Heading to the Northwest Territories [1] is not to be taken lightly. You will need to plan ahead, especially if you have a specific activity in mind, such as joining a guided rafting trip through Nahanni National Park [2], which requires booking well in advance and making the relevant transportation bookings.
Those driving north from Alberta [3] should allow at least one week in the Northwest Territories. This is enough time to see the abundant natural wonders of Wood Buffalo National Park [4] before heading to the capital of Yellowknife [5], where two days is enough time to see the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre [6], wander through Old Town [7], try your hand at fishing, and go paddling [8] in one of the many surrounding lakes. If it’s late June, golfing under the midnight sun [9] is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, but the local links is worth hitting at any time of the summer.
Backtracking from the capital, head west to Fort Simpson [10] for a flightseeing day trip into Nahanni National Park [11]. Exiting the Northwest Territories at Fort Liard [12] will set you up for another week’s worth of adventures in northern British Columbia [13] and the Yukon [14].
If you’re keen to travel above the Arctic Circle, it is possible to combine a driving tour to Yellowknife with a flight to Inuvik [15]. The town itself is interesting, but it’s the prospect of experiencing a sun that never sets (in late June) or seeing—or swimming in, for the brave—the Arctic Ocean on a side trip to Tuktoyaktuk [16] that brings most visitors this far north. The ideal scenario would be to book a three-night stay, flying up from Yellowknife (or Calgary [17] or Edmonton [18]) to Inuvik, with one full day to explore town and another to visit “Tuk.” Travelers with reliable vehicles can also reach Inuvik by road through the Yukon [14]. Allow at least four days for the round-trip from Dawson City [19].
Links:
[1] http://www.moon.com/destinations/western-canada/northwest-territories
[2] http://www.moon.com/destinations/western-canada/northwest-territories/nahanni-country-and-the-mackenzie-valley/nahanni-national-park/white-water-raf
[3] http://www.moon.com/destinations/alberta
[4] http://www.moon.com/destinations/western-canada/northwest-territories/waterfalls-route/wood-buffalo-national-park
[5] http://www.moon.com/destinations/western-canada/northwest-territories/yellowknife
[6] http://www.moon.com/destinations/western-canada/northwest-territories/yellowknife/sights/prince-wales-northern-heritage-centre
[7] http://www.moon.com/destinations/western-canada/northwest-territories/yellowknife/sights/old-town
[8] http://www.moon.com/destinations/western-canada/northwest-territories/yellowknife/recreation/fishing-and-canoeing
[9] http://www.moon.com/destinations/western-canada/northwest-territories/yellowknife/recreation/golfing-under-the-midnight-sun
[10] http://www.moon.com/destinations/western-canada/northwest-territories/nahanni-country-and-the-mackenzie-valley/fort-simpson
[11] http://www.moon.com/destinations/western-canada/northwest-territories/nahanni-country-and-the-mackenzie-valley/nahanni-national-park/flightseeing
[12] http://www.moon.com/destinations/western-canada/northwest-territories/nahanni-country-and-the-mackenzie-valley/fort-liard
[13] http://www.moon.com/destinations/british-columbia
[14] http://www.moon.com/destinations/western-canada/yukon
[15] http://www.moon.com/destinations/western-canada/northwest-territories/western-arctic/inuvik
[16] http://www.moon.com/destinations/western-canada/northwest-territories/western-arctic/tuktoyaktuk
[17] http://www.moon.com/destinations/alberta/calgary
[18] http://www.moon.com/destinations/alberta/edmonton
[19] http://www.moon.com/destinations/western-canada/yukon/dawson-city