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Arctic Watch Lodge
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ARCTIC WATCH LODGE
At the northern tip of Nunavut’s Somerset
Island, and already well north of the continental
mainland, Arctic Watch Lodge overlooks the
fabled Northwest Passage (Lancaster Sound).
Renowned polar trekker Richard Webber and
his wife Josée established this lodge in 2000 on
the site of a former whaling station. Along with
their children, Tessum and Nansen, they have an
irrepressible enthusiasm for the region and have
created an Arctic visitor’s dream destination for
July and August. The lodge offers comfortable
accommodation, safely guided and well
researched trips amongst amazing scenery,
abundant wildlife and ancient historical sites. From
the air the lodge resembles a futuristic outpost on
a distant planet – a well ordered collection of
pristine white domed structures, including a
central lodge and 16 permanent cabins that
contain duvet-covered beds and running-water
toilets. The main lodge houses a kitchen, dining
room, lounge, audio visual room and lecture
theatre. Food is fresh and high quality, arriving
with each plane. Lancaster Sound has a large
polar bear population and is home to walrus,
seals and narwhals. The land has musk oxen,
Peary caribou, arctic fox and many birds, including
the peregrine falcon and snowy owl. There is
great char fishing and a number of exceptionally
well preserved Thule (ancient Inuit) and early
European archaeological sites in the area.
Arctic Watch Lodge
Activities at Arctic
Watch Lodge
Activities at Arctic Watch Lodge are tailored to the
ability and personal interest of the guests and can
include hiking, raft float trips, nature observation
walks, photography excursions, exposure to Inuit
culture and exploration by 4WD, quad bikes or
even light aircraft. The energetic can try the
world’s most northern mountain biking and sea
kayak expeditions. The lodge is child friendly and
a typical day’s programme for younger guests
would included short walks, picnics and searches
for lemmings. The warm, shallow waters of
Cunningham Inlet are the summer home to 2,000
beluga whales and guests at the lodge can wander
along the shoreline within metres of these
inquisitive mammals.
ELU INLET LODGE
Elu Inlet Lodge is an eco-lodge at the mouth of
the Itibiak River, set amongst barren tundra, lakes,
waterways and great rock monoliths. The area
has been used extensively by the Inuit way back
into the mists of time due to its extremely rich
natural resources that include abundant fish,
musk oxen and massive herds of caribou. The
local Inuit have a majority interest in this lodge
that has been operating as an eco-lodge since
1999, welcoming summer guests who arrive by
float-plane from Cambridge Bay 69 kilometres to
the north. With a central lodge building and three
separate sleeping cabins housing up to 12 guests,
this is a small and intimate property. Facilities
are simple and clean with luxuries such as the
outdoor hot-tub helping you unwind after an
energetic day with your Inuit guides.
Elu Inlet Lodge