Canada NEW IN YUKON
With Yukon seeing a 5.6% increase in international arrivals last year and a 38% increase since 2010, the growth in this Canadian province shows no sign of slowing down:
Accommodation The vast icy wilderness of Kluane national park
Calgary, including British Airways, WestJet (NA400), Air Canada (NA400) and Air Transat (NA402). Destination Canada (NA400), the country’s tourism commission, predicts a 3% year-on-year growth in UK travellers visiting Canada this year, bringing the number to 825,000. Most will be lured to the lower-lying provinces of British Columbia, Ontario and Alberta, but there’s now a growing argument for visitors to take the two-hour connecting flight north-west to territorial capital Whitehorse.
Hit the ground running Seen from the air, the Yukon appears vast and untouched, but it’s surprisingly easy to get around. If conventional self-drive holidays seem tame, the Yukon delivers the answer. Jump in a 4x4 to deal with iced-over roads, and 30 minutes after landing your quest for freedom and fresh air begins.
It takes around five minutes to drive into the wilderness proper – saloon bars, all-mod-con hotels and craft breweries on one side, rustic log cabins and spruce-wrapped lake resorts on the other.
There’s a gigantic paddle steamer parked on the Yukon river in Whitehorse, plus the historic White Pass and Yukon Railway station, but the real adventure starts out on the scenic Alaska Highway.
From there, the road winds north through a territory bigger than Germany or Japan, with peekaboo glimpses of gigantic mountains and sparkling glacial valleys streaming in via the rear-view mirror.
Ready for take-off
By the time I reach Haines Junction, jumping-off point for Kluane national park, I’m ready to swap the driving seat for a spot in a Cessna 206 six-seater plane.
What’s brought me here is a “flight-seeing” micro-adventure with Rocking Star Adventures pilot Daniel Clunies-Ross, and our plan is a two-hour, 300-mile circuit puttering over the world’s largest non-polar ice field.
“That’s the emergency landing transmitter,” says Clunies-Ross, pointing to a flashing red button on the dashboard as the plane soars west from runway into wild blue sky. “Kluane is Canada’s largest national park, almost completely uninhabited, so it’s not a good place to get lost. But that’s why it’s so much fun to explore.”
From the cockpit, the visual thrills are Imax-worthy. Like most of the Yukon, it’s a natural wonder, an impressive labyrinth of Leviathan- sized glaciers, gargantuan ice fields and snow-packed summits. The final reveal comes with a quick loop around Mount Logan – at 5,959m, it’s the highest peak in Canada. Those without a head for heights need not be intimidated. As Clunies- Ross says: “Once you get out here, it’s hard to say goodbye.”
Thrills and cultural frills As much as any adventurer wants to explore the stunning beauty of Canada’s frozen north, it’s also worth experiencing the living First Nations culture that surrounds it.
Near the town of Carcross, by lakes
Tagish, Marsh and Bennett, that journey begins with snowshoeing, dog-sledding and ice-fishing – undemanding yet inspiring activities perfected by the Yukon’s indigenous tribes for many centuries. I spend the next few days trying them out at the Southern Lakes Resort and Inn On The Lake, two road-accessible, off-grid properties. One mixes lavish salmon bake dinners with comfy woodsy cabins. The other wows with understated luxury, hot-tub stargazing and a cameo from the aurora borealis. The next morning, I join wilderness guide Patrick Beille for an ice-fishing masterclass. The hope is to catch lunch – a silvery lake char, perhaps – but after baiting, jigging, spinning and luring through a hole of sloshing lake ice, we’re left empty-handed. “The fish’s metabolism slows in winter because of the cold, so they should be easy to catch,” says Beille, shaking his head. “Obviously not today. Just as well I brought a back-up.”
Moments later, a crackling fire is stoked on the snowy lake and the outdoorsman begins barbecuing a Yukon specialty: caribou sausage served straight from the spit. It is a moment to savour, literally. It could be argued that the Yukon is the last refuge of the free spirit: some of the greatest scenery anywhere on earth, majestic lakes and mountains all to myself, dancing lights in the night sky and a thrilling snowmobile ride home. Surely that’s worth a trip north?
■ Find Tourism Yukon at NA400 05.11.2018 63
A new-build boutique hotel, Raven Inn Whitehorse, is scheduled to open in Whitehorse in 2019. With 57 rooms, its design has been inspired by historic Klondike Gold Rush architecture. Tincup Wilderness Lodge has been fully renovated. The fl y-fi shing lodge on the outskirts of Kluane national park offers wooden cabins on the shores of Tincup Lake, a location perfect for hiking, canoeing and kayaking. Other renovated accommodation includes Hotel Carmacks between Whitehorse and Dawson and Edgewater Hotel, a high-end choice on the Yukon River. Plus, Northern Lights Resort & Spa is almost doubling its capacity with three glass-walled chalets designed to enhance guests’ aurora borealis experience.
Trends
Yukon is best known for its extreme outdoor adventure and northern lights experiences but recently it’s seen a boom in culinary tourism – the province’s fi fth annual culinary festival took place in August this year. Meanwhile, the First Nations continues to be a draw for international visitors.
Future plans
This year, the Yukon government has taken on a 10-year tourism development strategy that is currently undergoing stakeholder engagement to gather input from citizens, tourism businesses, the First Nations and multiple levels of government to create a long-term, sustainable plan to grow tourism.
© Yukon Government
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92
