Whitehorse, Dawson City, Eagle Plains, Inuvik
The Dempster Highway's unpaved road traverses some of the most beautiful scenery on the planet. It is one of Canada's undiscovered yet accessible wonders. Driving the Dempster highway is a memorable experience. This is not a drive you want to rush so be sure to plan for a few extra days so if any unexpected delays pop up, you can still enjoy this drive of a lifetime at a relaxing pace.
The 736 km journey from the North Klondike Highway turnoff south of Dawson City to Inuvik takes at least two days. Count on driving about 12 to 16 hours in each direction. The time it takes to drive the entire highway depends on road conditions and how often you stop along the way.
Whether it's biking through iconic cities, exploring stunning coastlines, marveling at natural wonders, or getting up close with fascinating wildlife, these top picks promise an unforgettable journey through the heart of the land Down Under. Here's what awaits you:
As a responsible tour operator, we believe in creating experiences that not only enrich your life but also contribute to the well-being of our planet and its communities. That’s why we will be planting one tree for every passenger that travels with us.
Embark on a travel experience that will stay with you forever. We offer a blend of culture, adventure, and tranquility, ensuring every moment is filled with wonder. Whether you’re seeking thrill or relaxation, we create journeys that are truly unforgettable.
THE JOURNEY BEGINS
The capital of the Yukon, Whitehorse, offers a charming inside to the history of the North. We suggest a trip to the Visitor Centre to learn about the different regions of the Yukon and pick up some maps. Then a walk to the riverfront Kwanlin Dun Cultural Centre. This award-winning building celebrates the heritage, culture and contemporary way of life of Yukon's Kwanlin Dun First Nations people. Whitehorse also has great shops, galleries and museums that are open all year. We suggest a tour through the MacBride Museum and a stroll down Main Street to spend time with the locals in the lively cafés. Keep an eye out for locally sourced food and drink products, you will be surprised at the culinary scene in this northern town. The long evening is set aside to explore the capital of the Yukon on foot. While the northern lights occur year-round, summer's near-constant daylight makes seeing them next to impossible. In late summer and early autumn however, clear, dark nights lend themselves to stunning displays. From late August onwards, we suggest you locally book for a Northern Lights viewing at the Aurora Centre in the comfort of insulated yurts with a steaming hot drink.
To get immersed in the ‘northern spirit’ there is nothing better than to experience the Yukon River first-hand. Deeply connected with every aspect of this Territory’s history and culture, a half day float down the river will give you valuable insights. On this tour you will canoe down the historic Yukon River and enjoy the peaceful scenery as you paddle from Whitehorse to the confluence of the Takhini River. A great half day trip for beginner paddlers and a perfect way to enjoy this classic northern river.
Let us show you some of the hidden gems of Yukon, as you travel south along the winding Klondike Highway to Carcross and head towards scenic mountain ranges with possible chances to spot wildlife. The scenic tour is an exemplary Yukon day filled with culture, history, and adventure. You will marvel at the coastal mountains, the expanses of large lakes and learn about the natural and cultural history of this area. In Carcross you will take a walking tour through this small First Nations community, and enjoy the small stores and coffee shops as well. The Carcross Learning Centre opened in June 2016 to showcase the art, culture and history of the community and the Carcross and Tagish First Nation people. It exists to help learn and understand the culture of the Inland Tlingit and Tagish people’s way of life. This multi-purpose facility also serves as a central gathering place for the Community, where intercultural and educational sharing, preservation and enlightenment nurtures the being and place of the people it serves. In 2017, the building received a beautiful addition of 7 new totem poles-a Story Pole, along with a Clan Pole for each for the 6 clans for Carcross and Tagish People. Starting in Whitehorse, we stop first at the beautiful ‘Miles Canyon’ with its famous suspension bridge and continue on to the South Klondike Highway where the mountains rise as we approach Carcross and the Southern Lakes region –well known as the photographer’s paradise. We visit the smallest desert in the world - the Carcross desert - and we visit Carcross, a charming lakeshore village teeming with First Nations and gold-rush history. On a beginner-level hiking tour on scenic trails we will be sampling the scenic Southern Lakes. This region is nowadays the final stop for the White Pass Railway. Of course we will also admire Emerald Lake, called “Rainbow Lake” from the locals due to its sensational colouration. In the afternoon, we return to Whitehorse, wrapping up a tour to a less visited and special part of the Yukon.
No more fiddling with tent poles and hammering away at cheap plastic stakes – camping doesn’t have to be hard work. Our camper vans have been fully converted into custom campers with solar power, an electric cooler, sink, table, counter-top space, plug ins and a 4” durafoam bed. We supply everything needed for an outdoor adventure so you can focus on the outdoors. Just show up, grab the keys and hit the road.Make an early start and drive 3 hours to Pelly Crossing and aim to see the historic site of Fort Selkirk. Available three days a week, visit the site with locally owned Tutchone Tours who offer a Full Day River Boat Tour from Minto Landing to the historic site of Fort Selkirk. Their tour includes an hour-long boat ride to the site listening to the fascinating history of the Yukon’s Gold Rush as you spend time with the local Indigenous tour guide and learning about Northern Tutchone culture and history. Overnight: Pelly Crossing
You will drive 3 hours through undulating countryside covered with boreal forest to Dawson City today. Take your time to enjoy the countryside with frequent stops.
Dawson City, an eclectic and vibrant northern community on the banks of the Yukon River, possibly soon to be a UNESCO World Heritage Site (currently under review). The town is a mix of First Nations heritage and Gold Rush history, blended with an active gold mining industry as well as a thriving arts scene. Dawson's history includes Beringia, the Ice Age period which formed the unique landscape, the Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in indigenous people who have called this place home for centuries, as well as the Klondike Gold Rush, that put this town on the map worldwide. Dawson today is a colourful community that still has the look and feel of a wild-west frontier town, with personalities to boot. Miners, artists, wanderers, and the Indigenous People, all call this place home. You will join an informative local guide on a minibus drive tour of Dawson City and the goldfields. Time permitting, you will try and include gold panning at Claim No. 33 - guaranteed gold! You will also experience Dawson City and the Yukon Valley from the top of the Midnight Dome, a great viewpoint with stunning photo opportunities and breathtaking views. Dawson City is rich in history that goes back much further than just the Klondike gold rush. Spend the second half of your day at the Dänojà Zho Cultural Centre to learn about the first people on this land, and from there take in one (or all!) of the town’s three museums, each offering a different aspect of Indigenous culture and history. You are in Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in country and generations of Hän travelled a thousand kilometres every year to take advantage of the riches of the land. This evening, for a whooping good time, we suggest an evening at Canada's very first gambling hall and saloon, the Diamond Tooth Gerties Gambling Hall! Since 1971, Diamond Tooth Gerties has been wowing visitors with its unique Klondike period style Can-Can entertainment. Complete with casino games, nostalgic tunes, and three different cancan-inspired shows, it will be a night on the town just like the original stampeders that you will not forget!
This morning you will depart for your drive to Engineer Creek Government campground or to Eagle Plains a further 174 kms further along the iconic Dempster Highway, driving over vast stretches of the tundra, through the Richardson Mountains and Tombstone Park. The 7 hour long drive takes you to breathtaking views of the Richardson Mountains, through rolling hills of tundra and small lakes. Due to the open nature of the Arctic tundra, this drive is the best chance to see local wildlife such as eagles, wolves, moose, caribou, and grizzly bears. The trip will start at Klondike Corner where you can check out the interpretive display. Top up with gas at the card-lock and hit the famous Dempster Highway.This highway leads through quaint Gwechin communities, across the broad Peel and Mackenzie Rivers, and up into the Tombstone, Ogilvie and Richardson Mountains. Tombstone Territorial Park's 2200 sq. kms protect a unique wilderness of rugged peaks, permafrost landforms and abundant wildlife, all reflected in a rich First Nations culture. The area's Indigenous name means "ragged mountain land" and the park lies within the Traditional Territory of the Tr’ondëk Gwëch’in people. The Dempster Highway bisects the park and provides an opportunity to view stunning arctic tundra landscapes and wildlife and access to hiking areas. Make a stop at the Tombstone Park Interpretive Centre, for tea and time at this informative Natural History display. As the concentration of wide ecological niches has resulted in a diverse collection of flora and fauna uncommon at this latitude. Given the remoteness of the area and the long distance to be travelled, you will need a degree of patience, endurance and good humour to enjoy this seldom visited and remote corner of the North American continent. Make plenty of stops along the Dempster as there are loads of photo opportunities as you continue your drive north to Eagle Plains.
You continue our drive through the remote subarctic tundra to the town of Inuvik (approx. 6.5 hours) located within the Arctic Circle. You will pass the quaint community of Tsiigehtchic and make two ferry crossings on your way to the famous Arctic Circle Monument. Stop at the Monument before continuing onwards to Inuvik. This far north you are well within the Arctic Circle and there is no night time and, depending upon your time of travel, you may experience the midnight sun and 24 hours of daylight!Inuvik is a town in the Northwest Territories of Canada with a population of 3,243 (2016). Take in the local scene and relax before heading further north up to Tuktoyaktuk the following day.
Today you will drive the 147 kms on the recently built Mackenzie Valley Highway to the Arctic Ocean and be amongst the first visitors to travel on this road from Inuvik to the community of Tuktoyaktuk on the Arctic Ocean. This experience is exclusive and a "one off" as you drive on Canada's only road to the Arctic Ocean. The locals refer to Tuktoyaktuk as "Tuk", and here, hosted by the local Inuit, you will be able to experience and learn the ways of life of the people who also call it "home". Arrange for a local Inuit guide who will share stories and history of the area, and point out local landmarks and other points of interest including the Lady of Lourdes Schooner, Traditional sod house, local churches, Distant Early Warning Site and the Trans Canada Trailhead site. Plan to visit a pingo, also a national landmark, where your guide will explain how these amazing natural formations are formed. Then it is out onto the Arctic Ocean to dip your toes and to experience the vastness of the Beaufort Sea where we hear stories of how the local people survive in this northern environment. Overnight: Tuktoyuktuk
Spend time in and round the northern most point of your drive on the shores of the Arctic ocean. Later head south to Inuvik. If you want to rinse the vehicle off, there is a pressure washer at Esso Gas Station. Be sure to watch the sun not set. Situated well above the Arctic Circle, Inuvik enjoys 57 straight night-less days, from late May to late July.
There will ferry crossings across the Peel and Mackenzie Rivers and the drive past the Arctic Circle sign where you can see that the roadbed is built-up 3 to 4 mtrs. above the surrounding tundra in this area to protect the permafrost, and the road surface. Continue southwards to Engineer Creek where there are 15 camp sites, a kitchen shelter, firepits, tables, water and toilets.Overnight: Eagle Plains or Engineer Creek campground
Today you will leave the Dempster and rejoin the Klondike Highway as you continue through central Yukon stopping overnight in Stewart Crossing or Carmacks. The village of Carmacks is located in a spectacular setting at the confluence of the Yukon and Nordenskiold rivers. The community has an interpretive boardwalk and numerous trails that extend through the community that are used for walking and mountain biking. Some trails provide access to specific features such as Coal Mine Lake, the First Nation cemetery and local berry picking sites. Residents and visitors enjoy the scenic trails linking the neighborhoods and attractions.Overnight: Carmacks
Complete your drive through Yukon with the final leg back to Whitehorse where you will return the camper van and have the rest of the day to enjoy fine dining and explore the boutique stores along the Main Street.
Bid farewell to Whitehorse.
All prices are per person based on double occupancy and subject to local taxes - GST, PST or HST.
OUR KEY TO EARNING TRUST IS
3 nights accommodation in a Whitehorse hotel Half Day Guided Canoe TripFull day Guided Hike through Carcross and Southern Lakes 10 days fully equipped campervan rental including equipment demo, vehicle inspection, rental paperwork and insurance review
If you still have questions or need more information, feel free to ask! Simply fill out the form below, and our team will get back to you with the answers you need
Ask A Questionor
YOU CAN CALL US ATEmbark on a travel experience that will stay with you forever. We offer a blend of culture, adventure, and tranquility, ensuring every moment is filled with wonder. Whether you’re seeking thrill or relaxation, we create journeys that are truly unforgettable.
THE JOURNEY BEGINS
The capital of the Yukon, Whitehorse, offers a charming inside to the history of the North. We suggest a trip to the Visitor Centre to learn about the different regions of the Yukon and pick up some maps. Then a walk to the riverfront Kwanlin Dun Cultural Centre. This award-winning building celebrates the heritage, culture and contemporary way of life of Yukon's Kwanlin Dun First Nations people. Whitehorse also has great shops, galleries and museums that are open all year. We suggest a tour through the MacBride Museum and a stroll down Main Street to spend time with the locals in the lively cafés. Keep an eye out for locally sourced food and drink products, you will be surprised at the culinary scene in this northern town. The long evening is set aside to explore the capital of the Yukon on foot. While the northern lights occur year-round, summer's near-constant daylight makes seeing them next to impossible. In late summer and early autumn however, clear, dark nights lend themselves to stunning displays. From late August onwards, we suggest you locally book for a Northern Lights viewing at the Aurora Centre in the comfort of insulated yurts with a steaming hot drink.
To get immersed in the ‘northern spirit’ there is nothing better than to experience the Yukon River first-hand. Deeply connected with every aspect of this Territory’s history and culture, a half day float down the river will give you valuable insights. On this tour you will canoe down the historic Yukon River and enjoy the peaceful scenery as you paddle from Whitehorse to the confluence of the Takhini River. A great half day trip for beginner paddlers and a perfect way to enjoy this classic northern river.
Let us show you some of the hidden gems of Yukon, as you travel south along the winding Klondike Highway to Carcross and head towards scenic mountain ranges with possible chances to spot wildlife. The scenic tour is an exemplary Yukon day filled with culture, history, and adventure. You will marvel at the coastal mountains, the expanses of large lakes and learn about the natural and cultural history of this area. In Carcross you will take a walking tour through this small First Nations community, and enjoy the small stores and coffee shops as well. The Carcross Learning Centre opened in June 2016 to showcase the art, culture and history of the community and the Carcross and Tagish First Nation people. It exists to help learn and understand the culture of the Inland Tlingit and Tagish people’s way of life. This multi-purpose facility also serves as a central gathering place for the Community, where intercultural and educational sharing, preservation and enlightenment nurtures the being and place of the people it serves. In 2017, the building received a beautiful addition of 7 new totem poles-a Story Pole, along with a Clan Pole for each for the 6 clans for Carcross and Tagish People. Starting in Whitehorse, we stop first at the beautiful ‘Miles Canyon’ with its famous suspension bridge and continue on to the South Klondike Highway where the mountains rise as we approach Carcross and the Southern Lakes region –well known as the photographer’s paradise. We visit the smallest desert in the world - the Carcross desert - and we visit Carcross, a charming lakeshore village teeming with First Nations and gold-rush history. On a beginner-level hiking tour on scenic trails we will be sampling the scenic Southern Lakes. This region is nowadays the final stop for the White Pass Railway. Of course we will also admire Emerald Lake, called “Rainbow Lake” from the locals due to its sensational colouration. In the afternoon, we return to Whitehorse, wrapping up a tour to a less visited and special part of the Yukon.
No more fiddling with tent poles and hammering away at cheap plastic stakes – camping doesn’t have to be hard work. Our camper vans have been fully converted into custom campers with solar power, an electric cooler, sink, table, counter-top space, plug ins and a 4” durafoam bed. We supply everything needed for an outdoor adventure so you can focus on the outdoors. Just show up, grab the keys and hit the road.Make an early start and drive 3 hours to Pelly Crossing and aim to see the historic site of Fort Selkirk. Available three days a week, visit the site with locally owned Tutchone Tours who offer a Full Day River Boat Tour from Minto Landing to the historic site of Fort Selkirk. Their tour includes an hour-long boat ride to the site listening to the fascinating history of the Yukon’s Gold Rush as you spend time with the local Indigenous tour guide and learning about Northern Tutchone culture and history. Overnight: Pelly Crossing
You will drive 3 hours through undulating countryside covered with boreal forest to Dawson City today. Take your time to enjoy the countryside with frequent stops.
Dawson City, an eclectic and vibrant northern community on the banks of the Yukon River, possibly soon to be a UNESCO World Heritage Site (currently under review). The town is a mix of First Nations heritage and Gold Rush history, blended with an active gold mining industry as well as a thriving arts scene. Dawson's history includes Beringia, the Ice Age period which formed the unique landscape, the Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in indigenous people who have called this place home for centuries, as well as the Klondike Gold Rush, that put this town on the map worldwide. Dawson today is a colourful community that still has the look and feel of a wild-west frontier town, with personalities to boot. Miners, artists, wanderers, and the Indigenous People, all call this place home. You will join an informative local guide on a minibus drive tour of Dawson City and the goldfields. Time permitting, you will try and include gold panning at Claim No. 33 - guaranteed gold! You will also experience Dawson City and the Yukon Valley from the top of the Midnight Dome, a great viewpoint with stunning photo opportunities and breathtaking views. Dawson City is rich in history that goes back much further than just the Klondike gold rush. Spend the second half of your day at the Dänojà Zho Cultural Centre to learn about the first people on this land, and from there take in one (or all!) of the town’s three museums, each offering a different aspect of Indigenous culture and history. You are in Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in country and generations of Hän travelled a thousand kilometres every year to take advantage of the riches of the land. This evening, for a whooping good time, we suggest an evening at Canada's very first gambling hall and saloon, the Diamond Tooth Gerties Gambling Hall! Since 1971, Diamond Tooth Gerties has been wowing visitors with its unique Klondike period style Can-Can entertainment. Complete with casino games, nostalgic tunes, and three different cancan-inspired shows, it will be a night on the town just like the original stampeders that you will not forget!
This morning you will depart for your drive to Engineer Creek Government campground or to Eagle Plains a further 174 kms further along the iconic Dempster Highway, driving over vast stretches of the tundra, through the Richardson Mountains and Tombstone Park. The 7 hour long drive takes you to breathtaking views of the Richardson Mountains, through rolling hills of tundra and small lakes. Due to the open nature of the Arctic tundra, this drive is the best chance to see local wildlife such as eagles, wolves, moose, caribou, and grizzly bears. The trip will start at Klondike Corner where you can check out the interpretive display. Top up with gas at the card-lock and hit the famous Dempster Highway.This highway leads through quaint Gwechin communities, across the broad Peel and Mackenzie Rivers, and up into the Tombstone, Ogilvie and Richardson Mountains. Tombstone Territorial Park's 2200 sq. kms protect a unique wilderness of rugged peaks, permafrost landforms and abundant wildlife, all reflected in a rich First Nations culture. The area's Indigenous name means "ragged mountain land" and the park lies within the Traditional Territory of the Tr’ondëk Gwëch’in people. The Dempster Highway bisects the park and provides an opportunity to view stunning arctic tundra landscapes and wildlife and access to hiking areas. Make a stop at the Tombstone Park Interpretive Centre, for tea and time at this informative Natural History display. As the concentration of wide ecological niches has resulted in a diverse collection of flora and fauna uncommon at this latitude. Given the remoteness of the area and the long distance to be travelled, you will need a degree of patience, endurance and good humour to enjoy this seldom visited and remote corner of the North American continent. Make plenty of stops along the Dempster as there are loads of photo opportunities as you continue your drive north to Eagle Plains.
You continue our drive through the remote subarctic tundra to the town of Inuvik (approx. 6.5 hours) located within the Arctic Circle. You will pass the quaint community of Tsiigehtchic and make two ferry crossings on your way to the famous Arctic Circle Monument. Stop at the Monument before continuing onwards to Inuvik. This far north you are well within the Arctic Circle and there is no night time and, depending upon your time of travel, you may experience the midnight sun and 24 hours of daylight!Inuvik is a town in the Northwest Territories of Canada with a population of 3,243 (2016). Take in the local scene and relax before heading further north up to Tuktoyaktuk the following day.
Today you will drive the 147 kms on the recently built Mackenzie Valley Highway to the Arctic Ocean and be amongst the first visitors to travel on this road from Inuvik to the community of Tuktoyaktuk on the Arctic Ocean. This experience is exclusive and a "one off" as you drive on Canada's only road to the Arctic Ocean. The locals refer to Tuktoyaktuk as "Tuk", and here, hosted by the local Inuit, you will be able to experience and learn the ways of life of the people who also call it "home". Arrange for a local Inuit guide who will share stories and history of the area, and point out local landmarks and other points of interest including the Lady of Lourdes Schooner, Traditional sod house, local churches, Distant Early Warning Site and the Trans Canada Trailhead site. Plan to visit a pingo, also a national landmark, where your guide will explain how these amazing natural formations are formed. Then it is out onto the Arctic Ocean to dip your toes and to experience the vastness of the Beaufort Sea where we hear stories of how the local people survive in this northern environment. Overnight: Tuktoyuktuk
Spend time in and round the northern most point of your drive on the shores of the Arctic ocean. Later head south to Inuvik. If you want to rinse the vehicle off, there is a pressure washer at Esso Gas Station. Be sure to watch the sun not set. Situated well above the Arctic Circle, Inuvik enjoys 57 straight night-less days, from late May to late July.
There will ferry crossings across the Peel and Mackenzie Rivers and the drive past the Arctic Circle sign where you can see that the roadbed is built-up 3 to 4 mtrs. above the surrounding tundra in this area to protect the permafrost, and the road surface. Continue southwards to Engineer Creek where there are 15 camp sites, a kitchen shelter, firepits, tables, water and toilets.Overnight: Eagle Plains or Engineer Creek campground
Today you will leave the Dempster and rejoin the Klondike Highway as you continue through central Yukon stopping overnight in Stewart Crossing or Carmacks. The village of Carmacks is located in a spectacular setting at the confluence of the Yukon and Nordenskiold rivers. The community has an interpretive boardwalk and numerous trails that extend through the community that are used for walking and mountain biking. Some trails provide access to specific features such as Coal Mine Lake, the First Nation cemetery and local berry picking sites. Residents and visitors enjoy the scenic trails linking the neighborhoods and attractions.Overnight: Carmacks
Complete your drive through Yukon with the final leg back to Whitehorse where you will return the camper van and have the rest of the day to enjoy fine dining and explore the boutique stores along the Main Street.
Bid farewell to Whitehorse.
All prices are per person based on double occupancy and subject to local taxes - GST, PST or HST.
OUR KEY TO EARNING TRUST IS
3 nights accommodation in a Whitehorse hotel Half Day Guided Canoe TripFull day Guided Hike through Carcross and Southern Lakes 10 days fully equipped campervan rental including equipment demo, vehicle inspection, rental paperwork and insurance reviewGet Full Itinerary with all includes and exclusions
If you still have questions or need more information, feel free to ask! Simply fill out the form below, and our team will get back to you with the answers you need
Ask A Questionor
YOU CAN CALL US ATExpert Guidance at Your Fingertips
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