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Canada🇨🇦 | regionsBaffin IslandAuyuittuq granite walls, sea ice, Inuit communities, charter flights | things to do and best time to go

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Backpacking in Baffin Island
👌 Worth visitingregion ranked #9
By Johan Kruseman 🇳🇱 | Updated October 22, 2026

Decades ago Baffin Island meant whalers, Hudson’s Bay posts and a handful of expedition crews; today it means Inuit-run outfitters, scheduled flights and a few hundred adventurers a year. It sits in the far north of Canada, in Nunavut, across Davis Strait from Greenland. Auyuittuq’s granite walls, floe-edge wildlife, Pangnirtung’s fjord and living Inuit culture are the draw, while everything is pricey, roads are absent, and weather rewrites plans. I stepped off the plane in Pangnirtung and smelled cold seawater and diesel, heard ravens and ATVs, and saw slate mountains standing straight out of the fjord. Flying between hubs costs money but saves days, and guided day trips beat chartering your own boat. Book flights and lodging months ahead.

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✨ Why go?
Ranked #9 region in CanadaThe unique appeal for travelers

Baffin Island gives you landscapes that normally need a multi-country trip, and the reason is scale: it is larger than Spain. Backpackers come for Auyuittuq National Park, where the Akshayuk Pass is a roughly 97 km self-supported trek with only emergency shelters between fjord and glacier, among the continent’s great self-supported walks. The second draw is Inuit communities such as Pangnirtung, where you can buy tapestries from the print shop, watch carvers work and hear Inuktitut on the street rather than a performance of it. Since there are no roads linking settlements, flying and hopping by small plane is the pace, which forces slow travel. You stay put for days, hike from your doorstep, join a local guide for icebergs or narwhal viewing and let tides and weather set the schedule.

💡 HighlightsDon't-miss highlights and experiences

  1. Auyuittuq National Park: Cirque walls, glaciers and the Arctic Circle marker along Akshayuk Pass, reached by boat from Pangnirtung or Qikiqtarjuaq.
  2. Mount Thor: One of the planet’s tallest sheer cliff faces, seen from the pass by hikers and climbers.
  3. Pangnirtung Fjord: A deep fjord ringed by peaks, with easy walks from town.
  4. Uqqurmiut Centre for Arts and Crafts: Pangnirtung studio famed for woven tapestries and prints, where you can watch artists at work.
  5. Iqaluit’s Nunatta Sunakkutaangit Museum: Inuit tools, clothing and art in the territorial capital.
  6. Sylvia Grinnell Territorial Park: Riverside tundra walking by Iqaluit, good for tidal falls and arctic flowers.
  7. Qaummaarviit Territorial Park: A boat trip from Iqaluit to ancient Thule and Dorset sites on a small island.
  8. Sirmilik-bound Pond Inlet: Gateway
… read more 👉
  1. Auyuittuq National Park: Cirque walls, glaciers and the Arctic Circle marker along Akshayuk Pass, reached by boat from Pangnirtung or Qikiqtarjuaq.
  2. Mount Thor: One of the planet’s tallest sheer cliff faces, seen from the pass by hikers and climbers.
  3. Pangnirtung Fjord: A deep fjord ringed by peaks, with easy walks from town.
  4. Uqqurmiut Centre for Arts and Crafts: Pangnirtung studio famed for woven tapestries and prints, where you can watch artists at work.
  5. Iqaluit’s Nunatta Sunakkutaangit Museum: Inuit tools, clothing and art in the territorial capital.
  6. Sylvia Grinnell Territorial Park: Riverside tundra walking by Iqaluit, good for tidal falls and arctic flowers.
  7. Qaummaarviit Territorial Park: A boat trip from Iqaluit to ancient Thule and Dorset sites on a small island.
  8. Sirmilik-bound Pond Inlet: Gateway to floe-edge trips where narwhal, seals and seabirds gather in spring.
  9. Qikiqtarjuaq Icebergs: Grounded icebergs off this quiet community, a local favorite few visitors reach.
Baffin Island trips into Auyuittuq and the floe edge need advance booking with a licensed outfitter, and the park requires registration and orientation.
Spotted a mistake or missing something? Contact us.

⌛️ 5 daysA smart one-week plan

Day 1: Pangnirtung: Fly in and spend your first day here, because the Auyuittuq park office and the Uqqurmiut arts centre are the foundation of everything else. Town is walkable, and flights only run on set days, so arrive with slack in your schedule.
Day 2 to 3: Auyuittuq National Park: Take the park orientation, then a boat to the trailhead and walk the first stretch of Akshayuk Pass. Boats depend on tides and wind, so build a spare day rather than a tight loop. Pitch beside glacial rivers and turn back when you choose.
Day 4 to 5: Iqaluit: Fly back through the territorial hub, where connections reset. Walk Sylvia Grinnell Park and visit the museum, then book the boat to Qaummaarviit if weather allows. That boat trip is the detour, adding Thule-era ruins without changing your flights.
If one … read more 👉
Day 1: Pangnirtung: Fly in and spend your first day here, because the Auyuittuq park office and the Uqqurmiut arts centre are the foundation of everything else. Town is walkable, and flights only run on set days, so arrive with slack in your schedule.
Day 2 to 3: Auyuittuq National Park: Take the park orientation, then a boat to the trailhead and walk the first stretch of Akshayuk Pass. Boats depend on tides and wind, so build a spare day rather than a tight loop. Pitch beside glacial rivers and turn back when you choose.
Day 4 to 5: Iqaluit: Fly back through the territorial hub, where connections reset. Walk Sylvia Grinnell Park and visit the museum, then book the boat to Qaummaarviit if weather allows. That boat trip is the detour, adding Thule-era ruins without changing your flights.
If one day justifies the trip, I would pick the second, standing under Mount Thor’s walls with nothing but wind and river sound.

🌤️ When to go?Best time to visit Baffin Island

  • Summer (July to August): Daytime highs run 5 to 12°C (41 to 54°F) around Pangnirtung and Iqaluit, with near-constant light in the north and mosquitoes in the valleys. Hiking in Auyuittuq and open-water boat trips peak now, and flights and tours cost the most.
  • Spring (April to June): Temperatures sit between -20 and 2°C (-4 to 36°F) while daylight grows fast. Snowmobile trips to the floe edge and ski touring are at their best, and crowds are thin.
  • Fall (September): Highs of -2 to 6°C (28 to 43°F), tundra turning red and gold, and a chance of northern lights as nights return. Tour operators start closing.
  • Winter (November to March): Expect -20 to -35°C (-4 to -31°F) with very short days. Prices drop, but little operates.
Book flights and guides four to six months ahead for July and August, and for April.

source: climatestotravel.comJANJanuary: below average for travelingFEBFebruary: below average for travelingMARMarch: below average for travelingAPRApril: fair for travelingMAYMay: fair for travelingJUNJune: good for travelingJULJuly: excellent for travelingAUGAugust: excellent for travelingSEPSeptember: highly recommended for travelingOCTOctober: fair for travelingNOVNovember: below average for travelingDECDecember: below average for traveling
canada-region-baffin-island
© Google | Christopher Kraut

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🛏️ Where to stay?Where staying makes the most sense

Iqaluit is the easiest base for backpackers on Baffin Island, since most flights pass through it and it has the widest choice of guesthouses, bed and breakfasts and a small camping area, usually US$100 to 250 a night. It is also where you can find a grocery store, outfitters to rent gear and other travelers to share costs with.

Pangnirtung is the best place for hikers, with a friendly community of about 1,500, a few small lodgings and a campground, and the trailhead to Auyuittuq National Park a short boat ride or walk away. Expect to pay around US$150 to 250 for a room.

Pond Inlet suits those … read more 👉
Iqaluit is the easiest base for backpackers on Baffin Island, since most flights pass through it and it has the widest choice of guesthouses, bed and breakfasts and a small camping area, usually US$100 to 250 a night. It is also where you can find a grocery store, outfitters to rent gear and other travelers to share costs with.

Pangnirtung is the best place for hikers, with a friendly community of about 1,500, a few small lodgings and a campground, and the trailhead to Auyuittuq National Park a short boat ride or walk away. Expect to pay around US$150 to 250 for a room.

Pond Inlet suits those chasing wildlife, with guest rooms and tour operators for narwhal watching and floe edge trips, though beds cost more at US$200 to 350. Qikiqtarjuaq works for a quieter stay near icebergs and Auyuittuq's eastern side. Book ahead everywhere in summer, as rooms are few and fill quickly.
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🚌 Getting aroundMoving around without the hassle

Baffin Island has no roads between communities, so everything beyond town runs by air or boat, while a taxi ride within Iqaluit costs a flat US$7 to 8 per person, paid in cash to the driver. Flights are the backbone and are fairly reliable, though fog, wind and blizzards delay them often, so keep a spare day at the end of any trip.
  • Scheduled flights: Planes from Iqaluit reach Pangnirtung, Qikiqtarjuaq, Clyde River, Pond Inlet and others, with fares of roughly US$400 to 900 return per hop. It is the priciest option, yet the only practical way between communities, and the view of ice fields and fjords from the window is part of the deal.
  • Local taxis: Shared cabs in Iqaluit and the larger hamlets cost US$7 to 8 a ride and arrive within minutes. They are warm, which matters at -30°C, and beat walking
… read more 👉
Baffin Island has no roads between communities, so everything beyond town runs by air or boat, while a taxi ride within Iqaluit costs a flat US$7 to 8 per person, paid in cash to the driver. Flights are the backbone and are fairly reliable, though fog, wind and blizzards delay them often, so keep a spare day at the end of any trip.
  • Scheduled flights: Planes from Iqaluit reach Pangnirtung, Qikiqtarjuaq, Clyde River, Pond Inlet and others, with fares of roughly US$400 to 900 return per hop. It is the priciest option, yet the only practical way between communities, and the view of ice fields and fjords from the window is part of the deal.
  • Local taxis: Shared cabs in Iqaluit and the larger hamlets cost US$7 to 8 a ride and arrive within minutes. They are warm, which matters at -30°C, and beat walking when the wind cuts straight through your jacket.
  • Guided boat trips: Outfitters run Zodiacs and freighter canoes in summer, from about US$150 to 300 for a day trip to glaciers, fjords or the floe edge. You get spray, diesel and the smell of seal-cold sea. It costs a lot but gets you to places you cannot walk to.
  • Snowmobile and dogsled: In spring, guides haul you across sea ice, from about US$200 to 400 a day. It is bumpy, loud and bitterly cold, and the best value of the lot for the floe edge.
  • Walking: Most hamlets can be crossed in 20 to 30 minutes on foot over gravel, and it costs nothing. Dogs and wind are the main hazards.
For the most value, fly once into a single community, then pay for local guides rather than hopping between several.

🍲 FoodWhat to Eat & Drink

Eating here means country food, and it is worth trying where offered. Arctic char arrives pan-fried, smoked or raw and frozen as quaq, with a clean, buttery bite. Caribou is lean and gamey, often served as stew or dried meat, and muktuk (whale skin and blubber) is chewy and nutty. Locals drink strong tea, and bannock, a golden fried or baked bread, shows up at nearly every community gathering.

For backpackers, the Northern or Co-op stores are the main source of supplies, with prices two to three times southern ones, so a sandwich fixings haul can cost US$20 to 30. Iqaluit has cafés and casual restaurants serving pizza, burgers and char dishes for US$15 to 30 a plate. Smaller hamlets may have one takeout counter or none, so bring dehydrated food.

If someone offers you country food, accept … read more 👉
Eating here means country food, and it is worth trying where offered. Arctic char arrives pan-fried, smoked or raw and frozen as quaq, with a clean, buttery bite. Caribou is lean and gamey, often served as stew or dried meat, and muktuk (whale skin and blubber) is chewy and nutty. Locals drink strong tea, and bannock, a golden fried or baked bread, shows up at nearly every community gathering.

For backpackers, the Northern or Co-op stores are the main source of supplies, with prices two to three times southern ones, so a sandwich fixings haul can cost US$20 to 30. Iqaluit has cafés and casual restaurants serving pizza, burgers and char dishes for US$15 to 30 a plate. Smaller hamlets may have one takeout counter or none, so bring dehydrated food.

If someone offers you country food, accept a small piece and say thanks. Sharing is the norm, and hunters often give meat to neighbors. Alcohol is restricted in many communities, so check local rules before you bring any.

FAQFrequently asked questions about Baffin Island

Plan 5 to 7 days for Baffin Island if you want one community and one excursion, such as Pangnirtung with a trek into Auyuittuq National Park. Add 3 to 4 days for Pond Inlet and a floe edge or narwhal trip, and keep a spare day because weather often grounds flights.
Without a car, Baffin Island is covered by scheduled flights between Iqaluit and the hamlets, with return fares of roughly US$400 to 900. Inside communities you can walk or take taxis for about US$7 to 8 a ride, and guided boats or snowmobiles cover the rest from US$150 to 400 a day.
Baffin Island is known for Auyuittuq National Park, with its granite walls like Mount Asgard and the Akshayuk Pass trek of about 97 km. It is also famed for narwhal, polar bears, floe edge trips near Pond Inlet, and Inuit culture, including carving and printmaking in Cape Dorset (Kinngait).
⚠️ Things can change over time, so always validate details locally before you go.

Other Canadian regions near Baffin Island

Explore more nearby:

  • Fogo Island—Outports, Brimstone Head, fishing stages, island art| 2448 km away
  • Canadian Maritimes—Fundy tides, fossil cliffs, Acadian dykes, scallop docks| 2661 km away
  • Cabot Trail—Cliffside loop, moose boardwalks, Acadian harbors, Meat Cove| 2671 km away

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We 💚 feedbackWhat to keep in mind

Baffin Island suits self-reliant walkers and photographers who like quiet and can accept delays, not anyone chasing nightlife or tight schedules. I would bring a fuel-flexible stove, pad your itinerary with two spare days, and hire a local guide at least once.

✈️ When did I visit Canada?
As part of my 1.5 year travel around the world trip, I visited Canada in 2016.

✍️ Help improve this page!
The information on this page is based on my own backpacking experience in Canada, supplemented with up-to-date research and feedback from other travelers. Travel details can change, so if you notice anything outdated or incomplete, feel free to let me know.



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