Parc national Tursujuq combines adventure, winter sports and traditional Inuit activities for a truly nomadic winter adventure! Ski, snowshoe, and snowmobile your way through Quebec’s largest parc national.
You’ll explore Lake Tasiujaq and its snow-capped cuestas, a unique land of snowfields and breathtaking white plateaus. During your stay, you’ll experience life in the Far North with all the modern comforts, thanks to your Inuit guides.
ITINERARY
Day 1: Departure for Isuani, the park’s gateway
You’ll start the day with preparations followed by your first ski excursion to Isuani, meaning “end of the road” in Inuktitut, the gateway to parc national Tursujuq. Located in the mountains and valleys about 11 kilometres from the community of Umiujaq, this is where you’ll spend your first night in the comfort of a heated igloo, where guides will be waiting for you. Depending on your level of experience, this day will provide you with an excellent opportunity to try out backcountry skiing and to test your equipment. If you bring your own equipment, you’ll have the chance to go downhill off-piste in excellent conditions.
• Accommodations: Heated igloo at Isuani
Day 2: Exploring Lake Tasiujaq and its cuestas
On this second day, you’ll set out to conquer Lake Tasiujaq on skis. Surrounded by majestic white cuestas, this part of the lake is renowned for its spectacular scenery and endless whiteness. If you bring your own backcountry ski equipment, you’ll be able to enjoy the many slopes with exciting vertical drops encircling the lake. On this day, we’ll cover some 20 km of ski touring on the way to the Sukkuup chalet, where you’ll spend the next two nights.
• Accommodations: Camp Sukkup (rustic, open-space dormitory-style camp with wood stove)
Days 3 : Sukkuup River Sector
The Sukkuup River sector is cherished locally for it's fishing grounds and picturesque landscapes. You will fall in love with the possibilities offered by the area: following small creeks into the woods, climbing uphill nearby the camp or enjoying the view of the wide open lake surrounded by the majestic cuestas. The group may also decide to follow your guides for a traditional hunt; caribous, foxes and ptarmigans may be observed or if snow conditions allow, even build an igloo!
• Accomodations: camp Sukkuup (rustic, open-space dormitory camp with wood stove)
Day 4: Crossing Lake Tasiujaq to Hudson Bay
After the comfort of Camp Sukkup, you’ll ski back across the whiteness of Lake Tasiujaq, this time towards the Hudson Bay coast.
The impressive view of two lakes nestled in the valleys of the Hudsonian cuestas is sure to impress. For this final night, you’ll sleep in a heated igloo, surrounded by nature’s ambient winter sounds. On this last day, you’ll share in the experience of the Qullik, the traditional Inuit lamp.
• Accommodations: Heated igloo at Two Lakes point
Day 5: Scenic return to Umiujaq
This final day of the ski expedition begins with a climb up one of the cuestas near the two lakes. You’ll then return to camp for dinner. In the afternoon, once you’ve broken camp, you’ll ski back to Umiujaq (5 km) on a scenic route. On your return to the village, stop off at the park pavilion for a review of the week's expedition and a final team meal.
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 to the park, 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. We strongly advise you to take out an insurance policy covering air evacuation costs.