A Canadian Signature Experience

February 13th, 2012 | By Candice Hong | Filed in AK NEWS, Current Events, Current Trips, FEATURED, Featured Trip, IN THE NEWS, Trips, Upcoming Trip

Arctic Kingdom’s Narwhal and Polar Bear Safari is now a part of the Canadian Tourism Commission’s (CTC)’s Signature Experiences Collection (SEC).  This Arctic Safari, which takes place in northern Baffin Island, Nunvat, is an amazing experience, where people get the chance to see first-hand polar bears, narwhals, seals, or sometimes even walruses. If you don’t know what a narwhal is, picture a whale with a unicorn horn – “the mystical unicorns of the sea.” In addition to seeing an array of wildlife, there is also the opportunity to kayak among floating ice fully escorted by knowledgeable Inuit guides.

Narwhals courtesy of Eric Baccega

We are proud to be a part of the CTC’s SEC, an amazing collection that features the best of what Canada has to offer. The SEC is a collection of unique and inspiring travel experiences that showcases Canada to the world.

Arctic Kingdom was highlighted recently in a case study done by the CTC. To see the full article visit: CTC Arctic Kingdom Case Study. If you would like to take part in a true Canadian adventure, and join the Narwhal and Polar Bear Safari for June 2012 visit: www.arctickingdom.com. For more detailed information about the trip you can also download our brochure.

Try your hand at dog sledding

January 3rd, 2012 | By Candice Hong | Filed in ACTIVITIES, AK NEWS, Current Events, Current Trips, IN THE NEWS, Media, Sports, TRIPS

Experience mushing personally.

This past Saturday Dec 31, 2011 Arctic Kingdom was in The Telegraph – India: http://www.telegraphindia.com/1111231/jsp/personaltt/story_14945414.jsp

If you like speed and the winter try mushing (dog sledding)!

Arctic Kingdom offers customized trips for clients, or it can also be a part of a trip. Tours can be half a day to 2 weeks.

In addition to mushing clients can also see icebergs, glaciers, mountains, sea ice, polar bears, narwhal, arctic fox, arctic hare, Inuit culture, and traditional Inuit clothing,

If this is an activity that intrigues you or you would like to take one of our trips visit: http://arctickingdom.com/

Polar Bear Migration Fly-In Safari Photo Summary

November 20th, 2011 | By Thomas Lennartz | Filed in Current Trips, Trips

“It’s a polar bear!”

Simultaneously exclaimed by Michelle and Leanne, two Arctic Kingdom guests at the start of our inaugural Polar Bear Migration Fly-In Safari at the beginning of November.  The pair had just touched down after an 180km flight over the seemingly endless tundra, only to be greeted by a large male polar bear a mere 20 feet away from the cabin grounds.

Michelle and Leanne pose for the camera with a polar bear

Building on a decade of up close and personal wildlife safaris throughout the Arctic regions, Arctic Kingdom furthers our commitment to the arctic experience.  We have partnered with the Inuit people of Arviat to to deliver the best ground level polar bear viewing experience imaginable.  One that will allow guests to truly feel connected with the polar bears, and the arctic, all while upholding the most stringent safety measures.

Over the next four days, Michelle, Leanne and other guests of Arctic Kingdom at the polar bear camp witnessed polar bears – large males, females and mother and cubs, from the safety of the cabin grounds, and under the professional guidance of Inuit guides from Arviat, Nunavut who are trained in close polar bear encounters.

“To be on the ground, only meters from a polar bear and, to look directly into its eyes is nothing short of amazing…and incredibly fun!”  summarized Michelle of her trip to photograph the polar bears.

Here is a photo summary of the 2011 Polar Bear Migration Fly-In Safari:

Polar Bear Mother and cubs walk by the cabins at sunset

Polar bear being watched by Inuit guide trained in close polar bear encounters

Polar Bear Alley - Bear rolling in seaweed. At times we could watch a bear for hours on end. Observing them in their natural environment as they go about their routine seemingly oblivious to our presence only meters away.

Polar bears walk along the Hudson Bay coast on the migration route northwards. Polar bears are often curious about new smells and scents..especially of our presence.

David Briggs - AK Expedition Leader - taking a moment to enjoy a polar bear walking by

Arctic Fox comes towards Polar Bear Alley Cabins

The cabins are situated at the 60 degree latitude which is the prime northern lights band that circles the globe. This was what we looked forward to seeing every evening!

Northern Lights looking over the tundra

It was a late year for snow with hardly a trace by early November when this picture was taken and the Hudson Bay was still open water. This is extremely unusual as we normally use snowmobiles to travel by this time.

Nestled on the shores of Hudson Bay directly in “Polar Bear Alley”, situated 100km south of Arviat (180km north of Churchill) – the polar bear cabins are only accessible by air

The turbo otter lands at the airstrip directly beside the polar bear cabins as guests look on.

Arctic Kingdom’s polar bear cabins at dusk. With a capacity of only 8 persons, this is the most intimate and personal polar bear viewing experience anywhere.

Simple, comfortable, clean and warm. Each sleep cabin has it’s own bathroom. There is one shared shower facility.

Bear in the spotlight. Polar bears often came by at night which allowed for some night photography opportunities as well.

Polar mother and two cubs approached by big male bear

During the day, with guides that carried rifles, we would conduct walks on the tundra

Extremely friendly arctic hares in their white winter coat would come within arms reach at times and directly into polar cabin grounds

A polar bear walks on the tidal flats towards the bear cabins. The tides are extreme here receding more than 1km from shore which results in a landscape of beautiful boulder strewn flats that the bears walk in to come to the cabins.

Ptarmigan in winter plumage

For more information on the Polar Bear Migration Fly-In Safari, visit the trip page here:

Up Close Polar Bear Encounters

November 17th, 2011 | By Candice Hong | Filed in AK NEWS, Current Trips, Featured Trip, Trips

This past October and November on the latest Polar Bear Migration Fly-In Photo Safari, participants experienced an intimate polar bear viewing like no other. From cabins located on the western coast of the Hudson Bay south of Arviat, trip members got to see the polar bears up close. In addition to these majestic bears other wildlife including arctic hare and various species of birds were spotted throughout the trip.

The polar bears were captured on camera in their natural environment. To see how close the polar bears were to the camp please see the following video of “Polar Bear vs. a GoPro”. The cameras were set up about 100’ from the polar bear cabins. Watch the video to see who wins.

Polar Bears of Devon Islands Bear Bay Exploratory Trip Photo Summary

May 3rd, 2010 | By Thomas Lennartz | Filed in AK NEWS, Current Trips, FEATURED, Projects, TRIPS, Trips

The first exploratory snowmobile expedition from Grise Fiord – Canada’s most northerly community, to Resolute Bay was just completed a couple of days ago with polar bears seen on every day of the trip. For a total distance of 550km across Jones Sound, over Devon Island, across the Wellington Channel and finally down Cornwallis Island the trip allowed us to visit Bear Bay in Jones Sound where as the name suggests, many polar bears were seen. From young juvenile bears to even a 12’ giant we were able to witness bears in their natural element. An added bonus were the herd of muskoxen seen on Devon Island as we made the traverse to the Wellington Channel.

Below is a photo summary of the trip, from icebergs, to mother and cubs to the fiord we traveled down on inaugural trip.

Our Inuit guides calmly talked to the bear while it approached. As the polar bears approach, one raises your arms to appear bigger and make noise to make yourself appear bigger than them. After a while the bear lost interest and wandered away.

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"Everyone Thinks We’re Crazy. But it’s a Lot of Fun": Arctic Kingdom on Discovery Channel’s Daily Planet

May 19th, 2009 | By Nora Sawyer | Filed in ACTIVITIES, AK NEWS, Diving, FEATURED, Films, Media, Recent Trips, Team Interviews, TRIPS

One of the draws of diving under the ice is the visibility — the colder water is, the clearer it gets, making winter one of the best times to view underwater sites such as the St. Lawrence River’s shipwrecks and lost villages.

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Featured Trip: Diving with Narwhal and Beluga in Lancaster Sound

May 16th, 2009 | By Nora Sawyer | Filed in ACTIVITIES, Arctic Animals, Diving, FEATURED, TRIPS

"The Beluga and Narwhal are possibly the most curious creatures I have ever encountered. The amazing thing is that they come to you! Snorkeling meant we could spend as long as we liked with them. They dive into your path and then under you, blowing up bubbles that catch on your face and middle. Sometimes the whale song was so loud you could feel it reverberate down your neck and drive around your ears!" - Nell Battye, AK dive participant

When: June 12- June 25 & June 25 – July 8
Where: Lancaster Sound
Featured Animals: Narwhal, Beluga, and Bowhead Whales

It’s not hard to see why this is one of our most popular trips! The floe edge along Lancaster Sound is one of the best wildlife-viewing spots in the Arctic. In the late spring, as the sea ice begins to melt and crack, the waters along the edge of the ice teem with life. Read the rest of this entry »