Barrenland Naturalist Tour
This year we are offering a new program focusing on arctic and taiga ecology, natural history, and literally “everything” barrenlands.
Venture out each day on hikes and boat trips to explore the very northern edge of the treeline at Point Lake, where the taiga gives way to the tundra and arctic and subarctic plants and animals mix. You’ll identify plants, learn about the factors that influence plants in this extreme environment, sample berries and edible plants, and enjoy the fall colours on the eskers, tundra slopes and small groves of spruce. And you’ll learn about the wildlife of the area, from dancing sandhill cranes and soaring raptors to small tundra birds; from wandering barrenground caribou to arctic hares, foxes, minute aquatic invertebrates, and whatever wildlife offers itself.
In addition, we’ll explore the geology of the area, from bedrock outcrops to landscapes carved by the great Laurentide ice sheet, as well as the human history of the area, from the early Indigenous groups to explorers like Samuel Hearne, Franklin (his first expedition, 1819-1822), and others, including the great diamond rush of the 1990’s.
Weather permitting, we will be out most of the day each day, boating, hiking or a combination of each, visiting places like Caribou Bay, Big Island, Esker Bay, including, hopefully, a visit to a rare phenomenon, an area of aufeis or overflow ice that often persists most of the summer.
The program will be led by Page Burt, who has 40 years’ experience as Program Director at Bathurst Inlet Lodge. She is the author of Barrenland Beauties, a guide to arctic wildflowers, has spent many years doing environmental baseline work for mining companies from the Coppermine area to North Baffin Island, and doing tourism consulting in both the NWT and Nunavut. Page writes for Up Here Magazine and shares her time between Yellowknife and Rankin Inlet.
2023 Dates | 2024 Dates |
August 19 – 24 Only | Coming Soon |
2023 Price | 2024 Price |
$6,995.00 + 5% GST | $7,275.00 + 5% GST |
Minimum Number of Guests: 4 | Maximum Number of Guests: 12 |
All rates are USD per person and based on double occupancy. Single guests can sign up to share a room with another person of the same gender at the regular rate. If a single guest prefers to have a private room, this option is available pending lodge capacity and space. Alternate option is to book a single private room. Canadian Resident? Contact us for our special Canadian rate
What’s Included
▪ Five nights accommodation.
▪ Three delicious meals per day (including packed, picnic or shore lunch option).
▪ Daily Guided Excursions.
▪ Professional program leader, Page Burt
▪ Guided Daily Excursions (including fishing option)
▪ Boats, equipped with dual motors, fuel, cushioned swivel seats for guided boating excursions.
▪ Lodge Gear including: on-board fish finders, rubber boots and life jackets*
▪ Personalized shuttle to and from the Yellowknife airport, hotel and float base
▪ Celebratory continental breakfast at float base prior to your flight to the lodge
* lodge fishing rods and reels are available, please be sure to let us know in advance if you need some gear.
What’s Not Included
Fishing licenses can be purchased online or at our lodge tackle and gift shop. Please let us know if you’ve purchased your license online.
If you’re interested in this trip you might also be interested in our Walk the Tundra Explorer Trip and Arctic Photography Workshop
DEPOSITS/TERMS/CANCELLATION POLICY
Please see our Terms and Conditions Page for more information.