feels like an oasis! Accommodation: Eagle Plains
August 24
EAGLE PLAINS - INUVIK
Departing Eagle Plains, our first stop is at the Arctic Circle crossing, where we’ll enjoy a celebratory glass of champagne to commemorate this special occasion. After crossing a mountain range and two rivers (the Richardson’s and the Mackenzie and Peel Rivers), we’ll visit the First Nations community of Fort MacPherson. The famed Lost Patrol, found after they perished by RNWMP Corporal Dempster - for whom the highway is named - is laid to rest here. A former Hudson Bay trading post, some native elders still wonder the village in Hudson Bay print dresses. Inuvik is a relatively young community with an ancient history. The Canadian government commissioned the building of the town in the 1950’s when it became apparent that the nearby traditional village of Aklavik, was slowly sinking into the delta. Inuvialuit people (Inuit, once referred to pejoratively as Eskimos) were also moved down from various points on the Arctic coast. Appropriately, the name Inuvik means Place of Man in the Inuvialuit language. We’ll take a short tour of the village on the way to hotel and you’ll have time to explore the town on foot in the evening. Accommodation: Inuvik Mackenzie Hotel 2 star
August 25
INUVIK – TUKTOYAKTUK
Today will be memorable; we’ll travel along the expansive Mackenzie River delta toward the Arctic coast. At the river's entrance into the Arctic Ocean, the road turns northeast and travels along the coastline of the Arctic Ocean toward the village of “Tuk” as it is known by residents. Not far from town, you’ll see the first of several ‘pingos’. These are mountains literally made of ice; heaved-up season after season with the annual freeze and thaw. The tallest is over 100m! We will be met by local guides who will take us on a tour of their unique village. Stops along the way include the historic Lady of Lourdes schooner and some of Tuk’s famous community buildings such as sod houses, churches and the community “freezer”; a hollowed-out section of permafrost located deep underground. You’ll also see the Northern Early Warning site (formerly DEW Line) and even get a chance to dip your toe in the Arctic Ocean! You’ll also be invited to a local resident’s home for a glimpse at home life in a northern community. Accommodation: Tuktoyaktuk
August 26
TUKTOYAKTUK TO INUVIK
Return to Inuvik. Afternoon and evening free for optional sightseeing and tours. Accommodation: Inuvik
August 27
INUVIK - WHITEHORSE
Transfer to Inuvik Airport, check in, board southbound aircraft. Tour services end on arrival at Whitehorse Airport. Optional evening in Whitehorse or connecting flights. Accommodation: Sternwheeler Conference Centre and Inn
August 28 - 29
August 28 morning in Whitehorse.
Whitehorse - Vancouver - Toronto
