Blachford Lodge by Arctic Kingdom — Hotel in Northwest Territories

Google review summary|4.6|17 reviews|5 ★ |4 ★ |3 ★ |2 ★ |1 ★ |Reviews on other travel sites|Reviews|||Brielle Ashford|5/5|a minute ago on Google|Visiting Blachford Lake was the experience of a lifetime! I am not an especially outdoorsy person, nor am I used to -10+ degree Fahrenheit temperatures! But regardless, I had an amazing time visiting at end of March with our 8-person group for 4 days/3 nights from the USA. If you have ever been a fan of a cozy ski-trip type of vibe, Blachford Lake reminded me of this; just with the opportunity to do new and different activities. Our time at the lodge was equal parts relaxing and exhilarating. We saw the northern lights 2 of 3 nights in all their dancing glory (a huge bucket-list check, of course!) and found the entire lodge and cabin experience very clean, cozy, cute and thoughtful with really nice indigenous-owned toiletries. We got to experience igloo-building, ice fishing, snowmobiling, cross country skiing… you name it! It was really cool. The staff was super friendly and accommodating. It was a nice bed-and-breakfast feel as they guided us on signing up for activities and giving tips on aurora viewing, with everything from how to set up your iPhone settings to take the best northern lights pictures to a dedicated staff member who will wake you up when the “show” begins! They were also very accommodating and thoughtful about our group’s dietary restrictions (no red meat for some of us).|On top of all the great wintry fun, our group raved about the delicious food, snacks and cocktails served at the three mealtimes… everything from bison lasagna (a big hit) to cosmopolitans, freshly baked cookies, muffins, thai dumplings and chicken Caesar wraps. Everything was so fresh. It was certainly something of note for the foodies in our group!|This was just such a pleasant and unique experience for a trip and awesome for bonding with loved ones over shared meals, new activities, or indoor cozy activities like crafts, board games, puzzle-making or sipping delicious lodge cocktails. Can’t recommend enough.|The only thing to note, is to really think about the best time of year for you to do this trip. The last days of March were great for us, as it was cold… but not so bad that activities were intolerable. It was also a particularly great time to see the northern lights, when they are most active. Be sure to do thorough research on when the best time to see the lights are, if that is your big goal. It is not the same high chance all year-round.|Also of course be sure to have the right cold weather attire if visiting in winter/spring. Necessities were certainly a hearty coat, snow pants, base layers, snow boots, ski socks, hats, gloves and balaclavas (a true must as the cold can whip your face, especially if it is a bit windy). If the gear preparation is intimidating, there is a convenient service in Yellowknife to rent winter gear that our family used and found very helpful— the Lodge can help coordinate. In general, the Lodge is very communicative in the weeks leading up to your travels with detailed PDFs on everything from packing recommendations to books they recommend on the area.|The bush plane ride out to the Lodge is fun and quick. As someone a little spooked by tiny planes, it was a pleasant experience— just know flights can easily be delayed for low visibility (we had a 5-hr delay leaving due to a blizzard).. something to...

Google review summary|4.6|17 reviews|5 ★ |4 ★ |3 ★ |2 ★ |1 ★ |Reviews on other travel sites|Reviews|||Brielle Ashford|5/5|a minute ago on Google|Visiting Blachford Lake was the experience of a lifetime! I am not an especially outdoorsy person, nor am I used to -10+ degree Fahrenheit temperatures! But regardless, I had an amazing time visiting at end of March with our 8-person group for 4 days/3 nights from the USA. If you have ever been a fan of a cozy ski-trip type of vibe, Blachford Lake reminded me of this; just with the opportunity to do new and different activities. Our time at the lodge was equal parts relaxing and exhilarating. We saw the northern lights 2 of 3 nights in all their dancing glory (a huge bucket-list check, of course!) and found the entire lodge and cabin experience very clean, cozy, cute and thoughtful with really nice indigenous-owned toiletries. We got to experience igloo-building, ice fishing, snowmobiling, cross country skiing… you name it! It was really cool. The staff was super friendly and accommodating. It was a nice bed-and-breakfast feel as they guided us on signing up for activities and giving tips on aurora viewing, with everything from how to set up your iPhone settings to take the best northern lights pictures to a dedicated staff member who will wake you up when the “show” begins! They were also very accommodating and thoughtful about our group’s dietary restrictions (no red meat for some of us).|On top of all the great wintry fun, our group raved about the delicious food, snacks and cocktails served at the three mealtimes… everything from bison lasagna (a big hit) to cosmopolitans, freshly baked cookies, muffins, thai dumplings and chicken Caesar wraps. Everything was so fresh. It was certainly something of note for the foodies in our group!|This was just such a pleasant and unique experience for a trip and awesome for bonding with loved ones over shared meals, new activities, or indoor cozy activities like crafts, board games, puzzle-making or sipping delicious lodge cocktails. Can’t recommend enough.|The only thing to note, is to really think about the best time of year for you to do this trip. The last days of March were great for us, as it was cold… but not so bad that activities were intolerable. It was also a particularly great time to see the northern lights, when they are most active. Be sure to do thorough research on when the best time to see the lights are, if that is your big goal. It is not the same high chance all year-round.|Also of course be sure to have the right cold weather attire if visiting in winter/spring. Necessities were certainly a hearty coat, snow pants, base layers, snow boots, ski socks, hats, gloves and balaclavas (a true must as the cold can whip your face, especially if it is a bit windy). If the gear preparation is intimidating, there is a convenient service in Yellowknife to rent winter gear that our family used and found very helpful— the Lodge can help coordinate. In general, the Lodge is very communicative in the weeks leading up to your travels with detailed PDFs on everything from packing recommendations to books they recommend on the area.|The bush plane ride out to the Lodge is fun and quick. As someone a little spooked by tiny planes, it was a pleasant experience— just know flights can easily be delayed for low visibility (we had a 5-hr delay leaving due to a blizzard).. something to...

Our experience at Blachford Lake Lodge was incredible. My husband and I came here for a getaway and it was one of the best trips we've ever taken.||We stayed in "The Point" cabin, and it was clean, cozy, and comfortable. A beautiful, secluded retreat amongst the trees, with a stunning view of the lake. At night, the stars were unreal, and of course, seeing the aurora was incredible. | |We loved the food. Absolutely scrumptious. The chef prepared beautiful meals, and I loved dining together with everyone at mealtime. ||During the day, we hiked to scenic overlooks, napped in our comfortable bed, sipped hot cocoa and read books in the lodge, and just generally relaxed. It was such a restful atmosphere. One of the days, we made spruce salve with an indigenous botanist -- SO COOL. Do not miss that little experience. Another day, Drew took us out fishing for pike on the lake. We saw eagles, caught SEVEN fish, and drank hot cocoa that he'd brought for us in a thermos. It was a total blast. We also warmed up in the sauna, and did the jacuzzi under the lights one night. Just unbelievable.||And of course, the main event is the aurora at night, and we lucked out and had an unbelievable experience viewing it. A member of the staff was on hand earlier in the evening to help with camera advice and setup. We got some awesome photos, but it was also SO incredible to see the stark white of the lights with your naked eye. Once we had gotten our fill of photos, the staff built a campfire, and many of the guest convened for conversation, photo sharing, and s'mores! ||I cannot say enough about the staff. From the very moment we reached out to Blachford via email, their warmth and service-oriented attitude was apparent. Every staff member was so kind, and completely ready to help each guest. I don't know that I've been anywhere that matched the service we received here. The bartender Jen made me cups of hand-picked tea, Drew surprised us with hot cocoa on the fishing boat, Sophia gave me HER OWN COAT for the fishing trip when I wasn't sure I'd be warm enough. Every single person went out of their way to make sure each guest had a phenomenal experience. ||Since getting home, we have told every couple we know to go on this trip. It isn't guaranteed that you'll see the lights--the staff doesn't have control over the aurora forecast or the weather -- but honestly, even if we hadn't seen the lights, this trip would've been worth it. It was so relaxing, restful, and beautiful. ||We will be back, and we'll...