Parc national Tursujuq offers you a combination of adventure, winter sports, and Inuit traditions for a northern winter experience! You will discover Umiujaq, Nunavik’s youngest community, and ski through Quebec’s largest national park!
You will have the chance to live to the rhythm of the North alongside the Inuit guides. This winter journey to Nunavik invites you to discover the inspiring landscapes, knowledge, and traditions of the Inuit, who have called this land home for over 3,000 years. You will explore Lake Tasiujaq and its snow-capped cuestas— a unique landscape of snowfields and breathtaking white plateaus.
ITINERARY
Day 1: Arriving in Nunavik and cultural night
Departure by plane from Montreal to Kuujjuaq (2 hours). Upon your arrival at Kuujjuaq airport, a Nunavik Parks representative will be there to greet you and help you to check your luggage for your connecting flight to Umiujaq. After a short stop in Kuujjuaraapik, you will be welcomed in Umiujaq by a guide from the parc national Tursujuq.
In the evening, a guided tour of the village will be followed by a dinner and cultural activities at the park pavilion. This time in the community will give you the opportunity to experience the peaceful life of a northern village and prepare for your expedition with all the participants.
• Accommodation: Coop Hotel in Umiujaq
Day 2: Nastapoka Falls and Sukkuk Camp
The day will begin around 9:00 a.m. with a meeting at the park’s pavilion to gear up for a snowmobile excursion. You will set off along Hudson Bay towards the majestic Nastapoka Falls. Known to Inuit for generations, this site is a prime spot for observing both marine and land mammals, such as harbour seals and musk oxen. The 55-kilometre journey by snowmobile and qamutik (traditional Inuit sled) will take you through the landscape of the Gillies Islands and the imposing snow-covered Hudson cuestas along the coast.
After venturing to the falls, you will return to Umiujaq for lunch before preparing the qamutik and entering another part of the park. The trip from Umiujaq to Sukkuk camp will take about an hour. After an 11-kilometre snowmobile ride, a short break is planned at Isuani —meaning “end of the road” in Inuktitut— the gateway to Parc national Tursujuq. The route will continue for 18 km across the immense snow-covered Tasiujaq Lake. Once settled in the heated camps, the day will end with dinner; the perfect time to relax and share your first impressions.
• Accommodation: Camp Sukkuk (rustic, open-space dormitory-style camp with wood stove)
Day 3: Skiing behind Sukkuk Camp and exploring Tasiujaq Lake
After breakfast, the day will begin with a short ski excursion of 6 to 8 km uphill, starting behind Sukkuk camp. The Sukkuk river outlet is an area that is treasured locally for its abundant catches and picturesque scenery.
In the afternoon, after returning to camp for lunch, the guides will introduce you to some of their traditions. Depending on the weather and snow conditions, you will help build an igloo, watch an ice fishing or ptarmigan hunting, or continue the adventure by snowmobile to explore more remote areas.
• Accommodation: Camp Sukkuk (rustic, open-space dormitory-style camp with wood stove)
Day 4: Skiing to Kangirsuaaluk and cultural activities
This day will begin with a 12-kilometre ski loop around the point east of Sukkuk towards Kangirsuaaluk. You will progress at your own pace to fully enjoy this outing lasting a few hours.
In the afternoon, depending on the weather and snow conditions, activities may include staying around the camp for igloo building, watching an ice fishing session, or searching for ptarmigan — or heading out to reach an old Hudson Bay Post site or Kattatulik camp.
You may ask your guides for assistance at any time, even to arrange a snowmobile pick-up if you do not want to ski the whole distance.
• Accommodation: Camp Sukkuk (rustic, open-space dormitory-style camp with wood stove)
Day 5: Skiing from Sukkuk Camp to Two Lakes
On your last day in the park, you will make your way back to Umiujaq with a 20-kilometre ski expedition across Lake Tasiujaq, heading toward Two Lakes Valley — a well-known area where locals enjoy the outdoors scenery.
The return to Umiujaq is expected around sunset, either by ski or snowmobile, depending on the pace of the group. Lunch will be enjoyed along the way, and the day will end with a restful evening at the COOP hotel, including a warm dinner.
• Accommodation: Coop Hotel in Umiujaq
Day 6: Departing from Umiujaq to Kuujjuaq and Montreal
Departure for the airport around 10:50 a.m. with a park employee to check your luggage for the Air Inuit flight to Kuujjuaraapik or Kuujjuaq, scheduled for 11:50 a.m. Upon your arrival in Kuujjuaq, a representative from Nunavik Parks will be at the airport to ensure that your connection to Montreal goes smoothly.
Drones
Nunavik Parks (Kativik Regional Government) does not permit the use of drones for recreational purposes in the parks it manages (Parc national Tursujuq, Parc national des Pingualuit, Parc national Kuururjuaq, and Parc national Ulittaniujalik) so as not to impact the visitor experience or disturb wildlife.
Good to know
Throughout your trip, park staff will make sure you have plenty of tea, water, and snacks for your comfort. This will allow you to travel light and take full advantage of all the activities. The team will make regular return trips for supplies to ensure the comfort of skiers.
In Nunavik, the weather is constantly changing. Therefore, the expedition is subject to change at any time to take current weather conditions into account, so be prepared to adapt to unforeseen situations. This extraordinary expedition will require you to be in the right frame of mind, which includes having a team spirit, being adaptable, and strictly adhering to safety rules. The journey will require you to accept a certain measure of adventure and unexpected situations. However, you will be able to rely entirely on the expertise and know-how of your guides to make the most of your stay.
Notes
Price per person, before taxes (all-inclusive: meals, accommodation, transportation from Montreal, outdoor gear, equipment for preparing and serving meals). Find out about preferential rates for JBNQA beneficiaries.
This package requires a minimum of 6 people to guarantee departure. Please contact us to inquire about joining groups that have already been formed.
Please note that hunting and trapping are strictly prohibited in Quebec’s national parks. However, Inuit have the right to practise their subsistence activities throughout Nunavik, including in parc national Tursujuq. Therefore, witnessing a group of Inuit hunting caribou or ringed seals, or trapping foxes, can become a part of your Nunavik park experience.
Your gear will be transported by snowmobile. However, you will still be responsible for carrying your day pack (30 litres), which contains your snacks, thermos, warm clothes, etc.
Safety
All expeditions led by the parc national Tursujuq team can be tracked day by day thanks to daily satellite positioning. The team can contact park staff at any time with a satellite phone. Visitors to Nunavik’s parks must take some responsibility for their own safety, and risk management must be an integral part of their experience.
As a visitor participating in a trip organized by Nunavik Parks and accompanied by a guide who is a member of the team, you are covered by insurance for costs related to accidents and search and rescue.