Looking for somewhere to travel in Canada without fighting your way through crowds of tourists? There may be a spot worth adding to your bucket list next year.
Whitehorse, Yukon, has been named one of the world’s emerging travel destinations, landing fourth on Intrepid Travel’s 2027 Not Hot List.
The annual list from the group tour operator highlights 10 under-the-radar destinations that are ready to welcome more travellers. Since 2018, Intrepid Travel has dropped this list with the goal of bringing lesser-known destinations into the fold and offering alternatives to some of the world’s most heavily visited hot spots.
Destinations are assessed using three criteria: they must be less visited than comparable destinations, demonstrate that they’re ready to welcome more tourists, and have a compelling reason to visit in the year ahead (tourism initiatives, major events, new experiences, etc.).
Taking the number one spot for 2027 is the Samburu National Reserve in Kenya, followed by Mestia in Georgia and Jordan’s Northern Highlands.
Then comes Whitehorse, Yukon, at number four, making it the first Canadian destination to ever appear on the annual list.
According to Intrepid Travel, the recognition comes at a time when tourism in Canada’s North is gaining momentum, so there’s certainly room to grow.
While neighbouring British Columbia welcomed roughly 10 million visitors in 2025, Intrepid Travel said the Yukon saw just over half a million. But perhaps the lack of crowds is part of the appeal.
Located on the traditional territories of the Kwanlin Dün First Nation and the Ta’an Kwäch’än Council, Whitehorse is often described as the “gateway to the Yukon’s vast wilderness.” The city offers easy access to mountains, forests, rivers, and glacier-fed lakes.
What is there to do in Whitehorse, Yukon?
Turns out there’s plenty to do in this northern city.
For starters, there’s hiking… and lots of it. More than 700 kilometres of marked trails run through the Whitehorse area, meaning you can be out in the wilderness surprisingly quickly without having to spend hours driving to get there.
There’s also kayaking and paddling along the Yukon River in the warmer months, mountain biking, skiing in the winter months, and plenty of places to spot bears and other wildlife.
Whitehorse is one of the Yukon’s key spots to view the Aurora Borealis (usually from late August and into spring), and some of the most popular viewing locations, all within close proximity of the city, include Fish Lake, Grey Mountain, and Chadburn Lake.
Whitehorse was also recently ranked as the world’s top spot for golden hour, thanks to its unusually long stretch of sunset glow, averaging about 76 minutes between official sunset and the end of civil twilight.
For visitors who want to learn more about the Yukon, there are museums, city tours, and Indigenous-led cultural experiences that offer a deeper look at the region’s history and contemporary life.
“It is very important to know that this land has been travelled and cared for since time immemorial,” said Amber Berard-Althouse, founder of Land Heals and chair of Yukon First Nations Culture and Tourism in a press release. “Visiting here means stepping into history and feeling the land in a very meaningful way.”
That must be a huge part of why Intrepid Travel saw Whitehorse’s potential, calling the city the “next frontier of Canadian adventure travel.”
While the White Pass & Yukon Route may be known as Canada’s most scenic train ride, that trip doesn’t compare to Intrepid Travel’s latest offering.
The company launched a new 16-day Wild Canada & Alaska: Vancouver to Anchorage trip, which includes two nights in Whitehorse and a guided experience with Berard-Althouse, a Tlingit woman and member of Kluane First Nation. It’ll cost you a pretty penny, but can you really put a price on a once-in-a-lifetime adventure?
You can read more about the 2027 Not Hot List on Intrepid Travel’s website.
Originally published on Daily Hive.
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