Canada - Nunavut - #1 in Adventure

6 Pages·2005·1.891 MB·English

CANADA’S ARCTIC CCaannaaddaa’’ss NNeewweesstt TTeerrrriittoorryy
UNTAMED UNSPOILED UNDISCOVERED
#1 in Adventure
“450,000 pairs of nesting birds were just
the tip of the wildlife iceberg (of which we
saw and photographed many). It was the
beluga whales — white spirits weaving
below the surface — that sent my heart
racing. In another age these “ghosts”
would have scared the bejeebers out
of me. But that day, I felt nothing
but elation at seeing these living
reminders of our vanishing
natural heritage.”
Dan Kreuger,
‘Nunavut Diary’
A Season of Adventure
April – May
In April, the capital city, Iqaluit, hosts Toonik Tyme —
a weeklong festival of games, snowmobile racing,
dogsledding, contests and demonstrations. Including
the Top of the World Kite Festival. Floe edge tours are
My Surprise Discovery available at many Baffin Island coastal communities.
It was like accidentally discovering May – June
chocolate. I was there for the
The whales are migrating through the natural funnel
nature. But everywhere I went
of Lancaster Sound. Millions of birds are returning
I saw world-class pieces of Inuit
to the Bylot Island Bird Sanctuary. In Cape Dorset,
art — and I just — fell in love.
you can examine 4,000 year old archeological sites.
I held museum-quality soap-
stone carvings of dancing
July – August
bears that talked to me. I
saw Inuit prints of whales, The seas are clear and sea kayaking is available from
a number of outfitters. If you want to go as far north as
birds, people scenes and
possible you head for Grise Fiord on Ellesmere Island and the
northern lights that
National Park north of there. The Queen Maud Bird Sanctuary
came from life. An
holds hundreds of thousands of geese.
untamed life. In
an unspoiled land.
They got me. August - September
That’s my bear
These are the halcyon days of feeding and flying before the great
in the picture.
migrations begin. There’s still plenty of time for camping and hiking,
and to experience living Inuit culture. Drop into local visitor’s centres
Dan O’Dell and artist’s co-ops.
Welcome to the Last You are about to get a taste
of one of the most exotic
Best Place on Earth!
destinations in the world
Untamed
Home to millions of birds and caribou!
Where polar bears roam wild and unafraid!
Unspoiled
Where the air is so pure it’s like you’ve
never breathed before. Where 10
minutes out is 1,000 years back in time.
Undiscovered
Twice the size of Texas, with less than
30,000 people — you’re bound to be the
first to see something exciting in Nunavut
Your adventure begins!
First Air
www.firstair.ca
Calm Air
www.calmair.com
Air Inuit
www.airinuit.com
Canadian North
www.cdn-north.com
Kivalliq Air
www.kivalliqair.ca
Skyward Aviation
www.skyward.mb.ca
Getting There
Nunavut can only be reached by air and by sea. Flight time is
approximately three hours by jet (direct) from Montreal, Ottawa,
Winnipeg or Edmonton. Primary air carriers are First Air, Calm Air,
and Canadian North.
Choose your Nunavut Adventure…
Whale Watching Floe Edge tours
Bowhead whales reach 60 tons Beluga, narwhal and bowhead
(54,431 kg) and 60 feet (18.3 m). Beluga whales, walrus, polar bears — many animals
(white) whales are found in shallow bays and can be found concentrated at the edge of the
river mouths. And the Narwhal sports a unicorn- sea ice as it melts in the
like 7 foot “tusk”. Viewing spring. (May – June). Your
starts in May as the guides can take you by
whales follow shorelines dogsled or a quamutiik
during ice breakup pulled by a snowmobile.
and continues until fall Breath-taking living-
migration commences on-the-ice excursions
in September. are available.
Camping & Hiking Fishing
Our national parks are overflowing Fish through the ice in the spring. Fly
with adventure – not people. Camp within view fish, spoon or troll for our legendary
of 150,00 migrating caribou. Hike along arctic arctic char in summer. A shore lunch on our
rivers rushing between towering mountains to shores is unbelievable! Nunavut outfitters
the sea. Round a hill and guarantee a
see a polar bear, or herd great catch!
of musk ox. The best
trips are guided with
most (or all) of the
equipment provided.
Bird Watching Culture and Art
See drum dancers beat out an ancient
Multi millions of raptors, seabirds
rhythm. Taste the world’s best caribou stew.
and geese make Nunavut a world-class birding
Hear the huskies howl as the sleds are made
destination. You can see 500,000 birds at a
ready for winter. And prepare to fall in love
single sanctuary. Or you
with world class art from
can thrill to a single
our northern heart — a
gyrfalcon nest in the trees
soapstone dancing bear,
above your canoe. The
an ivory whale pin or a
best time for birding in
northern lights print.
Nunavut is mid-to-late
May through August.
Kayaking & Rafting Parks
Sea kayaking between ice floes You might have to share your
and bergs can be positively spiritual. Nunavut camp site with 300,000 caribou, but,
outfitters can take you on rafting and canoeing other than that it won’t be crowded. Hike.
trips down whitewater and Mountain Climb. Kayak. Above and below
calm rivers. Nunavut is the Arctic Circle, our
not a theme park. It parks are have been
takes a level of skill and the subject of many
preparedness to do geographic magazine
these things safely. articles.
But the rewards last
a lifetime!
Practical Information
When and Where
Sea ice break up starts in May and offers great floe edge adventures — that’s where the animal
are. Peak season is July and August. By the end of September, things are winding down.
Weather and Clothing
Nunavut summers are like the spring seasons experienced further south. They can be filled
with brilliant days made for shorts and shirtsleeves. Come prepared with extra layers of warm,
water / windproof clothing.
Accommodations
If accommodations are not included in your trip, make reservations with a local hotel or bed
and breakfast. Book early.
Tours
The best way to see Nunavut is with a package tour that
includes local guides. Ask for a Nunavut Travel Planner
which includes an Outfitters Guide by contacting
Nunavut Tourism at:
www.NunavutTourism.com
or call 1-866-NUNAVUT.
(686-2888)
Canada’s Eastern Arctic
Nunavut extends approximately
1,700 kilometers north (1,050 miles)
and 11,000 kilometers south
(6,800 miles) of the Arctic Circle.
Machines do not rule here. There are no traffic jams outside your hotel. The voice of Nunavut is
still that of the wind and the waves. This is the wildest, most natural place you’ll ever experience.
Your Nunavut adventure
starts with a trip to our website. a
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www.NunavutTourism.com 1-866-NUNAVUT(686-2888) nte
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