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2008 Tours of Northern Canada:

"Kluane Backcountry Excursion"

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Midnight Sun Adventure Travel has partnered with Dalton Trail Lodge to offer our clients a pre-tour wildlife observation package in the heart of the Yukon Wilderness. This four day package, which includes a return shuttle to the lodge and your gateway accommodation in Whitehorse, has been designed for Midnight Sun clients. This excursion is a great way to explore a remote part of the Yukon and get a jump start on your northern vacation. It concludes in Whitehorse the night before the Arctic Explorer tour departs.

Accommodation will either be in the main building or cabins. All rooms have a private bath but do not have TV or phone. The main lodge offers a public phone and a satellite TV and computer. Accommodation in Whitehorse will be in a standard room at either the High Country Inn or the Town and Mountain Hotel.

The Kluane Backcountry Excursion must be booked at the same time you book your Arctic Explorer departure and requires a minimum of two people for us to confirm your reservation at the Lodge. Please go to our reservation page and click on "Arctic Explorer Package".

 

Duration: 4 days / 3 nights
Activity Level : Easy to Moderate
Maximum Group Size: 8 guests
Accommodation: Three nights lodge with a Select Canada rating of "4".
Meals:

Three hot buffet breakfasts, two lunches, and three dinners.

Tour Dates:

2008 Tour Dates
July 2-5. Reference A/E July 6 departure.               
July 9-12. Reference A/E July 13 departure.                
July 16-19. Reference A/E July 20 departure.                 
July 23-26. Reference A/E July 27 departure.      

July 30-August 2. Reference A/E August 3 departure.             

August 6-9. Reference A/E August 10 departure.

August 13-17. Reference A/E August 17 departure.

August 20 -23. Reference A/E August 24 departure.

August 27-30.  Reference A/E August 31 departure.

September 3-6. Reference A/E September 7 departure.

All excursions depart Whitehorse on a Wednesday and return to Whitehorse on a Saturday.

Departs: Whitehorse, YT
Arrives: Whitehorse, YT
Price:

$1,695 per person.

Included:
  • Experienced guide
  • Transfers from lodge to Whitehorse
  • Guided wildlife tours.
  •  Four nights accommodation
  •  Meals as listed
Not Included: Gratuities, 5% GST.
Optional Activities: Fishing, canoeing and jet boating.

Reservations

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Kluane Backcountry Excursion Itinerary


Whitehorse, YT, return

Day 1. Dalton Trail Lodge, YT.

Clients are picked up at Whitehorse Airport at 2:00 pm by the Dalton Trail Lodge shuttle. Civilization quickly fades into the truck's rear view mirror as we head west.   The lodge, located a two hour drive from Whitehorse, sits on the edge of Kluane National Park and overlooks Dezadeash Lake. We arrive shortly after 4:00 pm, in time to stretch our legs before taking supper at 7:00 p.m. After dinner, your guide will map out Day 2 with the group: the itinerary for this day will depend on weather, the present movement of the wildlife and the physical conditioning of group members.

Accommodation: Lodge
Included Meals: Dinner

Day 2 and Day 3:  Dalton Trail Lodge, YT.  

These two days are set aside to head into the bush and look for wildlife. After a hearty hot breakfast buffet (which includes all the fixings for pack lunch) we depart the lodge at 8:00 am. Areas we explore at least two of the following:

Kathleen Lake. We cruise the lake for about one hour, looking for grizzly, black bear and moose. Anchoring the boat at the trailhead to Kings Throne, we hike the trail to the top. The trail, which has an elevation gain of 4,000 feet, affords a splendid view of the lake (refer to our photo gallery) and provides opportunities to sight Dall sheep and mountain goat.   This six hour hike is steep and is rated as moderate.

Alsek Valley. We travel by 4 x 4 truck to the trailhead into the Alsek Valley (about 45 minutes). When the bush road ends, we begin our hike along the only major river flowing from the Yukon to the Pacific Ocean. Over the previous four hundred years several major ice flows have spilled out of the ice field ranges to intersect and dam off the Alsek River , obstructing its flow to the ocean. The lakes that were created left their marks with fresh-looking driftwood and sandy beaches that rise from the floor of the valley to a height of 300 feet. The Alsek Valley is a great spot to watch for grizzly bear and dall sheep. Easy hiking following an old bush road.

Mush and Bates Lake. We follow an old mining road with 4 x 4 truck for about 1.5 hour to Mush Lake. Continuing our trip with a motorboat to the west end of the Lake, we hike for two hours to Bates Lake.  This area offers excellent opportunities to see moose, grizzly and black bear. The hike is rated as easy.

We arrive back at the lodge by 6:00 pm. Dinner is at 7:00 pm, after which we meet with our guide to review the day and plan for Day 3.

Accommodation: Lodge
Included Meals on Day 2 and Day 3: Hot breakfast buffet, pack lunch and dinner.

Day 4. Whitehorse, YT. 

After breakfast, we take the return drive to Whitehorse. We arrive early enough to time to check in at our hotel and enjoy the afternoon and evenign exploring Whitehorse.   Your Midnight Sun Travel guide will meet you in your hotel lobby by 8:30 am on the subequent morning.

Accommodation: Whitehorse Hotel
Included Meals: Hot breakfast

Reservations

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arctic adventure


  Gateway Accommodation

We offer door-to-door service at a number of hotels in downtown Whitehorse including:

High Country Inn

Town and Mountain Hotel

   Transportation


Air North Flight information

Getting to Vancouver

Getting to Whitehorse

  Weather

Vancouver

Whitehorse

Inuvik
  Parks & Information

Tombstone Park

Dawson City

The Dempster Highway

Pre-departure Information Excerpt

 
Yukon Books

Call toll free
1-800-255-5057
for info on tour availability

Kluane Backcountry Excursion Photo Gallery

Click a picture to see
a larger view.


 

 

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