14 DAY EXPLORE YUKON BY CAMPER VAN
TRIP DESCRIPTION
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.
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.
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Start Location: Whitehorse
End Location: Whitehorse
SAMPLE ITINERARY (CUSTOMIZABLE)
Day 1: Arrive in Whitehorse
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.
Overnight: Whitehorse
Day 2: Half Day Guided Canoe Trip
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.
Overnight: Whitehorse
Day 3: Full day Guided Hike through Carcross and Southern Lakes
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.
Overnight: Whitehorse
Day 4: Camper Van Rental and drive to Pelly Crossing
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
Day 5: Pelly Crossing to Dawson City
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.
Overnight: Dawson City
Day 6: Dawson City
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!
Overnight: Dawson City
Day 7: Dempster Highway and Eagle Plains
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.
Overnight: Eagle Plains
Day 8: Eagle Plains to Inuvik
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.
Overnight: Inuvik
Day 9: Inuvik to Tuk
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
Day 10: Tuk to Inuvik
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.
Overnight: Inuvik
Day 11: Inuvik to Eagle Plains or Engineer Creek Government Campground
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
Day 12: Engineer Creek to Carmacks
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
Day 13: Carmacks to Whitehorse
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.
Overnight: Whitehorse
Day 14: Depart from Whitehorse
Bid farewell to Whitehorse.
DATES & PRICES
Availability:
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
ACCOMMODATION
START PLACE
END PLACE
PRICE FROM
All prices are per person based on double occupancy and subject to local taxes - GST, PST or HST.
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.
WHY CHOOSE ANDERSON VACATIONS?
Anderson Vacations
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Independent Travel
See what you want, where you want, how you want. Solo, with a friend, or with a group of friends.Canadian Travel Experts
With at least 30 years of experience.Min. 95% Satisfaction Rate
From past guests.Accreditation and Consumer Protection
Feel confident booking because of a membership in all the following organizations:
Sustainability
Planting one tree for every passenger that travels with us.
WHAT'S INCLUDED
- 3 nights accommodation in a Whitehorse hotel
- Half Day Guided Canoe Trip
- Full day Guided Hike through Carcross and Southern Lakes
- 10 days fully equipped campervan rental including equipment demo, vehicle inspection, rental paperwork and insurance review
Why Take A Custom Tour?
Private & Customizable
You can see what you want, when you want, how you want. A trip that's perfectly timed and well organized.
Unique Experience
Experiences that help you take in the region in a different way. Can combine your trip with our group tours. Advice to help you get the most out of your trip.
Freedom to Explore
Time to enjoy and take in each place. Add days in places you want to explore. Do only the activities you want to do.
Can't find what you're looking for?
Our specialists can take away the stress and create a custom trip tailored to your exact interests and budget.
Get A Custom Quote
OR CALL
1.866.814.7378
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.
Booking & Flight Questions
Do you arrange airport transfers?
Yes! We can certainly assist with booking airport transfers for you! Some tours have airport transfers included already. Please inquire for further information and pricing.
Can you assist with booking additional accommodation?
Yes! We can certainly assist with booking additional nights of accommodation for you before and/or after your fully escorted tour! Please inquire for further information and pricing.
Can you assist with booking flights?
Yes! We can certainly assist with booking your flights for you! We do not recommend you book any flights until you receive your booking confirmation directly from Anderson Vacations Tours, as some tours are not pre-guaranteed. Please inquire for further information and pricing.
Is it possible to book a triple share accommodation?
Yes, it is possible to book triple share accommodations on select trips. Please inquire about this option, as pricing may also vary and it will be subject to availability.
Can we book this tour with our exclusive group?
Anderson Vacations Tours can work with private groups to customize a tour to your needs. Please inquire for further information and pricing.
Tour Questions
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+
I am a solo traveler. Is there a single surcharge?
There are options for single travelers to join most tours. Solo Travelers can choose to pay the single supplement and have their own room throughout the tour. For those willing to share, we also have a Twin Share option that is offered for the majority of our tours. This means you will be sharing the hotel rooms with another single, same gender traveller who also books the Twin Share option. If this is the case, there will be no single supplement charged to either of you. If we are unable to match you with another Twin Share traveler, there may be a single surcharge applied to cover the full cost of the rooms on some of our longer tours. Please enquire before finalizing your booking for full details.
How physically demanding is this tour? Are you able to accommodate people with mobility restrictions/limitations?
This tour has a low level of physical demand, although there may be some activities or sightseeing tours that require walking short distances. Please inquire if you have any mobility restrictions before completing your booking to ensure this tour is right for you.
How much luggage should I bring?
Each passenger may bring one large suitcase and one carry-on bag. The weight limit for this suitcase is 32 kilograms/60 pounds. Baggage handling is provided at the hotels in our tour packages. Please 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 the 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 Tours guidelines.
What is your recommended spending amount for non-included meals?
The suggested allowance for non-included meals is $40.00 — $60.00 CAD per day (includes tipping).
Can you accommodate passengers with dietary restrictions (food allergies, vegan, vegetarian etc.)?
Yes! 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 and arrangements made for you.
Are gratuities included in the tour cost?
For your convenience, gratuities for local guides and meals stated on the itinerary are included in the price of the tour. For meals not included in your tour package please remember that it is customary to tip your server 15-20% in North America. Gratuities for your Motorcoach Driver and Tour Director are left to your discretion. We recommend $4.00 - $5.00 CAD per person, per day for your Motorcoach Driver and $6.00 - $7.00 CAD per person, per day for your Tour Director. if you can't find your
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Tour Code
14YCV
14 Day Explore Yukon by Camper Van
14 days
Created On: 21 Nov 2024
Inclusions
- 3 nights accommodation in a Whitehorse hotel
- Half Day Guided Canoe Trip
- Full day Guided Hike through Carcross and Southern Lakes
- 10 days fully equipped campervan rental including equipment demo, vehicle inspection, rental paperwork and insurance review
Dates & Prices
ACCOMODATION
START PLACE
END PLACE
PRICE FROM
Moderate Hotel/Camper Van
Whitehorse
Whitehorse
$3,050 USD
All prices are per person based on double occupancy and subject to local taxes - GST, PST or HST.
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Whitehorse
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.
Overnight: Whitehorse
Day 2: Half Day Guided Canoe Trip
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.
Overnight: Whitehorse
Day 3: Full day Guided Hike through Carcross and Southern Lakes
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.
Overnight: Whitehorse
Day 4: Camper Van Rental and drive to Pelly Crossing
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
Day 5: Pelly Crossing to Dawson City
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.
Overnight: Dawson City
Day 6: Dawson City
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!
Overnight: Dawson City
Day 7: Dempster Highway and Eagle Plains
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.
Overnight: Eagle Plains
Day 8: Eagle Plains to Inuvik
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.
Overnight: Inuvik
Day 9: Inuvik to Tuk
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
Day 10: Tuk to Inuvik
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.
Overnight: Inuvik
Day 11: Inuvik to Eagle Plains or Engineer Creek Government Campground
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
Day 12: Engineer Creek to Carmacks
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
Day 13: Carmacks to Whitehorse
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.
Overnight: Whitehorse
Day 14: Depart from Whitehorse
Bid farewell to Whitehorse.
