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LET’S TALK ABOUT AURORA – AND MORE –
IN THE NORTHWEST TERRITORIES!
Dear Canada friend,
With 2024/25 being the year of Solar Maximum, Aurora viewing seems to be omnipresent right now! As the Aurora Capital of the World, the NWT offers many different opportunities to view the Northern Light in a spectacular setting, be it from a remote fly-in wilderness lodge or from a retired coast guard ship! Learn more about Indigenous cultures, or embark on a road trip adventure to exprience what makes the NWT such a unique destination!
At Rendez-Vous Canada, held from May 14th – 17th in Edmonton this year, take the opportunity to chat with our delegation from the Northwest Territories to learn more about travel opportunities in Canada’s North. Starting March 18th, as an RVC buyer, you can request appointments with our partners, listed below.
Enjoy reading!
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BLACHFORD LAKE LODGE
REOPENS UNDER NEW OWNERSHIP
Blachford Lake Lodge, a popular destination among wilderness enthusiasts, reopened under the new ownership of Arctic Kingdom Expeditions, a pioneer in Arctic and Expedition touring in Canada’s North.
The all-season luxury wilderness resort is located in the rugged wilderness of the Northwest Territories, around 100 kilometres southeast of Yellowknife, and can be reached by bush-plane within 30 minutes from Yellowknife. Guests land on Blachford Lake, virtually right outside the front door – in the summer on floats, in winter on skis. Many miles from roads, or national suppliers of electricity and water, the lodge nonetheless provides many of the benefits of a luxury hotel, with the priceless addition of a pristine wilderness environment, unpolluted by artificial light or noise - the perfect setting for watching the Aurora Borealis.
The lodge's exclusive main building is uniquely situated on a rocky hill on the lake shore and offers a wonderful view of the scenic landscape and the Northern Lights. Visitors can stay overnight in the five guest rooms of the main lodge. Blachford Lake Lodge also boasts 5 cabins on site as guest accommodations. All hand crafted and recently renovated, these cabins give guests a comfortable wilderness experience, with the amenities of the main lodge at their fingertips. The cabins are undergoing renovations in the summer of 2024, and will be starting out the fall aurora season fully updated and refurbished.
Further guest amenities include free wireless internet, a hot tub, a sauna and an Aurora-watch wake-up service. During the day, exciting outdoor adventures await, depending on the season of the visit. Activities range from hiking, canoeing, kayaking, fishing, swimming or wildlife viewing in the summer, to snowshowing, fat tire biking, cross country skiing, snowmobiling or ice fishing in the winter – and many more!
Blachford Lake Lodge aims to live sustainably and in an environmentally conscious way on the land, Chief Drygeese territory, the traditional land of Yellowknives Dene First Nation.
Contact:
Blachford Lake Lodge
Katherine Johnson
katherine@arctickingdom.com
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NEW IN YELLOWKNIFE:
WINTER FUN ON THE ARCTIC DUCHESS
The Arctic Duchess is a retired Canadian Coast Guard ship which has undergone a transformation under the care of Arctic Duchess Adventures. With a legacy spanning over half a century of Arctic marine history, she stands as the resilient beacon of an era, proudly bearing the honour of the oldest surviving steel-hulled ship on Great Slave Lake. This 165-ton giant used to guide her crew through the icy embrace of northern waters. From Great Slave Lake to the Mackenzie River, and all the way up to the Arctic Ocean, she etched her legacy through Coast Guard activities.
Now, under the stewardship of Arctic Duchess Adventures, this iconic ship embarks on a new chapter. Nestled just minutes from Yellowknife, in the heart of the Sub-Arctic wilderness on Great Slave Lake, she invites both locals and travelers on an extraordinary journey, a unique opportunity to embrace winter in the Canadian Arctic:
The secluded location of the Arctic Duchess offers a warm and spacious shelter where visitors can experience Aurora viewing undisturbed. A nightly bonfire, hot beverages and bannock make you feel comfortable until the Northern Lights show up.
Or enjoy Arctic Duchess Adventures’ newest outdoor activity, their Hot and Cold Therapy under the mesmerizing Aurora Borealis. Immerse yourself in the serenity of their cedar sauna on the lake shore, where the comforting warmth envelops you, before taking a plunge into the icy waters of Great Slave Lake. An unforgettable journey to embrace the elements, connect with nature, and rejuvenate body and soul!
If you bring a group, you can even rent the whole facility.
Contact:
Arctic Duchess Adventures
Jake Olson
ArcticDuchess@gmail.com
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RENDEZ-VOUS CANADA
On March 18th, the booking system for RVC Appointments will open. Ask for your personal appointments with our partners from the Northwest Territories:
ARCTIC KINGDOM EXPEDITIONS: BLACHFORD LAKE LODGE
Blachford Lake Lodge, an all-season luxury wilderness resort, and a 30-minute flight southeast of Yellowknife, reopened in 2023 under the new ownership of Arctic Kingdom Expeditions. It’s a perfect place for viewing the Aurora Borealis and enjoying all kind of outdoor activities in a remote setting of Canada’s North.
Contact:
Blachford Lake Lodge
Katherine Johnson
katherine@arctickingdom.com
ARCTIC TOURS CANADA
This receptive tour operator specializes in travel experiences in and around Yellowknife. Their focus is on Aurora viewing experiences, but also on city tours, wildlife watching, outdoor activities such as dog sledding or guided hikes, as well as Indigenous experiences and tours to the Arctic Ocean. The customized group programs include transfers, accommodations, activities and professional tour guides.
Contact:
Arctic Tours Canada
Winfreddy Gatsi
winfred@arctictourscanada.ca
B. DENE ADVENTURES
Located on Akaitcho Bay, on the shores of Great Slave Lake, B. Dene Adventures is a traditional Dene Culture Camp business, teaching the Dene way of life through history, language and a unique connection to the land. It’s 100 % Indigenous owned and operated. The camp is located just outside of Dettah, across the bay from Yellowknife, and offers some of the best Aurora viewing experiences. Relax in their warm cabin or tipi, enjoy cultural stories, traditional knowledge and hands on demonstrations and get a chance to meet Yellowknives Dene People who are Indigenous to this land. Programs are available year-round.
At RVC, B. Dene Adventures can be found in the ITAC section.
Contact:
B. Dene Adventures
Bobby Drygeese
tours@bdene.com
CANADIAN NORTH
The 100% Inuit-owned airline Canadian North is headquartered in Kanata, Ontario and operates scheduled passenger services to many destinations in Canada’s North. With a versatile fleet of Boeing 737s and ATR 42s, it connects 25 communities within the Northwest Territories, Nunavut und Nunavik as well as Southern hubs in Calgary, Edmonton, Ottawa, and Montréal. Canadian North is also providing charter flights across North America and beyond for all kind of groups. See their full 2024 route map here.
Contact:
Canadian North
Trevor Wilde
contact@canadiannorth.com
EXPLORER HOTEL
With its 259 rooms, the Explorer Hotel, located at the city entrance to Yellowknife, is currently the largest hotel in northern Canada. Conveniently located less than five minutes from downtown Yellowknife and less than a 30-minute walk from Old Town, the hotel is an ideal base for exploring the capital of the Northwest Territories.
Contact:
Explorer Hotel
Stacy Roteliuk
stacyr@nunastar.com
LAC LA MARTRE ADVENTURES
In the middle of Lac La Martre, around 200 kilometers northwest of Yellowknife, lies Lac La Martre Lodge, a fly-in lodge located on Clemey Island. It’s a place for fishing and outdoor adventures, as the lake is known for its excellent fishing grounds for lake trout and pike. When hiking on the trails around the lodge, chances are great to spot wildlife. From late summer, the Aurora Borealis dances in the sky. Guests are accommodated in private cabins for 2 to 4 people each, offering every comfort. A maximum of 18 guests can stay at the lodge at any one time. The delicious meals are taken as a group in the main lodge. Lac La Martre Adventures' travel packages include return flights by floatplane from Yellowknife, accommodation, all meals, non-alcoholic drinks and a boat with fishing guide.
Contact:
Lac La Martre Adventures
Samantha Stuart
sstuart@tlichoadventures.com
Bookings via Zack Brown
zbrown@tlichoadventures.com
NORTH STAR ADVENTURES
North Star Adventures, based in Yellowknife, is an Indigenous tour operator offering a wide variety of programs in the NWT in summer, fall and winter. The tours are led by Indigenous guides, providing a cultural context. On offer are Aurora Hunting tours – single or multi-day excursions to view the Northern Lights, offered in both summer and winter – and day trips from Yellowknife, including boat tours on Great Slave Lake, fishing tours, hiking tours, Indigenous culture programs, dog sledding, rides on the ice road or just sightseeing in Yellowknife. Multi-day programs take guests through the most beautiful landscapes of the Northwest Territories.
Contact:
North Star Adventures
Joseph Bailey
info@northstaradventures.ca
NOVA HOTELS
The Chateau Nova Hotel in Yellowknife stands in a prime location at the city entrance and is an ideal base for exploring Yellowknife. Its 141 spacious rooms and suites offer every comfort of a modern accommodation, including air conditioning, kitchenettes and boot warmers.
Contact:
Nova Hotels
Charlene Babitz
charlene_b@novahotels.ca
SPARKS LAKE LODGE
This remote fly-in lodge is located an hour flight Southeast of Yellowknife and the only lodge on beautiful Sparks Lake, which is only accessible by plane. With depths reaching 150ft, this lake is ideal to troll for monster lake trout, or to site cast for northern pike in one of the many shallow bays. With only 8 guests per week, the lodge offers a very personal experience. Each day, an experienced guide will navigate the lake to show the best of what Sparks Lake has to offer. Guests can enjoy a shore lunch with freshly caught fish amidst the beauty of the scenery. Visitors will stay in the lodge’s newly built and cozy cabins, each with a full bathroom. Additionally to fishing experiences, Aurora and canoeing packages are available.
Contact:
Sparks Lake Lodge
Terry Petherbridge
terry@sparkslakelodge.com
Bookings via Greg Dussome
greg@sparkslakelodge.com
YELLOW DOG LODGE
Yellow Dog Lodge offers great opportunities for Aurora viewing. This comfortable fly-in wilderness lodge is just a 15-minute flight north-east of Yellowknife, in a fantastic location right on the shores of Graham Lake. Its owners, Kathy and Gord Gin, run the lodge in the warm and friendly manner that is so typical for the people of the north. Guests can choose from cosy rooms in the main lodge, private cabins with fireplaces or - in summer - rustic glamping tents on a floating dock. Depending on the season, guests can spend their time fishing, hiking, canoeing, ice fishing, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing or snowmobiling.
Contact:
Yellow Dog Lodge
Gord Gin
gord@yellowdoglodge.ca
NWT TOURISM
For general questions about the destination, tourism product in the Northwest Territories or opportunities for potential marketing partnerships, the team of NWT Tourism will be there to help. They‘ll also share the best views and vistas in the Northwest Territories with you.
Contact:
NWT Tourism
Joel Walton
joel@spectacularnwt.com
Michaela Arnold
michaela@denkzauber.de
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