Do you feed off of adventure? Do you and your partner crave adrenaline more than leisure? Do you think seaside sabbaticals are for sissies? If you answered yes to any of the above, I’ve got the weekend getaway for you!
From international hiking trips to fishing for Arctic Char past the Arctic Circle, these escapes from the day-to-day are sure to get your blood pumping and your muscles aching. Here are 10 weekend getaway in the Canadian Territories, for couples who want more than a margarita on the beach.
Climb Cirque of the Unclimbables
– Located on the border of Northwest Territory and Yukon, these stunning granite peaks are in a remote region of the Logan Mountains called the Ragged Range. With an elevation of over 5300 feet of steep granite spires these mountains were thought to be unclimbable 50 years ago. Together you and your loved one can defeat the impossible and climb these unclimbables! After arriving in Whitehorse, Yukon you’ll want to book a floaplane to take you and your gear to Glacier Lake, where you will embark on this incredible Northern getaway. Details
Kluane National Park
– This national park is considered one of the most extreme regions in the country. Home to Canada’s highest peak, the 5959 metre Mount Logan, Canada’s largest ice field, and North America’s most genetically diverse grizzly bear population, you’ll see Canada as you’ve never seen it before. Whether you go rafting, camping, hiking, driving, fishing, hunting, or all of the above, this will truly be an experience of a lifetime. Instead of the same boring dinner and drink this year, make this year’s anniversary as extreme as your love. Details
Iqaluit
– With a population of only 7740 spread across a vast arctic landscape, Iqaluit is a mecca for true Canadian adventurers. With the help of local guides and tours you can go fishing for arctic char, view wildlife including polar bears and narwhals, and go snowmobiling across the frozen sea or hiking along the boreal landscape. In the downtown core you can explore the multitude of active artists and indulge in the local cuisine varying from poutine to Arctic Char. Details
Kayaking/Canoeing in Nunavut
The Kayak was invented by Inuit forefathers over 4000 years, so you can be sure they know what they’re talking about! Head north to Nunavut for some of the best kayaking and canoeing in the world where you can explore national treasures like the Kazan and Thelon Heritage Rivers in Kivalliq, the waterfalls of Katannilik Territorial Park, and the Coppermine River in Kitikmeot. So pack your bags, bring your loved one, and head out on a trip you’ll never forget. Details
Chilkoot Trail
– Mix adventure and history on this 53 kilometer hike over the Coast Mountains. You will begin in Dyea, Alaska, the same place so many hopeful pioneers landed in 1898. From here you will climb through coastal rainforest, over high alpine, and through boreal forest, finally finishing in Northern Canada. This historic route is not only physically challenging, but also incredibly breathtaking. Connect with the pioneers of yore and hike the Chilkoot Trail for your next couple’s adventure! Details
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Mackenzie River Tour
– With a local guide or on your own (if you know what you’re doing!), tour the historic Mackenzie River, Canada’s largest and longest river system, through Nahanni National Park. Along the way you can visit small arctic communities, as well as larger townships like Hay River and Inuvik. With awe-inspiring landscapes, untouched wildlife, and fascinating history, you’ll gain an appreciation for Canada’s North that few are privy to. Details
Fat-Tire Biking in Yukon
– Maybe you road-biked before, and maybe you’ve done a bit of cross-country biking, but I’ll bet you’ve never tried fat-tire biking before! Experts have finally come up with a way to bike all year long in the North, and Yukon’s mountainous landscape is perfect to test it out! Rent a fat-bike from one of two retailers in downtown Whitehorse and cruise the frozen lakes and snow-capped mountains that cover the territory. Details
Blanchford Lake Lodge & Wilderness Resort Winter Excursion
– Choose from two to seven nights for your backwoods adventure. Included in your package is a flightseeing charter from Yellowknife to Balchford and back, all your meals, hot tub and sauna, handicraft workshops, igloo building, seasonal equipment including skis, fat-tire bikes, and ice-fishing gear, and a two hour interpretive experience for each day of your experience. Venture into the unknown during the day and laze in the lap of luxury at night. Details
Great Bear Lake Lodge
– Great Bear Lake is one of the largest lakes in North America, but only fished by a mere 300 anglers each year! Be one of a few this year and head north to find record breaking lake trout and Arctic Grayling. When you’re done fishing, and you’ve seen all the wildlife and landscape you can handle, relax to your private cabin or to the lodge with your loved one. The perfect meeting of adventure and romance, Great Bear Lake Lodge will bring you’re the catch of the day, while you appreciate the real catch in your life. Details
Keele River
For a multi-day paddle extravaganza, sign up for Canoe North Adventures’ Keel River Adventure. After meeting your guides in Norman Wells, NWT the previous day, you will take a charter flight to the Keel River. For the next12 days you will canoe and camp down the historic river passage until arriving at Great Bear Rock, where, according to Dene lore, the great law-giver Yamoria confronted and killed a gang of giant beavers that had been drowning hunters, thus forming the mountain’s distinguishing dark circles. Details
More Adventures in Canada’s Territories