Home > Destinations > North America > Canada > The Yukon, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut > Active Pursuits
Bookstore Community Tips and Tools Book a Trip Deals and News Trip Ideas, Activities, Lifestyles Hotels Destinations Frommers.com Home
Frommer's - The best trips start here. Frommer's - The best trips start here.
Sign up for our FREE Newsletters! Win a FREE Trip
  Email This Article Email Print This Article Print Get Frommer's RSS Feed RSS

Active Pursuits

Warning: Get Thee to an Outfitter--Outdoor enthusiasts in many parts of the world can simply arrive at a destination and put together a recreational trip when they get there. That isn't the case in the North. If you want to get out onto the land, the water, or the glacier, you'll need to have the assistance of an outfitter or a local tour provider. There are no roads to speak of here, so you'll need help simply to get wherever you're going. This usually involves a boat or an airplane trip. Sports-equipment rental is all but unheard of, and it's very foolish to head out into the wilds (which start at the edge of the village) without the advice and guidance of someone who knows the terrain, weather, and other general conditions. For all these reasons -- and for the entree you'll get into the community -- you should hire an outfitter. You'll end up saving money, time, and frustration.

Seasonal Travel -- Hiking and naturalist trips are popular in late July, August, and early September. The ice is off the ocean, allowing access by boat to otherwise-remote areas. Naturalist-led hikes out onto the tundra make great day trips.

While it may seem natural to plan a trip to the Arctic in summer, the Far North is a year-round destination. Late-winter dog-sledding trips out into the frozen wilderness are popular with adventurous souls. In May and June, dogsled or snow-machine trips visit the edge of the ice floe, where wildlife viewing is superb. And in the dead of winter, there is the 24-hour darkness and the northern lights that lure people north.

Mosquitoes, Deerflies & Other Critters -- During summer especially, two of the most commonly heard sounds in the North are the rhythmic buzzing of winged biting insects and the cursing of their human victims. Insect repellent is a necessity, as is having a place you can get away from the mosquitoes for a while. Some hikers wear expedition hats or head nets to ward off the worst attacks. Mosquitoes can go through light fabric, which is why it's better to wear sturdy clothes even on the hottest days. Wasps, hornets, and other stinging insects are common. If you're allergic, be ready with your serum.


Back to Top


Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.


  Email This Article Email Print This Article Print Get Frommer's RSS Feed RSS
Frommer's Canada, 15th Edition Frommer's Canada, 15th Edition

Author: Leslie Brokaw
Pub Date: May 27, 2008
Price: $24.99

Buy Now!
Related Titles:
Banff National Park and the Canadian Rockies For Dummies, 2nd Edition
Frommer's Alberta
Frommer's Algonquin Provincial Park, 2nd Edition
Sponsored Links: What's This?
Exclusive Offer - Up to 20% Off Fares to Toronto at Toronto Escapes
Add Frommers.com RSS Feed  Add Frommers.com RSS Feed (What's This?)
Add Frommers.com Deals & News to Your Web Site
Add to My Yahoo!     Add to My MSN     More RSS Readers
Add Frommers.com Podcast Add Frommers.com Podcast (What's This?)
Home > Destinations > North America > Canada > The Yukon, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut > Active Pursuits