A Meaningful Moment: Whitehorse earns a spot on Intrepid Travel’s 2027 Not Hot List

Whitehorse, Yukon has become the first Canadian destination ever to be featured on Intrepid Travel’s just-released Not Hot List for 2027.

That achievement alone deserves celebration, but the fact that the Not Hot List has been making its mark on the travel scene for the past 8 years by showcasing 10 lesser-known and emerging destinations that are ready to welcome more travellers certainly deserves to be celebrated as well.

And that’s exactly what Intrepid Travel did, hosting an intimate dinner at a downtown Toronto restaurant on Sept. 8 to mark the launch of the 2027 Not Hot List and Whitehorse being named to it.

During the evening, Intrepid’s Global CEO, James Thornton explained how the Not Hot List came to be, telling his audience that eight years ago, “everyone was coming out with ‘best lists’ and we wanted to go the other way,” and the result was that Intrepid’s Not Hot List which “takes an alternative view.”

Whitehorse’s inclusion on Intrepid’s Not Hot List for 2027 also comes at a time of growing momentum for northern tourism.

The Arctic Canada Tourism Network, established in 2026, brings together tourism partners across Yukon, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut to support responsible, year-round tourism, strengthen Indigenous-owned businesses and encourage travellers to explore more of Canada’s North.

Located on the traditional territories of the Kwanlin Dün First Nation and the Ta’an Kwäch’än Council, Whitehorse is the gateway to the Yukon’s northern wilderness. The city combines access to mountains, glacier-fed lakes, forests and the Yukon River with Indigenous-led cultural experiences, more than 700 kilometres of marked trails and opportunities to view the aurora borealis from late August to mid-April.

Amber Berard-Althouse, Founder of Land Heals and Chair of Yukon First Nations Culture and Tourism, was on hand for the Toronto celebration, and she told her audience that: “The Yukon has wilderness that is vast and looks pristine because of the stewardship here by the Yukon First Nations people. It is very important to know that this land has been travelled and cared for since time immemorial. Visiting here means stepping into history and feeling the land in a very meaningful way.”

Christian Wolters, President of Intrepid Travel Canada, told the group: “I’m always fascinated to see which destinations make the Not Hot List, so it’s incredible to see Canada up there.”

Wolters continued: “It puts a global spotlight on a side of our country that many international travellers have yet to discover. Whitehorse is a destination where we see real opportunity to welcome more travellers while ensuring the benefits of tourism are felt locally.”

Devin Gallaher, Senior Executive Director, Brand Strategy & Innovation for Destination Canada, wasn’t surprised that Whitehorse had made this year’s Not Hot List, pointing out that “Canada is having a moment for a variety of reasons right now. People are looking for unique local experiences and Canada has an abundance of those and the Not Hot List raises awareness of what Canada has to offer.”

And to help more travellers discover the region, Intrepid has launched the new 16-day Wild Canada & Alaska: Vancouver to Anchorage trip.

Travellers will spend two nights in Whitehorse, including a guided experience with Amber Berard-Althouse – who is a Tlingit woman and a member of Kluane First Nation — to learn about Yukon First Nations history, culture and contemporary life.

Each year the Not Hot List identifies destinations where increased tourism can create meaningful benefits for local communities and economies, while offering travellers an alternative to the world’s most visited hotspots for the year ahead.

In fact, since Intrepid launched the Not Hot List in 2018, it has helped bring lesser-known destinations into the global travel conversation, with previous featured destinations seeing significant booking growth, including 67% for Pakistan and 62% for Kyrgyzstan.

The 10 destinations on the Not Hot List are selected based on three criteria: being less visited than comparable destinations, demonstrating tourism readiness, and offering a compelling reason to visit in 2027 through new initiatives, improved connectivity, major events or new experiences.

Destinations on the 2027 Not Hot List include:

• Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada
• Samburu National Reserve, Kenya
• Mestia, Georgia
• Northern Highlands, Jordan
• Alonnisos, Greece
• Dili, Timor-Leste
• Pekoe Trail, Sri Lanka
• Liepāja, Latvia
• Carretera Austral, Chile
• Dalsland, Sweden

Go to https://www.intrepidtravel.com/not-hot-list for more. To see the full report CLICK HERE.

For details on new trips for Not Hot List destinations, CLICK HERE.

And watch for more on Intrepid Travel’s Not Hot List in upcoming issues.

Photos & Credits 

Top Photo

Whitehorse, Yukon (Adaka Cultural Festival) — Credit – Government of Yukon – Cathie Archbould

Second Photo

Seen at the event, from l to r, are James Thornton, Amber Berard-Althouse and Christian Wolters. (Photo credit – Travel Press Today – Bob Mowat) 

Third Photo — Credit – Intrepid Travel

Fourth Photo

Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada – Credit – Stefan Gottermann