Ekati Airport

Remote Arctic diamond mine in Canada's rugged Northwest Territories.

Ekati is Canada's first surface diamond mine, located approximately 300 kilometres northeast of Yellowknife in the Northwest Territories. It sits within the subarctic tundra at the edge of the treeline, surrounded by hundreds of lakes and a vast, raw wilderness that defines the Canadian North.

Ekati is not a public tourist destination in the traditional sense. It is an active industrial mining operation owned by Arctic Canadian Diamond Company, and access is strictly controlled for workers and authorized personnel. Visitors cannot simply arrive; all access is arranged through the company via fly-in rotational shifts from Yellowknife.

For adventurous travelers drawn to the remote Lac de Gras region, the surrounding Bathurst caribou migration corridor and pristine boreal and tundra landscapes offer extraordinary wildlife and wilderness experiences, best arranged through licensed outfitters operating out of Yellowknife.

• •Ekati Mine Open Pit — witness one of Canada's most dramatic industrial landscapes carved into the tundra.
• •Lac de Gras — a massive, strikingly clear subarctic lake surrounding the mine site.
• •Bathurst Caribou Migration — thousands of caribou traverse the region seasonally in a breathtaking natural spectacle.
• •Aurora Borealis — the remote, light-pollution-free skies offer some of Canada's finest northern lights viewing.
• •Tundra Wilderness — endless open landscape with muskox, wolves, and Arctic foxes roaming freely.
• •Yellowknife Gateway — the nearest city serves as a practical and culturally rich base for exploring the region.

Getting around: There is no public transportation to or around Ekati. The only access is by chartered or company-operated small aircraft flying from Yellowknife. On-site movement for workers is handled by company vehicles. Independent travelers exploring the broader region must rely on chartered bush planes, snowmobiles in winter, or guided expedition outfitters, as no roads connect Ekati to the public highway system.

Best time: Late summer (July to August) offers the most accessible wilderness travel and wildlife viewing, while winter (January to March) is ideal for aurora borealis and snowmobile expeditions.

Local food: Dining at Ekati is limited to mine camp cafeterias for workers, but travelers based in Yellowknife should sample Arctic char, caribou stew, bannock, and wild game dishes that reflect Indigenous Dene and Métis culinary traditions.

This guide is provided for general information only. Verify details locally before making travel decisions.