Arctic Watch

 

Yellowknife	Explorer Hotel	1 night
Somerset Island	Arctic Watch	7 nights
Yellowknife	Explorer Hotel	1 night

11 days £4760

excluding international flights

IMAGES: All images on this page are used with the kind permission of Canadian Arctic Holidays.

The summer of 2010 will see the 11th season of Arctic Watch Wilderness Lodge at Cunningham Inlet on Somerset Island, Nunavut. Arctic Watch is a permanent facility, located 500 miles north of the Arctic Circle and 50 miles from the nearest town, that offers rustic hotel-like accommodations in a remote Arctic setting. Guests experience the beauty and wonder of this fabulous place, whilst enjoying the comforts of home with fine cuisine. Somerset Island is of particular interest to naturalists and photographers because it is a world class beluga whale observation site. It is also home to many muskox and polar bears. The terrain offers easy passage to both hikers and sea kayakers.

DAY 1 – Arrival in Yellowknife.

On arrival in Yellowknife, capital of the Northwest Territories, take a taxi (not included) to your centrally-located hotel. Recommended flights: Air Canada from London Heathrow via Calgary (see below).

DAY 2 – Flight to Somerset Island.

Take a private flight (duration: 4 hours 30 minutes, including a stop for refuelling at Cambridge Bay) to Somerset Island, Nunavut. In late afternoon, you will land on the private airstrip next to Arctic Watch. Everyone receives a tour of the facilities, puts their luggage in their cabin, and then meets in the Great Room for a welcome and to meet the staff. Dinner is served in the cosy dining room.
Meals included: Full breakfast, dinner.

DAY 3 – Whale-watching. Triple Waterfalls.

This morning there is a hands-on introduction to driving All Terrain Vehicles (ATVs). These practical vehicles (pictured left) are easy and fun to drive. You will then hike a short distance to the Cunningham River estuary for whale-watching. Beluga whales frolic in the shallow water only a few yards off shore amongst the ice floes. In the afternoon hike to Triple Waterfalls, a five-storey torrent of free-falling water. There you will see nesting peregrine falcons and other birds such as loons, snow buntings, sandpipers, and rough-legged hawks. Explore the canyon and see wild arctic flowers. Encounters with musk oxen are common.
Meals included: Full breakfast, lunch, dinner.

DAY 4 – Muskox Ridge. Fishing at Inukshuk Lake. Talk by Richard Weber.

Travel by ATV, crossing the Cunningham River delta, then along the Muskox Ridge trail. This affords a scenic overview of the whole area. To date, every excursion has encountered muskox. We pass an impressive arctic fox den, frequently watching fox cubs (right) at play. A picnic lunch at a private shelter at Inukshuk Lake is followed by the opportunity to fish for arctic char. Fishing gear is supplied. Returning on ATVs you take an alternate route via the River Trail, viewing hoodoos (sculptured sand pillars), and local coal deposits. In the evening Richard Weber [more], internationally recognized polar explorer, offers an informal lecture on his North Pole adventures. His historic 1995 unassisted journey to the North Pole and back, a feat that has never been repeated, will be highlighted.
Meals included: Full breakfast, lunch, dinner.

DAY 5 – Cunningham Inlet. Beluga Whales.

Today’s focus is on sea kayaking in Cunningham Inlet. All equipment and basic instruction are provided. Paddle amongst icebergs, ring seals and bearded seals, watching for beluga whales. Frequent sightings of sea birds, including arctic terns and eider ducks, can be expected. This afternoon return to the Cunningham River estuary to watch the beluga whales (pictured right). This site is unique in the world because of the density of the whale population and their proximity to the guests. Frequently we are within a couple of yards of the animals. We can clearly hear their communication calls. To appreciate the underwater calls, we use a hydrophone (underwater microphone).
Meals included: Full breakfast, lunch, dinner.

DAY 6 – Flatrock Falls. Gull Canyon.

Following breakfast depart, crossing the Cunningham River delta, with the ultimate goal of Flatrock Falls. Guests have the option of hiking, or travelling by Mercedes Unimog truck, mountain bike, or ATV. Somerset Island canyons are as yet un-named. They were formed as the result of a shifting fault lines and their walls, mostly vertical, vary from 200 to 1,000 feet. Millions of fossils of prehistoric plants and animals litter the ground. Today’s trip also offers opportunities to observe nesting sites of local birds including terns, plovers, and snow geese. A picnic lunch is served directly on the flat rocks that surround this canyon. After lunch, everyone hikes to Gull Canyon (pictured left), named by us for the striking biological contrasts between barren canyon and lush gull rookery. This spot was recently visited by the Canadian Wildlife Service, not only to view the gull rookery but also to see the presence of peregrine falcons; their comments were that this spot is a unique and special micro-ecosystem. This evening, guests have the opportunity to watch, or for the more adventurous, participate in, demonstrations of traditional Inuit games and throat singing. Throat singing is unique to the indigenous peoples of the polar regions of the world and is unlike any other vocal music in western culture.
Meals included: Full breakfast, lunch, dinner.

DAY 7 – Cape Anne. Red Valley. Talk by Richard Weber.

Today’s excursion is by ATV to Cape Anne. Visit five Thule sites along coast. The ride includes scenic vistas, icebergs, ancient Inuit campsites and prehistoric giant whalebones (pictured left). The Thule culture was a bowhead whale-hunting culture, ancestors of today’s modern Inuit. The Cape Anne Thule site is the largest in the area and includes the remains of 15 stone and bone houses. Return trip is overland via the Red Valley and guests can expect to be inspired by the magnitude of the landscape. This evening guests can relax with a lecture by Richard Weber [more]. His presentation includes stunning images and fascinating stories of Arctic expeditions to Baffin, Ellesmere and other High Arctic islands.
Meals included: Full breakfast, lunch, dinner.

DAY 8 – Cunningham River. Kayak or raft trip.

The first leg of today’s journey is covered by Mercedes Unimog truck. The goal is to reach the raft and kayak put-in on the Cunningham River, 20 kilometres from Arctic Watch. Typically, you will hike the final six kilometers through badlands, passing the skeletal remains of two bowhead whales dated at four to five thousand years old. Not uncommonly you encounter muskox, snow geese, jaegers, arctic foxes, sand pipers, and rough-legged hawks. Picnic lunch is eaten on the beach beside the river, while the staff prepares the rafts and kayaks. On the return to Arctic Watch, guests have the choice of paddling their own kayaks (pictured left), or travelling by raft. The river is swift flowing crystal clear water with no difficult sections or rapids. The views are amazing and include steep canyon walls and at one point, a 180 degree turn. Guests can expect to be on the water for two to three hours. Tonight enjoy your final dinner and evening at Arctic Watch.
Meals included: Full breakfast, lunch, dinner.

DAY 9 – Activities. Return to Yellowknife.

Today is your last day in the High Arctic. By now you are familiar with this corner of Somerset Island. There may be an activity that you missed during the week (bad weather) or an activity that you particularly enjoyed and want to repeat, such as a final visit to the whales, or see the muskox head for the final time. Today, you do the activity that you want. In the late afternoon the plane will arrive to take you back to Yellowknife.
Meals included: Full breakfast, lunch.

DAY 10 – Depart for London.

Take a taxi (not included) to the airport for your homeward journey.
Meals included: Full breakfast.

DAY 11 - Arrive UK.

Arrive UK in the morning.

International Flights.

There are no direct flights to Yellowknife. We recommend the services of Air Canada from London Heathrow via Calgary to Yellowknife. Current timings (subject to possible change) are as follows:
Heathrow/Calgary. Depart at 16.15; arrive Calgary at 18.45
Calgary/Yellowknife. Depart at 19.55; arrive Yellowknife at 21.59
Yellowknife/Calgary. Depart at 15.00; arrive Calgary at 17.10
Calgary/Heathrow. Depart at 18.40; arrive Heathrow at 10.30 (next day)

Arctic Watch (Tour Reference: WDCA012)
2010 Departures
Price per person based on a minimum of two persons travelling together:

Departures on Thursdays	Price
8 Jul*	£6480
15 Jul, 22 Jul, 29 Jul	£4760

* DISCOVERY OR 'FLYING' WEEK - In addition to the normal programme, a twin otter aircraft will be stationed at the lodge during this week and short flights will be made to some interesting remote locations.

The price includes:

• Private flights between Yellowknife and Somerset Island (and v.v.) including airport taxes
• Hotel accommodation as listed above in twin-bedded rooms with private facilities. At Arctic Watch, each room has a private marine toilet and cold water sink. Shower facilities are shared (see hotel description for further details).
• 9 full breakfasts, 7 lunches and 7 dinners as shown in the itinerary
• All sightseeing and activities as shown, including use of equipment
• The services of a Naturalist tour leader/guide for all included sightseeing and activities. NB: Daily activities are subject to the desires and abilities of guests and weather.

Not included in the price:

• International flights (see our recommendation above). We are happy to discuss the flights with you and give you further guidance
• International airport taxes
• Transfers in Yellowknife. Taxis are readily available and relatively inexpensive (approximately 13 Canadian dollars or £7 each way).

A deposit of £800 per person is required at the time of booking. The balance of the price for your travel arrangements must be paid at least 3 months before your departure date.