AN ARCTIC ADVENTURE THAT KEEPS GIVING

GETTING

HERE

Inuvik is two degrees above the Arctic Circle and is connected to southern Canada by road and air.  Unfortunately, driving the Dempster Highway from Dawson Yukon and points south to Inuvik is not an option for this event as the ice crossings on the Peel and Mackenzie Rivers close the end of April and the ferry crossings typically open the first week of June.

MORE ON HIGHWAY / FERRY CONDITIONS HERE:

http://www.dot.gov.nt.ca/Highways/Highway-Conditions

https://www.inf.gov.nt.ca/en/ferries

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Flying
 

Anyone coming from the south or other places for the TREK2TUK4KIDS will likely fly in or come a month early when they can drive to Inuvik. Inuvik has daily flight service from the south with Air North and Canadian North.  Regional air carriers such as North-Wright Air fly to Inuvik from the Sahtu and Aklak Air connects the coastal communities to Inuvik.
 

Air North is the official Airline Sponsor of TREK2TUK4KIDS 2021 - Air North, Yukon’s Airline

 With the generous support of Air North, B737 operated non-stop round-trip flights between Whitehorse, YT and Inuvik, NWT are available for TREK2TUK4KIDS 2021 participants.

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Canadian North has daily flights into Inuvik and can be booked at:
 

https://canadiannorth.com/
 

or through your travel adventure agent.
 

Travel Agents
 

Need help making your Arctic adventure happen?  Please contact your travel agent or adventure planner or one of the following travel agents that are booking airlines, accommodation and additional tours for TREK2TUK4KIDS participants.
 

The Travel Group – http://www.travelg.com/
 

Okpik Travel – contact Trish at - http://www.okpiktravel.ca/

Accommodations for Participating in the TREK2TUK4KIDS

Getting a good night's rest before and after your TREK2TUK4KIDS is important so we have made sure there are some great options for accommodations.
 

We have reserved a block of rooms at the Capital Suites at a special event rate. Reservations can be made at 867 678-6300. Let them know you are reserving a room for the TREK2TUK4KIDS.  Capital Suites also has accessible rooms.

https://capitalsuites.ca/inuvik/

Rooms are also available at the MacKenzie Hotel. Let them know you are reserving a room for the TREK2TUK4KIDS under True North Adventures.  The MacKenzie Hotel has accessible rooms with walk-in showers.

Reservations can be made by clicking here.
 

www.mackenziehotel.com
 

For other accommodation information in Inuvik or Tuktoyaktuk please check with Spectacular NWT . 
 

https://spectacularnwt.com/directory/accommodations
 

Things to do in Inuvik and Tuk

If you are coming all the way to Inuvik and make the TREK2TUK4KIDS, be sure to take some time to explore the area and culture while you are here.  Early June is a great time for exploring under the midnight sun.  The whole area is coming alive after the long Arctic winter, the birds are returning from their southern winter retreat, the leaves are coming out, the ice is melting on the rivers and lakes, and best of all there are no mosquitos!!!
 

Below are some ideas and links to make your TREK2TUK4KIDS adventure even more enjoyable!

10 Great Inuvik Adventures

1. Book a tour and take a Mackenzie River Cruise, visit a traditional camp, try your luck fishing or just enjoy the Delta during its annual spring flood and break-up.

2. Take a walking tour of Inuvik starting at the Western Arctic Visitor’s Centre (brochure and map for the walking tour) and finish with a walk around Boot Lake.

3. Go for a swim in Canada’s most northern year round pool in the Midnight Sun Complex.

4. Visit the local craft shops and if it is Saturday check out Arctic Market in Jim Koe Park right down town.

5. Take a tour or a drive down the Dempster Highway.  If motorcycling is your passion, rent a bike or go on a bike tour to Tuk or down the Dempster.

6. Bring your binoculars and go birding.  Every lake and pond is a hot spot for birds that have migrated back north for the 24 hours of daylight in the summer.

7. Participate in an art or craft workshop hosted by the Visitors Centre or the Town of Inuvik.

8. Rent a canoe or kayak and paddle on some of the nearby lakes or the Mackenzie River.

9. Shoot a round of golf or just drive some balls at the Roads End Golf Course (soon to be re-named… ).  Watch out for any bears on the course and for ravens that will steal your golf balls.

10. Enjoy the midnight sun all day long and really all month long in June!!

10 Incredible Tuk Adventures

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1. In early June the ocean ice is still along the Tuk shoreline. If you are not able to dip your toe in the Arctic Ocean you can certainly stand on it.

2. Take a Tuk Cultural tour and learn about the local culture and try some local country foods.

3. Attend the story telling by a local Elder at the sod house near NorthMart.

4. Try some local fish and other foods sold by local vendors.

5. Attend a traditional drum dance and be sure to get up and dance when invited.

6. Take a tour to the pingos in Pingo National Landmark.

7. Take a tour down the Inuvik Tuk Highway and see the beautiful scenery, tundra and lakes.

8. Shop for local arts and crafts at shops or from the artists.

9. Have a picnic at the Point and enjoy the incredible ocean view. Take a selfie with the Arctic Ocean sign and the Arctic Ocean.

10. Drop by the Hamlet Office for your Arctic Ocean certificate.

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Links to more ideas and local Tour Companies:
 

www.inuvik.ca
 

spectacularnwt.com/story/itinerary-inuvik-and-tuktoyaktuk-three-thrilling-days
 

www.tuktoyaktuk.ca/
 

www.articchalet.com
 

www.tundranorthtours.com
 

www.onlywayoutfitting.com/

www.arcticmoto.ca/

INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT THE AREA

1. The 184 km ice road between Inuvik and Tuk closed for the last time the 30th April 2017 after 50 plus years of service.

2. The Inuvik Tuk Highway officially opened on the 15th November 2017 with a celebration in Inuvik and Tuk,  

3. The  ITH cost $300 million and took 3 years to build.  Local companies EGT and Northwind were the general contractors that built the highway.

4. There are 359 culverts and 8 bridges on the 150 km ITH.

5. The Canadian Pingo Landmark -  large pingos near Tuk is a Parks Canada site.  The largest pingo – Ibyuk is the largest pingo in Canada and the 2nd largest in the world.   https://www.pc.gc.ca/en/lhn-nhs/nt/pingo.

6. The ITH is the first public road in North America to reach the Arctic Ocean and connects Canada from coast to coast to coast.

7. Tuktoyaktuk means “resembling a caribou” and is an area the Inuvialuit have used for generations to hunt and fish. 2020 will mark Tuk’s 50th anniversary as a hamlet. http://www.tuktoyaktuk.ca/

8. Inuvik means “place of people” in Inuvialuktun and was built in the mid-1950’s after Aklavik flooded several times and the Federal Government decided they needed to find higher ground and a suitable place for a larger airstrip.  In the late 1950’s Inuvik became the new regional centre. https://www.inuvik.ca/en/index.asp

9. The Dempster Highway opened in 1979 connecting Inuvik, Tsiigehtchic and Fort McPherson with southern Canada.

10. Inuvik is the traditional territory of the Inuvialuit and Gwich’in and has also become the home to people from throughout Canada and around the world.  The Inuvialuit settled their land claim in 1984 and the Gwich’in settled theirs in 1992.  http://www.irc.inuvialuit.com/  https://gwichintribal.ca/

11. Inuvik has the most northern – mosque, liquor store and year round swimming pool in North America.

12. Inuvik is 2 degrees and Tuk is 3 degrees above the Arctic Circle, giving both communities lots of midnight sun.

13. May is spring hunting and fishing season for local people from Inuvik and Tuk.  The ITH gives local people access to several good hunting and fishing areas.  Talk with our local tour operators about opportunities to explore the area.