One of Canada’s least visited provinces, the Northwest Territories, between Nunavut and the Yukon in Northern Canada, isn’t an easy place for British travellers to reach. There are no direct flights from the UK; visitors typically connect via Edmonton or Calgary, Alberta.

But Lin Ward, co-owner and guide at Canoe North Adventures, says the adventure travel outfitter’s biggest task is opening people’s minds to adventure. “Our challenge in the UK is to encourage people – to make them feel, ‘Yes, I can do this,’” said Ward. “Often people will watch [action and adventure] movies and say ‘that’s amazing’ but walk away and say, ‘I could never do that.’”

One of the tourism board’s 196 Canadian Signature Experiences (CSEs), Canoe North Adventures was exhibiting at London’s Canada House last week as part of the Canada Roadshow. The event included a treasure hunt, with agents speaking to tourism operators from across the country before a buffet dinner.

There are just four CSEs in the Northwest Territories, all based on experiences in the wild. “We’re a bigger step into the wilderness than normal,” said Ward. The firm, which has been organising canoeing trips on the Keele River since 1987, stages guided expeditions from its base in Norman Wells, a small town just 90 miles south of the Arctic Circle.

“The day after they land at our base, we stuff guests into  seaplanes with canoes and head out into the Mackenzie Mountains. No river compares to this to do canoeing,” added Ward.

The unspoilt land, home to moose, bear, caribou and muskox, is also a big draw. “There are beautiful vistas and incredible hiking. We camp all the way down the river and it’s breathtaking. A lot of our clients have been to the Galapagos and Antarctica, but they will see this as the best trip of their lives.” 

With its 10,000ft-high mountains, the landscape defies typical postcard pictures of northern Canada’s tundra. Plus, the lack of bugs, surprisingly warm summer temperatures and the portage (meaning clients don’t have to carry canoes between rivers) further improves the experience.

Though visitor numbers are slowly climbing year-on-year (the Northwest Territories received 56,510 leisure tourists in 2013-14, up from 52,300 the previous year), for now outdoor enthusiasts will be spoilt by serenity in the Mackenzie Mountains.