Parks and wildlife of Yukon

On arrival at the Whitehorse airport, make your way to the downtown hotel using the hotel's complimentary shuttle. Named after the rapids on the Yukon River, which resembled the flowing manes of charging white horses, the territory's capital was a First Nations campsite until the Gold Rush brought tens of thousands of gold-seekers on their way to the Klondike. There will be a trip briefing in the hotel foyer at the time indicated in your final documents, where you will meet your guide and fellow travellers.

Meals:  Nil

From Whitehorse, it’s a two hours scenic drive to mighty Kluane National Park and Reserve. Kluane offers an alpine and subalpine landscape and is a dream destination for nature enthusiasts and hikers of all levels. Half the size of the Netherlands, the park is home to Canada’s highest mountain, Mount Logan, and the largest non-polar icefields on Earth. We enjoy a leisurely afternoon hike exploring Sheep Creek, Auriol Trail or Paint Mountain with views of the endless mountain ranges in all directions. After stretching our legs, we check into our accommodation for the next two nights in the little community of Haines Junction, conveniently located on the edge of the national park.

Meals:  L

After breakfast, we head back to the majestic Kluane National Park. Today, we hike on the park's southern end to a little haven known as Kathleen Lake. The views of the surrounding valleys and the blue waters of the lake are breathtaking as we climb a scree ridge to King’s Peak. Reaching the crest of the ridge, take the time to soak into this incredible landscape as you look to the South to the massive peaks in Alaska or Northwest to Mt Logan, Canada’s highest peak. From here, we can see why they say Yukon is "larger than life," with the awe-inspiring wilderness stretching as far as the eye can see below us.

Meals:  L

Before leaving the charming community of Haines Junction, we make a stop at the Interpretive Center. Here we can learn about the history and traditional stories of the people who have called this sacred place home for thousands of years. After our visit, we will drive in the direction of the gold prospectors to Dawson City, making stops along the way to explore some natural wonders such as Fox Lake, Lake Labarge and Five Finger Rapids. As we arrive in the historic town and former base of the 19th century Klondike Gold Rush, enjoy the character and old-time charm of Dawson City.

Meals:  L

We continue our exploration of Yukon’s pristine wilderness with the backcountry jewel known as Canada’s Patagonia. As we are heading a little further north with a drive on the famous Dempster Highway, connecting the arctic ocean to the rest of Canada, enjoy the stunning views of unique arctic tundra landscapes and wildlife. The Tombstone Territorial Park will be our playground for the day, hiking into the larger-than-life panorama surrounded by some of the most iconic mountains in the world. The trails are padded down by the region’s abundant wildlife, including caribou, moose, grizzly bears, Dall sheep and some 150 species of birds. In our return to Dawson City this evening, we step back in time to the dancehalls and saloons of 1898 with a traditional Cancan show at Canada’s oldest Casino.

Meals:  L,D

Now’s the time to head back south, bidding farewell to Dawson City and returning to Whitehorse with more scenic stops along the way. Although today concludes your Tombstone Range adventure, there’s little doubt the landscape and experience will stay with you forever. And there are still exciting things in the program, including meeting locals on a tour of the Yukon Wildlife Preserve. Depending on our arrival time in Whitehorse, we may enjoy some free time in town to explore and head to a nearby lake to enjoy the evening light reflecting off the water.

Meals:  L

Let’s immerse ourselves once again into Yukon’s magnificent wilderness as we head to the Southern Lakes. The region boasts an interconnected group of lakes, endless outdoor recreation and deep pockets of history and culture. After our hike, we stop for a stroll along Canada’s smallest desert and soak in the pure beauty of Emerald Lake, known as Rainbow Lake by the First Nations. From here, we access the outpost of Carcross, formerly named Caribou Crossing, by miners who stopped there en route to the Klondike gold fields at Dawson City. The mountain and lake views in all directions are sure to amaze.

Meals:  L

After breakfast, if time permits we can head to the hot springs before your flight home.

Meals:  Nil