Great North Adventures expeditions

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Tuktu, King of the Tundra

Inukshuk Roughly 10,000 years ago, when glaciers still covered northern Canada, caribou -called "Tuktu" in the Inuit language- lived peaceably in the Great Lakes region. But over the next 5,000 years, the gradual retreat of the glaciers forced them on an exodus north to what would become their new domain: the Quebec tundra. The largest migratory herd in the world was born.

A rare occurrence, the caribou has undergone practically no evolutionary changes since prehistoric times. The majestic animal you are about to discover is the same one you would have encountered 10,000 years ago, with antlers as high as 4 feet. There's nothing to be afraid of, however: caribou are as curious of you as you are of them!

The continent's first inhabitants revered the caribou, which provided them with food and clothing, and graciously ceded them part of their immense territory. It's no wonder that the people-so spoiled by the caribou, and nomads themselves- learned to follow its staggering pace religiously: every year, one animal alone covers over 2,100 miles.

Fortunately, to observe the caribou up close, you don't have to run like the first inhabitants did. Our guides will bring you to the heart of the action, at strategic places where you can observe and even approach the animal that has inspired so many legends over the centuries.

The Sacred Torngats

Though lord of its spectacular land, the caribou isn't the only entity with spiritual status. The Torngat mountain chain is named after aboriginal gods from Inuit folk tradition. The people believed spirits inhabited the 4,000-feet-high mountain summits. Only shamans were allowed to venture there and brush the surface of the spirit world, in search of happy omens for the people of the tundra.

Marvelled accounts from our guests serve only to deepen the mystery. We'll tell you stories...

The Staggering Beauty of the Fraser River

The canyons of Labrador, deep crevices formed over millennia, cut a breathtaking path for the Fraser River. Flanked by dizzying 1200-feet-high cliffs, this wild river, together with its canyon, is one of the most inspiring sights anywhere across the vast reaches that civilization has yet to dare to encroach upon. Descending from the sky over the Fraser River will leave you speechless.

The Tumultuous George River

Flowing over 500 miles to Ungava Bay, the George River lies like a spine through the vastness of the land. More than 5,000 years ago, the first nations were using this natural corridor to reach the hunting grounds where caribou awaited them. But the trip was tumultuous: with its powerful rapids, the George River requires solid experience from anyone seeking to venture onto it. Led by experienced guides, you'll experience all the twists and turns, and emerge from the experience with a keen sense of victory over the elements.

On the banks of the George River, austere and imposing, loom the Hades Mountains, named thus by explorers at the beginning of the century after the Greek god of Hell. This mountain mass gives off a disquieting impression of otherworldliness, ethereal and gloomy, towering between heaven and earth, as improbable as it is magnificent.

Life in the Wild

The caribou, though king of the tundra, shares its domain with a number of fellow creatures. The only one of them you could call its enemy-and the word is a strong one-is the arctic wolf, which, unless it is absolutely starving, prefers not to run up against the formidable antlers of one or more caribou. Better by far to tackle a colony of small mammals-less hard-to-vanquish prey. This quasi-pact between wolves and caribou is so well established that it's not unusual to see a pack travel carefully through a herd without any of the latter batting an eye-unless they sense danger.

The black bear also inhabits the territory, as wild berries and fish are abundant. Peaceful by nature, the black bear naturally avoids humans and their odors, smelling them well before any possibility of encounter. At random on your hikes, you might encounter arctic foxes, hare (twice as big as the hare down south), ptarmigans, beavers, otters, porcupines, and many more. The sky is also filled with its share of surprises: ducks, Canada geese, falcons, eagles, and hawks are just a few of the winged creatures that share the sky. Aspiring ornithologists take note!