Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
The Northwest Territories has been named one of the “best places to go in North America and the Caribbean in 2024” by prominent international travel publication Conde Nast Traveler.
“We are very excited as Northwest Territories has been selected as one of the best places to go in North America in 2024 by esteemed travel magazine Conde Nast Traveler,” reads a post on the official Northwest Territories Tourism Facebook account.
The Conde Nast Traveler article, published Nov. 15, says the NWT offers “unmatched stargazing through an Indigenous lens,” and referenced the territory’s world-famous aurora displays, which will be amplified by a phenomenon called solar maximum in 2024.
The article also shines a light on the Indigenous communities in the region, which it says offer “a unique tapestry of history, culture and sacred sites” that are “awaiting exploration.”
It also highlights the array of wildlife living in the territory, specifically polar bears, caribou, moose, musk ox and wood bison.
The NWT is home to scenic protected areas and sacred sites, like Thaidene Nene National Park, seen here. These sights are among the reasons why prestigious publication Condé Nast Traveler urges readers to visit the territory. Corey Myers photo courtesy of NWT Tourism
For those interested in a planning a trip the NWT, the article references three travel companies: Narwal Northern Adventures and Weber Arctic, both based in Yellowknife, and Beaufort Sea Adventures, which operates out of Tuktoyaktuk.
Wesley Cook, a spokesperson for the GNWT’s Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment, says the territory’s inclusion on the Conde Nast Traveler list is “spectacular news.”
“This year especially, the credit for the NWT’s status as a premier destination goes to all the businesses, operators, coordinators and local partners,” Cook says. “The GNWT is incredibly proud to support a tourism sector that is endlessly outgoing and resilient.”
The NWT was joined on Conde Nast Traveler’s list by several postcard-worthy destinations in the Caribbean and Mexico, and American locations such as Detroit, Upstate New York and Santa Fe. The only other Canadian destination on the list was the province of Quebec, which the author praised for its “wide-ranging Indigenous-led experiences,” including polar bear watching excursions with Inuit guides in Nunavik.
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