FlyerTalk Forums - View Single Post - Aeroplan's Best Kept Secret: award flights into Iqaluit
Old Aug 14, 2018, 7:21 pm
  #86  
ericw
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: YYZ
Programs: TK*G, Marriott Gold, Hilton Diamond, IHG Plat
Posts: 678
I've managed to visit all Canadian territories over the years in the winter on flight passes and AP awards.

Personally, my favourite is Whitehouse for a bit of everything: forests, lakes, mountains and various organized winter activities including aurora viewing. you can also cross the border to Alaska.

For northern lights, Yellowknife is the best option - I've been there 4 different weekends and saw the aurora 3 out of 4. They have purposely built Aurora Village (better) and Aurora World - mainly cater to bus loads of Japanese tourists but everyone can go. I'd recommend Explorer hotel (nicer) and Yellowknife Inn (conveniently connected a mall and probably the only night club in town - crowded with workers from nearby mines looking for some fun for the weekend...)

YFB is ok but i found the town a bit boring. Frobisher Inn is the best option in Iqaluit - also connected to the only movie theatre and pub in town. Nearby town Apex has a cemetery with whale bone statue - good for some shots at sunset or at night with aurora. If you want to get out of the town to the floe edge, you need to rent a snowmobile; i'd definitely get a guide for safety...

As someone mentioned, you can fly from Winnipeg to Churchill in Oct/Nov to see the polar bears before the bay freezes. you can still redeem calm air flights using AP.
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