There's something special about the quiet beauty of a northern winter, and few places capture it quite like the Northwest Territories.
Home to 33 communities, each with its own stories, traditions and flavours, the territory offers plenty of opportunities to connect with local cultures, discover unique culinary experiences and experience life in the North.
Read on for a taste of the people, places and delicious discoveries that make the Northwest Territories worth exploring!
Discover Arctic Flavours In and Around Inuvik
Inuit-owned Tundra North Travel shares its love of the Arctic through immersive experiences and multi-day adventures that offer a deeper connection to the region's culture and traditions.
Their three-day Okpik Arctic Village Winter Package invites guests to discover sustainable northern living, from exploring local food production and practices that support food security to preparing meals with locally sourced ingredients. Along the way, participants can hike a trapline, learn about traditional food harvesting and even try their hand at building an igloo!
Located on an island in the Mackenzie River near Inuvik, Okpik Arctic Village brings these experiences to life. With an off-grid farm, fishery, sawmill and opportunities to learn about foraging, the village offers a unique glimpse into northern ways of life while supporting local employment and sharing cultural knowledge with visitors.
Gone Fishing
There's something truly iconic about settling into a heated ice fishing shack, dropping a line through the ice and waiting for that first bite. Fishing season kicks off as the lakes begin to freeze, with some of the best opportunities stretching from March into May. If a late-winter adventure is on your bucket list, now's the time to start planning!
From Great Slave Lake to the Arctic Ocean, the Northwest Territories is home to waters known for impressive, record-sized catches. Whether you're after a rugged adventure or something a little more comfortable, there are plenty of ways to experience the region's fishing opportunities.
For those looking to combine adventure with a little luxury, remote fishing lodges offer packages complete with fly-in accommodations, comfortable facilities and even on-site chefs. Explore the options to find an experience that suits your fishing style and sense of adventure!
Dark Skies and Bright Lights
When you think of the Canadian Arctic, chances are the northern lights come to mind, and for good reason! The Northwest Territories is one of the best places in the world to catch this spectacular natural display, with the aurora visible up to 240 nights a year. Now those are some odds worth travelling for!
With chances like that, a visit to Aurora Village is in order. Just outside Yellowknife, this immersive experience offers plenty of ways to embrace winter, from snowshoeing and dog sledding to taking a spin down the giant snow slide.
And after all that adventure, you're bound to work up an appetite! Stop by the dining hall for a taste of bannock with maple syrup and Saskatoon berries, hearty bison stew, bison burgers and northern-inspired cocktails, alongside craft beer from Yellowknife. Now that's our kind of winter adventure!
Northern Experiences by Northerners
A visit to the Northwest Territories is nothing short of spectacular. From vast landscapes, immersive cultural experiences and Arctic flavours with traditional ties to the land and waterways, the experience here is truly something else.
Winter is especially delightful and the delicious winter discoveries that await are seemingly endless. Where will your northern adventure take you?
