Tour Arctic - Vancouver, B.C. to Inuvik, NWT

Join us in 2012 for the third annual ride north to explore the land that borders on the Arctic Ocean. Cyclists on Tour Arctic wil ride across Canada from the south to the north.

Tour Arctic is part of the Cycle Canada Series, rides designed to explore the diversity of the country and its people. With this event, Cycle Canada and Tour du Canada riders will travel through British Columbia and two Canadian Territories, plus having the opportunity to dip a tire or toe in one more ocean.

This tour is the realization of a dream that began more than 10 years ago when we launched a self-guided Trail of '98 ride to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the 1898 rush to discover Gold in Canada's north.

Tour Arctic is a supported tour and accommodation is mainly camping. There will be some indoor stays and two major ocean ferry trips — through British Columbia's Inside Passage and on Alaska's Marine Highway. 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 the third year we will be taking between 20 and 24 people. Please contact us early to register.

Included in your Tour Arctic Package: Trip preparation Guide, including training tips, route and routine overviews and safety information. Half-day trip orientation on the first day of schedule. Daily maps and route instructions. Luggage service to overnight stays. Major ferry fees are included. CycleCanada water bottle, safety triangle to wear while riding. Support staff, cook and driver. Full tool kit and work stand on support vehicle.

Meals included are prepared by our staff including dinners and hot breakfasts on riding days. A basic make-your-own lunch, fruit and snacks will be available to take with you on riding days. There will be some additional meals, including on the B.C. ferry and a group clebration dinner in Inuvik.

Mainly camping which is pre-arranged. Some indoor stays at university residences, hotels, motels and ferry cabins. Double accommodation with some single. At two or three locations we may need to put 3 or more in dorm or motel rooms due to limited availability. Some single accommodation available as a suppemental cost. Camping is in private serviced or government campgrounds and unserviced remote sites. Support vehicle is equipped with power outlets to charge phones, computers etc.

The support vehicle is equiped with power outlets for charging phones and computers and for pumping up sleeping mats at locations where we have power. Riders have individual storage shelves for gear. There is a fridge, coffee maker, shelter tent, tool kit and floor pump on the vehicle.

Additional support from licensed wilderness guide for certain locales

Leaving Vancouver it's a cross-town ride to catch the ferry to Vancouver Island. The first day is a short warm up day and the terrain is gentle.

From Nanaimo we head north to Port Hardy and travel by ferry through the spectacular Inside Passage to northern British Columbia. After some rest and relaxation time on the B.C. ferry and a day off in Prince Rupert, we'll take an Alaska ferry to sail deep into the land of the Midnight Sun, where nights are very short at that time of year.

Trail of '98. On our second leg of the tour we cross the Coast Mountains at White Pass and on this day we'll climb 1000 metres over a distance of 14 km. Our route parallels the Trail of '98 used by would-be prospectors during the Klondike Gold rush.

The Yukon. Our first overnight in the Yukon is at the historic town of Carcross (shortened from Caribou Crossing). From there it is a half day ride to Whitehorse and an afternoon to explore this fun and historic town. Then it is on to Dawson, passing through the Selkirk First Nation and land of the Northern Tuchone People. Dawson was the boom town during the gold rush and we'll have a rest day there.

Dempster Highway. Leaving Dawson City, Yukon we follow the Dempster Highway to Inuvik, 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, crossing 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.

The Highway and tour ends in Inuvik, where riders have a celebratory dinner before going their separate ways. Inuvik is the end of the road going north but an option from there is a short flight to Tuktoyaktuk on the shore of the Arctic Ocean.

• Vancouver, B.C. to Inuvik, NWT
• Dates: July 17 to August 10, 2012
• Fee: $3,995.00
• Deposit: $1,000.00

Fees are per person in Canadian Funds
Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) is in addition to above fees.
A discount on this tax applicable to non-residents of Canada. We recommend you obtain travel, medical and personal insurance. Please read our policy statement for Cycle Canada events: Policies

You'll find information on other great cycling tours in Canada here: Cycle Canada Events.