Traveling to the Canadian Arctic and Native Inuit Communities

In recent years, there have been more tourists visiting the Canadian Arctic region for business and tourism. The Arctic is being promoted by adventure tourism companies as a unique destination for those who want to see the wildlife and natural beauty of the north, as well as the culture of native Inuit. The capital city of Iqaluit, which was established by the Nunavut government and territory, has seen a rise in Inuit from other Arctic communities moving to Iqaluit for better job opportunities. This has led to an increase in Arctic business travelers.

Travelers have always had difficulty getting to the Arctic because there aren’t any roads from southern Canadian cities. The Arctic communities are extremely isolated from Canada and each other. Although flying in was the only way to go, many Arctic coastal areas can be serviced by cargo boats during summers. The only option for the average traveler is to fly. The number of people who travel to the Canadian Arctic has increased but is still very low compared to those who travel between the southern Canadian cities. The Arctic is not served by the US airlines or the Canadian major carrier Air Canada. First Air and Canadian North are the only commercial airlines that service the Arctic (Nunavut, Northwest Territories). Air Inuit, a smaller airline, services Nunavik’s native Inuit communities (Arctic Quebec). Both Canadian North and First Air fly out of Ottawa. First Air also fly out of Montreal, while Canadian North has flights leaving from Edmonton and Calgary. Canadian North will make a stop in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories in order to continue on to Nunavut. To connect with an Arctic carrier, travelers will need to travel to these Canadian cities from where they originated. To get to Cape Dorset, a smaller Arctic community, you will need an additional connection through Iqaluit.

Comparable to domestic flights within Canada, the number of flights to the Arctic can be predicted to be very low. Arctic flights are expensive regardless of what day it is. Cheaper airfares will not be available if you stay on Saturday nights. The high cost of airfares has been a major barrier to Arctic travel for many years and it is unlikely that this will change anytime soon. Because of the high cost of travel, Arctic tourism will not grow. A trip to the Canadian Arctic will be unforgettable and rewarding if you are willing to spend.