Page 96 - 2024-25 Travel Guide to Canada

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THE GREAT OUTDOORS
Nunavut has five national parks, 15 territo-
rial parks and special places, four Canadian
Heritage Rivers, as well as 11 migratory bird
sanctuaries and wildlife reserves. But in
reality, Arctic wilderness starts on the
doorstep of every hamlet.
From June through September there is
hiking, kayaking, whitewater rafting and
marine mammal watching for narwhal,
bowhead and beluga whales as well as walrus,
seals and polar bears. Many of these activities
can be experienced on day trips from
communities. Sport fishing is popular, with
fishing lodges and camps accessible by boat
and float planes. In winter, there is ice fishing
and travelling across the frozen tundra and
sea ice by snowmobile, on cross-country skis
and via dogsled. Choose a hamlet hotel base,
camp on the tundra with an outfitter, or enjoy
the comfort of luxury wilderness lodges
including Arctic Watch and Bathurst Inlet
Lodge (www.weberarctic.com;
www.bathurstarctic.com).
More adventurous travellers can canoe
the Soper River in Katannilik Territorial Park
on Southern Baffin Island or the Thelon
River on the Barren Lands. Rock climb
granite peaks in Auyuittuq National Park,
backcountry ski amid Clyde River’s sheer
rock walls, or paddle Alexandra Fjord and
hike in Quttinirpaaq National Park on
Ellesmere Island (www.blackfeather.com).
HERITAGE AND CULTURE
Throughout Nunavut are sites once used by
nomadic Inuit. Stone rings marking the
locations of skin tents used in summers are
commonly spotted. In Qaummaarviit Territor-
ial Park, near Iqaluit, semi-subterranean sod
Special Events
www.travelnunavut.ca/
nunavut_members_cats/events-festivals
APRIL
• NATTIQ FROLICS, KUGLUKTUK
• PAKALLAK TYME, RANKIN INLET
• TOONIK TYME, IQALUIT
MAY
• HAMLET DAY, MOST COMMUNITIES
• OMINGMAK FROLICS, CAMBRIDGE BAY
JUNE – JULY
• ALIANAIT ARTS FESTIVAL, IQALUIT
JULY
• CANADA DAY, TERRITORY-WIDE
• NUNAVUT DAY, TERRITORY-WIDE
POLAR BEAR MIGRATION FLY-IN PHOTO SAFARI, HUDSON’S BAY • ©DESTINATION CANADA