Discovery Experience

Day 1 - Arrive Yellowknife

You will arrive in Yellowknife (international flights not included), the capitol of Canada’s Northwest Territories, you will then be transferred to your hotel where you can settle in, unwind and spend the remaining of your day at your leisure.

Day 2 - Yellowknife to Somerset Island

After breakfast, depart Yellowknife on a private charter for the 3-hour flight to Arctic Watch to land in the Arctic later that afternoon. Before dinner is served, take a short hike up to the local mountain with breathtaking views of the Northwest Passage and ice formations.

Day 3 - Cunningham Estuary

Attend a hands-on introduction to all-terrain vehicles followed by a short drive to the Cunningham Estuary to watch beluga whales. In the afternoon, hike to the five-story Triple Waterfalls, where nesting peregrine falcons and snow buntings’ sandpipers are found.

Day 4 - Cunningham River, Muskox Ridge and Inukshuk Lake

After breakfast you will travel across the Cunningham River delta, along the Muskox Ridge Trail, you can expect to see muskox, arctic foxes and their pups. You will be served a picnic lunch at the Inukshuk Lake, and fishing gear will be supplied to catch-and-release arctic char.

Day 5 - Gifford Point and Northwest Passage

Today you will enjoy sea kayaking and paddle boarding in the Cunningham Inlet amongst the pack ice, ring seals, bearded seals, and belugas. After lunch, take a short hike to explore a small canyon - Kayak Falls - with stunning views of the Northwest Passage, and potentially spot polar bears.

Day 6 - East Cunningham Inlet

Travel to the east side of Cunningham Inlet where a number of unnamed canyons offer great hiking opportunities. The afternoon will be spent at the estuary to watch the beluga whales play in the freshwater as it spills into the Arctic Ocean.

Day 7 - Northwest Passage and Nansen’s Ridge

Enjoy the views of the Northwest Passage from passenger seat of the four-seater all terrain vehicles. Driving along the west shore of the inlet, stop at historic 1,000 year-old Thule sites situated along the coast and learn more about the rich history of the area.

Day 8 - Cunningham River and the Badlands

Today you will kayak on the Cunningham River 20 km from the lodge. The last 6 km before the launch requires a hike through the Badlands, passing skeletal remains of two 8,000 year-old bowhead whales, encounters with muskox, snow geese, arctic fox and more.

Day 9 - Somerset Island – Yellowknife

Today you will have the option to do an activity that perhaps you missed during the week or if there was an activity you enjoyed that you would like to repeat. Arriving in Yellowknife you will be transferred to your hotel, where you will spend the night before your return flight home.