Hotels in Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada

The capital of the Yukon Territory, Whitehorse is located along the shores of the Yukon River. It offers the optimal blend of culture, history, restaurants, outdoor activities, and some of the best views in the world. There is nothing quite like Whitehorse, especially in the far reaches of Northern Canada.

As far out as it may be, Whitehorse offers some excellent places to stay which will not cause you any problems. Reasonable rates, great service, and some friendly people will help you feel quite at home with their northern hospitality. Here are some of the more memorable places to stay that come highly recommended.

The SKKY Hotel is a boutique hotel located across from Whitehorse International Airport. Its location is convenient for people who may be driving through on the Alaska Highway or are staying overnight before departing to fly to Dawson City. Located away from the downtown core makes this one of the quieter hotels in the city year-round - you barely hear the sounds of aircraft leaving in the morning.

The hotel is only 32 rooms, making it a highly personalized stay with the Front Desk agents quickly recognizing who you are. Some of the staff are bilingual in English, French or German, as well. The rooms are recently renovated in 2009, and the SKKY logo is prominent everywhere in the room like you would find at other high-end resorts. The beds consist of Tempur-Pedic mattresses, definitely one of the best sleeps you'll have anywhere. The other highlight of the rooms are the rain showers. Tall ceilings allow even the largest person to fit underneath the shower head easily.

Other room amenities: air conditioning, radiant floor heating in the winter, complimentary wireless or wired internet connections, office desk and chair, and large 40" plasma televisions with cable.

The restaurant on site is Volare, offering some of the finest European cuisine in the city. The bar was imported from Italy, and offers a fine selection of quality wines. It is only available for dinner service, apart from a continental breakfast, but it is well worth sitting down and enjoying a meal here.

Rates are comparable to the other downtown hotels. For rates, visit their website, SKKY Hotel,

The Best Western Gold Rush Inn looks plain from the outside but contains a wealth of culture and treasures once you walk in the doors. Located on the heart of Main Street in downtown Whitehorse, the Gold Rush Inn offers one of the best locations that gives quick access to all the major sites of Whitehorse: the McBridge Museum, Main St. shopping, restaurants, banks, Rotary Park, SS Klondike, and the Yukon River trail. If you are traveling on business, it is a block away from the Elijah Smith Federal Building and not too far away from the Yukon Territory Government building.

The hotel has a quite a selection of offerings within its walls: the Gold Pan Saloon lounge, Elements Esthetics and Spa, a hair salon, and banquet spaces. A larger hotel, it underwent renovations in 2008-2009 upgrading all the room amenities to the most modern standards. It offers several computers with internet access, a fitness centre, and guest laundry that is accessible 24 hours a day. It also allows pets for a small fee and is completely nonsmoking.

The rooms are some of the largest in the city, and offer some of the best views of the city and the mountains, as well. Rooms are quite comfortable with little sitting areas, work desks, and large televisions with cable. The rooms on the top floor (the Business class rooms) have air-conditioning and are generally a bit quieter than the rest of the hotel. All rooms come equipped with a mini-fridge, microwave, wireless internet, iron and ironing board, and hair dryer. Local calls are also free for up to 30 minutes in duration.

The Gold Pan Saloon is a great mix of sports bar covering all the great live events in the year, and a blues bar on the weekends. A long, wrap-around bar is the perfect spot to hang out with a bunch of friends to share some refreshments. The music on the weekends is primarily local bands - always a great night and never a let down.

Quick Travel Tip: if you plan on staying on a Thursday, Friday or Saturday night, try to get a room on the backside of the building (odd numbers), and the higher-up, the better. The bar down the street tends to get a bit rowdy and can be disruptive of your sleep.

For more information, visit their website.

One of the reasons people travel north is to escape the dreariness of the larger city centres and be immersed in the outdoors. The best option for that in Whitehorse is the Sundog Retreat, a collection of cabins and meeting space located just outside of Whitehorse. Out there, you really are out there. You can't possibly get any closer to seeing the northern lights and wildlife without going off the beaten path and camping in the forest.

There a limited number of cabins on the lot, but all of them come with their own kitchen and dining space, plus a private bathroom. You will be given a rustic living experience with all the modern conveniences that are to be found in the hotels located in the city. There are a variety of configurations to choose from, from one bedroom to two bedrooms with some cabins offering futons in the main living area. All the cabins have televisions, but the main focus is on relaxation and rejuvenation. Some of the cabins come with BBQs and outdoor decks to rest on year-round (apart from those days it drops below -30 C).

Apart from the great scenery surrounding you at the Sundog Retreat, one of the other highlights is the outdoor hot tub. The perfect spot to relax while gazing up at the northern lights in the winter time or taking in the sounds of nature in the summer-time. There is also an indoor sauna, yoga space, and exercise room. A perfect combination to help you de-stress and find yourself once again.

The retreat also has some meeting space for small task groups and delicious catering offerings to take care of your hunger.

Visit their website, Sundog Retreat, for more information, or for reservations click here.