Upon landing in Whitehorse, we made our way to the small town of Carcross (located on the Traditional Territory of the Carcross/Tagish First Nation). To learn more about the Indigenous lands and peoples of the area, we visited Haa Shagóon Hídi (otherwise known as the Carcross Learning Centre) where we were honoured to learn about the Carcross and Tagish peoples and cultures. Nestled between four majestic mountains, here we learned about the clans that inhabit the area, their migration stories, and the songs that connect the Carcross and Tagish people to their ancestors. Before leaving we visited visited the Carcross Commons, where we found quaint local shops, which were embellished with beautiful First Nations art.

As the limited hours of winter sunlight drew to a close for the day, it was time to start making our way to the Southern Lakes Resort where would be staying for the next couple of nights.

We were greeted warmly and shown to our beautiful lakeside cabins before joining other patrons in the restaurant for dinner. The next morning, we prepared ourselves for one of the winter activities we had been most excited about – dogsledding! Michelle Phillips is a veteran in the world of dogsledding and has competed in several 1000 mile races in her tenure as a dog musher. It was incredible watching her interact with her team of dogs, and so much fun being pulled through a winter wonderland by her 8-dog sledding team. Bundle up! Neck, hand, and toes warmers are highly recommended to ensure that you’re comfy during this once in a lifetime experience.

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The next day we were in for another cultural experience at Long Ago People’s Place (located on the Traditional Territory of the Champagne and Aishihik First Nations). At this re-creation of a traditional First Nation’s village, we met Harold Johnson and Meta Williams. They have transformed the area into a cultural capsule for the purpose of educating visitors and sharing the teachings of their Southern Tutchone ancestors. We were welcomed by a bonfire, where we learned about the Wolf and Crow clans that inhabit the region, the respect and honour between these cohabitating clans, and ways in which they lived together off the land and in harmony with nature.

Harold and Meta showed us traditional tools used by their ancestors, including those made from animal bones, eagle feathers, wood, and stone. Harold walked us through the campsite, sharing with us the ways in which his ancestors survived harsh winters, and how communities worked together to support one another. We ended our stay with homemade bannock and hearing classic stories of how Harold and Meta first met. Long Ago People’s Place is open year-round for tours (by appointment in the winter) and also offers campsite services in the summer.

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Day 4 of our trip was one we had been looking forward to since touching down in Whitehorse. While we had gotten a bird’s eye view of the majestic mountains of the Yukon on our flight in from Vancouver, we were excited to take the Kasksawulsh and Donjek Glacier flight tour with Rocking Star Adventures. This got us up close and personal with these massive glaciers, and to see Mount Logan, the tallest mountain in Canada, from above. (We also felt extremely lucky as flights like this into the mountains are always weather dependent!).

It is hard to describe the immensity and profundity of seeing these endless blankets of ice stretching out beyond where the eyes can see, so we will let the photos speak for themselves. We can share with you that this was a flight we will never forget, and hope that you one day get the chance to experience it for yourself. We wrapped up this day by driving back to Whitehorse and checking in to the modern Black Spruce Cabins, where after a day full of adventure we fell asleep amongst the trees.

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Our visit to the Yukon ended on a high note with a visit to the newly renovated Eclipse Nordic Hot Springs. This beautiful wellness spa boasts several outdoor natural hot spring pools, wood saunas, steam rooms, Nordic showers, and relaxation rooms. This visit was the most relaxing ending to an already perfect trip, allowing for us to reflect on the experiences we had shared and soak in a moment of calm before heading back to the big city.

Our trip to the Yukon had the ideal balance of adventure, culture, and relaxation, allowing us to fully take in the beauty of the environment, the richness of the culture, and the things that make this place so unique. We hope that sharing this itinerary gives you some inspiration when planning you next trip up North. We can’t wait to go back in the summer, and experience some of the other activities and adventures it has to offer!

We want to give a special thank you to Travel Yukon for building this beautiful trip with us for our audiences. Ready to plan your next adventure? A different world in Canada awaits!