Yukon Quest Trail husky safari, Canada
| country: | Canada |
| location: | Yukon |
| departures: | 2008: 29 Mar |
| price: | From £1325 (9 days) excluding flights. Single supplement £90. Price includes transfers, 8 nights hotel / cabins / tents, most meals, 2 training and assessment runs, equipment and guides |
the amazing things you'll be doing
The Yukon Quest Trail is widely acknowledged as playing host to the toughest dog sled race in the world known as the Iditarod. Where better to experience life “on the trail” in much the same way as the original trappers and prospectors? Jack London’s “Call of the Wild” and “White Fang” immortalised the pioneering spirit in print. This is your chance to witness it at first hand.
We’ve made things slightly more comfortable but this is a genuine wilderness adventure nonetheless. Just you and your dog team against the wild Yukon frontier!
We’ve made things slightly more comfortable but this is a genuine wilderness adventure nonetheless. Just you and your dog team against the wild Yukon frontier!
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | Arrival in Whitehorse. On arrival at the airport it is just a short taxi ride to your hotel in Whitehorse. |
| Day 2: | Whitehorse and Sky High Valley. Most of the day is free to explore Whitehorse, the Yukon capital. Later in the afternoon your guide will meet you for the 50km drive up the Alaska Highway to Base Camp where you will be fitted out with your expedition clothing and meet the dogs. You will be shown how to harness your team and drive the sled. Depending on the weather there may be time for a practice mush before dinner. |
| Day 3: | Sky High Valley Practice Run. After harnessing the teams you set off on a flat training trail crossing the Takhini River. You will start to form a genuine bond with your dogs. Remember to praise them everytime you stop. The more you show your appreciation the greater their trust in you will become. |
| Day 4: | Sky High Valley. This is your last chance to practice before the big departure. There’s plenty of time to hone your skills as you follow an old trading route and you should now be feeling in harmony with your team’s running rhythm. |
| Day 5: | The Yukon Quest Trail. For the next three days you will leave behind the last remnants of civilisation as you follow a stretch of the Yukon Quest Trail. This is wild and often uncharted territory. Your team will pull you and your sled towards 37 mile lake and your preset wall tent camp. Everybody chips in, cutting firewood and cooking on the open fire. The evening is spent story telling around the campfire. |
| Day 6: | Sifton range. Day trip from 37 Mile Lake and, weather allowing, you will try an ascent of the Sifton range which offers panoramic views in all directions. By now the word 'space' will be taking on a completely new dimension. |
| Day 7: | Alpine trails. Travel ever higher to the mountainous Mile 57 Lake. You will visit Old Annie’s Cabin and have your driving skills put to the fullest of tests on the stunning alpine trails. Don’t worry, by now you will be well prepared for such challenges. |
| Day 8: | Sky High Valley and Whitehorse. After breakfast the dogs continue steadily southwards. All too soon you arrive back at Base Camp and the tearful moment when you bid farewell to your team. You transfer to Whitehorse this afternoon where you can spend your final evening in an authentic saloon, just like the original pioneers. |
| Day 9: | Airport transfers. After breakfast you head back to the airport for your return flights. |
Small group adventure holiday
Typically you will be sharing your experiences with between 4-20 like minded travellers (depending on the trip, operator and how many others are booked on the trip) and you'll have a group leader with you. Whether you are travelling alone or with friends its good value, and a great way to meet new people! While itineraries are pre-planned there is some flexibility and you'll have plenty of privacy. This trip will appeal to travellers of all ages who enjoy meeting new people as well as seeing new places.how this holiday makes a difference
Tourism in Yukon has become a main source of employment and income, replacing employment in traditional industries such as forestry. Working within this growth industry in rural and remote areas means that we must take a great deal of responsibility; socially, environmentally and economically. We fully appreciate the impact of tourist visits on local communities and their residents and strive to ensure that we are having a positive effect.
We always encourage all of our clients to respect and embrace the lives and culture of local inhabitants by learning a few important words: hello, goodbye, please, thank you etc. In addition, we always encourage our clients to get involved in local events and activities which help to sustain traditional values and customs.
In all of our destinations we ensure that we use local suppliers, enabling locally owned businesses and the economies in which they work to benefit directly. Our suppliers in Yukon provide a vital source of employment throughout the whole region and importantly throughout the summer months as well.
Restaurants and meals during activities combine as much local produce as possible. Through the tourism multiplier effect, this all helps to generate incomes and employment where the drift might otherwise be towards larger employment areas such as towns and cities. In small and remote areas the effects of such a drift could be devastating.
The use of smaller businesses means that the tourism income, generated by our presence, stays where it should, in the local economy. We firmly believe in paying a fair price for all services provided by our suppliers regardless of where they are in the world.
Our holidays rely on visiting beautiful and un-spoilt areas, and they don’t come more un-spoilt than Yukon. Naturally we wish to maintain the natural settings in which we work, not just for the future of our company, but also for future generations. We always insist that our local providers are equally conscious of this need.
All dog sled trails used are well maintained and marked so that any impact on the environment is minimized. Our guides are extremely aware of the environment in which they operate and are very knowledgeable about the flora and fauna.
We always ensure that all litter is removed from any of our activity sites, we strongly encourage group transfers to reduce traffic volumes and we make our clients aware of their obligation to the environment. We always offset our air travel emissions and would encourage you to do the same.
We always encourage all of our clients to respect and embrace the lives and culture of local inhabitants by learning a few important words: hello, goodbye, please, thank you etc. In addition, we always encourage our clients to get involved in local events and activities which help to sustain traditional values and customs.
In all of our destinations we ensure that we use local suppliers, enabling locally owned businesses and the economies in which they work to benefit directly. Our suppliers in Yukon provide a vital source of employment throughout the whole region and importantly throughout the summer months as well.
Restaurants and meals during activities combine as much local produce as possible. Through the tourism multiplier effect, this all helps to generate incomes and employment where the drift might otherwise be towards larger employment areas such as towns and cities. In small and remote areas the effects of such a drift could be devastating.
The use of smaller businesses means that the tourism income, generated by our presence, stays where it should, in the local economy. We firmly believe in paying a fair price for all services provided by our suppliers regardless of where they are in the world.Our holidays rely on visiting beautiful and un-spoilt areas, and they don’t come more un-spoilt than Yukon. Naturally we wish to maintain the natural settings in which we work, not just for the future of our company, but also for future generations. We always insist that our local providers are equally conscious of this need.
All dog sled trails used are well maintained and marked so that any impact on the environment is minimized. Our guides are extremely aware of the environment in which they operate and are very knowledgeable about the flora and fauna.
We always ensure that all litter is removed from any of our activity sites, we strongly encourage group transfers to reduce traffic volumes and we make our clients aware of their obligation to the environment. We always offset our air travel emissions and would encourage you to do the same.