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Trekking in Northern Canada
as featured in the TV show Treks in a Wild World

Experience the spectacular cultural and natural diversity of life in Northern Canada, at the edge of the Arctic. The region surrounding Hudson’s Bay is mainly tundra - a rocky land home to a vast array of plant-life but few trees. The most famous inhabitants of the area are polar bears and beluga whales. Hudson’s Bay was once a prime area for the fur-trading interests of Britain and France.

Local native Cree and Inuit nations still hunt to survive, though these days they use high-powered rifles instead of harpoons and all terrain vehicles dominate the landscape instead of snow-sleds. Nonetheless, many of their native traditions, such as respect for the land, still survive.

Steve learns the ancient Inuit art of soapstone carving

Highlights

- Rafting down grade IV rapids on the Great Whale River. These rapids have only been run once before our Trekker Steve Dunn plunged down them

- Learning how to make a traditional Cree teepee and cooking fresh trout Cree-style

- All terrain ride along the coast of the Belcher Islands to camp with the Inuit

- Arctic snorkeling with beluga whales

- Taking a helicopter flight over the tundra to spot polar bears

Our Journey Path
as featured in Treks in a Wild World

Trekker Steve Dunn begins his journey on the remote, pristine and thunderous Great Whale River in Northern Quebec, where he runs the Grand Canyon-sized rapids with native Cree guides. By following their customs and rituals, he learns about their spiritual connection to the land which is under threat from industrial development.

Steve then flies to the Belcher Islands in Hudson’s Bay. All terrain vehicles are the preferred mode of transport here, and Steve takes a journey along the crashing waves of the coast to stay at a traditional Inuit camp. He tastes Inuit delicacies, tries his voice at throat-singing and learns from Inuit Elders the ancient art of soapstone carving. Next, he journeys to the other side of Hudson’s Bay where he snorkels with the Beluga whales that converge each summer at the mouth of the Churchill River. He also travels by helicopter to spot polar bears waiting for the winter ice floes to arrive to take them back out to sea.

Survival Tips

The weather in Northern Canada can change dramatically in a short period of time during the summer months. Prepare for all conditions by bringing lots of layers and waterproof outerwear.

Make sure you’ve had some rafting training before you go down the Great Whale River. The rapids range from Class IV to a low Class V.

Steve spots a Beluga whale

Alcohol is banned in Sanikiluaq on the Belcher Islands. It is illegal to bring it into the town, so be prepared for a sober visit.

Churchill is accessible by train and plane only. It's a 36 hours train journey from Winnipeg, but the flight only takes two and a half hours.

You’ll need to bring your own dry-suit gear if you wish to snorkel with the whales. There are no dive shops in Churchill.

The best time of year to see whales is July and August. The best polar bear time is mid-October to mid-November.

Did you know?

The Great Whale River is so powerful that the Quebec government wants to damn it to create hydro-electric power. The project was put on hold after protestors, including Robert Kennedy Jr. convinced New York state not to buy the power for environmental reasons.

The world’s largest caribou herd migrates across the Great Whale River. Ancient paths along the rivers banks mark their route, as do the shedded caribou antlers that can be found in the area.

Steve Dunn goes Arctic snorkeling in Churchill, Manatoba

The Cree nation has a tradition that every fish taken from the river must be kept for food, regardless of the size. It is considered disrespectful to fish for sport and put back what the river has offered you.

The Belcher Islands are the southernmost territory of Nunavut, Canada’s recently created Inuit territory. These islands have only been inhabited by “white people” since 1918.

Churchill Manitoba is called the “Polar Bear Capital of the World.” It’s the most accessible place in the world to view polar bears in the wild and it is also the best place to see Beluga whales.

Churchill has a 'polar bear jail', where wayward bears are kept if they are caught ambling into town. The bears are kept in the jail until October when the ice floes arrive to take them back out to their usual habitat.