A winter route offering Nordic skiing and snowshoeing to reach the Torngat Mountains. Explore a breathtaking landscape with your Inuit guides.
Wonder, exhilaration, and a change of scenery guaranteed! Experiencing the Koroc River Valley, a thousand-year-old travel route, means getting back to nature and following the seductive rhythm of the North. Nunavik Parks creates each experience with the help of local Inuit guides. Our guides’ close ties with their communities and land enable us to offer authentic, safe tours that showcase all the region has to offer. On behalf of our guides and our community, we welcome you to our region: Tungngasugit!
ITINERARY
Day 1: Discovering Kangiqsualujjuaq
Departure by plane from Montreal to Kuujjuaq (2 hours). You will then be transferred from Kuujjuaq to Kangiqsualujjuaq (45-50 minute flight), where the parc national Kuururjuaq staff will be waiting for you. You will then be taken to your hotel for check-in, followed by a tour of the community. You will have the chance to meet elders and learn about Inuit culture, stories and legends. The evening is yours.
• Accommodation: Cooperative Hotel of Kangiqsualujjuaq
Day 2: The village, its surroundings, and traditions
Departure from the Coop Hotel in the morning. It is time to relax and breathe in the fresh air of the North. You will have the opportunity to tour the community of Kangiqsualujjuaq, a village nestled on the banks of the George River, just 15 kilometres from Ungava Bay. A welcoming community awaits you, offering a remarkable cultural experience. In the evening, you will have the opportunity to meet your expedition team and go over the details for your departure to the park.
• Accommodation: Cooperative Hotel of Kangiqsualujjuaq
Day 3: Departure for Camp Qurlutuarjuq
In the morning, your guides will pick you up for a final pre-departure meeting. From Kangiqsualujjuaq, you will travel by snowmobile to the sheltered Qurlutuarjuq area, 100 km from the village. Along the way, you will stop for tea, check out the best viewpoints, and learn the names of the mountains in Inuktitut. Watch your Inuit guides scour the land for caribou and ptarmigan. The number and types of encounters are different each time you visit the park.
You will make a short stop at the rustic Qamanialuk camp, which lies halfway to Qurlutuarjuq. Next, you will arrive in an even more majestic setting: the gateway to the Torngat Mountains. At Camp Qurlutuarjuq, you will settle in comfortably and drop off your luggage for the week. There you will find a large kitchen and dormitory, as well as a cozy central room where you can recount the day’s adventures and prepare for those of the following day.
• Accommodation: Camp Qurlutuarjuq (equipped with electricity and oil heating, a large kitchen and dormitory, as well as a central gathering room).
Days 4 and 5: Exploring Narsaruluk Creek
Days 4 and 5 take place in the magnificent Narsaruluk Creek area, nestled between the mountainsides. The program also include exploration of the Itinnaaluk sector on cross-country skis or alpine snowshoes, highlighted by a climb to the iconic Butt Crack, which offers a stunning and unique view of the Koroc River. Get ready to experience the rhythm of the Arctic. Your guides will suggest the most appropriate activity to optimize your off-the-beaten-track experience. You will cover around ten kilometers a day on cross-country skis, or more depending on the weather and your ability.
• Accommodation: Camp Qurlutuarjuq (equipped with electricity and oil heating, a large kitchen and dormitory, as well as a central gathering room).
Day 6: Exploring the Mount Ilisapi area
Depart for the area around the famous and majestic Ilisapi mountain. About 30 minutes by snowmobile, you will arrive at the start of Sukaluit Canyon. From there, you will continue on backcountry skis or snowshoes for a distance of around 10 kilometers; you will explore the farthest reaches of this small ice canyon. For the more adventurous, weather permitting, a climb to the high plateaus bordering the André-Grenier River will also be possible.
• Accommodation: Camp Qurlutuarjuq (equipped with electricity and oil heating, a large kitchen and dormitory, as well as a central gathering room).
Day 7: Mount Haywood and the gateway to Labrador
Depart camp for the Palmer area by snowmobile (1 hour) to reach the magnificent site of Napaartuit Isua on the Korok River. Then, you will suddenly turn south on an ancestral trail to Labrador. This valley, which curves around Mount Haywood (732 m), is a sight to behold. For those who wish, downhill skiing is also available.
• Accommodation: Camp Qurlutuarjuq (equipped with electricity and oil heating, a large kitchen and dormitory, as well as a central gathering room).
Day 8: Scenic return trip to the community
Depart camp for a snowmobile ride back to Kangiqsualujjuaq (approx. 5 hours), with many stops to admire the river views. Back in the village, you will spend one last night in Kangiqsualujjuaq. In the evening, you will have the chance to visit the park pavilion and share the highlights of your week-long expedition over the last dinner.
• Accommodation: Cooperative Hotel of Kangiqsualujjuaq
Day 9: Departure to Montreal
After breakfast, you will take your flight from Kangiqsualujjuaq to Kuujjuaq. Upon arrival, a representative from Parks Nunavik will welcome you and accompany you to check in for your flight to Montreal. You will then enjoy a tour of the village before your departure.
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 Kuururjuaq. 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 Kuururjuaq 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.