As avid travellers, we cover a lot of ground and are willing to endure plenty of layovers to get to our destination. And yet, there’s so much we still haven’t explored in our own backyard. Nunavik — the largest and northernmost part of the province of Quebec — offers guests a chance to thrive and not just survive the Canadian winter.

Nunavik is the ultimate playground for winter enthusiasts of all ages. Land of the Inuit, they’ve had millennia to adapt to these extreme winter conditions and they’re ready to host you and share their way of life with visitors to Nunavik. The huge expanse of land — a whopping 507,000 km squared — is almost a country in itself, with a unique culture that will make you feel like you’re travelling abroad when you haven’t left Canada.

Winter is present for more than half of the year here, and locals have learned to embrace minus temperatures by diving headfirst into outdoor pursuits — from traditional activities like dogsledding, igloo building and ice fishing to snowmobiling, snowshoeing, backcountry skiing and more. As the gateway to the Arctic, Nunavik offers adventure lovers an authentic way to brave the cold and learn about Inuit culture, especially in March and April, when temperatures make way for a milder winter climate.

GETTING THERE:

As Nunavik is not linked to any road network, the only way to get there is by plane.

Air Inuit and Canadian North fly passengers up North to Nunavik on a daily basis.

The winter season, which runs into April in Nunavik, and even May further North, is also a prime time for stargazing. Nights are longer and clearer, giving you a better shot at spotting bright green and sometimes purple ribbons of the aurora borealis for yourself.

As the people of Nunavik know only too well, winter is here for the taking and life is infinitely sweeter once you embrace the cold. You just have to break the ice... 

Three Unmissable Nunavik Adventures

Spectacular National Parks

Nunavik Parks is a year-round attraction, but in winter, visitors can backcountry ski or alpine snowshoe off the beaten track. Follow in the Inuit’s footsteps and discover the vast Tursujuq National Park while exploring frozen inland seas surrounded by Hudson cuestas (hills). Go to the moon and back as you discover Pingualuit National Park’s lunar landscapes and its impressive 3.4 km diameter meteoritic crater. In the Kuururjuaq National Park, travel the ancient path of the Koroc River valley roaming at the foot of the Torngat Mountains, the highest of Quebec and East of the Rockies in Canada.

nunavikparks.ca

Puvirnituq Snow Festival

Nunavik | A woman creates a snow sculpture at Puvirnituq Snow Festival

This week-long celebration takes place every two years and brings together Inuit from all over Nunavik to participate in traditional outdoor games and competitions. For their famous snow and ice sculpture contests, Inuit legends create stunning shapes in their most natural element. It’s a fabulous chance to learn more about Inuit culture and enjoy a medley of music, dance and artistic performances. Catch the excitement from March 24–28, 2025.

soleica.ca/snowFestival

Inuit Adventures

Top Tip

The Arctic climate is dry, but if you're well-dressed, you won't feel the cold.

Tour operators can provide suitable winter clothing — including down parkas, snow pants, snow boots and warm mitts — so you needn't worry about upgrading your wardrobe.

Immerse yourself fully in winter with Inuit Adventures, a tour operator that creates meaningful experiences across 14 local cooperatives in Nunavik. Squeal into the wind as a team of purebred huskies pull your dog sled across the tundra; learn how to build an igloo with Inuit masters and spend the night; fly through powdery hills on a snowmobile before warming up with a cup of tea in the boreal forest; or listen to elders' stories and be mesmerized by traditional throat singing. Inuit Adventures also offers a package in the Northern Village of Kuujjuaq — the gateway to Nunavik, located right on the aurora belt — a prime destination to observe the Northern lights.

aventuresinuit.ca

To start planning your trip to Nunavik, visit nunavik-tourism.com