Photograph the northern lights in one of the most beautiful backdrops outside of Yellowknife, with Nikon Ambassador Taku Kumabe!
Sunday August 27, 2023 – Wednesday August 30, 2023
Blachford Lake Lodge
Blachford Lake Lodge is approx. 100km away from Yellowknife, sitting on a rocky shore along Blachford Lake. It is so remote it can only be accessed by a 25min. float plane ride from Yellowknife, and is the perfect eco-friendly lodge to act as a backdrop to the Northern Lights. It is no wonder why the royal couple (Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge) spent some time at the lodge during their 2011 Canadian tour.
Visit their website for more information: https://blachfordlakelodge.com.
Workshop Details
Date: August 27 – August 30, 2023
Cost: CAN $2275 plus GST and additional fees* per person (Based on double occupancy.)
Skill Level: All
**This is an all-inclusive eco-lodge, so all food, non-alcoholic beverages, room, and flight to/from Yellowknife to lodge are included in the price.**
*Additional fees that are not included are 10% gratuity, $198 fuel surcharge, and GST. See Costs section below for total.
Single occupancy fee, add $495 plus GST.
Itinerary
Each day will include time for leisure activities. Hosted by the lodge, these can include hiking (2km, 4km, or 4km loop trails), a 2 hour guided boat tour, canoeing, kayaking, fishing (fishing license required), sauna, swimming, using the hot tub, or just relaxing in the lodge or cabin.
Itinerary at Blachford Lake Lodge subject to change. Photography editing requires laptops that are not provided.
August 27
- Arrive at the float plane base in Yellowknife for 9am. Your float plane ride to Blachford Lake Lodge will leave at 10am.
- Upon arrival, a short lodge orientation will be led by staff.
- Settle down in our cabins
- Lunch
- Afternoon photography lesson led by Taku
- Leisure
- Dinner
- Sunset photography session
- Aurora photography session
August 28
- Sunrise photography session (optional)
- Breakfast
- Photography session: lessons, viewing, editing, critiquing our photos
- Lunch
- Leisure/Optional one-on-one time
- Dinner
- Sunset photography session
- Aurora photography session
August 29
- Sunrise photography session (optional)
- Breakfast
- Photography session: lessons, viewing, editing, critiquing our photos
- Lunch
- Leisure/Optional one-on-one time
- Dinner
- Sunset photography session
- Aurora photography session
August 30
- Sunrise photography session (optional)
- Breakfast
- Pack up bags
- Leave for Yellowknife around 1pm
- Return to airport/continue your trip
What’s Included
- Float plane ride to/from Blachford Lake Lodge from/to Yellowknife
- All meals at Blachford Lake Lodge
- Hiking, canoe, kayak, boat tour
- Photography guide by Taku Kumabe throughout entire trip at Blachford Lake Lodge
What’s Not Included
- Transportation to Yellowknife, Northwest Territories; you will likely need to arrive in Yellowknife at least the night before
- Ground transportation to/from the float plane base in Yellowknife
- Items of a personal nature
- Travel insurance
- Alcohol at the lodge (can be purchased at the fully licensed bar)
- Additional tour fees at the lodge, if applicable
- Mandatory 10% gratuity for staff members
- Volunteer gratuities
Cost
CAN $2275 plus applicable fees and taxes.
Workshop fee: $2275
10% Gratuity: $198
Fuel Surcharge: $198
GST: $123.65
Total: $2794.65
If you are coming by yourself, a single supplement fee of $495 plus GST ($519.75) will be added to the total.
Canadian residents may e-transfer the payment to save on Eventbrite or PayPal transaction fees.
Structure
CAN $500 non-refundable deposit upon booking.
CAN $2294.65 balance before June 1, 2023.
Or pay all fees up front.
Please contact Taku for instructions on e-transfering your deposit payment to secure your spot.
Cancellation Policy
Spots are non-refundable upon booking, but can be transferred to another individual. Participants are responsible for finding their own suitable replacement.
Taku Kumabe reserves the right to cancel the workshop at any time for any reasons (ie. minimum number of participants not met, global or extreme weather conditions severely impacting itinerary, etc.). In the event of cancellation by Taku, all workshop fees will be refunded, including the deposit. Flights and trip cancellation fees, and Eventbrite/PayPal fees will not be refunded, nor any additional costs the participant may have already incurred for the trip.
Insurance
Trip cancellation and medical/illness/emergency medical insurance is not mandatory, but is highly recommended.
Travel Visa
It is the participant’s responsibility to ensure they have the proper and valid travel visa (if applicable) for the duration of the workshop.
Accessibility
Blachford Lake Lodge is situated up high on a rocky shoreline. As such, many stairs and rocks need to be climbed to reach the lodge. Traversing to cabins also entails walking on bumpy rocks and climbing up and down stairs. Photographing the Aurora Borealis at night requires participants to walk in the dark with headlamps or lanterns over the uneven ground and steps.
Participants should be healthy enough to be capable of climbing steps and traversing over uneven grounds.
Unfortunately Blachford Lake Lodge is not wheelchair accessible.
Notes
Each participant will be required to sign waiver forms from Taku Kumabe and Blachford Lake Lodge prior to their departure to Yellowknife, otherwise the participant forfeits their right to participate in the workshop without any refunds.
If the participant does not/cannot partake in any activities throughout the workshop for any reason, no refunds will be provided.
Seeing the Aurora Borealis is never guaranteed. The visibility of the Northern Lights depends on several factors including any solar flares, strength of the storm, and local weather and cloud conditions. There is a high percentage of chance that you will see the Aurora Borealis at least one night during a three night stay. However, there is always a possibility that the Northern Lights will not be visible for the duration of the workshop. While unfortunate, please note there will not be any refunds should this occur.
This event has a minimum participant number of four (4) people. If four participants do not book before July 1, 2023, the workshop may be cancelled.
Please feel free to contact Taku should you have any questions.