Discover the exceptional meteor crater and its Lake Pingualuk. Imagine being immersed in a 400-year-old culture, thanks to the help of your Inuit guides!
Hiking in the Parc national des Pingualuit, discover Nunavik, the exceptional meteor crater, and the clear blue waters of Lake Pingualuk. You can also explore the Puvirnituq River Canyon—a veritable kingdom of flora and tundra at its best!
On behalf of our guides and our community, we welcome you to our region: Tunngasugit!
The undeveloped trails in Parc national des Pingualuit are suitable for both beginner and intermediate level hikers, depending on the area. During your hikes, you may come across unstable, sometimes slippery terrain and uneven ground, which can make hiking difficult. However, this trip is suitable for anyone who is reasonably fit. Please contact us if you have any questions concerning the difficulty of this trip.
ITINERARY
* Please note: if you choose the trip from August 9 to 18, you will discover the parc national des Pingualuit after a day of exploration the community of Kuujjuaq. This package lasts 10 days instead of 9.
Day 1: Flight from Montréal to Kuujjuaq and exploration the community of Kuujjuaq
Day 2: Flight from Montréal to parc national des Pingualuit
Day 3: Hike to the crater
Day 4 and 5: Lake Manarsulik and surroundings
Days 6 and 7: Hike to Puvirnituq River Canyon
Days 8 and 9: Explore the Northern Village of Kangiqsujuaq
Day 10: Scenic return to Kuujjuaq and flight to Montréal
Day 1: Scenic flights to parc national des Pingualuit
Day 1: Departure from Montréal and travel to Kuujjuaq, Nunavik’s administrative capital (2 hours). Your first stop will be in Kuujjuaq, where a Nunavik Parks representative will welcome you and help you check in your luggage for your connecting flight to Kangiqsujuaq. Transfer from Kuujjuaq to Kangiqsujuaq by plane (90-minute flight). On arrival, you’ll be met by a guide from Parc national des Pingualuit who will take you to your hotel for check-in. Enjoy some free time before dinner.
The departure for the park in a Twin Otter aircraft, a 20-minute scenic flight to the Lake Manarsulik camp. On this first day in the park, you’ll have the chance to canoe or kayak on Lake Manarsulik, explore the archaeological site where the dwellings once stood, or simply relax.
Your guides will suggest a variety of cultural activities, including learning about the tradition of the Qullik, the traditional Inuit lamp.
• Accommodations: Camp Manarsulik (2 buildings with 4 rooms including 2 bunk beds, indoor toilet and shower, plus a communal building for meals and other activities)
Day 2: Hike to the crater
Depending on the weather, the itinerary of the following days can be switched to optimize your stay in each of the park’s different areas. On Day 2, you can set off to climb the ridges of the iconic Pingualuit crater. You’ll have a breathtaking view of the horizon, which seems to stretch on forever. You can also marvel at the almost perfect circle of this 1.4 million-year-old crater. You can choose to go from the camp to the crater (5 km round trip), down to the water (2.5 km round trip), or do the whole tour (18 km round trip to the camp). Whichever option you choose, bear in mind that the trails are undeveloped, covered with rocks that are often loose and sometimes slippery. We recommend that you exercise caution and use walking sticks on your journey. Don’t forget your daypack with snacks, water, etc.
• Accommodations: Camp Manarsulik (2 buildings with 4 rooms including 2 bunk beds, indoor toilet and shower, plus a communal building for meals and other activities)
Day 3: Lake Manarsulik and surroundings
After the previous day’s hike to the crater, you can enjoy the surroundings of Camp Manarsulik or exploring the immense Lake Manarsulik by motorboat. This will be a great opportunity to learn more about your guides’ use of the land, or to enjoy some of Nunavik’s exceptional fishing and catch your supper.
• Accommodations: Camp Manarsulik (2 buildings with 4 rooms including 2 bunk beds, indoor toilet and shower, plus a communal building for meals and other activities)
Days 4 and 5: Hike to the Puvirnituq River Canyon
On Day 4, you and your guides will set off in a motorboat across Lake Manarsulik. You’ll then embark on an 8 km hike to Camp Sangummaaluk. You’ll have to bring your hiking bag and equipment (sleeping bag) to sleep at the camp, as well as food for the two days you’ll spend there. The terrain alternates between wetlands and rocky areas. Once again, progressing at your own pace using walking sticks is the best way to avoid injury. Camp Sangummaaluk sits atop the spectacular Puvirnituq River Canyon. You can take in the splendid scenery and explore the surrounding area, and maybe even cast a few lines in the river’s bountiful waters. You’ll head back to camp Manarsulik midday on day 5.
• Accommodations day 4: Camp Sangummaaluk (rustic, open-space dormitory camp)
• Accommodations day 5: Camp Manarsulik (2 buildings with 4 rooms including 2 bunk beds, indoor toilet and shower, plus a communal building for meals and other activities)
Day 6: Manarsulik and scenic return to Kangiqsujuaq
This is your last day at Camp Manarsulik. You can take this opportunity to finish exploring the surrounding area, to canoe and kayak on the lake, or to just relax in front of Lake Manarsulik. A Twin Otter aircraft will pick you up and you'll begin your flight to Kangiqsujuaq.
• Accommodations: Coop Hotel in Kangiqsujuaq
Days 7 and 8: Explore the Northern Village of Kangiqsujuaq
During your stay in Kangiqsjuaq, you will have the chance to visit various facilities and the parc national des Pingualuit interpretation centre. Depending on what’s on offer and the weather, you’ll have the chance to take part in a variety of activities in the community. Your guides will be on hand to suggest options adapted to your group, allowing you to truly immerse yourself in the culture. A tour of the village will provide a historical perspective of the community’s development, and you’ll have the opportunity to explore the bay near the Hudson Strait, home to a large number of hunting camps.
On the 8 day, you'll head for Kuujjuaq, flying over a complex network of lakes, rivers, valleys, and mountains as you reminisce about your unique experiences in this extraordinary journey.
• Accommodations day 7: Coop Hotel in Kangiqsujuaq
• Accommodations day 8: Coop Hotel in Kuujjuaq
Day 9: Visit the community of Kuujjuaq and return to Montréal
After breakfast, Nunavik Parks staff will pick you up to check you in at the airport. You’ll then be taken on a tour of the village, a trip north along the Koksoak River, or an expedition to discover Kuujjuaq’s best-kept secrets. You’ll also have the chance to visit the local handicraft store, where you’ll find stone carvings, pualluk (Inuit mittens), kamik (Inuit boots), nasak (Inuit hat), and much more. You’ll then head back south in the afternoon, with a heart full of precious memories.
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
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: transportation from Montreal, meals, accommodation, outdoor gear, equipment for preparing and serving meals). Find out about preferential rates for JBNQA beneficiaries.
This package requires 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 des Pingualuit. Therefore, witnessing a group of Inuit hunting caribou or ringed seals, or trapping foxes, can become a part of your Nunavik park experience.
Safety
All expeditions led by the parc national des Pingualuit 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. We strongly advise you to take out an insurance policy covering air evacuation costs.