The Northwest Territories is one of the three territories of Northern Canada. Situated north of British Columbia, Alberta, and Saskatchewan, the Northwest Territories ranges from pine forests and mountains in the south to the Arctic tundra in the north. The territory is extremely desolate and sparsely populated, yet still an inviting tourist destination for those who want to see the famous aurora borealis. In a destination like this, it’s crucial to have travel insurance.
Trip Cancellation Insurance for Travelers visiting Northwest Territories – FAQs
Traveling to the Northwest Territories can be unpredictable. Severe weather can ground flights and make travel impossible. Just the same, a personal or professional emergency might require you to cancel your trip. Make sure you protect the money you’ve already invested in it with trip cancellation insurance.
Why should I get trip cancellation insurance before traveling to Northwest Territories?
You’re going to need to book airfare, lodging, and possibly an outfitter for your trip to the Northwest Territories. You’ll need to pay for these things ahead of time, and the charges will likely be nonrefundable. If you have to cancel your trip, you could be stuck paying for them anyway.
Trip cancellation insurance can help. It can reimburse you for eligible prepaid, nonrefundable expenses if you need to cancel your trip for a covered reason.
What can be covered by trip cancellation insurance for Northwest Territories?
While trip cancellation coverage is the main component of most travel insurance plans, it isn’t the only component. Once your trip begins, your plan may be able to cover things like trip interruption, travel delay, and emergency medical care. Just be sure to compare plans before making a purchase, as the exact coverage offered can differ.
Northwest Territories’ Most Popular Activities
If you think there isn’t much to do in a place like the Northwest Territories, you’d be very incorrect. This far-north destination draws in many different visitors throughout the year. These are a few of the most popular activities.
Visit Yellowknife
Yellowknife is the largest population center and only city in the Northwest Territories. It’s where many visitors base their visit out of. Here, there are plenty of great bars and restaurants, winter festivals, and even a massive mall. Yellowknife was the original location of the Arctic Winter Games, and its residents are big fans of winter sports such as cross-country skiing, dog mushing, and snowshoeing.
See the Aurora Borealis
Also known as the polar lights or northern lights, the aurora borealis is an incredible natural light display. As it happens, Yellowknife is one of the best places on earth to view this phenomena. Tourist bundle up and head to the city in the winter to see a sight that few other people on earth have been able to experience in person.
Go Dogsledding
Dogsledding is one of the oldest ways to quickly cover long distances in the snow, and you can still try it today. There are several dogsledding outfitters in Yellowknife and elsewhere in the territory where you can give the sport a try. And don’t worry about the dogs being cold. The Siberian huskies and other dogs bred to pull these sleds thrive in the snow and extreme cold.
See Nahanni National Park Reserve
With nearly 12,000 square miles of pristine wilderness, Nahanni National Park Reserve is incredible, to say the least. It boasts gorges that are deeper than the Grand Canyon, and waterfalls that are taller than Niagara Falls. However, don’t think that you can drive here, as the park has no roads. You’ll need a to charter a floatplane if you want to visit.
Fish at Great Bear Lake
Some say that Great Bear Lake is the finest fishing destination in the world. Being as it’s the largest lake entirely in Canada (over 12,000 square miles) yet hosts only 300 anglers per year, they might be right. However, it’s not so easy to get to. Once again, you’ll need to go by air. However once you’re here, there are luxury lodging options available. Some will even fly you directly to the lake from a regional airport.
Key Guidelines for Visitors to Northwest Territories
Extreme Cold
If you choose to visit the Northwest Territories in the winter, understand that it’s one of the coldest places on earth. You will need to pack extremely warm clothing that is designed for these kinds of temperatures. Even in the middle of summer, some parts of territory still require a jacket.
Limited Road Network
Although the Northwest Territories does have over 3,000 miles of all-weather roads, it’s a massive place. Outside of population centers like Yellowknife, air travel is often the only option. Be prepared to charter a floatplane if you want to access most of the wilder parts of the territory.
Before You Visit Northwest Territories – Do This
- Charter any additional transportation you might need ahead of time.
- Pay attention to the weather forecast, and pack appropriate clothing for it.
- Buy travel insurance that can cover you.