One of the world’s most rewarding experiences is to travel across the Arctic Circle and experience life in this unique Canadian region consisting of the Yukon and the Northwest Territories. In many respects this is the “real frontier” region of Canada, full of fascinating history and many surprises. This unique group journey navigates the entire length of the famous Dempster Highway via coach, past the marker at Eagle Plain where the Dempster crosses the Arctic Circle. The road parallels the Richardson and Ogilvy Arctic mountain ranges, where a foot print of today will possibly be the first time that a human being has walked in those “hills”. This adventure visits the fabled gold rush towns of Dawson City and Whitehorse and Yellowknife on the Great Slave Lake. It travels on the White Pass and Yukon Narrow Gauge railroad, following the “Train of 98”, as did the gold seekers way back in…1898. It goes as far north as Inuvik on the Beaufort Sea and into the North West Passage to visit Tuktoyaktuk, an Inuit frontier settlement. This is truly “The land of the midnight sun”.

Highlights:

Whitehorse with the "Trail of '98" and the "Golden Stairs", Klondike River, Yukon River, Gold Rush past of Dawson City, the rugged Dempster Highway, crossing the Arctic Circle, cultural presentation in Inuvik, caribou of Tuktoyaktuk, mining city of Yellowknife.

Meet your driver for a private airport transfer.

Swift connecting flights will allow for a timely arrival into the north city of Yellowknife, the capital of the Northwest Territories. You will be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel. This evening the group gathers together for an orientation briefing.

Upon arrival in Yellowknife, you will receive a transfer to your hotel.

Located at the entrance to Yellowknife, The Explorer Hotel is the natural starting point for your scenic adventure or viewing the Northern Lights. Overlooking Niven Lake and Back Bay to the north and Frame Lake and the Legislative Assembly to the south, spectacular panoramic views await you in your spacious room.

Overnight at The Explorer Hotel (Standard).

This northern, yet somewhat sophisticated, town is full of surprises from the magnificent Prince of Wales Museum and the nearby unique Legislative Building to the curious and feisty neighborhood of Back Bay with its mix of frontier-style commercial and residential inhabitants. Float-planes arrive and depart on the water air strip in Back Bay, adding to the hustle and bustle of the community. Mining is huge in this territory and recent discoveries of high-quality diamonds have added the luster to the already mature gold mines in the area.

Today, you tour the bustling town and visit its remarkable contrasts. You'll take a short hike out to the Cameron Falls Ramparts and enjoy a packed picnic lunch.

Overnight at The Explorer Hotel (Standard).

Today, fly across the Arctic Circle and arrive in the town of Inuvik, which in Inuvialuktun, means “the place of man”. You'll receive a transfer to your hotel for a two-night stay. An orientation drive will acquaint the group with this unique Arctic community. The planned town of Inuvik is at the head of the Mackenzie River Delta. It is a transit town for goods and supplies heading both north to the drilling stations and then south again for re-supply. It has a real frontier atmosphere. Strolling the streets one can instantly get an appreciation for the vibrant, yet resourceful, life which these Northern Canadians lead.

Overnight at MacKenzie Hotel (Standard).

Today you'll take a short flight along the Arctic coastline to visit Tuktoyaktuk on the Beaufort Sea. Its name means “It looks like Caribou” which is quite apt because “Tuk” is on the migratory path of these wonderful northern creatures and they are central to much of the heritage and current life of the Inuit people. Due to its excellent harbour, Tuk became a central point for oil and natural gas exploration and related services in the Canadian Arctic region.

Overnight at MacKenzie Hotel (Standard).

Cross on the ferry system, leaving the Northwest Territories for Eagle Plains, Yukon. “The Dempster”, as it is known locally, is an extraordinary road leading south through some of the most lonely and inaccessible territory in North America. The road was only completed in the early 1980’s. It is used as a year round supply route to the communities on the Beaufort Sea, which have access to the Arctic Ocean and the North West Passage. Between October and June, trucks roll north from Dawson City the entire winter season. Their drivers sleep at Eagle Plains, using the Ice Bridges, rather than the ferries over the rivers, and never turning off their engines for as long as it takes to get there and back. The road was named after Corporal Dempster of the Royal North West Mounted Police who gallantly searched for a lost patrol of his colleagues in the bitter winter of 1911. The Dempster runs for 450 miles through a variety of stark, yet magnificent scenery.

See communities such as Tsiigèhnjik (Arctic Red River) and Teet'lit Zhen (Fort McPherson) before arriving at the Arctic Circle. A small sign commemorates this momentous crossing. Your hotel at Eagle Plains is just down the road from the circle.

Overnight at Eagle Plains Lodge (Standard).

Dawson City is located in the norhtern region of Yukon, Canada.  Often referred to as just "Dawson" by the local people, this small city attracts 60 000 visitors annually.

Continue south on the Dempster through vast stretches of open countryside. This is an excellent area to keep your binoculars handy as a number of bird and animal species may be viewed from the highway.

Travel alongside the Klondike River to the confluence at the mighty Yukon River and the town of Dawson City, the capital of the Yukon until 1953.

The Downtown Hotel (3*)  was built in 1981, and opened June 9, 1982. The main building was constructed to replace the previous property which burned down in 1980. The original structure, dating from 1902, was well known throughout the North for it's exceptional hospitality and service. With it's new structure, the Downtown Hotel has combined the look and feel of the Klondike Era with the most up-to-date safety and convenience features. Being locally owned and managed, this northern gem is able to provide better quality control and customer service.

Overnight at The Downtown Hotel (3*).

At the height of the Gold Rush, Dawson City boasted the largest population of any town north of San Francisco and west of Winnipeg. Today, Dawson City has a permanent population of just 2,000, which swells considerably during the short, but intense, Yukon summer. An admirable conservation and restoration program has ensured that the days of the Klondike and the memories of those fortune-seekers will never be forgotten, by lovingly caring for significant buildings in this historic town. There is ample time to visit Bonanza Creek and to inspect one of the massive dredges which moved earth and aggregate in search of gold. One of the joys of a visit to Dawson City is strolling the back streets and seeking out the cabin where Robert Service wrote his famous poems and then wandering into a local establishment for a coffee and a chat with whomever is there – a colorful and authentic character or a visitor from afar.

Overnight at The Downtown Hotel (3*).

Travel 331 miles on the Klondike Highway, a former stagecoach trail connecting the two largest communities in the Yukon. Stop at the dreaded “Five-Finger Rapids” on the Yukon River where many of the large stern-wheelers foundered en-route to the goldfields. This road is still frontier country and you will see many local vehicles with the obligatory “stone-shields” over their windshields and Australian style “Roo-Bars” in front of their radiators for safety. An orientation drive acquaints you with Whitehorse before checking into your hotel.

Overnight at Best Western Goldrush Inn (Standard).

Today, travel down by motor coach to Skagway, Alaska. Stroll through the streets of this pioneer town before boarding the narrow-gauge White Pass and Yukon Route railway. Your route climbs over the fabled gold-rush “Trail of ‘98” to the Yukon Territory. Learn of the “Golden Stairs” of Chilkoot Pass, climbed on foot by thousands of adventurers, many coming from as far afield as Europe, to seek their fortune. Often they hired human pack-horses to trek alongside them over the narrow trail, which was cut into the often snow-bound pass as they inched North towards their destiny. You'll visit Carcross on your way to Whitehorse. Nowadays, Whitehorse still has a frontier atmosphere with its broad streets, its river-front location and the surrounding mountains and creeks which still contain sizeable deposits of gold. This evening, you are taken out on the town to a performance of the Frantic Follies.

This evening, take in a performance of the Frantic Follies.

Overnight at Best Western Goldrush Inn (Standard).

Vancouver is a coastal city located in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is consistently ranked one of the most livable cities in the world, based on its warm climate, beautiful scenery, modern infrastructure, and social community. Vancouver is ethnically diverse, with 52% of city residents having a first language other than English. The economy has traditionally relied on forestry, mining, fishing and agriculture; although, tourism has grown rapidly as more people discover this gem on the Pacific Ocean.

Depart Whitehorse today for your non-stop flight to Vancouver, bringing your Arctic journey to an end as you bid farewell to the north.

Enjoy a private transfer in a luxury vehicle with professional driver. 

The Fairmont Hotel Vancouver (4*) is nestled between the majestic coastal mountains of British Columbia and the tides of the Pacific Ocean in Vancouver, one of Canada’s most cosmopolitan metropolises. Sumptuously styled and fully equipped rooms are what await you at this spectacular hotel, designed to provide all the elegance and charm of an English castle. Among their commodities you will find first-class accommodations but also, amazing facilities and amenities. Griffins Restaurant is the most popular bistro in the city of Vancouver, with an extensive and plentiful buffet and dramatic décor, highlighted by arched windows which overlook the Vancouver Art Gallery. 900 West Lounge is Vancouver’s hottest address of the moment, with award-winning cocktails and sultry sounds of live jazz music. For your leisure moments, the hotel also provides a lovely indoor pool and the luxurious Absolute Spa, the perfect place to pamper yourself with some well deserved rest and relaxation.

Overnight at Fairmont Hotel Vancouver (4*).

Enjoy a private transfer in a luxury vehicle with professional driver. 

Depart from International Airport. End of itinerary.

Overnight at Depart (Int`l Airport).