• Paddling, hiking and dog sledding
• Viewing marine wildlife – narwhal and beluga whales
• Experiencing Inuit culture, arts, and traditions
• Stunning landscape photography

When you close your eyes and imagine the Arctic, you are likely picturing the hamlet of Arctic Bay. Nestled snugly amidst stunning mountains, Arctic Bay is a traditional community heavily reliant on hunting, fishing, and tourism, It provides visitors with a wide range of Arctic experiences- Inuit culture and tradition, rare Arctic wildlife, and awe-inspiring scenery.

Located at the northern tip of Baffin Island and at the entrance to Sirmilik National Park, the region is known for outdoor adventures including: paddling, hiking and dog sledding. Community members are pleased to share their local knowledge, gained over thousands of years, to get up close and personal with beluga and narwhal and the powerful polar bear.

Archaeological and oral history show that Inuit have inhabited the area for over 2000 years. Hunting in the area has long drawn nomadic groups of Inuit to the area.

The community as it stands today was established with the opening of a Hudson’s Bay Company trading post in 1933 to conduct trade, followed by the opening of an Anglican mission in 1937.

In 1941 a joint Canada-US weather station was built here that operated for twenty years. It is the oldest building still standing. The first school was built in 1959 and this brought the slow movement of Inuit off the land and into the community on a permanent basis.

Arctic Bay is close to the former mining community of Nansivik, which at one point was a self-contained town until the mine closed in 2002. The Nansivik site still has port infrastructure for large military vessels.

Additional Information

Communities in Nunavut have the right to determine their Liquor System. In this community, any quantity of liquor that is imported, consumed, possessed and transported must be approved by the Alcohol Education Committee. Once your application has been approved, you have to buy a liquor import permit from The Nunavut Liquor and Cannabis Commission.

Whether you live in or travel to an unrestricted or restricted community, you need a liquor permit to bring more than three litres of spirits, nine litres of wine, or 26 litres of beer with you when you travel into Nunavut. Liquor permits are always required when you place a liquor order outside the territory.

You can read more about these restrictions, or how to apply for a permit here: https://www.nulc.ca/liquor/