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• Getting Here and Around
  • Traveling to Nunavut
  • Traveling in Nunavut
• Safe Travel
  • Safe Travel
  • Polar Bear Safety
  • Suggested Resources
• Registration & Permits
  • Registration
  • Permits
• Visitor Centres
• Weather

Traveling in Nunavut

With few roads and many of its communities scattered over islands and archipelagos, Nunavut benefits from regularly scheduled air service that links most of its communities. Flights to the smaller communities operate two or three times a week, while some of the larger communities have daily service.

If you can't find a scheduled flight to your destination, a charter service can probably get you there. Charter aircraft - including helicopters - are often the only way to reach many fishing camps and parks. If you're taking a package tour, the charter cost will probably be included, but check to be sure.

It is important to note that flights within Nunavut are frequently delayed by bad weather, particularly in the small communities where air operations run under visual flight rules. And don't be surprised when an aircraft is taken off scheduled service to fly as an air ambulance.

• Canadian North
  Scheduled and charter passenger and cargo service with an all-jet fleet of Boeing 737s throughout Nunavut and the NWT. Gateways include Ottawa, Winnipeg, Edmonton, Calgary, and Vancouver. Connections with both domestic and international flights. Canadian North flights are eligible for Aeroplan points.
  Tel: (867) 669-4000
  Fax: (867) 669-4040
  Toll Free: 1-800-661-1505
  Web: www.canadiannorth.ca
• First Air
  Scheduled and charter passenger flights to and within Nunavut. Main gateways: Ottawa, Montreal, Edmonton, Winnipeg, and Yellowknife. First Air flies to a total of 26 destinations in the North, operating a fleet of over 30 aircraft. All scheduled First Air flights are eligible for Aeroplan points. Charters are also available.
  Tel: (613) 839-3340
  Iqaluit Office: (867) 979-8308
  Fax: (613) 839-5690
  Toll Free: 1-800-267-1247
  Email: reservat@firstair.ca
  Web: www.firstair.ca
• Kenn Borek Air
  Scheduled and charter service for the Baffin region.
  Tel: (867) 979-0040
  Fax: (867) 979-0132
  Email: borekyfb@northwestel.com
• Kivalliq Air
  Scheduled air service for the Kivalliq and Kitikmeot regions. Charter Service also available.
  Tel: (867) 645-2992
  Fax: (867) 645-2330
  Winnipeg Office: 1-877-855-1500
• Unaalik Aviation
  Scheduled and charter service for the Baffin region.
  Tel: (867) 979-6795
  Toll Free: 1-866-366-6784
  Fax: (867) 979-6798
  Email: unaalik-operations@nunanet.com

Taxi Service

In most communities, local taxis meet every commercial flight that comes in. There are also usually dedicated phones at airports and in some of the hotels. Taxis usually charge a flat rate per person, and typically more than one group uses the cab at the same time, so don't be surprised if the driver pulls up at other destinations to pick up or drop off passengers before getting to your stop, and don't pass up a taxi just because you see a passenger inside. There may be only one or two taxis in town, so hop in, if there's room.

Vehicle Rentals

Although most Nunavut communities are small enough to explore on foot, many them still offer rental vehicles in addition to taxi service. In areas of the Kitikmeot, around communities such as Cambridge Bay, there are networks of roadways or trails that people use to drive to cottages and camps in outlying areas. As well, in towns like Iqaluit and Rankin Inlet there are a few stretches of pavement, although, most community roads are gravel only. Despite the limited number of roads, it is possible to rent ATVs, snow machines, and in a few places, cars or vans. To rent a vehicle in Nunavut, you require a Canadian provincial, territorial, or international driver's license. Travellers considering rentals should also keep in mind that most tour operators and accommodation suppliers usually provide transport for their guests.

Arranging a Tour

For adventure-seeking visitors to Nunavut, tour operators and outfitters offer a wide range of excursions that include various levels of services. Outfitters usually operate between March and September, which is Nunavut's peak travel season. They can still be contacted in the off-season months to facilitate planning, however due to cold temperatures and reduced daylight, few travellers visit during this time of year.

If you're already visiting a northern community and feel like taking a tour on the tundra or going on a fishing trip, check in with the Visitor Centre, hamlet office or with Hunters and Trappers Organization (HTO) - who can refer you to a local licensed guide or outfitter.

Check with Nunavut Tourism (www.nunavuttourism.com) for more information on outfitters, guides, and arranging package tours.

Accommodations

You have a number of different options for accommodations during your visit to Nunavut, from the modern hotel with conference facilities to the cozy comfort of B&Bs and tourist homes, as well as the warm hospitality of a homestay experience with an Inuit family. A list of accommodations in each community servicing a park is located in their profiles.

In Nunavut, lodgings can range from very comfortable full-service hotels comparable to many southern facilities to interesting small hotels, home stays, bed and breakfast facilities or even a night in an igloo. As with most Nunavut experiences, a hotel stay in any or our small Arctic communities can be part of a very unique and rewarding cultural encounter.

There are a few hotels and lodges in Nunavut of exceptional quality and service – similar or exceeding the standards found in hotels across Canada. However, many community hotels are not luxurious, although most are clean and functional. Space is limited in the smaller communities, and it is fairly common to share a room with others. Initially this may not seem an attractive option to the solo traveller, however you are guaranteed to meet fascinating people from all over the world, engaged in all kinds of interesting adventures and activities. Similar to other northern experiences, hotels are expensive – you can expect to pay $140-$180 per night, not including meals. Meals will run on average an extra $60-$90 per day if you eat in the hotel – which is often the only place in town to get a meal. Also be aware that rates are usually quoted per person or per bed, as opposed to per room.

A number of communities have a bed & breakfast as an alternative to the hotel. They are usually a little less expensive, and as their name suggests the cost includes breakfast. You will have to make arrangements with your host or the local hotel for your other meals. Tourist homes are similar, although you usually have access to a kitchen and you are responsible for cooking all your own meals.

Some travellers wish to immerse themselves into the culture and billet with a local Inuit family. This is possible, however, unlike other accommodations, homestays are not regulated by any standards for quality or safety and they are not licensed by the Government of Nunavut. It is your sole responsibility to investigate what services will be provided. A few good questions to start with include, “Have you done this before?”, “Are meals included?”, and “Do I get my own room, or just a bed?” The Inuit are incredibly hospitable and a homestay is a unique opportunity for an authentic travelling experience, however be aware that northern living conditions are very different and full of surprises even for the experienced traveller. To arrange a homestay, begin by calling the hamlet office or visitor centre in the community you wish to visit for a list of families offering this service.

You'll also find lodges and outpost camps in many areas of Nunavut. They are usually not located in a community and are most often operating seasonally. Many such facilities cater to or specialize in specific Arctic activities and expeditions such as sport fishing and wildlife tours. While quite comfortable, you are most likely to have to share accommodations in an outpost camp and may have to bring your own sleeping bag.

Check with Nunavut Tourism (www.nunavuttourism.com), or your travel agent about arranging accommodations during your trip.