Canadian Arctic Watch 2018 10 days

Arrive at any time and check in to hotel. Evening briefing and distribution of parkas and boots

Today, board our private chartered plane to fly the 1,000 miles (1,500 km) to Arctic Watch Wilderness Lodge. During the four-and-a-half-hour flight, you’ll pass over the treeline as you cross the Arctic Circle. Following a refueling stop in the community of Cambridge Bay,circle above Cunningham Inlet, a beluga whale migration site.

After a hot breakfast, you’ll have the chance to explore Cunningham Inlet, home to ring and bearded seals as well as nearly 2,000 beluga whales, on one of Arctic Watch’s new fat bikes. You’ll ride out on the sea ice to visit Flatrock Falls and Kayak Falls. Formed as the result of shifting fault lines, these two spectacular geological formations have steep walls that vary in height from 200 to 1,000 feet (61 to 305 meters).

After a full breakfast, you’ll tackle the tough arctic terrain on ATV—one of the most popular activities at Arctic Watch—travelling along the Muskox Ridge Trail, which offers scenic vistas of the entire area. Along the trail, you’ll also pass by an impressive Arctic fox den, where you may have the opportunity to watch fox cubs at play. You’ll likely encounter muskoxen, too.

One of today’s activities may be kayaking in Cunningham Inlet. Paddle among icebergs, looking out for beluga whales as well as ring and bearded seals. Sightings of seabirds, including Arctic terns and eider ducks, can be expected. After a lunch served along the shoreline, you’ll take a short hike to explore a local canyon aptly named Kayak Falls. From there, you’ll enjoy stunning views of the Northwest Passage and the opportunity to see polar bears.

Today we’ll depart for a trip to Flatrock Falls, crossing the Cunningham River delta. There, you’ll have the option of hiking or travelling by Mercedes Unimog a (multi-purpose four-wheel drive truck). You’ll visit the Somerset Island canyons, formed as the result of shifting fault lines.

Today, you’ll set out on an ATV to Cape Anne, where you’ll visit some Thule sites along the coast and look for polar bears. The Thule people were bowhead whale hunters, ancestors of today’s modern Inuit.

Today’s full-day rafting adventure will begin after breakfast with a Mercedes Unimog truck ride to the Arctic Watch raft launch on the Cunningham River, 12.5 miles (20 km) from the lodge. Opt to hike the final four miles (6 km) through the Badlands, passing the skeletal remains of two bowhead whales that date back 8,000 years. On the way to the launch, you may encounter muskoxen, snow geese, jaegers (skuas), Arctic fox, sandpipers and rough-legged hawks.

Today, you’ll bid a fond goodbye to the lodge team and the High Arctic. You may have time to take advantage of one last activity before you depart. In the late afternoon, you’ll return to Yellowknife. Upon arrival in Yellowknife, you will be transferred to your included hotel.

After breakfast and boot return, you are free to stay in town or continue to airport and home.