Tauck & BBC Earth Journey
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Travel to Manitoba in “Polar Bear Season" on Earth Journeys, created by Tauck and BBC Earth, when these great white carnivores lumber across the plains toward Hudson Bay to prepare for winter. Get up close to astonishing Arctic life in Churchill: snowy owls, white foxes, a cavorting cub, Inuit sculpture, the beauty of a fire-killed log, and the amazing sled dogs. One of our most popular trips immerses you in the Earth Journeys experience, featuring custom-made BBC Earth on-tour film vignettes and when the opportunity arises, the use of field equipment. Late October and November is polar bear season in Churchill, Manitoba, the start of the long-awaited migration of these great white creatures. Over icy rivers and across the subarctic plains, they make their way towards the coast and the seal-rich waters of the Hudson Bay to fulfill their need for food for the winter ahead. Normally elusive, these bears are plentiful in this remote location of northern Canada at this time of the year, giving travellers seeking an up-close look at arctic life an exciting glimpse into their world. You’ll stay in a cozy lodge where family-style meals, warm camaraderie and two-footed locals share stories about Hudson Bay history, past and present, in front of a crackling fire. You’ll also learn more about Manitoba and early fur-trading history during a special private evening with the Hudson’s Bay Company of Adventurers at the Manitoba Museum… at a dog sledding demonstration… on a dog sled ride and much more. Embrace your inner explorer on an adventurous Manitoba holiday!
Highlights
- On-tour film vignettes custom-made for Tauck by BBC Earth natural history experts
- Field equipment may include thermal imaging cameras
- Small groups averaging 30 Tauck guests.
- Two exciting excursions in polar bear country with a naturalist guide aboard a specially designed tundra vehicle
- Private, exclusive after-hours reception and dinner at the Manitoba Museum, home to a replica of the historic 17th-century ship, Nonsuch
- Private charter flights between Churchill and Winnipeg; spend three nights at a lodge in the “Polar Bear Capital”
- Dog sledding demonstration and a dog sled ride
- Visit to the Eskimo Museum in Churchill
- Airport transfers upon arrival and departure as noted
- 14 meals (5 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 5 dinners); service charges, gratuities to local guides, admission fees, taxes and porterage
Itinerary
Day 1
Arrive Winnipeg
After an included transfer from Winnipeg Airport, your Manitoba holiday adventure begins at 2:00 PM at the Inn at the Forks. Discover why Manitoba’s capital city is often called the “Gateway to the West” during an afternoon sightseeing tour. Join us this evening for a Tauck Exclusive – a private, after-hours cocktail reception and dinner at the Manitoba Museum, housing artefacts donated by the famous Hudson’s Bay Company, one of the oldest commercial enterprises in the world and deeply intertwined with the history of Manitoba. The highlight of the museum is the historic ship the Nonsuch, a replica of the 17th-century vessel responsible for the founding of the Hudson’s Bay Company in 1670. You’ll get an introduction to cultural traditions of the First Nations at a dance performance this evening.
Meals included: Dinner
Accommodation: Inn at the Forks
Day 2
Private charter flight to Churchill
Everyone’s up early today for a private charter flight to Churchill, “Polar Bear Capital of the World,” accessible only by boat, plane or train – population approximately 950+! A guided tour upon arrival includes the village of Churchill – isolated in its remote location in northern Canada but thriving with Arctic wildlife, from waterfowl, beluga whales, seals and polar bears to vestiges of its position as a grain exporting town. It is along the shores of Hudson Bay, situated at the mouth of the Churchill River, at the juncture of two eco-regions – the boreal forest to the south and the Arctic tundra to the north. Your accommodations for the next three nights are at the Lazy Bear Lodge, the largest log building in Manitoba. It is built in a style reminiscent of the fur trading era, handcrafted from fire-killed logs. This afternoon, enjoy a presentation by a First Nations speaker who shares his culture with you. Dinner tonight is in the lodge.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: Lazy Bear Lodge
Day Three
The Polar Bears of Churchill
Climb aboard a specially designed tundra vehicle for a full-day excursion into the heart of bear country in search of the magnificent “Polar Bears of Churchill.” Each autumn, small groups of polar bears migrate from frigid inland locations to Churchill, the staging area for their winter food-hunting season; today you’ll see them in their natural habitat. From the safety of your vehicle, you’ll have unrestricted views of the bears as they go about their daily business, so keep your camera at the ready. Your expert naturalist guide shares insights about the conservation efforts under way to protect these beautiful animals from environmental and other issues that threaten their survival. You’ll never forget what you see and what you learn today; it is definitely a Manitoba holiday highlight!
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: Lazy Bear Lodge
Day Four
A day in the Arctic wonderland outside of Churchill
First up – visit the Eskimo Museum to view one of Canada’s oldest, and most comprehensive, collection of Inuit artefacts and sculpture. Indigenous peoples have lived out here for centuries, and the museum displays one of Canada’s finest collections of Inuit art and artefacts, revealing insights about their hearty lifestyle. Head out for another half-day on the subarctic plains as our naturalist points out the local wildlife. White snowy owls with a four- to five-foot wing span perch on high, falcons cruise over bushes, white arctic foxes trot across the flats, all looking for unsuspecting prey like lemmings, who happen to be the lowest creature on the food chain out here. Warm up by a roaring fire back at your lodge tonight.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: Lazy Bear Lodge
Day Five
Dogs, sledding & back to Winnipeg
Your Manitoba adventure continues with a closer look at the sport of dog sledding, a popular local diversion out here in the Arctic wilderness. See a demonstration by dog trainers, then climb aboard a sled yourself for a ride with your canine drivers – another amazing day on the tundra. A private charter flight brings you back to Winnipeg this afternoon for a final overnight stay and farewell reception and dinner at the Inn at the Forks.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: Inn at the Forks
Day Six
Journey home
Your Manitoba holiday adventure ends in Winnipeg. Fly home anytime; a transfer is included from the Inn at the Forks to Winnipeg Airport. Please allow 3 hours for flight check-in at the airport.
Meals included: Breakfast
Departures & Rates
Ask one of our Travel Specialists about Packaging Flights with your Tour and Save
Additional dates and rates may be available, please speak to one of our Travel Specialists for more information.
Single Supplement rates are available on request.
*Rates are subject to availability and seasonality and may change without notice. Rates are based on two adults sharing. For solo travellers or single person occupancy rates or further information on terms and conditions, please contact our Travel Specialists at time of booking.
