Whitehorse on Intrepid Travel's 2027 Not Hot List: What It Means

The first Canadian destination ever to make the list, and what the recognition does and doesn't say.

Intrepid Travel named Whitehorse number four on its 2027 Not Hot List, released September 9, 2026.

The list highlights places that draw fewer visitors than comparable destinations and are ready to welcome more. Here's what that means, why Whitehorse made it, and what to know if you're planning a trip.

What the Not Hot List is

Intrepid Travel, the adventure tour company, has published the Not Hot List every year since 2018 as a counterpoint to "best of" lists and the crowds they tend to send to the same places. Each year's list names ten destinations. Intrepid says they're chosen on three criteria: fewer visitors than comparable places, enough tourism infrastructure and capacity to take more, and a new reason to visit in the coming year, such as a new initiative, better connections, an event, or a new experience.

Intrepid built the list with the trend forecasting agency Globetrender, with input from its own local teams and tourism boards. It says plainly that the list is not a scientific ranking. It blends data with local knowledge and editorial judgment.

The 2027 list, in order: Samburu National Reserve in Kenya, Mestia in Georgia, the Northern Highlands of Jordan, Whitehorse, Alonnisos in Greece, Dili in Timor-Leste, Sri Lanka's Pekoe Trail, Liepāja in Latvia, Chile's Carretera Austral, and Dalsland in Sweden. Whitehorse is the first Canadian destination to appear on the list since it began.

Why Whitehorse made it

Intrepid points to the 2026 launch of the Arctic Canada Tourism Network. In February 2026, the Tourism Industry Association of the Yukon, Northwest Territories Tourism, and Travel Nunavut signed a memorandum of understanding at the Arctic Summit in Whitehorse to form it. The network's stated aim is a more coordinated northern tourism voice, including in conversations about Arctic sovereignty, security, and resilience, and it was inspired by the Arctic Europe Tourism Cluster in Sweden, Finland, and Norway. Intrepid's write-up describes it as helping position Whitehorse as a hub for community-led cultural, wildlife, and adventure tourism in the Yukon.

The announcement also quotes Amber Berard-Althouse, a Tlingit woman from Kluane First Nation and Chair of Yukon First Nations Culture and Tourism. She describes visiting as "stepping into history and feeling the land in a very meaningful way." AFAR reported that Intrepid's CEO, James Thornton, counted Whitehorse among the biggest surprises on this year's list.

What Intrepid is doing about it

Intrepid has launched a new 16-day Wild Canada & Alaska: Vancouver to Anchorage trip that includes two nights in Whitehorse and a guided experience with Berard-Althouse. The company also says earlier Not Hot picks saw booking growth after they were named, including 67% for Pakistan and 62% for Kyrgyzstan. Whether Whitehorse sees the same kind of attention is something only the next few seasons will show.

What the numbers say

Intrepid says the Yukon had just over half a million visitors in 2025, while neighbouring British Columbia had roughly 10 million. A spokesperson for the Yukon's Department of Tourism and ##Culture told CBC that early indications suggest visits to the Yukon were up in 2025. That gap between a very large territory and a small visitor count is exactly what the list is built around.

What it means if you're planning a trip

"Under-visited" doesn't mean unequipped. Intrepid's criteria require the capacity to take more visitors. It does mean a small footprint, though. Summer rooms, aurora-season rooms, and rental cars at Whitehorse's airport are limited, and the rental fleets are small, so booking early matters more than the list's quiet reputation might suggest. The busy windows are the ones they've always been: July, and the late February to March aurora peak. Outside those, the shoulder seasons are quieter.

The list's focus on community-led experiences points toward Indigenous-owned and community-run options. Whitehorse already has places that fit that description, including the Kwanlin Dün Cultural Centre on the Yukon River waterfront.

Questions, answered

What is the Not Hot List?

Intrepid Travel's annual list of ten lesser-visited destinations that are ready to welcome more visitors. It began in 2018 as an alternative to "best of" lists.

Where did Whitehorse place?

Fourth, after Samburu National Reserve, Mestia, and Jordan's Northern Highlands, and ahead of Alonnisos. It's the first Canadian destination to appear on the list.

Is it an official ranking?

No. Intrepid and Globetrender both say it isn't a scientific ranking, and that it combines data with local knowledge and editorial judgment.

What is the Arctic Canada Tourism Network?

A partnership among the Tourism Industry Association of the Yukon, Northwest Territories Tourism, and Travel Nunavut, formed through a memorandum of understanding signed in Whitehorse in February 2026. Its stated aim is a more coordinated northern tourism voice.

Is there an Intrepid trip that includes Whitehorse?

Yes. Intrepid launched a 16-day Wild Canada & Alaska: Vancouver to Anchorage trip with two nights in Whitehorse and a guided experience with Amber Berard-Althouse of Kluane First Nation.

Does this mean Whitehorse will be crowded?

It's too early to say. Intrepid puts Yukon visitors at just over half a million in 2025, compared with roughly 10 million for BC. The busiest windows haven't changed: July, and the late February to March aurora peak.

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