Nunavut

Polar bears, icebergs and vast expanses of untamable terrain—Nunavut isn’t for the faint of heart. But it is a windswept, Artic wonderland for extreme lovers of the nature, outdoor activities and indigenous culture. Nunavut holds plenty of claims to Northern fame: it’s home to the Northernmost permanent settlement in the world, Alert, as well as the land closest to the North Pole, Ellef Ringnes Island. But it’s got plenty of cultural allure as well. Named the Inuit word for “our land,” Nunavut’s sparse population is majority native, and its icy wilds remain under their control. Past meets present in quirky capital Iqaluit, where you can visit an ancient camping ground still in use today, then warm up over hot plates of caribou in one of its many mom-and-pop restaurants. Art aficionados make the trek to Cape Dorset, an Inuit art mecca on Baffin Island, while their outdoorsy counterparts canoe, hike and wildlife-watch in famed Auyuittuq National Park. But don’t get too brazen; unless you’re a seasoned wilderness expert, this extreme land is best explored with a guide. What better way to get to know Nunavut?