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Northern safari: Nunavut’s Arctic Watch Lodge

By Gina Pepper

Check into a lodge at the top of the world.

Here, at the world’s most northerly resort, there are 16 guest cabins decked out with plush duvet comforters and a kitchen that dishes up gourmet delights. This northern safari feels downright cozy.

 

Nestled on Somerset Island, 800 km (500 mi) north of the Arctic Circle, the lodge is open from mid-July through mid-August and overlooks Cunningham Inlet, a stopover point for thousands of beluga whales during their summer migration.

 

Each day provides opportunities for observing unique Arctic wildlife (from musk ox and nesting peregrine falcons to seals and arctic foxes), not to mention hiking, sea kayaking, mountain biking or discovering ancient Inuit settlements and the traces of 19th-century explorers. Dinner might be the arctic char you caught earlier in the day, served up sushi-style and paired with wine.

 

In between bouts of exploring the magnificent scenery, grab a book from the library and kick back in the sunny lounge – and we do mean sunny. Since the lodge is only open in the summer, the sun shines 24 hours a day. But rest assured: Guests are provided with light-blocking eye masks, so a good night’s sleep is guaranteed.

 

Getting here
Arctic Watch Lodge, 1-877-272-8426, canadianarcticholidays.ca
Nunavut Tourism, 1-866-NUNAVUT (1-866-686-2888), nunavuttourism.com

 

Montréal-based Gina Pepper has been covering the hotel and travel beat for nearly 10 years, for publications in North America, France and Australia.