Things to see and do in Nunavut

Attractions in Nunavut

Arctic animals

You can seek out musk ox or tundra swans near Cambridge Bay or take a boat trip to Coats Island in Hudson Bay to see walrus and polar bears. Nunavut's herd of 500,000 caribou is the world's largest. Many species roam the tundra in the Thelon Wildlife Sanctuary, which straddles the Kivalliq and Kitikmeot regions.

Art tours

Inuit art tours offer visitors an opportunity to learn about native carving, tool-fashioning, weaving, print-making, jewellery-crafting and hat-making.

Authentic tours

Nunavut's fauna, flora, culture and history come alive on one of the territory's nature and cultural tours.

Dog sleds and igloos

You can take a trip across the frozen tundra by dog sled with an Inuit guide in Iqaluit, or bed down for a night in a bona fide igloo.

Fishing

The catch of the day includes Arctic char and lake trout. Enthusiasts should note that catch-and-release is practised in all areas and that possession limits are based on regular and seasonal evaluation of stock.

Go with the floe

Wildlife is particularly abundant in spring (April to July) at the 'floe edge', where the land ice meets the sea. Plankton, shrimp and fish attract seals, whales and polar bears, making for excellent wildlife viewing. Bring your binoculars, as this is the time of year when migrating birds fly north by the millions. Good wildlife-spotting locations include Pond Inlet and Arctic Bay.

Hiking and rafting

Utter wilderness greets those who hike around amazing destinations such as Auyuittuq National Park's mountains, the waterfalls of Katannilik Territorial Park, wildlife-rich Quttinirpaaq National Park, or Sirmilik National Park (a haven for polar bears, walrus and migrating birds). If you have excellent white-water paddling skills, challenge yourself to the heart-stopping waters of the Coppermine River in Kugluk (Bloody Falls) Territorial Park.

Photography

Dramatic scenery and seasonal variations in light and temperature provide rewarding conditions for photography. One of the best times is during the sunlit nights (between 2000 and 0300 in spring and summer), when shadows are long and colours and textures particularly well defined.

Spring frolics

Not surprisingly, in a land where winters are long and harsh, spring is a traditional time for celebration. Cheer on snowmobile and dog sled racers, or join in a community supper, at the Taloyoak Spring Games in Taloyoak or the Toonik Tyme Festival in Iqaluit, among others.

Tourist offices

Nunavut Tourism