From the Pacific
to the Arctic Ocean

From the Pacific <br/>to the Arctic Ocean

This 15-day tour adventure will take you all across the Canadian Northwest and parts of Southeast Alaska.

From high alpine peaks to the boreal tundra and the Arctic Ocean, this incomparable journey crosses borders and thousands of kilometres along the Alaska Highway, Haines Road, Klondike Highway, Campbell Highway, Dempster Highway, and Canada’s newest highway, the Inuvik-Tuktoyaktuk Highway (ITH).

Along the way, you will get the chance to be immersed in the local history, from First Nations and Inuit people of the North to the construction of the Alaska Highway and the biggest Gold Rush of all time. Furthermore, you will constantly be in presence of the unimaginable natural beauty of the Western and Northern Canadian landscape and wildlife.

From riding a ferry on the waves of the Pacific Ocean, all the way to dipping your feet into the Arctic Ocean, your journey to the Arctic Circle will create unforgettable memories that you will forever cherish.

Itinerary "From the Pacific
to the Arctic Ocean"

Day 1

Day 1

We welcome you to Whitehorse, the capital of the Yukon.

Upon arrival, your tour guide will meet you at the airport and bring you to the hotel you will be staying at.

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We will provide you with a short, scenic overview of the local area along the way, and then once you have checked-in with your hotel, give you a moment to recharge. Afterwards, you will meet up with your tour guide once more, who will give you a run-through of the experiences and adventures of the coming days.

Overnight stay in Whitehorse

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Day 2

Day 2

We’ll begin the second day of our tour by journeying west on the Alaska Highway, where we will visit the astounding mountains and forests of Kluane National Park. At over 20,000 square km, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is the largest National Park in Canada, and home to both Mount Logan, the tallest mountain in Canada, and the largest non-polar ice fields on Earth.

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Upon arrival in Haines Junction, we will learn about Kluane, the wildlife, and the local indigenous people at the Kluane National Park visitor centre. We will then head into the park itself, where we will lead you to various areas of particular interest, as well as areas known for spotting wildlife. As evening approaches, we will then check-in at a hotel in Haines Junction.

Overnight stay in Haines Junction 

By the way: We recommend taking an optional sightseeing flight over the national park, available this evening or the following morning – weather permitting of course.

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Day 3

Day 3

Our third day marks our arrival to the Pacific Ocean as we take one of the most scenic drives in the world, the Haines Road. With the snow-capped peaks of the Kluane mountains, flowing rivers, glaciers, and the most grizzly bears per square kilometre in North America, there will be plenty to see along the way.

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With a few stops to admire some particularly breathtaking spots, we will cross the border into Alaska and arrive at the shores of the Pacific in Haines.

Overnight stay at hotel in Haines

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Day 4

Day 4

As we say our goodbyes to Haines, we will board the ferry and take the Lynn Canal to Skagway, Alaska, the starting line for the famous Klondike Gold Rush.

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In Skagway, we will experience the former gold-mining town first-hand with an in-depth city tour, including a visit to the Gold Rush Cemetery and Lower Reid Falls. Afterwards, you will also have some time to explore this historic, picturesque town yourself at your own leisure.

Overnight stay in Skagway

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Day 5

Day 5

The morning of Day Five begins with a choice: if you decide to take the historic White Pass & Yukon Railway, we will meet you in Fraser BC, where we will meet up and continue our drive from there. Otherwise, we will head back to Whitehorse together.

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Our journey back to Whitehorse on the South Klondike Highway will provide plenty of sights and stops along the way. Prepare to see the true breadth of the Yukon environment, from the open, rugged White Pass plateau, to the world’s smallest desert in Carcross Desert, to the shimmering turquoise waters of Emerald lake. We will also get a chance to stop by the idyllic First Nations community of Carcross, and always keep your eyes open for wildlife we might see along the way.

After arriving in Whitehorse we will check you in at your hotel, then give the rest of your evening to spend as you like.

Overnight stay in Whitehorse

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Day 6

Day 6

We head east for Watson Lake on Day Six, with, of course, plenty of impressive sights to see along the way. The route along the Alaska Highway covers a huge span of land, showcasing a diverse landscape of mountain ranges, lakes, rivers and waterfalls.

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Once we arrive in Watson Lake, we will make sure to visit the world-famous Sign Post Forest, where over 100,000 signs have been put up by travellers from all around the world. Bring your own to add to the collection, and who knows, you may even find a sign from your own hometown. Afterwards, in the late afternoon, we will check into a hotel.

Overnight stay in Watson Lake.

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Day 7

Day 7

And on the seventh day, we rest, as we take a trip to the Liard Hot Springs, quite possibly the most beautiful hot spring in all of Canada. Relax, unwind, and enjoy the soothing spring water all surrounded by the lush forest.

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Once we’ve returned to Watson Lake, there will be an optional one-hour show at the Northern Lights Centre, where you can lean many fascinating facts about the origin of the Northern Lights.

Overnight stay in Watson Lake

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Day 8

Day 8

As we begin our second week, we wake up early and take on the longest stage of our entire trip: the Robert Campbell Highway. A wild, and primarily unpaved road, the Campbell Highway takes us through the most untouched sides of nature, past the exceptional Francis Lake, as well as the communities of Ross River and Faro.

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With plenty of wildlife and flora ahead of us, we will take a short detour to the airport prior to departing Watson Lake, and make sure to see the oldest remaining wooden airport hangar in Canada. After that, we drive, reaching Carmack in the early evening and checking into the hotel upon arrival.

Overnight stay in Carmacks

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Day 9

Day 9

The ninth day of our tour takes us to Dawson City, the capital of Yukon until 1952, and the heart of the Klondike.

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After a few kilometres down the North Klondike Highway from Carmacks, we’ll make a stop to see the infamous Five Finger Rapids. During the Gold Rush, it was known as one of the deadliest sections of the Yukon River, shattering many self-built rafts and leading equally many prospectors to a watery grave. We’ll also pass by the First Nations communities of Pelly Crossing and Stewart Crossing, arriving in the former capital of the Yukon Territory in the afternoon.

Once we’re in Dawson, we’ll take a brief city tour, then check into our hotel. You will then be free to spend the rest of the evening as you like.

Overnight stay at hotel in Dawson City

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Day 10

Day 10

Gold, gold, gold! Today is about all that glitters, but which is most definitely gold.

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Our path to fortune starts where it all began: Bonanza Creek, the legendary site where gold was first discovered and triggered the greatest gold rush of all time. After that, we then drive along with former gold mines, some of which are still active today, and visit Dredge No. 4, the largest wooden-hull bucket dredge ever used in North America. Then it’s your turn! With professional instruction, you’ll get to try your hand at gold panning yourself.

We end our short trip with a jaunt over to the Midnight Dome, Dawson’s local mountainside view. With a wide view of the Yukon River, the Klondike, and Dawson City itself, it is a truly gorgeous sight. You will then have the rest of the afternoon to yourself, and in the evening we will visit the oldest and northernmost casino in Canada, “Diamond Tooth Gerties”. An unmistakable blast from the Gold Rush’s past, Gerties offers roulette, blackjack, slot machines, and can-can shows.

Overnight stay at hotel in Dawson City

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Day 11

Day 11

Day 11 is D-Day, as our adventure on the Dempster highway begins and we start the final leg of our journey to the Arctic. We will drive approximately half of the rugged 741 kilometre-long gravel road. This highway is truly unique, as the only road connection from Yukon to the Northwest territories, it is absolutely massive and endlessly surrounded by the isolated, untouched beauty of the Northern landscape. 

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As we pass through the grandiose peaks of the Tombstone and Ogilvie Mountains, we will visit Tombstone Territorial Park and its Visitor Information Centre. Additionally, if desired, we can then take a short hike to fully appreciate the true beauty of nature.

We then end the night in Eagle Plains, which houses the only hotel/motel on the entire highway, as well as the last gas station on the way to the Arctic.

Overnight stay at the motel in Eagle Plains

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Day 12

Day 12

On Day 12 we will share a toast as we reach our penultimate milestone and cross the Arctic Circle, reaching the 66th parallel just a few kilometres after Eagle Plains. From there we then enter into the Northwest Territories and drive through the stunningly impressive Richardson Mountains.

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Along the way, we’ll also visit the First Nations communities of Tsiggehtchic and Fort McPherson, and cross the Peel and Mackenzie River by ferry. Finally, in the afternoon we will reach our accommodations in the town of Inuvik, on the east channel of the MacKenzie Delta.

Overnight stay in hotel in Inuvik

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Day 13

Day 13

Day 13 marks the final chapter of our journey, as our voyage from the Pacific Ocean reaches its end at the Arctic Ocean. After a short city tour in Inuvik and a visit to the famous Igloo Church, we will take a ride down Canada’s newest highway – opened in November 2017 and the first all-season connection to the Inuit community of Tuktoyaktuk and the Arctic Ocean. With such deep layers of permafrost, this two-lane gravel road was an incredible feat of engineering.

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A notable natural spectacle as we head to the Arctic Ocean are the pingos, a vast sea of permafrost hills created by expanding ice cores. And then, 134 kilometres later, we are there. We reach Tuktoyaktuk and the shores of the Arctic Ocean. Follow the tradition and dip at least your toe into the Arctic Ocean, and join the exclusive 0.000001% of people who have ever accomplished this journey. You will even get the chance to take home a certificate, proving the span of your travels. We will then return to Inuvik.

Overnight stay in Inuvik

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Day 14

Day 14

We reach the denouement of our journey and fly from the Arctic back to Whitehorse. You will have the rest of the afternoon and evening to yourselves, free to spend as you like.

Overnight stay in Whitehorse

Day 15

Day 15

We bid fond farewell on our final day together. With the many unforgettable memories made over the course of the past two weeks, we wish you the best on all your future travels.

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