Itinerary

Day 1
Arrive in Edmonton. Transfer to the Nisku Inn on the Nisku Inn Shuttle, arriving outside door 9 in the Baggage Claim area. Accommodations at the Nisku Inn.

Day 2
Transfer to the airport on the Nisku Inn Shuttle at about 9:00A. Check in at the Air Canada counter, and depart Edmonton International at about 11:00A to Yellowknife. Lunch will be served on the flight. Upon arrival in Yellowknife, you will be transferred to the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre/Museum, which houses artifacts of aboriginal people, early explorers, natural history, and aviation. After about 1 hour at the museum, you will be transferred to the ski plane base for your flight to Blachford Lake Lodge. En route to the lodge, passing over frozen boreal forest, lakes, and muskeg, keep a watch for foraging caribou herds that winter in the area.

Accommodations at Blachford Lake are in keeping with the remote destination. The main lodge offers five private guestrooms, full kitchen, conference, restrooms, shower facilities, a lounge with full bar, outside Jacuzzi/hot tub, and open decks to view the Northern Lights. In addition to the main lodge are five cozy hand-built log cabins, equipped with wood and propane stoves and propane lights. The cabins do not have indoor plumbing, but are reasonably convenient to the main lodge, and are equipped with chemical toilets. After settling in your room or cabin, your lodge hosts will go over the facility amenities and range activities available to you, as outlined below:

Aurora Borealis and Skywatching
Clear weather permitting, each night witness Aurora phenomenon and photograph its brilliant "curtain of color."

Outdoor Activities
During the daylight hours a wide range of outdoor activities will be available, enabling you to fully experience this pristine Arctic wilderness:

• Embark on a dog sled excursion on the land in the traditional way and try your hand at "mushing." Rates: 1.5 hours $115, 2.5 hours $155, 3.5 hours $220, 7 hours day trip $350, overnight $475.
• Learn wilderness survival techniques, such as quinzhee (snowshelter) building.
• Ice skate or play hockey on the lake to you heart's content. Ice skates and hockey sticks will be provided, but we will need to know your size in advance of the trip.
• Go it alone and experience the snowbound solitude of the Arctic wilderness on cross-country skis or snowshoes, utilizing some 20 km of groomed trails or freestyle on the lake.
• Snowshoe through the Boreal forest, observing animal tracks, giant spruce, etc.
• Try your hand at ice fishing for the famous Arctic Lake trout and Northern Pike. (Requires a fishing license, which can be purchased in Yellowknife. Fishing equipment and ice auger can be rented at the lodge)
• Or, experience the thrill of snowmobiling across the lake and through the Boreal Forest ($50/hour for snowmobile use). $50/hour for a guide.

For the duration of your time at Blachford Lake, meals will include fresh baked and northern treats such as Arctic char, caribou, muskoxen, lake trout, white fish, berry cake, and bannock. With prior notice, special menus can be arranged for people with particular dietary needs. If you wish to take a longer day excursion through the lunch hour, a wholesome box lunch can be prepared for you.

Day 3
Enjoy the activities described above or curl up by the fire and relax with a good book.

Days 4
Enjoy the morning pursuing activities of your choice at Blachford Lake. After lunch, you will return to the lake and depart by Twin Otter ski-plane for Yellowknife. Upon arrival in Yellowknife, you will transfer to the Explorer Hotel for the night. Meals in Yellowknife are not included.

Day 5
You will be free to explore Yellowknife in the morning. The capital of the Northwest Territories, Yellowknife as a number of quality shops and galleries, including those that feature art from across the North, Inuit and Dene.

At about 11:00A, you will transfer from the hotel (on the hotel shuttle) to airport for your flight to Cambridge Bay, located in the High Arctic, departing around 12:30P (First Air). You will be met by our local ground operator in Cambridge Bay and transfer to the Arctic Islands Lodge. You will be free to explore the community in the afternoon. Dinner and accommodations at the Arctic Islands Lodge.

Day 6
At 9:00AM, you will be retrieved at hotel and embark on snowmobile trip. You will travel areas to see musk oxen and other wildlife. There are currently lots of foxes, Arctic hare, and ptarmigan around, and it is expected that muskoxen should not be difficult to find. Lunch on the land. Dinner and overnight at a comfortable heated cabin on Greiner Lake. Snow conditions permitting, an igloo will be built for you, either at the remote lodge, or near town.

Day 7
Breakfast at cabin, followed by an excursion to points of interest, including Amundsens Maud, the stone church, and the North Warning Site. A Inuit-style dog sled ride is planned for you this day. You will return to hotel in time for dinner.

If interested, you can also try ice fishing. If this interests you, we would need to this in advance. License fees are not included.

Day 8
Clients on own to explore the community. After lunch, transfer to airport for return flight on First Air to Edmonton, via Yellowknife. Your flight is scheduled to arrive in Edmonton around 7:00P. Upon arrival in Edmonton, you will transfer to the Nisku Inn on the Nisku Inn Shuttle.

Day 9
Transfer to the airport on the Nisku Inn shuttle for your flight home.

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