Northern Canada

Nunavut

Nunavut, Canada
Bears in the Northwest Passage, Nunavut
Narwhal hunter in Nunavut
Pond Inlet and Bylot Island, Nunavut

Why visit Nunavut

Nunavut is one of Canada’s most remote and compelling regions, home to the legendary Northwest Passage. Here, the Arctic’s raw landscapes meet a deeply rooted Inuit culture, offering a rare chance to experience life shaped by ice, wildlife and tradition. For those seeking genuine adventure far from the familiar, Nunavut rewards in abundance.

Visitors can kayak among icebergs, watch narwhals and polar bears in the wild, and witness the midnight sun or the shimmering aurora borealis. Hike across tundra that stretches to the horizon or join local guides to learn traditional hunting techniques and survival skills passed down through generations.

It is not only the landscape that captivates. The warmth of Inuit communities contrasts with the vast, frozen terrain, while storytelling, carving and throat-singing offer insight into a culture both ancient and living.

Nunavut is a land for those who value immersive adventure – remote, vast and rich in perspective. It is not a destination to tick off a list but a journey that lingers long after your footprints have vanished in the snow.

Where to go in Nunavut
Northwest Passage, Nunavut

Highlights of Nunavut

  • Narwhal + polar bear encounters: Spot Arctic wildlife in its natural habitat, often with expert local guides who understand the rhythms of land and sea.

  • The Northern Lights: From autumn through spring, the aurora borealis illuminates Nunavut’s skies in spectacular, shifting waves of colour.

  • Inuit culture: With more than 4,000 years of history, Inuit communities share rich traditions – from carving and throat singing to storytelling and seasonal hunting.

  • Baffin Island’s wild landscapes: A dramatic mix of granite cliffs, glaciers and fjords – ideal for adventurous travellers and wilderness photographers.

  • The Northwest Passage: Follow the fabled route sought by Franklin and Amundsen, and explore its deep connection to Inuit and exploration history.

  • Bylot Island: A remote, uninhabited island off northern Baffin – a haven for nesting seabirds, vast glaciers and pristine Arctic beauty within Sirmilik National Park.

  • Ellesmere Island: One of the world’s northernmost land masses – expect towering ice shelves, musk ox herds and a surreal, otherworldly landscape bordering the North Pole.

  • Pond Inlet: Often called the ‘jewel of the north’, this welcoming Inuit hamlet offers striking views of mountains and icebergs, and rich opportunities for cultural immersion.

Hunting – a way of life

Subsistence hunting remains vital in Nunavut, sustaining Inuit communities both culturally and nutritionally. Passed down through generations, it reflects deep respect for the land, wildlife and centuries-old traditional knowledge.

Ancient cultures

For more than 4,000 years, Inuit communities have thrived in Nunavut’s Arctic environment, preserving deep-rooted traditions, language and knowledge that continue to shape the territory’s cultural and spiritual identity today.

Inspirational trip ideas

These are just suggestions for the kind of luxury tailor-made holiday we can arrange for you. Your custom travel itinerary will be personalised, tweaked and refined until it matches you completely.

 

Ideal Length: 17 days

Greenland & The Northwest Passage: Following Footsteps in History

Experience the raw beauty of the Arctic wilderness, where towering glaciers meet crystalline waters, and witness the mesmerizing sight of polar wildlife.

From £20,076pp From $25,080pp

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Good to know

Getting to Québec

There are regular flights from the UK and US to Montréal. Quebec City is easily reached via Paris or from major hubs in the US.

Domestic flights in Canada are efficient and operate between all major cities.

When to go

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When best to travel to Nunavut

The seasons in Nunavut are extreme and for much of the year the land is locked in ice. It’s not impossible to travel during that season but conditions are harsh and the days are short. It is in August and September that the Northwest Passage is accessible by boat.

Chat to an expert to start planning your trip

Get in touch with us and one of our travel experts will answer any questions you may have and help create your dream trip.