In the wild and unpredictable Arctic, weather patterns and wildlife can disrupt even the best-laid plans. Therefore, itineraries are marked as ‘suggested’ to accommodate for some flexibility based on guest desires, abilities and interests as well as daily wildlife and weather conditions.

Day 1:
Fly to Yellowknife, the capital of Canada’s Northwest Territories, meet the group for dinner and spend the night at the Explorers 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, you’ll have time to settle into your cabin. Before dinner is served, a short hike up to the local mountain is offered with breathtaking views of the Northwest Passage and ice formations on the Arctic Ocean.

Day 3:

Today we’re going to explore the sea ice of the Northwest Passage. The first part of the adventure includes covering some distance on the tundra on ATVs. After a hands-on introduction to all-terrain vehicles we take a short drive to the Cunningham Inlet where we’ll get onto our bikes and head out onto the sea ice of the Northwest Passage. Today’s goal is to familiarize ourselves with biking on this unique terrain of the frozen Arctic ocean. In the early summer season at Arctic Watch, a natural ice corridor forms around Somerset Island. At nearly two metres thick in places, this stable ice causeway (aptly named Arctic floe edge) is used by polar bears to hunt, birdlife, and seals who are busy sun tanning (and avoiding polar bears!). We’ll pedal along the ice in between stunning pools of turquoise water that is only 1-2” thick. This is a very rare and special opportunity before the ice breaks up and heads into the ocean.
Today’s focus is exploring Cunningham Inlet – along the route, we’ll stop at a historical site from the Thule people (circa 1100AD), nearby canyons and look for wildlife on the ice edge. A picnic lunch is served on the floe edge and dinner awaits our return to Arctic Watch lodge. After dinner, an informal lecture by Richard Weber on his North Pole expeditions – highlighting his historic (and unrepeated) 1995 unassisted journey -will be offered.

Day 4:

Today we venture further onto the floe edge – a morning ATV ride along the shoreline of Cunningham Inlet brings us to Polar Bear Point, where we embark towards the Northeastern shoreline of Somerset Island. The day is spent biking amongst the pressure ridges on the Arctic ice edge. Named “Sinaaq” in Inuktitut, this is where open water meets the ice still attached to the shoreline. The environment is where most marine wildlife will congregate in early summer – polar bears hunting seals, fish, migratory birdlife, whales and more.
Somerset’s coastline is a stunning high-arctic topography. Barren shale bluffs laden with fossils and narrow creeks that spill into the ocean provide the perfect backdrop to this floe edge landscape. Lunch is served picnic style alongside one of these small creeks. Dinner is served at the lodge that evening. An informal lecture by Nansen Weber on wildlife photography is offered after dessert.

Day 5:

We’ve now had two days of Arctic ice biking under our belts – today is the big expedition. Today’s goal is to bike down the north-western shores of Somerset Island towards Cape Anne, where we will spend the night camping on the Arctic floe edge. Cape Anne was home to a Thule settlement (two archaeological sites remain) nearly 700 years ago. Using the floe edge as our “bike trail” for the day, we bike the coastal environment to search for wildlife while exploring the unique landscapes. Lunch is served on the shoreline nearby a local grazing area for muskoxen. This full day expedition arrives into ice-basecamp that evening. The team welcomes cyclists with hot drinks and appetizers before settling in that evening. Dinner is served outdoors in the Arctic. Take in the midnight sun from the shoreline as you settle into your expedition tent for a restful sleep.

Day 6:

After breakfast, we break from camp and head back towards the lodge. Our route is overland – this time leaving the floe edge overland on the tundra back to Arctic Watch. In early July,
the tundra comes to life as purple saxifrage is in full bloom, muskoxen graze and birds are nesting for the summer. Your bike trail over the tundra is bright red – almost martian like as the high iron content of the soil in the region lends to a mars-like feeling. The expedition arrives for a celebratory welcome back at Arctic Watch that afternoon. Take the evening to rest at the lodge and enjoy the midnight sun.

Day 7:

Today is an optional rest day from biking and an opportunity to take advantage of all the other excursions that are offered such hiking the inland canyons to the Triple Waterfalls, sea-kayaking the Cunningham inlet alongside beluga whales, fishing for Arctic char, rafting the Cunningham River, or simply relaxing at the lodge.

Day 8:
Back onto our trusty bikes, today we head inland onto the tundra of Somerset Island. Using the local hill tops and ridges that are a perfect shale soil to bike, we aim for Muskox Ridge. This scenic trail provides spectacular views of the area and is a great vantage point from which to see muskoxen and arctic foxes. From the high ridge, hike down into one of the many depressions where muskoxen often spend the summer months foraging. Snowy owls are known to nest in the area as well – have your camera ready! Lunch is served on the tundra and dinner is served back at Arctic Watch.

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. Bringing back amazing memories and photos from this truly wonderful bucket list trip.

*Itinerary may change at any time due to weather, ice floe conditions and other circumstances. There will always be a fun substitute! No refunds for changed itineraries.

Any cancellations before 180 days prior to the departure date will receive a full refund less a $750 administration fee, per person. Any cancellations after that are not eligible for a refund.

Trip Cancellation Insurance

Our guest cancellation policy is firm and we recommend you purchase a trip interruption/cancellation

insurance policy to avoid disappointment should you need to cancel your trip last minute. Travel insurance can be purchased through World Nomads, or your travel agent. Ensure your travel insurance covers you and your equipment and that your current health insurance covers the unforeseen like medical flights and back-country emergency rescue.