How to prepare for your trip to the Northwest Territories
Here are a few things to keep in mind when travelling to the Northwest Territories.
- Travel Insurance information: Although travel insurance is not mandatory, it is highly recommended. You are travelling to a region in which emergency medical care is not always readily available, and the weather can change on a dime. Please ensure that you are adequately covered for medical and cancellation prior to your departure from home.
- Passports and Travel identification: It is your responsibility to ensure that you have the correct documentation to enter Canada, as well as boarding flights within Canada. All passports and visas should be valid for the entire duration of your visit to Canada. Please consult with your local embassy and selected airline for the required documentation from your country.
- Credit Cards and Money: Major credit cards are accepted in the Northwest Territories. Banks and ATMs are available in most of the larger communities.
- Packing Tips: Remember, you are travelling to a northern destination, and temperature and weather systems can change quickly. While we’ve outlined a few guidelines, we always recommend preparing for a change in weather during your stay.
- Winter: Thermal gloves and hat, neck warmer, wool socks, down-filled winter parka, wind/ski pants, insulated boots, thermal/wicking base layers, sunglasses, extra batteries (cold weather makes your batteries die quickly!)
- Summer: Fleece jacket, wind jacket, jeans, thin layers, hat, sun-screen, bug spray, sunglasses, walking poles
- Cell Phone/Wireless Coverage: Cell phone coverage in the territory is limited to areas immediately surrounding major communities (i.e. Fort Smith, Hay River, Yellowknife, Fort Simpson, Norman Wells, Inuvik, etc.).