Canadian Wildlife Photography Tours and Workshops
Join John for a Muskox Photo Tour on the northern tundra of Nunavik, Canada
Trip Departure/End Point: Kuujjuaq, Nunavik (via Montreal, Quebec)
Trip Dates: March-April 2024 (Trip Confirmation will not be until Feb ’24 due to snow conditions)
Trip Leader: John E Marriott
Trip Availability: 2 of 3 spots remaining on second trip
Trip Cost: $9995** + gst, all-inclusive from Kuujjuaq
** does not include $1300 return flight from Montreal to Kuujuuaq, trip cost is approximate at this point
NOTE: this itinerary will change for the winter muskox trip that I am hoping will run this March-April, however, due to current snow conditions in the Arctic, this trip will NOT be confirmed until late February 2024. There is no fall trip this year.
An 8-day photo adventure into a remote wilderness camp on the barrenland tundra in Nunavik (north of Quebec) in search of muskox and other tundra wildlife with local and Inuit guides and crew. Muskox never did naturally colonize the Quebec-Labrador peninsula after the last glaciation, so in the 1970s, wild, free-roaming muskox from the Canadian Arctic islands were introduced into two areas of Nunavik. The population has done extremely well and has colonized much of the northern tundra. The Wolf Lake Camp that we will be staying at is home to two different herds of muskox in close vicinity to the camp, with another few herds accessible by boat. The area also boasts arctic wolves, rock and willow ptarmigan, red fox, black bears, snowy owls, and porcupines. The tour is timed to coincide with fall colours, which burst with reds and oranges early in September, making for spectacular wildlife and landscape photography. The area is also rich in Inuit archaeological sites, including tent rings and inukshuks.
This adventure is specifically designed to provide you with the best possible opportunities for watching and photographing these elusive and beautiful bovines while learning about their ecology. It is also an opportunity to explore the barrenland tundra wilderness of the Ungava Peninsula, a vast, rugged area that very few people get to experience.
Participants should arrive in good physical and mental shape prepared for a flexible itinerary that may require quite a bit of physical activity, including hiking on uneven and wet terrain. Expect to hike anywhere from 2-15 kilometres a day with gear.
The Wolf Lake Camp is a very rustic former hunting camp that is currently being repurposed as a wildlife viewing camp. Participants will sleep two to a cabin on bunks, with generator power available in the main dining hall/building for charging batteries and laptops. There is no running water at Wolf Lake Camp, so expect to be using outhouses for bathroom breaks.
Wolf Lake Camp is accessed via a 2.5-hour flight from Montreal, Quebec to Kuujjuaq, Nunavik on Canadian North and then via a 30-minute float plane trip from Kuujjuaq to Wolf Lake.
Weather conditions may be variable and participants must be prepared for everything from hot and dry summer-like weather (thankfully by September there will be few bugs) to cold and wet early arctic fall conditions. However, while the conditions may be difficult at times, the rewards are worth it, as you will become part of a small, exclusive group of people that have explored the wonders of Nunavik!
Maximum five participants per tour (plus leader).
All Canadian Wildlife Photography Tours are non-smoking tours. Participants will be required to sign a Waiver and a Terms and Conditions Cancellation Policy. Participants will be responsible for all additional costs related to weather, flight and/or logistical delays.
Please note that a $1500 non-refundable deposit via cheque or email bank transfer is required to reserve your spot on a Muskox Photography Tour. The balance owing, including gst, is due 90 days prior to your trip departure and is also non-refundable (see the Cancellation Policy for more details). We highly recommend all workshop and tour participants purchase independent trip cancellation insurance to protect against unforeseen circumstances.
© JOHN E. MARRIOTT, JEM PHOTOGRAPHY 2021