Cycle Canada Bicycle Tours

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Tour Arctic

Ride in Canada's Northern Lands

From a start on the shores of the Pacific ocean in Vancouver we go to Tuktoyaktuk on the Arctic Ocean.

Vancouver, B.C. to Tuktoyaktuk, N.W.T.

Tour Arctic is a supported tour and accommodation is mainly camping. There will be some indoor stays and a major ocean ferry trip — through British Columbia's Inside Passage.

Cycling will be on paved and unpaved roads.

Services in some areas can be minimal and riders will pass through remote areas with spectacular scenery. On most nights we will have hot showers and electricity. There will be some stays in no-service campgrounds and wilderness camps.

For Tips about riding Tour Arctic please visit: Tour Arctic FAQ

Please contact us early to register.

To learn more about the level of support on Cycle Canada's tours please visit Frequently Asked Questions

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Tour Itinerary

Testimonials

We have two start points, Vancouver or Prince Rupert

Vancouver Island

The first leg of the tour takes us north on Vancouver Island. We'll leave Vancouver with a cross-town ride to catch the ferry to the Nanaimo on the Island. This is a short warm-up day and the terrain is gentle. From Nanaimo we head north to Port Hardy.

We leave Port Hardy and travel by ferry through the spectacular Inside Passage to northern British Columbia. Followed by a rest day in Prince Rupert

Dease Lake and Alcan Highways

After some rest and relaxation time on the B.C. ferry and a rest day in Prince Rupert we will travel east on the Yellowhead Highway. We'll turn north onto the Dease Lake Highway to go through a a scenic and remote section of the Northern Interior of British Columbia. After a rest day at Dease Lake we continue north to the Alcan Highway also known as the Alaska Highway, and then it's on to Whitehorse.

Whitehorse to Dawson

Whitehorse is a big city in the Yukon but not by southern standards. We'll have a rest day in this fun and historic town.

Our ride then continues to head north and as we travel the days become longer and the nights shorter. This section of the tour is mostly paved and we are in serviced campgrounds for all but one night. We follow the Klondike Highway to Dawson, passing through long-established First Nation territories. It's the old goldrush route and remnants of that era are evident in Dawson today.

Dawson was the boom town during the gold rush and we'll have a rest day here. Diamond Tooth Gerties, the gambling hall and saloon, still is a hopping place, especially in summer.

The Dempster Highway

Leaving Dawson City in the Yukon we follow the Dempster Highway to Inuvik - in the Northwest Territories. The Dempster Highway is an unpaved road that stretches 734 km (456 miles) through Arctic wilderness to reach the delta of the Mackenzie River. Along the highway we travel through the Gwich'in land, and cross the Arctic Circle.

The route includes two short ferry rides, crossing the Peel River and the MacKenzie where it is joined by the Arctic Red River.

There are few services along the route and the riding is extremely challenging. Daily distances for this portion of the trip are reduced. Most nights for this portion of the tour are wilderness camping but you will have full support from our wilderness guide.

From Inuvik we will ride to Tuktoyaktuk on the newly opened road to take us to the shores of the Arctic Ocean. We'll camp overnight in Tuk and there will be a shuttle back to Inuvik the following day.

Tour Summary Dates and Fees

  • Dates and Fees TBA
  • Total amount includes Registration Fee ($150.00) and Deposit ($850.00) which are non-refundable (please refer to our cancellation policy)
  • Vancouver Start Details

    • Nights indoor — 11 nights
    • Nights camping — 26 nights
    • 30 dinners and 32 breakfasts, make/carry your own lunch from our supplies
    • Total days — 36
    • Riding days — 30
    • Rest days — 6 (includes a ferry day and shuttle day)
    • Ferry trips — 4
    • Shuttle Days — 1 (Tuk to Inuvik)
    • Total distance by bike —3290 km (2030 mi.)
    • Daily average — daily average 113 km (68 mi.)
    • Longest day —166 km (103 mi.)
    • Daily Average, Dempster Highway —97 km (60 mi.)
    • There is a rest day in Prince Rupert, B.C., Dease Lake, B.C., Whitehorse and Dawson City, Yukon Territory.
    • On the Dempster we may need to adjust daily distances

There is an Orientation prior to the first day's ride. That night's accommodation in Vancouver is included in the package.

    Prince Rupert Start Details

    • Nights indoor — 7 nights
    • Nights camping — 23 nights
    • 24 dinners and 26 breakfasts, make/carry your own lunch from our supplies
    • Total days — 30
    • Riding days — 25
    • Rest days — 5 (includes a shuttle day)
    • Ferry trips — 2
    • Shuttle Days — 1 (Tuk to Inuvik)
    • Total distance by bike — 2845 km (1756 mi.)
    • Daily average — daily average 119 km (73 mi.)
    • Longest day —166 km (103 mi.)
    • Daily Average, Dempster Highway —97 km (60 mi.)
    • There is a rest day in Dease Lake, B.C., Whitehorse and Dawson City, Yukon Territory.
    • On the Dempster we may need to adjust daily distances

There is an Orientation session prior to the first day's ride. That night's accommodation in Prince Rupert is included in the package.

Challenge Level: Four Cogs (highest) x 2.