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Home Story You’re not a true traveller til you’ve done this:

You're not a true traveller til you've done these 17 things

Up here in the Northwest Territories we get a whole pile of visitors, but most just skim the surface.

That’s not a problem: After all, even our conventional touristy stuff is tons of fun. But if you’re looking to really experience this place – to drink it down, to live it up, to be it – there are certain specific experiences you just can’t miss.

Here’s 17 ways to do the North to the fullest.

Seen the 'big four'

… by which we mean muskoxen, caribou, moose and bison. They’re all on view in the Northwest Territories, providing a sort of polar safari.

Landed a 40-pounder

Because any fish smaller is what we call “bait.”

Flown in the co-pilot's seat

(Extra points if it’s a ski-plane.)

Mushed

Nope, riding in the basket doesn’t count.

Driven to the end of the road

… or better yet, gone beyond the end of the road, by foot, canoe, skidoo, whatever.

Skied through a frosted forest

In the super-cool winter of the Northwest Territories, a coating of ice, called “hoarfrost,” accumulates on every chilly surface, glazing your skiing route in glory.

sailed out of sight of land

Up here, the lakes are like freshwater oceans, giving you plenty of space to float your boat. Make the most of it.

seen the sky do this

Oh yeah, the elusive purple lights. It only does this during the most rockin’ auroral storms.

raced a canoe

In the North’s small towns, old fashioned paddling races are a feature of summer celebrations. Jump into a boat and join in.

spent the night in a teepee

Camp here and you’ll enjoy the best sleep ever – we guarantee.

filled your water bottle from here

Steady now – this isn’t the place for a swim.

Watched the sun spin circles in the sky

It’s the weirdest thing: The sun is getting lower, lower … wait, now it’s rising again. No night. Just an endless dance of brilliance in the sky.

Been comfortably dressed at 40 below

In the Northwest Territories, parkas aren’t for fashion. They’re like space suits, allowing you to thrive in our vigorous interstellar cold.

Strolled down this street

In Yellowknife’s Old Town, the North’s most famous lane is as wild and wooly as its name implies.

Gone for a spin in this thing

Odd machines prowl the North, rolling through landscapes no car could endure. This amphibious vehicle transports tourists to a remote fishing lodge.

picnicked here

This is the Arctic Circle, on the Dempster Highway. Believe us, lunch tastes better at the top of the world.

awoken to this view

Need we say more?

DISCOVER A MOMENT THAT LASTS A LIFETIME. Aylmer Lake Lodge is located in Rocknest Bay, which is on the Barren......

Comfortable lodge a 20 minute by floatplane ride from Yellowknife. Guided fishing for Lake Trout (to 34 lb), Arctic Grayling (to......

Commercial air charter service providing air support for hikers on Canol Road, sightseeing in the beautiful Mackenzie Mountains, and fly-in fishing......

With over 30 years of living in Yellowknife, we offer a variety of tourism experiences for our guests. We are......

Simpson Air (and its predecessor) is the oldest continuously-operated flying service in the Mackenzie Valley, established in the early 1960s.......

At Nahanni River Adventures we outfit and guide canoe and raft trips on Canada’s renowned South Nahanni River and a select......

Book an adventure with us at Trail Blazer Tours for an unforgettable experience! Your adventure with us will create lasting......

“Unforgettable remote fishing experience” We are the only lodge located on this fly-in only lake. With only 8 guests per......

Tukto Lodge has been exceeding anglers’ expectations for more than fifty years. As the only fishing and eco-tourism lodge in......

Yellow Dog Lodge is a comfortable lodge with 3 private cabins for our guests. The lodge is a short (15 minute) floatplane ride from Yellowknife. Located on Duncan and Graham Lakes, the lodge is your hub for adventure. Choose from an additional 5 lakes for guided day trip excursions. Each lake is unique and offers unspoiled first class fishing. We are the only lodge that operates guided trips on each of these remote lakes located in the NWT taiga wilderness. Packaged trips feature superb sport fishing and safe outdoor adventure. The lakes and streams offer the finest Lake Trout, Northern Pike, Walleye and Arctic Grayling in the region. As an added bonus, our guests will enjoy the midnight sun and may even catch the northern lights later in the fall or early spring....

Peterson’s Point Lake Lodge provides you access to known waters teeming with monster lake trout. Their current record is a......

Etching popular northern designs on unique 100% recycled glass, since 1994. Visit our gift shop in Old Town or come......

Aurora Village – A Class of Its Own Aurora Village is a unique Aurora-viewing facility situated 25 minutes from downtown......

Kasba Lake Lodge is famous for providing guests access to incredible triple trophy fishing. Huge Lake Trout, ferocious Northern Pike......

Create your own story. We offer a variety of services to make your Sahtu adventure a reality! We offer everything from......

Our goal is to provide unique customized services for high-end customers. We excel at making personalized tours. You can see......

Book this entire cabin in the remote wilderness of the stunningly breath-taking, Mackenzie Mountains. This cabin is hands down the......

We cover your every helicopter need in and around South Nahanni National Park in the Mackenzie Mountains of Canada’s NWT.......

Raven Tours is a tour operator in Yellowknife, NT, Canada. We offer Aurora Viewing, Snowshoeing, and Hiking Tours. We hope to......

Our company is a tour management and booking services company. We are located at Yellowknife, NT Canada. Our clients come......

Join us for an unforgettable experience on the mighty Mackenzie River. Day trips are available for a full or half......

World class dogsled tours! We are one of the largest professional sled dog kennels in Canada. Over 150 happy, healthy......

With Bluefish Outfitting you’ll get an unforgettable trip of a lifetime. Bluefish Outfitting offers personalized, guided fishing trips and boat tours on......

Guided hunting, community tours of Tuktoyaktuk and much more. Visit a local home to enjoy a unique opportunity to appreciate......

Remote private wilderness paradise on Little Doctor Lake, 100 km west of Fort Simpson. Accommodates 20 in cabins. Fishing, swimming,......

Creating Memories for a Lifetime Nonacho Lake Fishing Adventures offers trophy lake trout and northern pike fishing. Wildlife abounds at......

Canoe North, located in Hay River, Northwest Territories offers kayak and canoe rentals and sales. We can set you up for a......

Authentic Arctic Experiences Tundra North Tours is an Inuit company based in Inuvik, Northwest Territories that was established with the dream of being......

100% Indigenous owned!  We are the world’s first Aurora Hunting tour company, we know Aurora. Learn about Aurora, why Yellowknife is the......

We offer winter clothing rentals. Our winter clothing will keep you warm and comfortable for your outdoor fun – ask us......

Trophy Lodge is a fishing lodge located on the Smith Arm of Great Bear Lake. We are famous for our......

Your Dene Connection in Yellowknife. B. Dene Adventures is a Traditional Dene Culture Camp business which teaches the Dene way......

Northern and Remote Wilderness Adventures Ltd. (NARWAL) is a small, friendly, majority Aboriginal owned and operated family business. Our reputation......

Gana River Outfitters is a family owned and operated outfitting business offering remote wilderness hunts in the beautiful Mackenzie Mountains......

Arctic Tours Canada is a Yellowknife based tour operating company that offer Aurora Hunting and Viewing tours, Yellowknife sightseeing tours,......

Come experience world-class Aurora Borealis viewing in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada. We are the only guides in the Northwest Territories......

Exceptional fishing on Gordon Lake, 100 km northeast of Yellowknife. Fish for Lake Trout, up to to 56 lbs! Fly in by......

2 Seasons Adventures is a family-owned company. Our professional guides boast a lifetime of experience enjoying the unique lifestyle of......

Great Slave Lake Tours offers winter and summer trips on Great Slave Lake, the ninth biggest lake in the world......

“Like No Other Place On Earth” We are the only fly-in lodge located a 50 minute float plane flight from......

We are a small business, owned and operated by a northern Indigenous family, catering largely to visiting families and friends,......

Ena Lake Lodge is a one-of-a-kind, all-inclusive luxury fishing and outdoors experience in Northern Canada. Come and experience authentic fly-in......

Our vision is to see the Beaufort-Delta Region of Canada’s western arctic become the dream destination for motorcycle adventure enthusiasts from......

Pehdzeh Ki First Nation is located in the community of Wrigley, Northwest Territories, Canada. We are a Designated Authority in......

Best Northern Road Trip! Now you can drive all the way to the Arctic ocean linking Canada from coast to......

Welcoming and friendly with a rustic charm and all modern conveniences, Grey Goose Lodge immediately catches your eye as you......

Aurora photography tours for groups of 25 or less, available in English, Mandarin and Cantonese. Our tours offer specialized knowledge......

Fishing and Barrenlands wildlife photography, including migrating caribou, at the Obstruction Rapids in the central Barrenlands north of Yellowknife....

To truly experience the Northwest Territories, take your camping gear for a highway driving adventure! Long ribbons of road without......

Remote naturalist’s lodge snuggled in the Mackenzie Mountains, in the largest mountain wilderness in North America. Located along the Canol......

Inuvik is located 200km North of the Arctic Circle, on the East Cannel of the incredible ecosystem that is the Mackenzie Delta. We are located within the Taiga Forest just south of the treeline and Arctic Tundra. Inuvik acts as the gateway to the Western Arctic as the Mackenzie River, Dempster Highway and Inuvik-Tuktoyaktuk Highway […]...

Fish for Trophy Lake Trout and Arctic Grayling at our all-inclusive lodge located in East Arm, Great Slave Lake. Fly......

We offer dog sled tours in and around Tuktoyaktuk, the Pingo National Landmark and to Husky Lanes. Please contact us......

Born & raised in Inuvik, Northwest Territories our experienced lead guide Jimmy Kalinek is ready to help you discover the......

Outfitter offering sport hunts for trophy Dall’s sheep, Alaska/Yukon Moose, Mountain Caribou. We ensure that every detail of the hunt......

Specializing in polar bear and muskox hunts for up to four people from traditional camp near Tuktoyaktuk. Also providing scenic......

An Arctic Barrenlands trophy fishing adventure for the serious sportsman. Located on Lynx Lake (420 km east of Yellowknife) Lynx......

Call us about our exciting year-round packages and experience the best of the Dehcho region and Denendeh....

Aurora viewing tours, city tours, and hikes at Cameron Falls. We book all your activities and  accommodation....

Explore the wild splendor of the northern boreal plains, where whooping cranes call and bison roam free. Visitor reception centres......

Providing culturally based tours of Tuktoyaktuk with an opportunity to dip your toes in the Arctic Ocean! Ask us about......

The Deh Cho Travel Connection is a driving route that extends just over 1,800 kilometres from “Mile Zero” of the......

We offer: Nature and wildlife viewing Snowmobile tours Fishing tours Boat tours Polar bear and muskox hunts. Contact us for......

Family owned and operated tour company specializing in Arctic expedition cruising....

Up-to-date information about road conditions, ferry operations and ice bridges, as well as flight information, travel tips and links to......