Yukon Holidays

Yukon

With a proud and visible First Nation heritage, Canada's Yukon is a vast and wild territory located between British Columbia and Alaska.

Due to its small and dispersed population, the Yukon is home to numerous excellent reserves and parks which, in turn, help to maintain and protect the region’s pristine environment and harbour an exceptional variety of wildlife including moose, elk, caribou and grizzly bear, porcupine, red fox and salmon. The Yukon is also synonymous with the Klondike Gold Rush when rich deposits were found in Bonanza Creek, a small tributary of the Klondike River. This discovery led to the great gold rush of the late 1890s and, today, many places associated with this historic event remain.

Due to the long distances and isolated locations, hiring a car is the best way to get around this rugged region. Travel the Klondike highway, pan for gold in Dawson City, soar by plane above the glacial peaks of impressive Mount Logan in Kluane National Park and stop for a scenic photo of Emerald Lake. Wildlife enthusiasts will be spoilt for choice and, if you visit the Yukon from late August to mid-April, your chances of seeing the mesmerising Aurora Borealis are also very high.

Holiday Ideas for the Yukon

16 DAYS

Highlights of Yukon and Alaska

from £2990 - £3790
per person

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When to visit the Yukon

Summer is the best time to visit the Yukon. Although only lasting a few short months, summer days are long – during June and July the sun never truly sets – and in certain areas it is not unusual for temperatures to reach highs of 35°C. In contrast winters can be harsh, cold and with few hours of daylight. In the Yukon summer starts in May but at the start of the month there may still be a good amount of snow still on the ground. From the end of May into June plants start to bud and the landscape comes alive with increasingly long daylight hours reaching their maximum in July. From the end of August into September temperatures start to cool and autumn colours are at their best. The darker nights of September also herald the start of the Northern Lights and, although viewings cannot be guaranteed, they should be visible in the sky right through to the middle of April.

JAN

FEB

MAR

APR

MAY

JUN

JUL

AUG

SEP

OCT

NOV

DEC

BEST TIME

GOOD TIME

LOW SEASON

OFF SEASON

This is a general overview suggesting when to travel in the country. Please note that this may not directly apply to any specific itinerary or region.

What to do in the Yukon

Bordering Alaska in the west, British Columbia in the south and stretching north across the Arctic Circle, Yukon Territory is without doubt the true frontier of Canada. With a population of just 40,000, vast swathes of the Yukon are a pristine wilderness of snow-capped mountains, monumental glaciers and icefields, dense boreal forest, crystal-clear lakes and snaking rivers that not only maintain an incredible diversity of animal and birdlife but also provide the backdrop to a host of outdoor activities. Yukon also has a celebrated history and distinct cultural traditions – both due to the territory’s distinguished First Nation heritage and atmospheric gold rush era towns. Highlights of the Yukon include the capital Whitehorse, once a frontier town for gold prospectors, historic Keno, Dawson City which was the epicentre of the Klondike Gold Rush and spectacular Kluane National Park which offers everything from hiking and rafting to viewing the incredible range of wildlife that the park supports. If travelling at the right time of year it may also be possible to see the Aurora Borealis from the end of summer to the middle of spring.

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