We DROVE to the ARCTIC OCEAN! (Driving the Dempster Highway to Tuktoyaktuk in Canada)

We DROVE to the ARCTIC OCEAN!

The Dempster Highway is an almost 900 km (one way) UNPAVED drive through two of Canada’s territories and is one heck of an adventure. Between the insane mountain views and nonstop scenery, seeing some wildlife, interacting with locals, crossing into the Arctic Circle, trying local cuisine, doing a polar bear plunge into the Arctic Ocean, and checking off a bucket list item by seeing the Northern Lights, it is hands down one of the best things we have EVER done! It wasn’t fully without unexpected surprises, but the experience is one we will cherish forever and we are so excited to share our journey on this road!

Watch our previous videos in the Yukon ⬇️

🔗Links

⌚Timestamps
00:00 Introduction
00:20 About the Dempster Highway
01:48 Starting off with a van issue
03:00 History of the Dempster Highway
06:28 Thoughts on the drive so far
08:18 A hike we hoped to do
09:30 Fueling up in Eagle Plains!
10:56 We made it to the ARCTIC CIRCLE!
12:27 Crossing into the Northwest Territories
13:47 Seeing the NORTHERN LIGHTS!!!
17:38 Ferry crossings in the Northwest Territories
20:22 Our first (and only) bear!
21:02 Paved roads, baby!!!
21:42 The largest town on the Dempster: Inuvik
25:00 Camping at the Jax Campground in Inuvik
25:30 Driving to Tuktoyaktuk
27:21 We made it to the ARCTIC OCEAN!!!
28:30 Polar Bear plunge in the Arctic Ocean!
30:00 Exploring Tuk + a local encounter!
33:23 Kayaking at the Pingo Canadian Landmark
36:40 Trying muktuk at Grandma’s Kitchen
39:06 Camping on the Arctic Ocean
39:54 Starting the drive back
40:08 We had van engine troubles…
42:23 Unexpected twist: a bridge is closed
49:37 We survived the Dempster Highway!
50:05 Final thoughts on the Dempster Highway

📍Locations in this vlog
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👋🏼 About us
Hi y’all! We’re Adam, Kathryn, and Kona, an adventurous married couple (+ pup!) living on the road in our self-converted sprinter van! You can often find us driving all around the US and Canada, scoping out the best coffee shops, eating tacos and ice cream (we're a 5+ taco and 2+ scoop household), and enjoying nature.

We help travelers spend less time (and stress!) planning their trip and more time enjoying it! Our detailed travel guides, YouTube videos, and travel resources share the must-visit local eats, popular and off the beaten path sights, and tons of tips to make planning your next adventure a whole lot easier.

Note: We’ve linked a handful of items so you can see exactly which products we take with us. Full disclosure--if you click on these links and make a purchase, we get a small commission at no extra cost to you. We will only ever recommend products we truly love, actually use during our adventures, and think you can benefit from too!

[AdventuresofAplusK]

This video was filmed in early September 2022.

[renatagawlik]

I can’t even begin to thank you for painting the Canadian North in such a positive light. So often, people say it’s too cold or too rugged or too remote. You are clearly getting a true experience of what the great Canadian North is - gorgeous, vast, quiet. Thank you so much and I’m so glad that you are enjoying your trip.

[Liminal_Nightmare]

Air, fuel, spark are what you need so check easy stuff first like air box and plugs and work your way down the line. Most times it's something minor but to anyone wanting to road trip long distances I suggest a small kit with all tools needed for your vehicle and know your vehicle, don't let it surprise you on the road. These two did their research and had safety fallbacks in place which is excellent. It's so tragic to hear stories of people lost and scared who don't make it.

[chapgood]

This was my favorite of your adventures up north, getting to see the northern lights, beluga whales, and dipping into the Arctic Ocean. Man, you guys packed a bunch in on this leg of your journey! So glad you took us along via youtube, most of us will never experience such things. Great scenery, drama, this had it all! Safe travels to you both.

[davidheffelfinger]

Your video lifted the spirists of a 82 year old in ways I did not know I had thank you

[StevenOsburn]

I can't thank you enough for putting this together, including your detailed driving guide. We'll be referring to it a lot when we go there this year!

[betteandlinuskuboushek]

This has to be one of my all time favorite episodes!!! Kudos to you both for undertaking this adventure. The northern lights were just magical and I can't even begin to imagine what it was like in person. Safe travels!

[juliesnitman]

We’re so very proud of y’all! Thanks so much again for all the incredible content! You guys are our favorite content creators on Youtube, my family watches every new video you release religiously 😂Can’t believe you literally made it to the Arctic ocean! 😱🤩

[glendasharp]

I have watched your videos for the past year, and this is my favorite!!!! It's awesome you drove to the Arctic Circle AND the Arctic Ocean. Thank you for taking us along.

[sonny]

Yay A+K+K! Omg, I got tears in my eyes seeing how joyful you were! I am so proud of you all for following your dreams. Thank you much for taking us on your adventures. Gorgeous territory.

[martyduncan]

I started out this morning reading an article in the Wall Street Journal about a guy who drove his 1970 Plymouth Superbird muscle car from Indianapolis to the arctic ocean via the Dempster Highway. Then, I thought 🤔 what’s the Dempster Highway? Then I read and thought well what’s 🤔 Inuvik? Going down the proverbial rabbit hole I stumble across what is undoubtedly the BEST adventure video EVER! Hats 🎩 off to both of you inspiring young people for endeavoring to make such a rich and heartwarming video! My wife and I, in our 30+ years together, have too crisscrossed the United States as well as Mexico and the Caribbean…but NOTHING LIKE THIS! Such positivity and love and a genuine thirst for adventure! The production value, the incredible scenery as well as Katheryn’s effervescent positivity make this video irresistible. An unequivocal job well done! This video simply made my day. 😊 Thanks so much.

[dlandrews]

I just wanted to thank you for putting your content on you tube. My husband has stage 4 prostate cancer and many of your destinations are on our bucket list. This will probably be the closest we get to most of them.
Love and hugs!❤

[michellerichardson]

What an incredible adventure! I can’t imagine what it felt like to tackle that journey! The colors were so brilliant and stunning! Glad y’all hit it at just the right time!! So proud of what y’all are accomplishing! Glad we get to come along!!

[homeshows]

You guys are so good telling your travel journey and giving helpful info for those of us that get inspired by some of your destinations.

[ErikSjaastad]

Going to be doing this drive in June! So thankful you guys made this. I can't

[willyeverdie]

You guys rode ferries.. unintentional bucket list item.. how magical is that..

[melpotvin]

Kona’s slow mo yawn lol so cute. The Norther lights were magical. So glad you got to see them and so vividly too. Very few get to see them at all. The Pingos with the green color and Fall foliage and water were beautiful. Congratulations to taking an Arctic dip wow! An incredible video.

[I.AM.JUPITER]

You guys are doing my drive that I’m studying next month. I’m so happy yay

[deba]

so cool and cold enjoys all the scenery with you such an accomplishment knock off your bucketlist

[marias]

Hubby and I want to do this and after watching your video we are going to go for it (we are retired). Thank you so much for sharing your video. You captured such beauty on film and gave such useful information. Your energy is contagious!!