We Grew Up On This River. Come and See It The Way We Do
The People Behind Polar Pack Arctic Adventures
The Family Behind Polar Pack
We are an Inuvialuit family based in Inuvik at the top of the Northwest Territories, and Polar Pack Arctic Adventures is our family business. The Mackenzie River is not a destination we researched and added to a catalogue. It is where our family is from, where we still hunt and fish and travel, and where we take visitors when they want to see the real thing. Our grandparents’ camp at Reindeer Station is still part of the route we run today, and we started Polar Pack because we believe the best way to know the Arctic is with people whose roots run deep in it.
What Inuvialuit-Guided Means
Inuvialuit Guides, Start to Finish
Your guide is not reading from a script. When we point out where the whales may appear, or which channel runs shallow this year, that knowledge comes from continuous travel through the Delta.
A Meal Cooked on the Shore
Most days include a meal cooked over a fire on shore. Depending on what is running, that might be whitefish or inconnu grilled fish, moose ribs, or muktuk.
Family-Run and Small
We keep the groups small, of around three to five people, because it is much easier to enjoy a long day with a less cramped boat. There is room to ask questions and to stop when something is worth stopping for.
A Day With Us
We meet you in Inuvik and travel by boat down the Mackenzie River, which is the way for most of the summer. Along the way, we stop at the places that carry the stories, including the old whaling camps at East Whitefish Station where families have processed their catch for generations. On the longer runs, we reach the Arctic Ocean and the pingos outside Tuktoyaktuk, which sit inside the Pingo Canadian Landmark and include Ibyuk, the tallest in Canada at 49 metres.
You will get wet, you will probably see wildlife, and the day runs on the weather rather than on a clock. We bring the gear, the food and the boat. Bring layers, a camera and a willingness to change the plan if the water tells us to.
Summer and Winter Are Different Trips
On The Water
Boat tours run roughly from June to September, once the ice is out. From late May to mid-July, the sun does not set, so a nine o’clock departure is still full daylight
On The Road
The highway is open year-round. Northern Lights runs head out of town after dark, and the drive to the Arctic Circle on the Dempster makes for a long day with a traditional lunch.
Come Join Us
We take bookings by phone and email rather than through a checkout, because the right day depends on the water, the weather and how many of you there are. Tell us roughly when you are coming and what you want to see, and we will tell you honestly what is possible.