Cross the Arctic Circle in a light aircraft and find the town Anaktuvuk Pass. According to the 2010 census, this isolated settlement has just over 300 Alaska natives. Stroll through the village with a local host and admire the area’s undisturbed natural beauty.
Anaktuvuk Pass also features a range of wildlife, including grizzly bears, caribou and moose. Fly over the Brooks Mountain Range and see imposing snowcapped mountains. This area is regarded as the highest mountain range within the Arctic Circle. Notice networks of rivers and the stunning wilderness below.
Land in the wide treeless town of Anaktuvuk Pass and visit the Simon Paneak Memorial Museum. Learn about the Iñupiat Alaska native people and the geological and natural history of the area. See items historically used by the Nunamiut people, including hunting tools, household goods and clothing.
When visiting the Anaktuvuk Pass, fly to accommodation in Barrow, the largest city of the North Slope Borough in Alaska. Visit the Iñupiat Heritage Centre, which houses a small performance and craft space, a museum and a gift shop. See large portraits of local elders in one the centre’s galleries. The Iñupiat Heritage Centre also features artifacts relating to hunting practices and traditional whaling culture.
Visit Point Barrow about 10 miles (16 kilometres) from the city of Barrow. This area on a small spit of land jutting into the Beaufort Sea is the northernmost point of the United States. Experience a Barrow aurora borealis viewing in winter. Watch the sky explode into colours during this wonderful natural phenomenon.
Alternatively, find accommodation in Fairbanks. This city, the second most populated metropolitan area in Alaska, features a range of resorts, hotels and guesthouses. Reach Anaktuvuk Pass via scheduled or chartered flights operating out of Fairbanks and Barrow. Check the official charter flight websites for information on daytrips to this beautiful remote village.
Spend a day in Anaktuvuk Pass and catch a glimpse into the lives of its population, descendants of nomadic natives.
