Please Note:
The cost for this itinerary includes:
- All accommodation including Whitehorse hotel on last evening
- All meals while at Uncommon Journeys including wine with dinners
- All airport, town and Skagway transfers
- White Pass train fees
- Helicopter flight into basecamp and summit of Mt. Ingram
- Certified guides for all activities
- Specialized gear required for each activity including hiking poles and daypacks, canoes, paddles, PFD’s, mountain bikes and helmets etc.
We can also add additional days for add-on activities from flightseeing to fishing to hiking, wildlife viewing and more. Call us for additional information.
DAY 1.
Pick up in Whitehorse, Yukon and drive to the famous Goldrush port of Skagway, Alaska. After some browsing and shopping on the Skagway boardwalk we have an early lunch before boarding the White Pass Railroad train. The train travels to the border crossing of Fraser via the spectacular alpine of the White Pass Mountain area, scene of the great Alaska Goldrush in the late 19th century. An Uncommon Journeys guide will be waiting in Fraser to drive you to the Uncommon Journeys Wilderness Lodge, “the Homestead”, for your accommodation in cozy log cabins and dinner in the main cabin dining room. The late afternoon will be spent reviewing the maps for our upcoming heli-hiking trip and packing for this Ultimate Yukon Adventure. After dinner guests may choose to soak in our outdoor hot tub, partake in our dogsledding demonstration or take a leisurely stroll on our many local trails.
DAY 2.
After an early breakfast we will transfer to the helicopter base in Whitehorse for our dramatic helicopter flight into the Ibex River Valley. We will touch down at our deluxe Wilderness Yurt Basecamp to drop off supplies before carrying on to the summit of Mt. Ingram for our day of hiking. On the ridge we may be fortunate enough to spot the resident herd of Dall Sheep and their lambs grazing on the rocky outcrops. Depending on the time of year, alpine wildflowers may be in abundance or later in the season, berries may be ripening! Throughout the day we will slowly make our way back to the valley floor, stopping for a gourmet picnic along the way. Accommodation and dinner tonight will be at our Basecamp: a series of spacious yurts based on the traditional Mongolian design, but outfitted with modern creature comforts (sleeping yurts have twin beds, main yurt has dining table, lounge area and kitchen).
DAY 3.
Today we will hike south down the Ibex Valley floor. Here we will follow the game trail of the local wolf pack, exploring the beaver dams and the pristine wilderness of this beautiful valley while learning about the flora and fauna of the area and discovering artifacts left by the trapper who worked the valley over 40 years ago. This trail has very little elevation gain so it is an ideal hike the day after our descent from the peak.
We will spend the evening at the yurts and once again enjoy a delicious meal cooked on the wood stove in the main yurt and a fire under the stars or midnight sun depending upon the season. During the late afternoon, the sauna and shower will be ready for a well-deserved break after our day of hiking. Fishing gear will be available for those guests who wish to try their hand at catching arctic grayling in the rapids of the beautiful Ibex river. Accommodation and dinner will be at the yurts once again.
DAY 4.
After a hearty breakfast, we will hike north up the valley towards the trailhead where the Uncommon Journeys 4WD vehicle will be waiting for us for the rest of the trip home. The hike will take between 3 and 4 hours. Tonight we will be back at our relaxing and comfortable Wilderness Lodge, “the Homestead”, where the hot tub awaits!
DAY 5.
Taking a break from hiking today, we will load up our canoes and head west towards the Upper Takhini River, about 45 minutes from home. The river is crystal clear and moves at a speed that is easily mastered by novice paddlers as it winds its way through the mountains. The option to create a catamaran out of two canoes is available for those who are wary of their paddling ability. This creates a very stable craft that the guides can steer while guests enjoy the ride. Lunch today will be at a pretty Class II rapid that can be paddled or walked around depending on the guest’s wishes. In the late afternoon we will drive back to the Homestead for the evening.
DAY 6.
Today we head back to the hills for our 4WD adventure. We will ride in our comfortable 4WD vehicles and travel west of Whitehorse into the Coal Lake area. This is a day-long trip that will see us quickly arrive in the alpine after a steep climb and then we will meander through the alpine on our way to Coal Lake. There are plenty of opportunities for walking, photography and hiking around this area so we can stretch our legs at will. The guides will bring a high-powered spotting scope as we watch the resident caribou foraging on the hills. In the evening we will return to the Homestead.
DAY 7.
On our final day, we have two options:
OPTION A: We will use our own pedal power to travel a different route through the Lower Ibex Valley by mountain bike. This is a 33km loop trail that is rated as a very moderate ride with 700 feet of elevation gain overall. Lunch beside Kokanee Lake makes a scenic point for a break. Instead of cycling the final portion of the loop on the Alaska Highway, we will be picked up by an Uncommon Journeys vehicle and driven back to the Homestead. After a light snack and changing back into ‘town’ clothes, we will drive into Whitehorse to your hotel. (Hotel room included in trip fee.)
OPTION B: We drive 1.5 hrs. to Kluane National Park where you embark on a sightseeing flight over the largest non-polar glaciers in the world. The possibility to circumnavigate Mt. Logan (Canada’s highest mountain) is also an option. This flightseeing option is available at an additional cost of approximately $400 plus Gst per person. We then drive back to the Homestead to pick up guests belongings and make our way to their hotel for the evening. (Hotel room included in trip fee.)
