Arrive in Winnipeg and make your way to the airport hotel. Later, meet the rest of your group during an orientation dinner.
This morning you will fly to the Sea River estuary, 60km north of Churchill on the shores of Hudson Bay. During your 5 day stay at our eco-lodge you can experience the thrill of walking with Polar Bears and enjoy some bird watching . Yes - you can actually walk with polar bears and live to tell the tale!
The lodge is situated in the “polar bear waiting room” on the Hudson Bay coast, and the bears provide fantastic viewing opportunities as they wait for the sea ice to return.
It isn’t unusual for birders to see 100 species over the course of their adventure, including ptarmigan, Smith’s Longspur, Ross’ and Bonaparte gulls, jaegers etc. And you’ll have the opportunity to see other Arctic wildlife as well, such as Beluga whales, Arctic fox and hare, and more.
This Arctic adventure is highly conducive to family participation (min age 8) and right at the time that children are out of school for the summer. Now you and your family can experience polar bears in their natural habitat, together!
A typical day at the lodge :
After breakfast, head out for either a marine tour or hike. Lunch will be back at the lodge, unless your guides take you on an ATV excursion further down the coast. Marine tours are tide-dependent, so scheduled mealtimes may be adjusted to accommodate whale watching.
Relive the excitement of the day during daily appetizer hour before sitting down to dinner, then top up your glass of wine and settle in for the evening’s presentation.
While you are sleeping, staff will be on the look-out for a nocturnal visit from one of the great ice bears or a dazzling displays of northern lights. So be prepared to have your sleep cut short - you won't want to miss out!
Highlights:
- Daily, guided hikes across the tundra to view polar bears and other Arctic wildlife, up-close-and-personal, in their natural habitat.
- Indulging your taste buds with our tundra-inspired cuisine, complemented by select Canadian wines.
- Sky gazing! The location beneath the auroral oval offers nearly 300 nights of aurora viewing each year. If conditions permit, you will be able to enjoy the greatest light show on earth from within the lodge or out in our secure compound. There is a low chance of seeing the lights on this safari.
- Educational evening presentations by our lodge managers or naturalist guides about our Arctic ecosystems, landscape and lifestyle.
- Travelling further afield on one of our half or full-day ATV tours. Our low-impact tundra vehicles give you access to areas up and down the coast.
- Zodiac tours to view beluga whales near the mouth of the Seal River estuary where they congregate by the thousands in the summer months.
After a hearty breakfast, you will be air transferred back to Churchill to spend the day exploring the town and surrounding area, learning about its rich history as a seaport and ex-military base. Visit the Parks Canada exhibit, the Itsanitaq Museum, and the Polar Bear Jail. Before a group dinner, you'll have free time to explore this frontier town or to shop for souvenirs at the unique gift stores in Churchill.
Return to Winnipeg this evening and head back to airport hotel for overnight.
After a restful sleep , pack your bags one last time in preparation for your flight home.
