21 Day Tour
'Canadian Arctic Adventure'
Yukon Ca; Northwest Territories Ca; Alaska USA
We
have operated 4 tours to The Canadian Arctic region in 2006, 2007
and 2008, however this tour is not scheduled for 2009. Please contact us if
you would like to indicate your interest in a possible future tour or to receive further
information as it comes to hand.
"Have you ever wanted to experience the Inuit (Eskimo) culture along with the
spectacular Arctic landscape and unique wildlife of Canada's remote Arctic
north?
Our
aim is to provide a real “off the beaten track” adventure through Canada's
Yukon and Northwest Territories – a destination not normally available to
tour groups because of it’s extreme climate and very remote location. These
factors have created a unique culture and this, together with the spectacular
landscape and abundant wildlife (which participants will experience at very
close hand!) combine to make this region very appealing to visit".
 |
 |
 |
 |
HIGHLIGHTS:
Ø Stand
on the Arctic northern coastline of Canada and "toe dip" in the
Beaufort Sea
Ø
Meet Inuit people in their
remote coastal villages and experience their traditional lifestyles close up
Ø
Travel the adventurous “off the beaten track”
route through the remote and beautiful Yukon wilderness and see where the
world
famous Klondike gold rush happened
Ø
Marvel at the Aurora Borealis
(Northern Lights)
Ø
Spot grizzlies, mountain sheep, bison, moose, caribou, muskox
etc in their natural wilderness environment
Ø
Travel in a comfortable vehicle
with large windows and overnight in 3-4 star hotel accommodation with
en-suites
Ø
Cross into Alaska by one of the
world's most scenic routes (Top Of The World Hwy) and spend 3 nights in the
pretty fishing
village of Haines which overlooks the Inside
Passage
Ø
Spend time in Whitehorse on the
Yukon River and enjoy a gold rush style can-can show
Ø
Visit Follow the stampeder's
route to the Klondike gold rush in a vintage train over the White Pass route
from Skagway
Ø
See the frontier towns of
Dawson City Yukon and Chicken Alaska
DAY
1:
FLIGHTS
TO CANADA
(Meals in flight)
Meet at Sydney Kingsford Smith International Airport for our flight to
Whitehorse, Yukon Canada via Vancouver with Air Canada. Depart
Sydney 10:00am on a direct flight to Vancouver arriving 7:00am. Depart
Vancouver 11:30am arriving in Whitehorse 1:45pm (no meal included on the
short flight from Vancouver to Whitehorse). On arrival in Whitehorse we
transfer to the Westmark Klondike Inn for the next 4 nights.
DAY
2:
WHITEHORSE
We begin today with a late breakfast then to the Visitors Centre for a
screening of “Welcome To The Yukon”.
We
then tour the historic town of Whitehorse on the famous Yukon River. After
lunch enjoy a fascinating inspection of the ‘S.S. Klondike’ – a restored
sternwheeler which plied the Yukon for many years and visit the longest wooden
fish ladder in the world. Glass windows in a viewing area allow you to see
chinook salmon on their way to spawning grounds upstream.
DAY
3:
WHITEHORSE
Visit both the Yukon Transportation Museum (with video presentation featuring
sternwheelers on the Yukon River,
historic White Pass Railway and the WW11 construction of the Alaska Highway)
and the Beringa Interpretive Centre (multimedia exposition with life-sized
exhibits of animals from the last Ice Age including a full sized replica of a
woolly Mammoth).
In the afternoon we visit Miles Canyon and enjoy a 2 hour sightseeing cruise
on Lake Schwatka and the Yukon River. Return
to the hotel to freshen up before dinner (at your own expense). In the
evening we enjoy the “Frantic Follies” show (vaudeville revue and gold
rush variety entertainment) in our hotel.
DAY
4:
WHITEHORSE
Today is free for you to enjoy the numerous optional tours and attractions in
Whitehorse.
(B)
DAY
5:
WHITEHORSE – DAWSON CITY
Depart for Dawson City with first stop at the Yukon Wildlife Reserve (herds of
caribou, elk, moose, buffalo, muskox etc. in their natural environment). We
follow the Klondike Highway northbound skirting lakes and often with great
views of the Yukon (especially at the famous Five Finger Rapids).
As we approach Dawson City (at
the confluence of the Yukon and Klondike Rivers) the scars of the world’s
greatest gold rush are incredible! We do a familiarisation tour of this famous
frontier gold rush town built on permafrost and only 240klm south of the
Arctic Circle. We check into our
downtown hotel for the next 3 nights.
 |
 |
 |
 |
DAY
6:
DAWSON CITY
First highlight today is the steep drive to the summit of the ‘Midnight
Dome’ lookout for sweeping views over Dawson City, the Klondike River and
spectacular Ogilvie Mountains. Next we visit the historic cabin that was home
of writer Robert Service (Canada’s “Henry Lawson”) and enjoy a
presentation about his life and works by local identity Tom Byrne. During the
afternoon we take a guided inspection of a historic gold dredge – a 5000 ton
monster that worked the alluvial fields for many decades.
DAY
7:
DAWSON CITY
Free day to enjoy at your leisure. (B)
 |
 |
|
 |
DAY
8:
DAWSON CITY-DEMPSTER HWY-EAGLE
PLAINS
Today we commence our
Arctic adventure following the Dempster “Highway” – a very recently
constructed 750klm gravel road following the historic Royal Canadian Mounted
Police dog sled route north to the Arctic Coast. The scenery is fantastic and
we stop often for photos etc. Tonight’s accommodation is at the Eagle Plains
Lodge. (B,L,D)
* Eagle Plains offers us an excellent chance of experiencing & viewing
Aurura Borealis (the Northern Lights).
DAY
9:
DEMPSTER HWY – INUVIK
Shortly after departing Eagle Plains we cross the Arctic Circle and continue
northward across the vast open tundra plains toward the Peel River and the
ferry crossing. Our final
obstacle en-route to Inuvik is the ferry crossing of the world’s 10th
largest river – the MacKenzie. We visit the informative Inuvik Visitors
Centre before arriving at the Eskimo Inn Hotel for the next 3 nights.
DAY
10:
ARCTIC COAST & ESKIMO VILLAGE
Today we fly the short distance from Inuvik across the delta country of the
MacKenzie to the Arctic Coast and Tuktoyaktuk. We spend the day with local
Inuits (Eskimos) and experience their lifestyle and culture
- visit a private home, smoke house, churches, and ice house 30 feet
underground - and have the chance to purchase genuine Eskimo arts &
crafts. See a dog sled team and
enjoy an Arctic Ocean “toe dip”.
DAY
11:
INUVIK
A free day to enjoy at your leisure.
(B)
 |
 |
 |
 |
DAY
12:
INUVIK – EAGLE PLAINS
Return along the Dempster Highway to Eagle Plains with stops en-route.
DAY
13:
EAGLE PLAINS – DAWSON CITY
Continue along the Dempster Highway to Dawson City. Time to visit venues you
may have missed first time around.
DAY
14:
DAWSON CITY – BEAVER CREEK
First highlight is a ferry crossing of the Yukon River then we follow the very
scenic “Top Of The World Highway” from Yukon Territory into Alaska USA.
We lunch at Chicken (once a hectic gold rush town in the Alaskan
mountains) and join the famous Alaska Highway to Beaver Creek and our
overnight accommodation. We enjoy a dinner theatre program tonight.
DAY
15:
BEAVER CREEK – KLUANE NATIONAL PARK -
HAINES, ALASKA
Continuing along the
Alaska Highway with quite remarkable scenery of Kluane National Park en-route
(towering snow capped mountains with glaciers and magnificent lakes and
rivers). Our day of breathtaking beauty is completed with our arrival in
pretty Haines (overlooking the waters of the famous Inside Passage).
We book into our motel for the next 3 nights.
DAY
16:
HAINES
A free day to enjoy at your leisure.
As a suggested optional tour, some may wish to board the Fjord Express (65ft
fast cat) for the round trip along the Inside Passage to Juneau (Alaska’s
capital). The voyage allows fabulous wildlife spotting (perhaps an Orca or
Humpback whale!) and stops at a sea lion rookery. It follows the Lynne Canal
– the continent’s longest and deepest fjord. At Juneau board a coach for a
town tour and a visit to Mendenhall Glacier. You may also enjoy free time in
Juneau for exploring/shopping etc. Return to Haines.
 |
|
 |
 |
DAY
17:
HAINES
A free day to enjoy at your leisure.
DAY
18:
HAINES – SKAGWAY – WHITEHORSE
Another day of sensational scenery and highlights commencing with the 35
minute fast ferry trip to Skagway where we board the famous ‘White Pass
Train’. This scenic railway climbs to the summit of White Pass and takes you
through Alaska’s most spectacular scenery. See cascading waterfalls and
beautiful vistas as we retrace the steps of the gold seekers stampeding to the
Klondike goldfields in 1898. After crossing the USA/Canada border we join our
coach for the final leg to Whitehorse.
 |
 |
 |
 |
DAY
19/20:
WHITEHORSE – SYDNEY
(meals in flight)
Depart Whitehorse 7:35pm to Vancouver. Depart Vancouver
11:55pm on a direct flight to Sydney - lose
a day crossing the International Date Line .
DAY
21: ARRIVAL IN AUSTRALIA
We arrive at Sydney International Airport 7:55am.
PRICE: TO BE ADVISED WHEN THIS TOUR IS RE-SCHEDULED.
We offer the choice of three options on this tour. Prices quoted below were
relevant to our 2008 tour.
·
OPTION 1: SYDNEY/SYDNEY
Travelling with the main tour group as per the itinerary with no stopover or
changes.
Approx $8,000 per person, twin share (economy class)
·
OPTION
2: VANCOUVER/VANCOUVER
For those who wish to fly with an alternative airline, use frequent flyer
points or entering/departing from a port other than Vancouver. Travellers
on this option will meet up with the main tour group in Vancouver for the
domestic flight to Whitehorse, Yukon.
Approx $5,750 per person, twin share
·
OPTION 3: SYDNEY/SYDNEY (with
stopover)
For those who would like to do some extra touring from Vancouver either prior
to or after our Candian Arctic tour. On this option travellers must use the
same flight itinerary and airline as those on Option 1.
Approx $8,100 per person, twin share (economy class)
N.B. $100 stopover fee is applied for changes to flights.
The single supplement on this tour is approx $1500.
INCLUDES:
Ø
Return economy flights SYDNEY – WHITEHORSE with Air
Canada
Ø
Quality
accommodation, 3-4 star rated with en-suites
Ø
Meals
as shown – (B-breakfast, L-lunch, D-dinner) plus
meals in flight
Ø
Coach travel with experienced Yukon based operator
Ø
Admissions
and fares as follows:-
·
‘Welcome to Yukon’ screening
·
SS Klondike tour
·
Fish ladder
·
Yukon Transportation Museum
·
Beringa Interpretive Centre
·
Lake Schwatka cruise
·
Frantic Follies show at Whitehorse
·
Yukon Wildlife Preserve
·
Robert Service cabin and show
·
Dredge No. 4 tour
·
Ferry crossings
·
Flights and guides at Tuktoyaktuk
·
Dinner show at Beaver Creek
·
Fast ferry to Skagway
·
White Pass train journey
Ø
Airport
transfers in Canada
Ø
Gratuities
(at accommodation/restaurants only)
Flights/stopovers/extensions/etc
We will be operating this tour in conjunction with the well known
‘Travelscene’ organization (as we are not licensed Travel Agents and do
not have the great experience in international arrangements offered by
Travelscene).
Email: maree@travelscenenowra.net.au
 |