Labrador
The Big
Land
Vast. Remote. Extraordinary. Labrador is eastern Canada’s last great wilderness where polar bears roam beneath the Northern Lights, ancient Inuit culture guides you into the mountains, and fjords plunge from peaks higher than anything east of the Rockies.
True Wilderness
Canada’s Most Extraordinary
Wilderness Destination
Labrador is the mainland portion of the province of Newfoundland and Labrador a vast, sparsely populated land of ancient mountains, Arctic tundra, pristine rivers, and coastal communities that have weathered storms and seasons for centuries. It is known simply as the Big Land.
Its scale is difficult to grasp: at 294,330 km², Labrador is larger than all three Maritime provinces combined, yet is home to only about 29,000 people. The result is an extraordinary sense of space, solitude, and wilderness unlike anywhere else in eastern Canada. The Trans-Labrador Highway now fully paved threads through this immensity, connecting Labrador City and Churchill Falls in the west to Happy Valley-Goose Bay and the southern Labrador Straits communities.
Labrador holds two UNESCO World Heritage Sites Red Bay National Historic Site, a 16th-century Basque whaling station, and (shared) L’Anse aux Meadows as well as the extraordinary Torngat Mountains National Park, home to polar bears, caribou, and the Inuit of Nunatsiavut. It is where the Northern Lights paint the sky through fall and winter. Where brook trout angling is the finest on Earth. Where silence is a luxury that costs nothing.
Torngat Mountains
Where the World
Begins Again
At the northernmost tip of Labrador, Torngat Mountains National Park contains some of the most spectacular and untouched wilderness on Earth. With peaks rising to over 1,600 metres the highest east of the Rockies the Torngats plunge directly into Arctic fjords, creating a landscape so elemental and vast it feels primordial.
This is the Inuit homeland of Nunatsiavut a living, breathing cultural landscape where Inuit have hunted, fished, and lived for thousands of years. All visits to the park are guided by Inuit, who share their profound knowledge of this land through storytelling, traditional food preparation, and walks through sites their ancestors knew intimately. It is not merely a wilderness experience it is a cultural encounter unlike any available elsewhere in Canada.
Torngat is also renowned for its polar bear population, with bear monitors accompanying all excursions through the park. Barren-ground caribou, Arctic foxes, peregrine falcons, and humpback whales feeding in the fjords complete a wildlife encounter of extraordinary richness.
Labrador’s Most
Extraordinary Places
From a UNESCO World Heritage 16th-century whaling station to the tallest lighthouse in Atlantic Canada Labrador iconic sites reward those who make the journey.
Whales, Seals
& Seabirds Along
the Labrador Coast
The Labrador coast is extraordinary marine wildlife habitat. The confluence of the cold Labrador Current and warmer Atlantic waters creates an upwelling of nutrients that supports one of the richest marine ecosystems in the North Atlantic. Whales, seals, seabirds, and the occasional polar bear swimming between islands are all part of the Labrador coastal experience.
Boat tours operating from Labrador Straits communities take visitors directly among humpback, minke, and fin whales feeding in the Strait of Belle Isle. Seabird colonies gannets, murres, kittiwakes, and puffins nest in massive numbers on the coastal cliffs. The iceberg season, running from late May through July, brings ancient Greenlandic ice drifting through the strait in spectacular fashion.
For the most remote wildlife encounter, a boat journey up the Labrador Coast from Battle Harbour northward reveals a pristine wilderness of sheltered coves, fishing stages, and a marine landscape that has barely changed since the Basques sailed here in the 1500s.
The Northern Lights
Labrador’s
Greatest Light Show
Labrador is one of the best places in Canada to witness the Aurora Borealis the Northern Lights. Its remote location, minimal light pollution, and northern latitude combine to create conditions that rival the famous aurora destinations of Scandinavia and Iceland, at a fraction of the distance for Canadian and North American visitors.
The lights are visible from fall through early spring, with peak activity from September to March. Torngat Mountains, Labrador City, and the remote communities of the Labrador Straits offer some of the clearest dark skies for aurora viewing in the province. On nights of high solar activity, the lights fill the sky from horizon to horizon in cascading curtains of green, purple, and white an experience that visitors describe as life-changing.
Check the Space Weather Prediction Center for real-time aurora forecasts before your trip, and plan to spend at least several nights in Labrador during peak season to maximise your chances of a display.
Labrador’s Living Cultural Heritage
From Basque whalers to Inuit and Innu traditions Labrador is a cultural mosaic woven from 10,000 years of human presence.
Activities in the Big Land
From world-class brook trout fishing to wilderness snowmobile expeditions Labrador rewards the adventurous traveller in every season.
How to Reach
the Big Land
Labrador is accessible by air, by the St. Barbe ferry, and by road via the Trans-Labrador Highway each approach offering its own spectacular introduction to the region.
🛣️ Trans-Labrador Highway Now Fully Paved
The Trans-Labrador Highway was completely paved in July 2022 a historic milestone that opened Labrador to regular vehicle travel. The full route from Labrador City to Blanc-Sablon is now accessible to all vehicles, including passenger cars and campervans. Gas stations and services are available at regular intervals but plan carefully in remote sections.
📅 Best Time to Visit
July–August for Torngat Mountains Base Camp, boat tours, and most outdoor activities. September–March for Northern Lights. The ferry from St. Barbe runs year-round, making the Labrador Straits accessible in all seasons.
🐻❄️ Be Bear Aware
Polar bears are present in northern Labrador, particularly around Torngat Mountains National Park. All Torngat excursions are guided with experienced bear monitors. In other parts of Labrador, black bears are common carry bear spray and practice proper food storage at all times.
⛽ Plan for Fuel Gaps
While the Trans-Labrador Highway is now paved and serviced, distances between fuel stops can be significant in some sections. Always fill up when you have the opportunity and carry a jerry can as backup, particularly on the Route 510 coastal section.
🦟 Pack Bug Protection
Black flies and mosquitoes are abundant in Labrador in summer, particularly in June and July in forested areas. Carry DEET-based bug spray, a head net, and long sleeves for wilderness hiking. August and September are significantly better for bug-free outdoor enjoyment.
Tips for Visiting the Big Land
Labrador rewards those who come prepared and open to the unexpected pace and scale of life here.
Stay at Battle Harbour Don’t Just Day-Trip
Battle Harbour is accessible as a day trip by boat from Mary’s Harbour, but the magic of the place only reveals itself after dark when the day visitors leave. Book at least one overnight in a restored fisherman’s dwelling to experience the island as it truly is.
Book Torngat Base Camp Well in Advance
Torngat Mountains Base Camp (mid-July to August) operates in limited capacity with charter flights from Happy Valley-Goose Bay. This is one of the most extraordinary wilderness experiences in Canada and it sells out. Book months in advance at torngatbasecamp.com.
The Labrador Straits Are Underrated
Many travellers take the St. Barbe ferry and head straight to Happy Valley-Goose Bay without stopping. Don’t. The Labrador Straits communities Red Bay, Forteau, L’Anse-Amour, Battle Harbour are among the most historically and scenically rich places in the province.
Time Icebergs for June
The Strait of Belle Isle in June offers some of the most dramatic iceberg viewing in the province large Arctic bergs drifting through a narrow strait framed by dramatic coastal cliffs. The combination with whale feeding activity makes June the best month for the Labrador Straits.
Check the Trans-Labrador Highway Conditions
Signalised the highway is fully paved, some sections can be affected by weather and road maintenance. Check the NL511 road conditions app before driving remote sections, and always carry water, food, a spare tire, and emergency supplies on wilderness drives.
Slow Down and Talk to People
Labrador’s greatest asset is its people Inuit, Innu, Métis, and descendant settler communities with extraordinary stories and a profound relationship with this land. Stop at local businesses, talk to people in gas stations and diners, and allow the genuine warmth of Labradorian hospitality to shape your experience.
Common Questions
About Labrador
Everything you need to plan your visit to the Big Land.
Trip Ideas for
the Big Land
Explore Newfoundland and Labrador with our locally written guides and trip inspiration articles.
Experience
The Big Land
Labrador rewards those who make the journey with wilderness, history, wildlife, and a way of life found nowhere else in Canada. Let us help you plan the perfect Big Land adventure.