Northern Wonders
About the Trip
From the aurora borealis to the golden gleam of the historic Klondike, the wonders of the Northwest Territories and Yukon beckon on this northern adventure. Begin with a tour of Yellowknife before an evening northern lights excursion where bands of brilliant green and red light could dance across the night sky. Etch your own piece of recycled glassware at an artisan workshop on the shores of Great Slave Lake, then take a harbour cruise. Head to Whitehorse and sink into steamy natural mineral hot springs. Travel the Klondike Highway to historic Dawson City. From Canada’s oldest gambling hall, the aptly named Diamond Tooth Gerties, to the stunning Midnight Dome Lookout to dinner aboard the iconic Klondike Spirit paddlewheeler, your prospects look spectacular.
Member-exclusive Benefits
We reward all our CAA Members on our Extraordinary Explorations® tours/cruises.
- $25 CAD Beverage card†
- 25 CAA Dollars®^
- 25% savings on CAA Travel Insurance◊
Extraordinary Experience
CAA has curated an exceptional experience unique to your tour. Details of this Experience are listed below:
Glass etching workshops:
Hear a brief history of Old Town Glassworks that has been creating beautiful, recycled glassware on the shores of the Great Slave Lake for over 20 years. A demo of cutting, grinding and polishing a glass bottle with instruction on how to stencil and etch your own personal piece of recycled glassware.
Package Includes:
- Airfare from Toronto or Winnipeg to Yellowknife, from Yellowknife to Whitehorse, Dawson City to Whitehorse and return from Whitehorse to Toronto or Winnipeg
- 3-night stay in moderate-class accommodation in Yellowknife
- 2+1-night stay in moderate-class accommodation in Whitehorse
- 3-night stay in moderate-class accommodation in Dawson City
- Breakfast daily, 1 lunch and 9 dinners
- Sightseeing and entrance fees as per itinerary
- Professional English-speaking tour director throughout
- Hotel porterage of 1 suitcase per person
- Destination transfers
Northern Wonders: Explore the Northwest Territories and the Yukon
Activity Level: Moderate. Golden dreams come alive in the Northwest Territories and the Yukon, from the historic Klondike to jaw-dropping scenery to paddlewheeler adventures.
Day 1
Yellowknife – Depart Toronto or Winnipeg to Yellowknife. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel. Enjoy a welcome dinner tonight. D
Day 2
Yellowknife – Start the morning with a tour of Yellowknife. This evening, experience the beauty and wonder of the aurora borealis. B/D
Day 3
Yellowknife – Today is your Extraordinary Experience: a glass-etching workshop. The afternoon is yours to explore the city. B/D
Day 4
Whitehorse – Relax on a harbour cruise in and around the Yellowknife area on Great Slave Lake. Later, fly to Whitehorse where you’ll have time to take a walk along the scenic riverfront pathway. B/D
Day 5
Whitehorse – Take a tour of the city’s unique sites, then have some leisure time on your own. Continue this afternoon to the new world-class facility designed to put the Yukon on the world map of great hot springs. B/D
Day 6
Dawson City – Travel on the historic Klondike Highway to Dawson City. Head to the legendary Diamond Tooth Gerties, Canada’s first and friendliest gambling hall. B/D
Day 7
Dawson City – Explore Dawson City and its surroundings. See spectacular views of the Klondike River from the Midnight Dome Lookout. This evening, dine on the legendary paddlewheeler, the Klondike Spirit. B/D
Day 8
Dawson City – Drive up the famous Dempster Highway to see breathtaking scenery. Visit the Interpretive Centre and, after lunch, hit the trails for a guided flat terrain hike along the North Klondike River. B/L/D
Day 9
Whitehorse – Have some free time this morning before transferring to the airport for your flight to Whitehorse. Enjoy some leisure time before an evening farewell dinner. B/D
Day 10
Transfer to the airport for your return flight home. B
B - Breakfast | L - Lunch | D - Dinner
Terms & Conditions
*All CAA Member prices are per person, based on double occupancy, in Canadian dollars unless otherwise indicated and are subject to change without prior notice until final payment is paid. All prices are correct at press time and apply to new bookings only, based on availability at time of booking. To receive CAA Member-exclusive benefits, there must be one valid CAA Member travelling per booking. Non-members booking Extraordinary Explorations will not receive Member-exclusive benefits.
†Beverage card is one per person, in Canadian funds and has no cash value.
^CAA Dollars awarded per adult Member. To earn and redeem CAA Dollars, you must be a current CAA Member in good standing (CAA Membership dues paid in full by membership expiry date). CAA Dollars will be credited at time of departure. For more information on CAA Dollars, please visit www.caasco.com/caadollars.
◊CAA Travel Insurance is underwritten by Orion Travel Insurance Company, a CAA Company. Twenty-five percent (25%) Member savings is made up of a ten percent (10%) Member savings as well as a promotional fifteen percent (15%) savings when you purchase an Extraordinary Explorations tour through CAA Travel, applies to CAA South Central Ontario and CAA Manitoba Members in good standing (CAA Membership dues paid in full by membership expiry date). This promotional offer is valid until December 31, 2023. Ten percent (10%) Member savings applies to Members in good standing of all other CAA clubs. Savings apply to the total premium excluding applicable taxes. Minimum premium applies. Visitors to Canada Insurance is limited to the promotional savings. Certain exclusions, limitations and restrictions apply. Subject to change without notice. A Medical Questionnaire may be required to purchase travel insurance. Extraordinary Explorations vacations are organized and booked by CAA Travel (South Central Ontario) Inc. and CAA Manitoba (“CAA Travel”) on behalf of CAA Club Group (o/a CAA South Central Ontario and CAA Manitoba). In the event of an increase in any of the cost factors, CAA Travel reserves the right to increase the price whereby the provisions of the Travel Industry Act shall prevail. CAA Extraordinary Explorations packages are 100% non-refundable at final payment. CAA Travel service fee for cancellation prior to final payment varies by program. For full payment terms and conditions, please ask your CAA Travel Consultant. CAA Travel reserves the right to cancel or re-schedule any tour departure in accordance with operating requirements (minimum number of participants) or circumstances beyond its control. Additional fees for checked luggage or other incidentals may be incurred and vary according to itinerary and airline. Air schedules with some tours are not available at press time and may include several connections or forced overnight at passenger’s expense. CAA Travel strongly recommends the purchase of trip cancellation and emergency travel and emergency medical insurance at the time of booking. Please note: Participants must be able to embark and disembark cruise ships and coaches without assistance as well as have a good level of mobility for walking tours in destinations where stairs and traditional cobblestone streets can be challenging. International transportation vehicles and facilities may not meet accessibility standards.
Flight
IncludedTour Itinerary
Day 1
Toronto/Winnipeg to Yellowknife
Depart from Toronto or Winnipeg to Yellowknife.
Welcome to Yellowknife, the Capital city of the Northwest Territories and the Diamond Capital of North America. Upon arrival at the Yellowknife Airport, meet your tour director and transfer to your hotel for a three night stay. (D)
Day 2
Yellowknife
Begin your day with a Yellowknife City tour. A local step-on guide will highlight the Diamond Capital of the North, including Old Town, Downtown and Pilots Monument and Ragged Ass Road. A guided tour of the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre and the Legislative Assembly building will complete your city tour. Tonight, experience the beauty and wonder of the Aurora Borealis. Yellowknife is one of the best places to view the Northern Lights. Watch the aurora dance in the sky across the wilderness. (B/D)
Day 3
Yellowknife
An extraordinary experience awaits you today. Participate in a glass etching workshop and hear a brief history of Old Town Glassworks that has been creating beautiful, recycled glassware on the shores of the Great Slave Lake for over 20 years. Watch a demo of cutting, grinding and polishing a glass bottle with instruction on how to stencil and etch your own personal piece of recycled glassware. This afternoon, explore the frontier town on your own before meeting for a group dinner. (B/D)
Day 4
Whitehorse
Before leaving the Northwest Territories this morning, enjoy a relaxing and comfortable one hour harbour cruise in and around the Yellowknife area. Discover Yellowknife from the water, see the colourful houseboats and learn about these unique houses and lifestyles. Look for the floatplanes or seaplanes and if you’re lucky, you may witness these cool planes takeoff or come in for a landing on the water!
Afterwards, transfer to Yellowknife airport for a flight to Whitehorse, the capital of Yukon Territory. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel for two night stay. (B/D)
Day 5
Whitehorse
Today, explore Whitehorse in depth. Start your exploration with a stop at the Yukon Visitor Centre and the SS Klondike National Historic Site. Visit the Beringia Interpretive Centre for a guided tour. After some leisure time, make your way to the MacBride Museum to learn more about Yukon`s history and try your luck with some gold panning.
Experience the world-class facility designed to put the Yukon on the world map of great hot springs. Explore authentic Japanese Onsen pools combine with the renowned Nordic Spas from northern Europe with two saunas, two steam rooms, relaxing room, ample outdoor deck areas, outdoor showers, a “club mud”, and several authentic Japanese hot pools filled with unadulterated artesian-sourced thermal springs water. And of course, those challenging cold plunges and cold showers to get your circulation going in full form! It will be a cleansing experience like no other. Bring your bathing suit! (B/D)
Day 6
Dawson City
Depart in the early morning for the historic 500km Klondike Highway. Enjoy spectacular scenery and rich Gold Rush history. After settling into your Dawson City hotel, head to the legendary Diamond Tooth Gertie’s, Canada’s first and friendliest gambling hall. It has been wowing visitors with its unique klondike period style, cancan entertainment and friendly charm. Get ready for a whooping good time! (B/D)
Day 7
Dawson City
Today is dedicated to exploring Dawson City and surroundings. First, make your way to the Klondike National Historic Site Dredge No.4, where a guide will provide information about the gold industry. Return to the outskirts of Dawson City and travel up Midnight Dome to marvel at the spectacular landscape of the area. Later, enjoy dinner on a narrated cruise aboard the historic paddle-wheeler, Klondike Spirit. (B/D)
Day 8
Dawson City
Tombstone National Park
Appreciate a beautiful summer day along the North Klondike River! Begin your Klondike tour with a bus ride up the famous Dempster Highway, and experience breathtaking scenery. After arriving at the Interpretive Centre, tea and lunch are served and you have the opportunity to enjoy a high-quality natural history display. After lunch, hit the trails for a one-hour guided flat terrain hike along the North Klondike River.
Bring clothing appropriate for all weather! The Yukon gets chilly, even in the summer. (B/L/D)
Day 9
Whitehorse
Transfer to the Dawson City airport for your flight to Whitehorse.
Before departing, enjoy leisure time with the sights of this enticing town steeped with Klondike Gold Rush history. Amble through the streets lined with vibrantly coloured store fronts and boardwalk shops. Marvel at the gold-crazed frenzy of Dawson City’s past.
Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel for one last night in Whitehorse. Enjoy some free time to explore on your own downtown galleries, craft stores or revisit the museum. This evening, reflect on the beautiful memories of your trip during a farewell dinner at a local restaurant. (B/D)
Day 10
Toronto/Winnipeg
Say goodbye to your northern experience as you transfer to the airport for your return flight home to either Toronto or Winnipeg. (B)
B - Breakfast | L - Lunch | D - Dinner