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