Inuit Culture & Arctic wildlife in Nunavik

Your guides offer an exceptional perspective of Kuujjuaq which reveals how the whole region buzzes with activity, providing the essential services to the local Inuit and to the entire population of Nunavik. Comfortably lodged at the co-op hotel, you will have the leisure to spend the week ambling through town, gaining understanding that would have been impossible without your guide. During your stay, you will of course also have the opportunity to gaze upon the spectacular aurora borealis sweeping across dark blue skies.

Kuujjuaq is south of Ungava Bay. With 2,400 residents, one can say that it is Nunavik's metropolis. So if you've been dreaming of going to the Arctic, in Kuujjuaq, you're already there. There are no roads that link Kuujjuaq to even its closest neighbour. In fact, none of the 14 villages in Nunavik are linked by roads. The only way to gain access is by snowmobile, dog-sled, plane or canoe. Goods are shipped there by boat in summer or by plane year-round. In Kuujjuaq, in the summertime, days are long with only four hours of darkness during the solstice, then at the winter solstice it is the opposite, with four short hours of sun.

Day 1

This tour offers you an opportunity to see and photograph Quebec-Labrador's polar bear, musk-ox and caribou, the big three among the Arctic wildlife. We proudly present to you a dynamic circuit that will lead you into their remote lands, far from man's reach. Constantly in motion aboard a motorized canoe, you will see polar bears off the coast of Ungava Bay as well as musk-oxen on Diana Island where Eider ducks go to nest. At any moment during your stay in Nunavik, you might cross paths with herds of caribou that migrate at this time of year and you might see icebergs drifting offshore.

You will be lodged along the Payne River where you will see beluga whales, seals and thousands of gulls that reveal to the Inuit the best fishing spots for Arctic char as they head towards the sea in schools in the summertime. While in Kangirsuk Camp, you can go out on a hike into the tundra to discover arctic flowers adorned with tiny colorful fruit as you follow the path of the caribou and musk-oxen. In such surroundings, you will feel imbued with the nature of the North.

Your stay in Nunavik will include a visit to four villages that lie along the coast of Ungava Bay. You will travel by plane with Air Inuit and land in the villages of Quaqtaq, Kangirsuk, Tasiujaq and Kuujjuaq, the starting points to the magnificent scenery and wildlife of Nunavik. When you return from Nunavik, you will leave behind a part of yourself and take home memories that will live forever.

Trips begin and end in Montreal, Quebec. Round trip flights between Montreal and the towns are included.

Nunavik’s “highways” are built by nature: In winter, the frozen tundra provides easy passage for dog-sleds and snowmobiles. In summer, an extensive system of lakes, rivers, and bays provide open waterways to explore Nunavik by boat, kayak, and canoe. Light aircraft transfers link the 14 villages, with regularly scheduled short flights making travel easy between small airports. Once you touch down, you will travel by local-access four-wheel drive vehicles, by foot, or by boat as you explore and experience one of the few regions of our planet not covered with tarmac highways.

To get to Nunavik, you generally fly north from your departure point, via Montreal (or Quebec City), to either Kuujjuaq (YVP) or Puvirnituq (YPX), approximately a two hour flight to either gateway community. Kuujjuaq is the largest of the two communities, with a population of just over 2,000 people, and its small, modern airport has a gift shop, along with a baggage claim area, as well as connecting flights to all of the other villages in Nunavik. 

Whatever the time of year, weather in Nunavik is always variable. The winter brings temperatures well below freezing and complete winter gear and traveling with reputable outfitters and guides is essential. In the summer, temperatures of 20°C (70° F) or higher are not uncommon during the day in July and August, dipping lower during the long twilight hours that make up the night. In some areas, temperatures near freezing can be expected at night (hiking in the Torngat Mountains, for example). The most important thing to remember is to be prepared for all kinds of weather – bright, warm sunshine, wind, rain, and even snow.

If coming in the winter the months of March and April are the best times to come when the daylight hours are longer and temperatures are not as cold.

Accommodations included in this package are in local hotels in town.

There are no name brand hotels, no condos, and no time share resorts boasting swimming pools in Nunavik. Instead, a handful of small hotels in the villages offer basic comforts, along with meals prepared on request. In the shared guest areas, travelers mix freely where swapping travel stories is not uncommon. 

Outside of the villages, rustic cabins or camps may also be used for people looking for a more authentic Inuit accommodations during certain portion of the trip. In the winter it is even possible to stay overnight in an igloo.

Do not expect casinos or theme parks. Instead of sitting down to watch a National Geographic TV special about nature and culture, you’ll be experiencing it yourself: Elders sharing stories about their history and heritage, throat singers performing and demonstrating their richly vibrant skills inspired by nature’s songs, Inuit guides explaining the turn of the seasons and the movements of wildlife. Your senses will come alive with the sights, smells, and sounds of unspoiled wilderness – something increasingly rare in today’s world.

All meals during the tour are included.

At a time when the most famous Michelin-star restaurants in the world are singing the praises of foraging for wild food, the Inuit of Nunavik have already been doing this for centuries. Mussels are harvested year-round, even from underneath the ice in winter, and in the summer, you will taste some of the freshest fish you have ever eaten. Summer also brings cloudberries, blueberries, and other wild fruits enjoyed at the peak of their ripeness. Traditional Inuit cuisine such as bannock can also be arranged.

Food in Nunavik is prepared simple and fresh, with little spice or seasoning – just the pure flavors of the food itself. Because there is no farming in this Arctic region, fresh vegetables, and other fruits are flown in from points south (like Montreal, two hours away), along with other goods. Alcohol is not served or sold in most Nunavik communities and only available in a few places. Bottled drinking water is readily available however, although fresh water from the tap in Nunavik comes from snow and ice-fed lakes.

Communication in the north:

Nunavik benefits from Canada’s modern telecommunications system and in the villages, WiFi, and landlines are all commonly used and available. As is common in many remote areas of the world, in the national parks and wilderness areas of Nunavik, satellite phones are a very reliable form of communication. But your hosts serve as a point of contact for any urgent or emergency situations, should someone need to reach you from home, or vice versa.

The happy traveler is the one who travels lightest. Choose the clothing you bring based on what is lightweight, comfortable, and washable.  Being able to add and remove layers is especially important in the variable weather conditions you can expect to find. Along with comfortable, casual wear, be sure to bring long underwear, a fleece jacket, a knit hat and gloves, and a waterproof windbreaker or jacket. For hiking and walking, you will want a good pair of sturdy, comfortable, well broken-in walking shoes or light boots. 

If coming in the winter you will need warm winter clothing including a warm coat/parka, winter boots, fleece or wool underclothes, hat, and mitts.

Like much of the rest of the Northern Hemisphere, during July and August, mosquitoes can flourish when the wind is soft or still. Likewise, a strong breeze can help keep them away. Bug repellant works just fine, and for those who prefer not to use insect repellant, locals in Nunavik often wear a light mesh jacket or a head net which prevents mosquitoes from biting. We suggest that you purchase either one before leaving for your trip. Long-sleeved shirts and pants are recommended to likewise minimize being bitten.

A packing list will be supplied upon booking.