Frequently asked questions

Arctic Kingdom is Canada’s leading Arctic travel, logistics and professional services organization. We are passionate about the Arctic – and the people who call it home. Pioneers in land-based Arctic travel, we work with community partners to design and deliver exceptional Arctic travel and wildlife experiences, including Arctic safaris, private tours, polar diving and getaways in the High Arctic. Experienced polar logistics experts, we support major film and televisions productions and scientific studies – enabling worry-free and safe access to the Arctic.

The Arctic and Northern Canada are dynamic and changing places. Home and the traditional lands of Inuit and First Nations, we believe respecting and collaborating with local cultures, empowering communities and leaving wildlife untouched is the only way to be able to provide authentic sustainable experiences for years to come. We travel in small groups on land and everything, from the way we plan and operate our arctic tours, to our business practices, is geared toward making a positive impact on the areas we visit and minimize our environmental impact.

To ensure our tours economically benefit the local communities we hire local guides and drivers, purchase food supplies in community (whenever possible), eat local food, and use local services. By continually reassessing our trips, we ensure that they are socially, economically and environmentally sound.

Arctic Kingdom strictly adheres and supports the Wildlife Policy for the Territory of Nunavut.

Arctic weather conditions can be extreme. Gear is important for the comfort and warmth of our guests, we ensure we provide the highest quality. The jackets we provide are designed for extreme cold temperatures, where skin around the face can freeze in minutes. Fur and down are the best choice for warmth and protection. Fur trim around the hood disrupts airflow and creates warm air to help protect the face from frostbite. Fur remains the warmest option versus synthetic, and is the traditional choice of Inuit.

Restrictions on alcohol vary by community; there are three types of alcohol policies in Nunavut. Only five communities, including Iqaluit, have no alcohol restrictions. This means you can purchase and drink alcohol at licensed establishments. Other communities restrict local purchasing of alcohol, but allow it to be brought in for personal consumption only with a permit endorsed by the local Alcohol Education Committee. The communities visited on Arctic Kingdom with this policy are: Arctic Bay, Igloolik, Pond Inlet, and Qikiqtarjuaq. Some communities have a complete prohibition on alcohol, including Arviat.

From August to May, the Northern Lights bejewel the night sky in the Canadian Arctic, against a backdrop of incredible scenery and possible rare wildlife sightings. The best places to see the Northern Lights in North America are in the northwestern parts of Canada – including Nunavut. Small communities and remote locations without light pollution are great for seeing the Northern Lights as they are most clearly seen on a dark sky. You can learn more about the Northern Lights on our blog here. You can get the opportunity to see the Northern Lights on these arctic tours:

• Polar Bear Migration Fly-In Photo Safari
• Polar Bear Mother and Newborn Cubs
• Spring Polar Bears and Icebergs of Baffin Photo Safari
  
  

The Canadian Arctic is home to about than 60% of the world’s polar bear population. Arctic Kingdom offers polar bear tours year-round. You can get the opportunity to see polar bears up-close in their natural habitat on these

trips:

• Spring Polar Bears and Icebergs of Baffin Photo Safari in Qikiqtarjuaq, Nunavut in March and April
• Polar Bear Mother and Newborn Cubs in Wapusk National Park, Manitoba in March
• Floe Edge Safari, Nunavut in May and June
• Polar Bear Migration Fly-In Photo Safari just south of Arviat, Nunavut in October and November

Your best chance to see narwhal is at the northern reaches of Baffin Island in spring when they congregate at the floe edge. You can get your opportunity to see narwhal, in pods of one to hundreds, close-up on these trips:

• Floe Edge Safari in Pond Inlet, Nunavut in May and June

The Canadian Arctic is home to some of the world’s most unique wildlife including polar bears, narwhal, beluga, walrus, bowhead whales, arctic fox and more. Get your opportunity to see these incredible animals up-close, in their natural habitats on one of our Arctic safaris or private journeys. If you have specific wildlife in mind that you’d like to see and photograph, our Arctic Travel Advisors are happy to help you plan an arctic tour. Fill out our Contact Us form to inquire.

• The Canadian Arctic boasts some of the most dramatic and incredible land and icescapes in the world. Icebergs and glaciers can be seen by land, sea ice and boat throughout Baffin Island and other regions in Nunavut. Get the opportunity to see icebergs and glaciers on these tours:

We recommend having Canadian currency on hand when travelling to Nunavut as it still mainly operates on cash (Canadian dollars). Nunavut’s capital Iqaluit, located on Baffin Island, offers the most banking services, including a variety of banks and ATM machines. Many communities, however, have no banking services at all and very few communities have physical banks, due to remoteness. Interac® is not available outside the capital of Iqaluit and credit cards including Visa, Master Card and American express are typically not available

We highly recommend having local Canadian currency with you while travelling. Some shops and restaurants may also accept credit cards and/or debit cards.

What forms of banking services/ payment are accepted in Churchill, Manitoba? Churchill, Manitoba operates on Canadian currency and has several ATMs available. Many shops and restaurants also accept credit cards and/or debit cards.

The trip briefing guide you receive will outline a list of everything we recommend bringing on your trip. We understand finding some of these good quality items can be difficult, so we’ve opened an online Gear Shop to assist with these needs.

Think African safari, in the Arctic. Our safaris are land-based mobile camps that allow small groups of guests to get up-close and personal with unique wildlife, discover local culture and take in breathtaking landscapes. Carefully researched and scouted with insight from Inuit guides, we bring you the best of the Arctic.

Following the Wildlife Policy of Nunavut, and for the safety of our guests and wildlife, we ensure all participants remain at a minimum distance of 100 meters (approx. 300 feet) from polar bears in the wild. Arctic Kingdom Expeditions Leaders and Inuit guides are trained and experience in polar bear safety and de-escalation.

We want our guests to enjoy the wonders of the North! The majority of our Arctic adventures have been designed so guests can participate and enjoy regardless of your age or activity level and are perfect for families. Many trips include riding in qamatiks (sleds pulled by snow machines) or riding in boats; and we are pleased to offer comfortable, real beds on safari. While our arctic tours may include optional activities such as hiking, kayaking, snorkeling or diving, participants can choose how much or how little do to. Our Arctic Travel Advisors are happy to help you choose which experience is right for you if you have any concerns.

Travel in the Arctic requires a significant level of mobility to get around. The terrain is rugged and uneven and rides on the qamatiks can be quite bumpy. Bathroom facilities in our mobile camps are set aside from your private tent so you must be able to make your way over to this area unattended, or with the help of a travelling companion. Unfortunately, at this time we do not have the resources to accommodate those in a wheelchair or requiring personalized assistance through the trip. If you have any concerns about your mobility level, our Arctic Travel Advisors are happy to discuss the best options for you including the possibilities of travelling on our less strenuous safaris or lodges including Bathurst Inlet Lodge.

Of course! Just tell us the details, whether it’s your birthday, anniversary, or engagement. We’d be happy to be a part of your special event. There may be some additional charge depending on the request.

Your home country customs officials may prohibit certain items from being imported. Typical items that are prohibited are meat products and traditional items made of whale bone, antler, or seal skin. Please review the rules, regulations, and restrictions directly with your country of origin’s Customs Offices to avoid disappointment.

Arctic Kingdom does not carry health, life or injury insurance for tour participants. It is your responsibility to ensure your medical coverage covers you for life and health care risks while on our trips, and in addition should provide transport to your home country or province (for Canadians traveling on our Canadian arctic tours).

All participants will be required to provide proof of travel medical insurance that includes sufficient emergency evacuation coverage. Please note, this is due 120 days prior to departure date.

In the event of a medical emergency where a patient must receive care of a doctor as soon as possible, almost all of our ours will require a private charter aircraft to complete the evacuation. Depending on the location and where the closest hospital is located, the expense could be very costly. It is imperative that you check with your insurance provider to ensure you are covered for the location you are visiting. Arctic Kingdom is not responsible for any expenses incurred for medical reasons.

If you do not have your own sufficient evacuation insurance, we recommend Global Rescue (www.globalrescue.com), which offers superior service in remote locations. See their website for specific plans, prices and details.

Many guests that travel with us obtain a minimum coverage of $500,000 (USD). It’s difficult to determine the exact amount to purchase so we recommend travellers consult their insurance provider.

Our preferred partner for emergency evacuation insurance is Global Rescue. Click here for more information about Global Rescue or to enroll.

In light of our cancellation policy and the extreme environment in which we travel, we strongly recommend that all trip participants purchase trip cancellation and trip interruption insurance. On very limited occasions, Arctic Kingdom has had to cancel trips after they have started due to unforeseen environmental conditions.

You may be eligible to receive up to 50 per cent back on all GST and HST for our trips. Apply directly with Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) using the form on the CRA website.

When booking your flights, be sure to book your arrival on day 1 of your trip itinerary and depart home on the last day of your trip itinerary. Arctic Kingdom is pleased to book flights for you, offering very competitive rates.

Flight prices to the Arctic have increased over the years. Arctic Kingdom has established, long-standing relationships with local airlines, allowing us to charge less than the public rates. In the event of flight delays, changing flights is also easier and the change fees are much less.

Yes, if you have a group or are travelling with your family we are pleased to accommodate group bookings, based on availability. Please speak with your AK Travel Advisor and indicate your group size when booking a trip.

We are happy to plan a custom itinerary for you. We have more than 15 years of experience in the Arctic and can help bring your Arctic dreams to life. Please contact us to start planning!. 

We are happy to plan a custom itinerary for you. We have more than 15 years of experience in the Arctic and can help bring your Arctic dreams to life. Please contact us to start planning!

Arctic Kingdom offers bespoke private itineraries for travellers as well as custom trips for professionals, including Film, TV, Advertising, and scientific studies.

For travellers: Whether you want to have dinner at the North Pole, float above icebergs in a hot air balloon, or tour glaciers by helicopter, if you can imagine it, we can make it happen. From Iqaluit, NU to Ilulissat, Greenland and beyond, if you can see it on our Destinations Map, we can take you there. Please contact us to start planning your dream arctic tour!

For professionals: Where ever you need to go, we can safely take you there! We have supported numerous large-productions in the Arctic, including BBC, Discovery, National Geographic, Red Bull and more!

Our guests use everything from a point and shoot to 500 mm and even the occasional 600mm lens. Our Expedition Leaders use a 85-300 mm without a tele-convertor. We recommend a wide angle lens to try and capture the grandeur of the ice and landscapes. To learn tips for photographing Arctic wildlife, please visit our blog here.

A tripod, a long (20-30s) exposure, high ISO and extra batteries will get you the shot you wants. Batteries will drain fast in the cold so having a second fully charged one/set is always helpful.

No, while some of our guests are photographers, many bring point-and-click or even smartphone cameras. There are incredible sites at every turn in the Arctic, but the camera you bring to capture them depends on you!

Weather in the Arctic can be unpredictable. Depending on the season, we recommend bringing snow or rain cover, and heavy-duty plastic bags to wrap your gear in the case of extreme weather. While not necessary for every trip, we recommend bringing a tripod. A tripod is especially helpful when capturing the Northern Lights.

You are permitted to bring a drone on a trip provided you follow the required guidelines. Transport Canada governs drone use in Canada. For the latest information on drone use in Canada, please refer to the Transport Canada website.

Current wildlife regulations state that all drones must remain 100m away from all animals. In addition, our guides may restrict drone use at any time if deemed to be disturbing to wildlife. Drone use can be particularly disruptive to polar bears and other terrestrial animals, and on some trips, they are not permitted to be used when wildlife viewing.

1. Turn off any image stabilization
2. Turn off autofocus and dial the focus manually to infinity
3. Depending on light, aim at about 15-20 seconds at ISO1600 and start working from there. More than about 30 seconds will result in the stars moving and blurring the image slightly.
4. Make sure there’s something of interest in the foreground

We are always pleased to ensure our guests have the best experience possible, including when it comes to food! If you have any dietary considerations, please let us know in advance and we will try our best to make accommodations within the trip menu.

The sea ice we setup base camp on is generally 1.2m – 1.8m (4-6 ft) thick.

The accommodations stated for each trip are the accommodations set for each guest on that trip and they cannot be upgraded. If you prefer alternate accommodations in a specific location, we are happy to provide a quote for a custom, private trip.

Mobile phone reception and WIFI is not guaranteed in such a remote location. You may be able to get cellphone reception in some of the communities, and Wi-Fi may be available at some hotels at the beginning and end of your trip, but it is not guaranteed. You will not have cell phone reception while in camp. It is best to plan ahead and not need access to the internet once you have begun your trip. Our Expedition Leaders communicate from our remote locations using Iridium satellite phones and InReach satellite communicators for text messaging. These tools can be made available to you in the event of an emergency, but not for casual communication. If you would like to stay in contact with your family and friends during your trip, we have satellite phones or communicators available for rent.

Please contact gear@arctickingdom.com to rent an Iridum Satellite Phone or InReach Satellite Communicators.

We supply power to each and every tent, Arctic Yurt or cabin via a gas powered invertor generator. These generators are running until about 10:00 or 11:00 each night and are turned back on around 7:00 am.

For snorkeling in a dry suit in the Arctic, you don’t need to pack anything extra. You simply need to wear the same base layer that you would wear under your parka for under the dry suit. This means you can wear your shell jacket, sweater, and snow pants and fit comfortably. Your Expedition Leader will be pleased to guide you through the whole process.

A prescription mask is fine to use in cold water temperatures. If you have prescription swim goggles, however, you cannot use them for diving or snorkeling. In this case, you would have to use our diving mask and simply wear contact lenses to see clearly.

Both YOKE and DIN are available on our diving cylinders.