Bathurst Inlet

Bathurst Inlet was at one time a Hudson's Bay fur trading post. A small community formed around this. Over the years it morphed into a sort of tourist attraction. Before it existed and through all its transformations, this place has been home for various Inuit families. In 2018, one Inuit family lived here year round. Other Inuit fly in from their various communities to help run the lodge during the short summer tourist season.

The lodge itself is still the original Hudson's Bay post, although it has been renovated through the years. There are various buildings at the site from very old buildings including a church, to more recent houses and guest cabins. Do not expect luxury - everything has to be shipped in at great expense on little planes.

The hosts are amazing! Page Burt took us on a short hike and the depth of her knowledge is incredible. The Kapolaks were kind, welcoming and shared their culture with us as well as taking care of all the running of the place.

There are many archeological sites nearby, there are beautiful hikes - especially up the large hills to the south. There is wildlife all over the area - I saw wolf, caribou, swans, and ptarmigan when I was hiking around there. The lodge has a large pontoon boat which they can use to take people on tours to nearby sites and attractions or for fishing. Transportation this far north is all by air or by water. They do have a quad to help move things between the airstrip and the lodge.

Much more information available here: https://bathurstarctic.com/

If you are thinking of going, I highly recommend learning about history the Inuit, the Hudson's Bay company, and the church before you go. You will likely learn a ton while there, but you will understand it better if you go in with a bit of a base of knowledge. It is expensive to get here - make it the trip of a lifetime!