Home > Canada and Alaska > Northern Territories of Canada > 10 Day True North Adventure: The Northwest Territories and Yukon with the White Pass train to Skagway

10 DAY TRUE NORTH ADVENTURE: THE NORTHWEST TERRITORIES AND YUKON WITH THE WHITE PASS TRAIN TO SKAGWAY

CODE

NWTY

STARTING FROM

$5,340 USD

PLACES VISITED

Yellowknife, Whitehorse

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TRIP DESCRIPTION

On this tour you will be introduced to two of Canada’s northernmost territories, the Northwest Territories, and the Yukon. Yellowknife is a place where traditional Indigenous culture blends with modern amenities for a truly remarkable experience as you discover the mysteries of the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis). On late summer nights, far from city lights, watch the night sky light up. It’s a marvel that seems to embody the mysteries at the crossroads of Heaven and Earth in all its elegance and raw beauty. The Yukon, with its magnificent mountain scenery, glaciers, and the history of the Klondike Gold Rush era, is another fascinating Territory with much to explore. In Yukon, we explore Kluane National Park, take the scenic mountain railway through White Pass down to Skagway in Alaska, and spend time in Whitehorse the capital of the Yukon Territory, named the Wilderness City.

Start Location: Yellowknife End Location: Whitehorse

TOP HIGHLIGHTS

Yellowknife and Whitehorse City Tours
3 Nights of Aurora Borealis Hunting and Viewing
Indigenous Dene Cultural Tours
Wood Bison Viewing Tours
Carcross Taish First Nation Cultural Center
Long Ago People's Place In Champagne
Skagway White Pass Train
Kluane National Park

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ITINERARY

Day 1: Arrive in Yellowknife, NWT

Yellowknife is one of the best places to view one of Earth's greatest natural wonders, the Aurora Borealis, also known as the Northern Lights. This is possible because the area experiences more clear nights than other northern locations - amazing Aurora displays are possible on over 240 nights each year. After arrival and transfer to the hotel, there will be time to relax and explore your immediate neighbourhood before an evening briefing session and welcome dinner.

Overnight: Yellowknife

Meals: Dinner

Day 2: Yellowknife, NWT

We begin our time in Yellowknife with a guided tour of the NWT Legislative Assembly Building, where you will learn about our consensus-style, non-partisan government, one of only a few in left Canada.Following the Legislative Building, we will make our way to the site of Giant Mine. Rich in the history of Yellowknife’s gold mining days. There is an outdoor museum available to view. Then we make a quick stop at YKEA and look for local treasures! Next, we drive to Buffalo Airway’s home of the popular TV series, Ice Pilots with the Star of the show being Buffalo Joe McBryan, owner of the largest DC 3 ‘s and DC 4’s in North America. We will visit the hangar filled with vintage aircraft. These are propeller-operated WW2 legendary aircraft.We return to the downtown core and stop in at the NWT Diamond Centre which showcases diamonds from two of NWT local mines. Next, we drive to The Old Town / Latham Island and N’dilo. We will first visit Ragged Ass Road, the street immortalized by Tom Cochrane on his third album by the same name. The Great Slave Lake is the second largest lake outside of the Great Lakes in Canada, the deepest lake in North America at 614 metres, and the tenth-largest lake in the world. We will get a close view of the colourful, local houseboats. Next is N’dilo, a small Dene community located on tip of Latham Island, which is an isthmus extending from Yellowknife into Great Slave Lake. The land was set aside for use by “status Indians” by the Government of Canada in 1947. The name was officially changed to N’dilo in 1991, which means “end of the island” in the local Dene dialect.We continue our tour with a stop at Yellowknife’s first bank (Bank of Toronto) a privately owned, historic log cabin. Next is a photo stop at the Bush Pilot’s monument, Yellowknife’s most popular lookout that rises above Old Town, providing a stupendous view over Great Slave Lake, Back Bay and the northern reaches of the city. The monument is high up on “The Rock,” and is accessed via a winding staircase that will take you to the top. It is dedicated to the bush pilots and engineers whose lives were lost as they flew the wilderness skies of the Northwest Territories. Finally, we stop at Weaver and Devore, Yellowknife’s first Trading Store and a local carver’s shop. Local artists will be invited to showcase their artwork. The tour ends at the Visitor Centre where you can get your Yellowknife pin and your North of 60 Certificate. We visit the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre, a museum that chronicles Aboriginal and European history in the North and features environmental exhibits. After dinner, we will head out for our first aurora viewing experience in a cozy intimate cabin located 15 minutes drive away from Yellowknife in a private dark location. There will be a light midnight snack of fresh local fish chowder, fresh bannock, tea, coffee, and hot chocolate. There are a limited number of camera tripods which are available to share and there is a generator, so power is available to charge batteries. There is an outhouse for the washroom, which is heated.Return to your hotel around 1:00 am.

Overnight: Yellowknife

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 3: Yellowknife, NWT

We have an easy morning after our previous late-night aurora hunting excursion and drive out to a lakeside camp that belongs to a local Dene Indigenous family. Here we will hear stories about how the dog teams have played an important role in the daily lives of both the Indigenous peoples and western settlers in the old days, and how they have helped people survive. The dogs were like family and are still treated the same way today. This excursion to interact with the dogs and the family is carried out in collaboration with an indigenous family business that wants to keep the cultural traditions and teachings that they have learned from their grandparents and has decided to share them with others in an enjoyable way. Through their winter dog sledding, they aim to promote respect for Indigenous culture and share the survival ways of people living in the cold subarctic areas.We return to Yellowknife for some free time and dinner before we head out to experience an authentic Indigenous aurora experience and spend an evening among the Dene people, with northern lights, storytelling, Dene history, and legends, traditional drumming, hand games demonstration, and samples of traditional foods such as local Great Slave Lake fish, and freshly made bannock. We travel by minivan (followed by a short 10-minute walk) to a Dene campsite on the shores of the Great Slave Lake near the village of Dettah and spend time in a cabin and teepees and comfortable seating for everyone.

Overnight: Yellowknife

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4: Yellowknife, NWT

An easy morning and then on today’s trip we will drive the highways of northern Canada and look for North America’s biggest buffalo (Wood Bison) and other wildlife! Our Indigenous guides will talk about the animals, and the birds, and share stories about their culture. We will stop at other spots along the tour and take many cool photos.Back in Yellowknife, we have some time at leisure to explore more of Yellowknife or relax before tonight's dinner. After dinner, we will go to Aurora hunting, as Yellowknife is the best place in the world to view Aurora! If the skies are clear, you have a 98% chance to see Aurora! However, if the skies are cloudy, the chances are low. We aim to increase our chances to see the aurora and go out and “hunt” for the aurora! When we reach a suitable viewing place, we park, and view and talk all about aurora, identify some stars in the Milky Way and maybe even see wildlife while driving from location to location!Each night we don’t exactly know where we are going, as it depends on the weather and the aurora, and where we go there is nothing but wilderness, wildlife, and Aurora. Depending upon weather conditions, we may choose to substitute our second or our last night’s Aurora viewing outings.

Overnight: Yellowknife

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 5: Yellowknife, NWT to Whitehorse, YT

Today we will transfer to the airport for our flight to Whitehorse. Whitehorse got its name when gold seekers thought the Miles Canyon’s wild rapids resembled the manes of charging white horses. Whitehorse is also called the Wilderness City and is the capital of the Yukon Territory, located on the banks of the Yukon River north of the 60th Parallel. Depending on the flight arrival time, we may do an orientation walk along the pleasant riverfront pathways leading towards the main street and the town centre as the Tour Leader points out the main points of interest.

Overnight: Whitehorse

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 6: Whitehorse, Yukon

An easy start with a walking tour of some of the town highlights. The capital of the Yukon Territory, Whitehorse, offers a charming inside view of the history of the North. In no particular order, we will visit the Yukon Visitor Centre to get an overview of the Yukon Territory and learn about the languages and tribal groups in different regions of the Yukon. We will see the SS Klondike paddle-wheeler boat from the outside as the interior is undergoing urgent restoration work. To finish with an inspiration of the North, we then visit the MacBride Museum. After free time for lunch, we visit the world's longest wooden fish ladder, and then the Miles Canyon viewpoint for views of the gorge in the Yukon River. We will be dropped off at the Kwanlin Dun Indigenous Cultural Centre situated on the banks of the Yukon River where the Kwanlin Dün First Nation people celebrate their heritage and way of life. The Kwanlin Dün Centre represents the return of the Indigenous People to their traditional home along the banks of the Chu Nínkwän (Yukon River). There will be time here for a self-guided tour as there are detailed information panels explaining most artifacts. Throughout the facility, the Indigenous Peoples’ tradition of welcoming others to experience, celebrate and share the Indigenous history, traditions, and culture with Yukoners and visitors from around the world, is reflected.

Overnight: Whitehorse

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 7: Champagne and Kluane National Park Centre, Yukon

We drive west on the Alaska Highway to the Long-Ago Peoples Indigenous Place in Champagne and have an informative 2 hours learning about traditional lifestyles of the Southern Tutchone Indigenous people. We will continue then to Haines Junction at the edge of magnificent Kluane National Park, which was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979. We will stop at Kluane National Park Visitor Centre and the connected Da Ku Indigenous Cultural Centre and have some free time here to explore the many informative panels and learn about the glacial fields in the Kluane National Park as well as enjoy the magnificent surrounding scenery. We return to Whitehorse in the evening.

Overnight: Whitehorse

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 8: Whitehorse-Carcross-Skagway (Alaska) and the White Pass train ride

We drive this morning to Carcross, a friendly community within the Traditional Territory of the Carcross/Tagish First Nation. Carcross is a small community alive with Indigenous art and culture, the only one-way street in the Yukon, the oldest hotel in the territory, the smallest and most northerly desert in the world, and Yukon’s strongest bridge. You can pick up the Historic Buildings Walking Tour brochure at the Visitor Information Centre in Carcross and explore the town at your own pace.We will stop at the Haa Shagóon Hídi Learning Centre (Ancestors’ house), guarded by eight towering totem poles to admire its unique art and learn more about the community’s history. Next, we board the scenic Carcross to Skagway White Pass train, an incredible train ride over the White Pass and past the remote wilderness to Lake Bennett, accessible only by the Rail Route. The journey is fully narrated with comfortable coach cars and a boxed lunch served aboard the train. A forty-five-minute layover at Bennett offers time to stroll through our White Pass Museum and do a self-guided walking tour of the historic gold rush town site. You will then re-board the train and continue down to the town of Skagway (Alaska), on the Pacific Coast.After a short time in Skagway, you will drive back from Skagway to Whitehorse along a route that is, in a word, spectacular. Like on the train journey, you will be reaching for your camera at every bend in the road. We will drive by Windy Arm and Tutshi Lake as the road continues winding through magnificent alpine scenery and over White Pass, ascending from Skagway to the White Pass. Pullouts along the way not only give you some outstanding photo opportunities but also reveal the heroic and heartbreaking stories of the gold rush.We end our eventful day at the Southern Lakes Resort on the shores of 100 kms long Tagish Lake.

Overnight: Whitehorse

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 9: The Southern Lakes

As we look out over a placid, crystal lake and the vastness of Yukon’s northern landscape from your room or cabin, surrounded by nothing but nature, you will appreciate the Southern Lakes Resort that lies within the Traditional Territory of the Carcross and Tagish First Nation peoples. Situated right on a calm side arm of Tagish Lake and amidst the boreal forest, the Southern Lakes Resort is an excellent base for all sorts of typical Yukon summer activities. We will walk some short trails and look at the boreal forest within the boundaries of the resort. Or you may choose to relax by the lakeside and have an easy day surrounded by the spectacular scenery.

Overnight: Whitehorse

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 10: Depart Whitehorse, YT

This morning, our adventure in the Yukon and Northwest Territories comes to an end. Following breakfast, we will depart the hotel and transfer to Whitehorse airport for the onward flight home.

Meals: Breakfast

DATES & PRICES

We accept

AVAILABILITY

START DATE

END DATE

PRICE

SINGLE SUPPLEMENT

DEPOSIT

BOOK

AVAILABLE

Mon, 14 Aug 2023

Wed, 23 Aug 2023

$5,340 USD

$1,140 USD

$500 USD

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Applicable taxes vary depending on travel destination and are not included. Please ask your sales agent what extra taxes will be payable for your tour.

WHAT'S INCLUDED

9 Night of Accommoations
Professional Tour Leader
All Sightseeing, transportation and flights from NWT to Yukon
White Pass Train Ride
Southern Lakes Resort

Why Take An Anderson Tour?

Seasoned Tour Guides Get a deeper understanding with storytelling tailored to your interests.

Space To Breathe We never max out buses even if we use the same size bus as the competition.

All Inclusive No hidden expenses along the way. Competitors offer activities as an extra - we don't

Our guide training manual is accredited by ACTA/CITC Canadian Educational Standard Inc. Now used as the standard in educational college programs.

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Custom Trip Plans You can see what you want, when you want, how you want.

Unique Experiences Experiences that help you take in the region in a different way.

Freedom To Explore Time to take in each place with only the tours you want to do.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

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Tour Questions

What is the maximum number of travellers in a group?

Anderson Vacations specializes in Small Group Fully Escorted tours. If the tour is classified as a ‘Classic Tour’ up to 24 persons may join the tour although tours commonly travel with anywhere between 18 to 24 travellers. If the tour is classified as a 'Tour of Distinction’ only up to 18 persons may join the tour and many 'Tours of Distinction' travel with 12 to 18 travellers.

What are Guaranteed Departures?

After dreaming about travel to an exciting destination, arranging for time off work, booking your flights the last thing you need is for your trip to be cancelled. Anderson vacation's pre-Guaranteed tours take the uncertainty away from planning your travel and give you peace of mind to book our tours. Pre-Guaranteed Tours are group tours that we have already confirmed as certain to travel on the specified date. All 'Guaranteed Tours' will travel except in the event of a natural disaster or a catastrophic event that is beyond our control. They may already have the minimum number of people booked or else are tours that are known to be popular. Only select departures of tours are 'pre-Guaranteed'.

What happens if I book on a tour that is not Guaranteed?

We pride ourselves on providing “a small shared group experience.” In the event that we have fewer than ten participants on a tour we will offer a “small-group surcharge” to ensure that the tour runs as scheduled. This fee, which is up to 15% of the “land” portion of the tour, will be offered to you as an option to continue with the trip. This fee will cover the costs associated with handling a smaller group.

What is the average age of passengers for this tour?

Our tours are suitable for all age demographics. The average age of travelers is typically 45+.

How physically demanding is this tour? Are you able to accommodate people with mobility restrictions/limitations?

Some tours are mainly coach based and may not be physically demanding while others may require walking inclines or on rough surfaces to access interesting locations. Please check with us and your booking agent carefully and discuss your mobility restrictions before completing any tour booking to ensure this style of travel is right for you.

Can you accommodate passengers with dietary restrictions (food allergies, vegan, vegetarian etc.)?

Yes, we do accommodate dietary restrictions (within reason) such as, food allergies, vegan, vegetarian, etc. There are many meals included on our fully escorted tours. Please inform us of any dietary restrictions at the time of booking so we can ensure there are alternative meal choices.

Booking & Flight Questions

Do you arrange airport transfers?

Yes, we can assist you with airport transfers for you in most locations at a reasonable extra cost. Several tours have airport transfers already included. Please contact us for more details.

Can you assist with booking additional accommodation?

Yes, we can certainly assist with booking additional nights of hotel accommodation for you before and after your fully escorted tour. This is available upon request and subject to availability. Please inquire for further information and prices.

How much luggage should I bring?

Each passenger may bring one large suitcase and one carry-on bag. The weight limit for baggage is 20 kilograms or about 40 pounds. Baggage handling is provided at the hotels in our tour packages but there may be places where you will be required to wheel in your bags for quicker access. Be sure to advise our reservations staff if you will be bringing additional items such as a cane, walker, or wheelchair. You may also bring one small soft-sided carry-on bag, which should easily fit into the overhead shelf of a coach. Each person is responsible for his/her own carryon luggage. Remember to check your airline baggage restrictions if you are flying, as they may differ from Anderson Vacations guidelines.

I am a solo traveller. Is there a single surcharge?

There are options for single travelers to join most tours. Solo travellers can choose to pay a Single Supplement and have their own room throughout the tour. For those willing to share with a co-traveller of the same gender, we have a Twin Share option that is offered for most tours where you share a hotel room with another same gender traveller. In this case, you will not be charged for Single Supplement.

Is it possible to book a triple share accommodation?

Yes, it is possible to book triple share accommodations on select trips. Please inquire or contact us regarding this option, as prices and availability vary from tour to tour.

Can we book this tour with our exclusive group?

Yes, you can! Anderson Vacations works with many private groups and helps to customize a tour to traveller’s needs. Please contact us for more details.

Are gratuities included in the tour cost?

For convenience, gratuities for local guides and meals that are specified in the itinerary are included in the tour price. For meals not included in your tour package please remember that it is customary to tip your server 10-20% in North America. Gratuities for your Coach Driver (where appropriate) and Tour Director are entirely at your discretion. We recommend about CDN $5.00 per person, per day, for your Driver and CDN$7.00 per person, per day for your Tour Leader.

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