All adventures to Arctic Watch include accommodation in Yellowknife the nights before and after at the Explorer Hotel. Guests arrive into Yellowknife the day before the private charter departs for Arctic Watch.
Day 1
Fly to Yellowknife, the capital of Canada’s Northwest Territories and spend the night at the Explorer Hotel.
Day 2
After breakfast, depart Yellowknife on a private charter for the 3-hour flight to Arctic Watch. Guests will land in the Arctic later that afternoon. After an introduction to the lodge and the surrounding landscape by the Arctic Watch team, guests will have time to settle into their cabins. Before dinner is served, a short hike up to the local mountain is offered; breathtaking views of the Northwest Passage and ice formations on the Arctic ocean. Spend time with your guide that evening, as you prepare your camera gear for the adventure.
Day 3
After breakfast and a short helicopter safety briefing, board our aircraft to begin heli-hiking the coastline of the Northwest Passage. In August as the sea ice begins to return to the Northwest Passage the landscapes and coastal scenery from the air is stunning. In the summer & autumn months of July and August narwhal migrate to specific inlets nearby to feed on Arctic char. We'll endeavour to fly to these areas and carefully hike into the shallow water feeding areas where these whales congregate.
Day 4 - 6
Daily excursions led by our team at Arctic Watch focus on observing, photographing and encountering the narwhal on the coastline of the Northwest Passage. We endeavour to provided the best opportunities to photograph unique moments as we observe the feeding and social behaviours between whales and family social structures within pods. Guests are welcome to bring handheld and drone based photographic equipment (under the guidance of our team to ensure we don't disturb any whales). The coastline of Somerset is also home to polar bears, arctic foxes, birdlife, seals and beluga whales.
Day 7
ATVs are our most practical form of transportation to cover long distances on the tundra. Attend a hands-on introduction to all-terrain vehicles followed by a short drive and hike into the muskox grazing areas on Somerset Island. In August, as the bull muskoxen go into rut, males will battle for breeding rights. Watch and photograph the spectacular event against the backdrop of the changing colours on the tundra.
Day 8
A short ATV drive and hike into an inland region of Somerset Island brings the adventure to a local fox den. Centuries of arctic foxes have built up this den site. We'll endeavour to spend the day photographing the interactions between mothers/pups as they play and hunt for lemmings nearby. The den site can also draw snowy owls.
Day 9
By now, guests are familiar with the area, and can opt to do an activity that they missed during the week or would like to repeat. There’s lots of time before the flight departs in the late afternoon. Upon arriving in Yellowknife you will spend the night at the Explorer Hotel before your return flight home.
Day 10
Depart Yellowknife for the return flight home.
In the wild and unpredictable Arctic the weather patterns and wildlife can disrupt even the best-laid plans. Therefore all of our itineraries are marked as ‘suggested’. Daily excursions are planned based on guest desires, abilities and interests as well as daily wildlife and weather conditions.
