-presents - 

Dance with Wolves!
on the mainland Arctic of Nunavut, Canada

Placing your cursor over the photos on this page will bring pop-ups that tell more of the story!

wild tundra wolf - photo copyright Eric Peterson

Wild wolves remain one of the world's most intelligent and elusive creatures. Following centuries of persecution, hunting, and even sanctioned poisoning by trappers, ranchers and intolerant Governments throughout the world - the wilds of Northern Canada remain one of the last strongholds - and even here wolves rightfully tend to be shy of humans and their activities.

Adult tundra wolf pair with pups in tow on Dance with Wolves trip  / photo copyright David Welling

Great Canadian Wilderness is proud to boast that we are one of the only companies anywhere that offers a high degree of success to encounter wild wolves in their natural habitat. We accomplish this without the use of any artificial means such as captivity, feeding or implanted radio devices. Instead, we take advantage of traditional wilderness knowledge of consistent migratory, hunting and den cycle activities of wolves, that we have learned over nearly four decades of bush flying & guiding in the remote Arctic & sub-Arctic of Canada.

Join us this Arctic spring on the magnificent tundra of Nunavut for a wonderful Arctic wildlife & naturalist adventure under the midnight sun

Musk-ox bull peeking from behind the spruce trees at camp /  photo copyright Lonnie Brock Nature Photography

Wolf pups on camp esker during Dance with Wolves trip  / photo copyright Terry Elliott - Savage Island Photography

Featured on this unique trip are several tundra white wolf dens sites that have been varyingly active over the past several years due to the stability of the increasing musk-ox population spreading out from the nearby Thelon Wildlife Sanctuary.

Those who are diligent will often see adult wolves and their pups during the primary and secondary stage den cycles.  Wolves are very elusive, and we never know how close we can get from season to season - but we definitely offer one of the very best chances to see wolves in the true wild!

 

Three adult wolves on the Dance with Wolves trip / phoot copyright David Welling
Three wolves hunting

 

Wolf dens behind camp /  photo courtesy Beverley Morris
Wolf dens in the esker sand

 

Tundra wolf along Thelon River / photo copyright David Welbourne
Lone alpha male stands guard

 

Click here to make your reservation on the 2008 or 2009 'Dance with Wolves' trip!

Dance With Wolves 2008
Departure Dates
Seats Left
Prices Rates do not include GST.
Jun. 27 to Jul. 4 - 2008
0
Single: $4,595.00 US - $4,595.00 CAD
Double:
$8,450.00 US - $8,450.00 CAD  
Jul. 4 to Jul. 11 - 2008
0
Single: $4,595.00 US - $4,595.00 CAD
Double:
$8,450.00 US - $8,450.00 CAD  
Jul. 11 to Jul. 18 - 2008
0
Single: $4,595.00 US - $4,595.00 CAD
Double:
$8,450.00 US - $8,450.00 CAD  

You have the choice to combine two weeks of 'Dance with Wolves' at a substantially reduced rate! 

Add on $2,800.00 USD // $2,800.00 CDN per person

Prices do not include GST tax.

Click here to make your reservation on the 2008 or 2009 'Dance with Wolves' trip!

Dance With Wolves 2009
Departure Dates
Seats Left
Prices Rates do not include GST.
Jul. 3 to Jul 10 - 2009
0
Single: $4,595.00 US - $4,595.00 CAD
Double:
$8,450.00 US - $8,450.00 CAD  
Jul. 10 to Jul. 17 - 2009
4
Single: $4,595.00 US - $4,595.00 CAD
Double:
$8,450.00 US - $8,450.00 CAD  
Jul. 17 to Jul. 24 - 2009
6
Single: $4,595.00 US - $4,595.00 CAD
Double:
$8,450.00 US - $8,450.00 CAD  

Click here to download & print the detailed trip supplement
for the 2008 & 2009 'Dance With Wolves' trip in PDF format.

We will start this unique wildllife trip by boarding a float-equpped aircraft at our starting point which varies from season to season (see www.thelon.com/map.htm); to fly 120-240 airmiles past the tree-line, and out over the remote Arctic tundra known locally as the 'Barrenlands'. Here we will land at one of our isolated wildlife basecamps located at one of the most isolated regions in mainland North America!

A sand esker system as seen from the air - these sandy area are perfect den lcaortion for tundra wolves and assorted fox/ photo copyright Noelle Tufts
A sand esker system as seen from the air - these sandy area are perfect den lcaortion for tundra wolves and assorted fox.

Click here to learn more about how to get to our wolves trips.

Once at the pre-determined wildlife camp located at one of the last true wild wolf ranges remaining in the world, we typically offer comfortable tent-camp accommodations including private sleeping Quonsets, dining & shower facilities. We also offer an array of equipment on site such as boats, motors, canoes & kayaks to enhance the expeditions; to explore new areas and to seek other dens & wildlife.  On occasion, we set up and offer optional ground tent 'spike camps' to maximize wildlife viewing. An aircraft is usually kept at these camps for much of the time for aerial reconnaissance and emergency use. 

 

Rainbow over basecamp / Photo copyright Galen Rowell - Mountain Light Photography

Camp beach / photo courtesy Beverley Morris

One of the wildlife camps /  photo courtesy Julie Yamaguchi

Sunset overThelon

 

As the 'Dance with Wolves' trips occur shortly after the summer solstice,  there is about 22 hours of daylight, and a short period of dusk. Sunsets can seem to last for hours! 

Nesting raptors are often present in this wildlife rich region, including peregrine & gyrfalcon, bald and golden eagles, a variety of hawks, nesting shorebirds & waterfowl. This is an excellent trip for quality birding!

Click here to obtain our bird list (in PDF)

Gyrfalcons in gray phase - photo by Michelle Wallace - Click to enlarge

 

Scoter ducks sliding into an esker pond /  photo copyright Eric Peterson

 

Watching for falcons /  photo courtesy Tracy Gall

 

Harris sparrow perched at the basecamp /  photo copyright Eric Peterson

 

Peregrine falcon perched during wolves trips / copyright Art Wolfe, Inc.

 

 

A rare photo of a gyrfalcon adult feedin a squirrel? to its chicks in the nest behind the camp / photo courtesy Beverley Morris
Gyrfalcon feeding its chicks - 2004

 

 Plover chick in camp yard - photo copyright Bill Mullins

 

Adult merlin perched watching for dinner /  photo courtesy Beverley Morris

 

Rock ptarmigan /  photo copyright Eric Peterson

 

 

Bull musk-ox wading tundra stream / photo copyright Steve Maka

During this time of season, single bull musk-oxen often wander right into the camps! Often we are able to encounter the herds of musk-ox cows & calves as they meander and graze the fresh growths of springtime foliage.   

Musk-ox bulls grazing behind camp / photo courtesy Andrew MacPherson & Allicia Kelly

musk-oxen herd with bull feigning a summer fight /  photo copyright Terry Elliott - Savage Island Photography

Ecoventures pontoon boat on Whitefish Lake - upper Thelon /  photo courtesy Tracy Gall

 

In recent years musk-oxen have spread out from the nearby Thelon Wildlife Sanctuary

 

Lupin along the Thelon River valley / photo copyright David Welbourne

The careful eye will discover another world underfoot during the subtle, yet most beautiful Arctic springtime flower bloom at this special time of year.

alpine azaleas in spring bloom on the tundra /  photo courtesy Beverley Morris

 

Just bloomed fireweed along the central Thelon /  photo copyright David Welbourne

Curious cross-fox kit /  photo copyright Eric Peterson

 

 

During the 'Dance with Wolves' trips, and throughout most of the summer - Arctic, Cross, and red fox frequent and den in this area, and often we are able to locate the dens - usually close to camp - and observe them close-up! 

 

 

 

Adult cross fox watching from its esker den / photo copyright Eric Peterson

 

Cross fox kits playing at the esker den / copyright Charlotte Richardson

 

A den full of red fox kit - right behind the camp! /  photo copyright Terry Elliott - Savage Island Photography

 

Cross fox kit on the Thelon / Photo Courtesy of Tracy Gall

 

Wonderful springtime miniature flower bloom, the long days with the midnight sun, the tinkling of ice break-up, immersion in ancient native history, archaeology and incredible esker 'oasis' landscapes - all highlight this unusual adventure in the remote Canadian Arctic!

Dance with Wolves participants hiking the eskers / photo by Tundra Tom

Tundra wolf pup on the Thelon / photo copyright Gunter Baumgart

 

Plying the lake by boat amidst the ice flows during the spring ice breakup /  photo courtesy Tracy Gall
Boating amidst ice break-up on the upper Thelon

Click here to make your reservation on the 2008 or 2009 'Dance with Wolves' trip!

Dance With Wolves 2008
Departure Dates
Seats Left
Prices Rates do not include GST.
Jun. 27 to Jul. 4 - 2008
0
Single: $4,595.00 US - $4,595.00 CAD
Double:
$8,450.00 US - $8,450.00 CAD  
Jul. 4 to Jul. 11 - 2008
0
Single: $4,595.00 US - $4,595.00 CAD
Double:
$8,450.00 US - $8,450.00 CAD  
Jul. 11 to Jul. 18 - 2008
0
Single: $4,595.00 US - $4,595.00 CAD
Double:
$8,450.00 US - $8,450.00 CAD  

You have the choice to combine two weeks of 'Dance with Wolves' at a substantially reduced rate! 

Add on $2,800.00 USD // $2,800.00 CDN per person

Prices do not include GST tax.

Click here to make your reservation on the 2008 or 2009 'Dance with Wolves' trip!

Dance With Wolves 2009
Departure Dates
Seats Left
Prices Rates do not include GST.
Jul. 3 to Jul 10 - 2009
0
Single: $4,595.00 US - $4,595.00 CAD
Double:
$8,450.00 US - $8,450.00 CAD  
Jul. 10 to Jul. 17 - 2009
4
Single: $4,595.00 US - $4,595.00 CAD
Double:
$8,450.00 US - $8,450.00 CAD  
Jul. 17 to Jul. 24 - 2009
6
Single: $4,595.00 US - $4,595.00 CAD
Double:
$8,450.00 US - $8,450.00 CAD  

Click here to download & print the detailed trip supplement
for the 2008 & 2009 'Dance With Wolves' trip in PDF format.

 

 

What some of our recent clients have to say about our wolves trips:

'Caribou & Wolves - 'The Deadly Dance'

In 2003 & 2004, Great Canadian was proud to facilitate cinematographer Jeff Turner and crew of River Road Films to several wild wolf den sites, and to the Great Summer Caribou migration. Jeff got some awesome footage - with several grizzlies coming in to a remote water crossing to feed in several caribou that were stuck in the boulders of a creek crossing. During the spring of 2004, Jeff also got some quality wolf pup footage on the Thelon.  The wildlife documentary was aired in 2005 in the US on Animal Planet and in the UK on BBC2 on a series called "The Natural World".  Jeff had this to say about his trips with us: 

"I have filmed wolves, caribou and grizzly bears in many areas of the Canadian Arctic over the past 15 years and I have to say that the area around the Thelon River is without a doubt the most beautiful piece of Arctic tundra I have ever experienced. It is a world class wilderness with some of the planets most spectacular scenery and wildlife that is hard if not impossible to see anywhere else. I know of no other place where you can go and watch wild wolves around their den. Wolves are one of the most difficult animals to get close to in the wild and Tom and his crew have been doing it here for years. That says a lot about their sensitivity and success as wildlife guides. Tom and his crew at Great Canadian Wilderness are ideally placed to give access to this wonderful landscape. There is no-one with more experience and knowledge of the area and they have setup a comfortable, warm and homey camp with good food and facilities in the middle of this wilderness. They live lightly on the land here trying always to keep the imprint of man to a minimum in this pristine place. I admire and appreciate the work they do and wish them much success in the future."

Jeff Turner
River Road Films
Princeton, BC, Canada

 

Click on photo to read what US Wildlife Photographer Art Wolfe wrote about his 2002 wolves trip with us: 

Click on photo to read what photographer Bill Mullins wrote about his 2004 'Dance with Wolves' trip:

Click on photo to read what client Eric Peterson wrote about his 2002 & 2004 wolves trips with Great Canadian: 



Great Canadian Wilderness Adventures

 

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Great Canadian Wilderness
Phone: 1-800-667-9453 (Canada & USA)
Overseas Phone: +807-727-3758
North American toll-free Fax: 866-416-5548
Email: tundra@thelon.com
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