Discover Tasiujaq treasures: the unique Hudson cuestas, an interior
sea for seals and belugas, the Goulet and archaeological sites dating
back more than 3,000 years. Amazement and exaltation guaranteed!
Tasiujaq lake is an invitation to meet the greatest nature in the
vastest National Park in Quebec.
You will discover this great land either by sea kayak, motor boat or hiking. You’ll instantly be filled with a sense of freedom surrounded by majestic landscapes. Our local guides will introduce you to this exceptional land and its 3000-years-old traditions. We take care ofeverything: your flights from Montreal, your meals, your activities, your gear (tents, mats, sleeping bags...), and more
What Do You Need to Know?
Meals are provided locally, based on traditional
cuisine as much as possible, therefore depending on seasonal catches and
other available provisions. The meals listed in the itinerary are those
normally provided during this expedition. In accordance with northern
realities, meals may be adjusted depending on availabilities.
Weather in Nunavik is changing constantly.
Expeditions may be adjusted to take into account current conditions.
Openness to new situations (such as plane delays or cancelations,
changes in the itinerary), flexibility and the ability to adapt to
modified activities and agenda are important prerequisites for travelers
in Nunavik Parks and an authentic part of your northern experience.
ITINERARY
Day 1 | Discover Northern Village of Umiujaq
Departure from Montréal to Umiujaq. Your experience of Nunavik begins with an Air Inuit flight to Umiujaq (4h). On arrival in this community that lies next to Hudson Bay, you will be welcomed at the airport by your local guide and shuttled to the Coop-hotel. In the afternoon, you will visit the park’s visitor pavilion, receive a briefing on the expedition and safety measures and be served tea. A guided tour of the community is planned for afterwards and will conclude with supper at the Coop-hotel.
• Meals : Supper at Umiujaq Coop Hotel.
• Accommodations : Umiujaq Coop Hotel.
Day 2 | Community Life, Traditional Activities and the Surrounding Areas
The day starts with a short 6km hike of about on top of the Cuestas sourrounding the community. After lunch, you leave on a motor boat for an overnight trip at the Nastapoka fall. This area is well knowned by local inuit and consist in a prime spot for marine and land mammals watching. Getting there you will cruise through a straight between the Gillies island and the sandy beaches of the Hudson bay. Once you arrive on site, you will go hicking along the river up the falls, build the campsite, have dinner and spend the night.
• Meals: Continental-type
breakfast at the cooperative hotel (coffee, tea, croissants, cereal,
toast, granola, fruit) / lunch on site (soup, crackers, wraps or
sandwiches, bannock) / supper camping (sausages, cheese, casserole,
prepared fish or meat, meat pies, pasta).
• Accommodations : Umiujaq Coop Hotel.
Days 4-5-6-7 | Sea Kayaking on Tasiujaq Lake
Your adventure to discover Tasiujaq Lake will really begin on this 4th day. Throughout the expedition, a guide with a motorboat will transport all heavy equipment and prepare the campsites. The motorboat will also be used to ensure safety of all participants (emergencies or fatigue). Four campsites are set up along Lake Tasiujaq. During four days, you will paddle a average of 15 km from one campsite to another. And the end of each day, you will have free time to hike or simply relax.
• Meals: Continental-type
breakfast (coffee, tea, croissants, cereal, toast, granola, fruit) /
lunch on site (soup, crackers, wraps or sandwiches, bannock) / supper at
the cooperative hotel (sausages, cheese, casserole, prepared fish or
meat, meat pies, pasta).
• Accommodations : Traditional camping along Tasiujaq Lake.
Jour 4 : L'île Qurnguup et randonnée au lac Char
Depuis le camp Sukkup, vous pagayerez vers l'île Qurnguup que vous aurez la chance d’arpenter. L'île est magnifique, vous pourrez en profiter en vous y promenant et ainsi admirer les cuestas encerclant le lac.
En après-midi, c’est au lac Char que vous ferez une randonnée. La montée y est superbe et vous suivrez un terrain montagneux offrant une vue à couper le souffle sur le lac Tasiujaq. Selon les conditions climatiques, vous reviendrez en bateau pour retrouver vos kayaks le lendemain.
• Hébergement : Camp Sukkup (refuge rustique)
Jour 5 : Exploration de la baie Caribou
Une journée à votre rythme pour explorer les rives du lac Tasiujaq sur vos kayaks. En matinée, vous partirez en bateau récupérer votre kayak pour un retour vers le camp Sukkuq. Vous profiterez de ce trajet à pagaie pour explorer les alentours de la baie Caribou et pourquoi ne pas faire un peu de cueillette si la nature et le temps le permet.
• Hébergement : Camp Sukkup (refuge rustique)
Jour 6 : Rivière Sukkup et cuesta voisine
En matinée, vous remonterez la rivière Sukkuq sur deux kilomètres ce qui vous mènera aux rapides, un lieu très prisé par les locaux, et ce, depuis plusieurs siècles. Vous explorerez la cuesta avoisinante au parc sur votre kayak, ou à pied, selon la température et la préférence du groupe.
Pour cette dernière soirée dans le parc, la tradition du Qulliq vous sera transmise et vous aurez l'occasion de maintenir la flamme allumée de la lampe traditionnelle inuite.
• Hébergement : Camp Sukkup (refuge rustique)
Days 6-7 | Hikes in the mountains and breathtaking views
You will spend the next two days travelling with the motor boat to different sectors of Tasiujaq Lake to hike in the mountains, islands and get totally different point of views of the Lake.
• Meals: Continental-type breakfast (coffee, tea, croissants, cereal, toast, granola, fruit) / lunch on site (soup, crackers, wraps or sandwiches, bannock) / supper at the cooperative hotel (sausages, cheese, casserole, prepared fish or meat, meat pies, pasta).
• Accommodations : rustic camp or tuppik (traditional inuit tent)
Day 8 | Boat excursion through the Goulet
After breakfast, you will travel by motorboat through the Goulet. Bordered by the high, steep cliffs of the Hudsonian Cuestas, the Goulet has long been used by Inuit as a winter camping area for wildlife harvesting. It is also a mythical place, the site of several local stories and legends. Lunch and hiking on-site followed by a return trip to Umiujaq by motorboat.
• Meals: Continental-type
breakfast (coffee, tea, croissants, cereal, toast, granola, fruit) /
lunch on site (soup, crackers, wraps or sandwiches, bannock) / supper at
the cooperative hotel (cheese, casserole, prepared fish or meat, meat
pies, pasta).
• Accommodations : Coop Hotel in Umiujaq.
Notes
Price per person, before taxes. All-included (meals, accommodations, transportation). Preferential prices for JBNQA beneficiaries. 2 participants needed to guarantee departure, contact us to join a group. Although hunting and trapping are strictly prohibited into the National Parks of Quebec, Inuit have the right to practise their subsistence activities throughout Nunavik, including the parc national Tursujuq. Thus, witness a group of Inuit hunting caribou, ringed or trapping foxes may be part of the Nunavik park experience.
Safety
All the expeditions led by Tursujuq national park team can be followed day by day through daily satellite positioning. The team can contact the park staff anytime with a satellite phone. It's part of visitors responsibilities to plan their own safety: training to prepare your trip and having the proper insurance is part of it. Therefore, we strongly advise visitors to take an insurance policy covering air evacuation costs.