8 Day Yukon Adventure

Day 1: Arrive in Whitehorse

Welcome to Whitehorse, named the Wilderness City, is nestled on the banks of the famous Yukon River surrounded by mountains and pristine lakes. In 2011, the World Health Organization ranked Whitehorse #1 for cleanest air in the world. Whitehorse got its name when gold seekers thought the Miles Canyon’s wild rapids resembled the manes of charging white horses. Later, we suggest you do a short orientation walk along the pleasant riverfront pathways, as well the Main Street to get your bearings.

Overnight: Whitehorse

Day 2: Whitehorse Guided City Tour

The capital of the Yukon, Whitehorse, offers a charming inside to the history of the North. On the included guided half day town tour, you will visit the SS Klondike, a paddle wheeler ship and the Old Log Church, both restored relicts used in the Goldrush and not to forget the world's longest wooden fish ladder and a Log Skyscraper. For an inspiration of the North later this afternoon, we suggest a self-guided tour through the MacBride Museum. The afternoon is also set aside to explore the capital of the Yukon on foot. We also recommend a trip to the Visitor Centre to learn about the different regions of the Yukon and pick up some map and then a walk to the riverfront Kwanlin Dun Indigenous Cultural Centre. This award-winning building celebrates the heritage, culture and contemporary way of life of Yukon's Kwanlin Dun First Nations people. Whitehorse has great shops, galleries and museums that are open all year. Later, take a stroll down Main Street or 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.

Overnight: Whitehorse

Day 3: Carcross Half Day Tour

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 exhilaration. You will marvel at the coastal mountains, the expanses of large lakes and learn about the natural and cultural history of this area.On the way, the tour will take you onto a gravel road leading deep into the back country where there are chances to spot bears while enjoying amazing mountain views. You then stop at a back-country creek, where enjoy the feeling of being in a truly remote area. In Carcross you will take a walking tour through this small First Nations community, and enjoy a break by the beach. There are small stores and coffee shops to explore 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. In the afternoon, we return to Whitehorse, wrapping up your tour to a rarely visited and special area of the Yukon.

Day 4: Kluane National Park Day Tour

Spend the day visiting the magnificent Kluane National Park, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979. Stop at Sheep Mountain and hope to spot local Dall sheep in their natural environment. Learn about the glacial fields in the Kluane National Park at the Park Visitor Centre. Return to Whitehorse in the evening.

Overnight: Whitehorse

Day 5: Yukon Wildlife Half Day Experience

Drive a brief distance north from Whitehorse to the Yukon Wildlife Preserve, a unique wildlife viewing property featuring 12+ species of northern Canadian mammals in their natural environment. Spread out over 700 acres with various natural habitats, you have the chance to see species like the Musk Ox, Thinhorn Sheep, Arctic Fox, Woodland Caribou, Mountain Goats, Wood Bison, Lynx, and many more! You will have the opportunity to view and photograph wildlife in their natural habitat here.

Overnight: Whitehorse

Day 6: Whitehorse to Dawson City with City and Goldfields Tour

This morning, you will take a short Air North flight to 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: Tombstone Park Tour

Experience travelling on the famous and iconic Dempster Highway into Tombstone Territorial Park. 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 Hwëch’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. 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, the limited choice of available vehicles 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. Your tour includes transportation and scenic viewing along the Dempster with plenty of photo opportunities. There will be a stop at the Tombstone Park Interpretive Centre, for tea and a time at this informative Natural History display. Later, experience the trails on a one-hour guided flat terrain hike along the North Klondike River to get a close feel of this remote land. Lunch is included. Please bring clothing appropriate for all weather and your own reusable water bottle.

Overnight: Dawson City

Day 8: Fly to Whitehorse and Return Home

Late morning flight from Dawson City to Whitehorse. Depending upon your onward departure flight schedule, there may be time to make a trip to Whitehorse and browse through the excellent collection of boutique stores in town.