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As Australians set their sights on far-flung adventures to destinations abundant with wide-open spaces, natural beauty and outdoor adventures, Canada’s Yukon Territory is top of the list.
Rugged, unspoilt and 80 percent wilderness, this untamed corner of Canada’s north-west makes lockdown feel like a distant memory. With forested valleys, 5000-metre-high peaks, unspoiled waterways and roaming wildlife, here’s how to make the most out of a visit in 2022.
Chase the northern lights
Fall under the spell of the mystical aurora borealis, or northern lights. Head 20 minutes into the wilderness outside the capital city of Whitehorse to watch the Northern Lights at their brightest in winter’s complete darkness, with Northern Tales Travel Service. This unique viewing site is a comfortable prospector-style wall tent once used by gold seekers and trappers. Alternatively, Arctic Range Adventure offers a range of aurora viewing tours, including the Aurora Viewing / Yukon Wildlife adventure, which includes an evening at the AuroraCentre around a roaring campfire as the northern lights play overhead, plus a tour of the Yukon Wildlife Preserve, where you can photograph incredible wildlife, from bighorn sheep and mountain goats, to musk-ox, arctic fox and even lynx – a photographer’s and naturalist’s dream!
Alternatively, the Northern Lights Resort and Spa is a great way to enjoy the spectacle in comfort, and far from any light pollution. The Aurora Glass Chalets, with their oversize viewing windows, overlook the beautiful Yukon Valley and surrounding mountain range, providing a fantastic home base for your aurora escapade.
Wellness in the wilderness – hike, bike and yoga
The Yukon is a place where you reconnect not only with nature, but with your deepest self. It’s a tranquil oasis for self-reflection and renewal, where opportunities abound for retreats and workshops, from photography and writing, to painting, hiking, mountain biking and yoga.
The Yukon is a hiking-biking dream come true, with a trail for every ability and fitness level, where even the shortest, easiest routes reward you with sweeping vistas of expansive rivers, glaciers and pristine alpine wilderness. During winter, don a pair of snow pants and explore the expansive wilderness on a fat bike, named for their thick, oversized tires, designed for traction on snow.
Ultimate RV adventures
RVing through the Yukon during summer under the spectacular midnight sun might just be the road trip of a lifetime. Easy driving on uncrowded highways takes visitors to some of the most jaw-dropping scenery on the planet. Along the way, you’ll find full-service RV parks and welcoming communities.
Sky high excursions
Soar above Kluane National Park, less than two hours from Whitehorse and home to the world’s largest non-polar icefields and home of Mt Logan, Canada’s highest mountain.
For a bird’s eye perspective of a different kind, take to the skies in the Klondike and capture the full scale of the goldfields and the region’s rich mining heritage before cruising over the rugged, protected wilderness known as Tombstone Territorial Park, just 70 kilometres from Dawson City. Click here to find out more.
Pan for gold
The discovery of Klondike gold in 1896 began a stampede of more than 100,000 prospectors. There’s still gold to be found, but it’s the region’s captivating history that draws visitors to Dawson City and the surrounding Gold Rush area. Pan for gold at Free Claim #6, tour Dredge No. 4 and gear up to celebrate the 125th anniversary of the Yukon Gold Rush in 2023.
More information, including travel guidelines, visit travelyukon.com
For updates on COVID restrictions, visit the Government of Yukon Territory website.
Note for all travellers:
Travel to Canada is going to be a little different than it was prior to the pandemic, and we encourage all travellers to be fully informed of the pre-entry and on-arrival public health and testing requirements both federally and provincially. This includes the mandatory use of the ArriveCAN app. Travellers should plan for extra time in the lead up, and upon the arrival of their trip. For the latest information on travel to Canada including the updated requirements and restrictions, please visit the Government of Canada website.