Canada's Arctic territory pairs incredible outdoor adventure with ways to experience Inuit culture.
Extending some 2 million square kilometres across the top of Canada, Nunavut is the place for one-of-a-kind Arctic outings, whether you travel by dogsled, snowmobile, kayak, or your own feet. Venture along the fjords to the floe edge (where ice meets the open ocean), backpack across the tundra during the long summer days, or check out the work of Nunavutâs many artists. The majority of the regionâs people are Inuit, and the territoryâs capital, Iqaluit, means âPlace of Many Fish,â in Inuktitut. If youâre not an experienced Arctic traveler, you may want to book your trip through a local outfitter skilled at exploring this remote destination.
Nunavutâs capital city is the starting point for most adventures in the territory. Itâs easy to sign up for dogsledding, snowmobiling, sea kayaking, canoeing, and other excursions right from town, but campers, hikers, and bird watchers can also explore nearby Sylvia Grinnell Territorial Park for an independent adventure.
Encompassing Canadaâs largest island, this is where youâll find the community of Pangnirtung, near Auyuittuq National Park, and a number of protected lands. Sirmilik National Park, at Baffin Islandâs northern tip, takes its name from the Inuktitut for âPlace of the Glaciersâ and is accessible from Pond Inlet or Arctic Bay, while Qausuittuq National Park on Bathurst Island in the high Arctic and Quttinirpaaq National Park, the âLand at the Top of the World,â are other highlights.
Home to Ukkusiksalik National Park, as well as the communities of Rankin Inlet, Baker Lake, and Naujaat (Repulse Bay), Kivalliq is north of Manitoba along the shores of Hudson Bay, where itâs common to spot beluga whales. Operators run boat trips into the national park in July and August. Itâs also good to know that this is polar bear and caribou country.
Nunavutâs westernmost area borders the Northwest Territories and extends across the Northwest Passage far into the Arctic. Kitikmeot is known for its wildlife viewingâthink caribou, musk ox, and grizzly bears, as well as narwhal, bowhead, and beluga whales.