Active pace with longer touring days. Expect intermittent walking at a moderate pace for 2–3 hours over a variety of terrain, including cobblestones, hills and uneven pavements. Must be able to negotiate stairs of varying heights, sometimes without handrails. Can tolerate periods of standing during guided tours and be able to climb in/out of various modes of transportation. Some days may include 5–7 km of walking over the course of the day.
Upon arrival in Winnipeg, transfer to your hotel before discovering the city’s highlights on a guided sightseeing tour. See The Forks Market, the Manitoba Legislative Building, the Canada Life Centre—home of the NHL’s Winnipeg Jets—and the charming French Quarter of Saint Boniface. Visit one of the city’s most striking landmarks, the Canadian Museum for Human Rights, before gathering this evening for a Welcome Dinner.
Fly from Winnipeg to Churchill, gateway to Manitoba’s true North. After checking in at our lodge, learn about Indigenous heritage and northern history on the Churchill Heritage Tour. Discover Cape Merry, the “Polar Bear Jail,” and the crash site of “Miss Piggy”—each offering a glimpse into Churchill’s fascinating story.
On our full day cruise we will discover the Hudson Bay in a one-of-a-kind wildlife viewing vessel—the Matonabee—a uniquely designed Arctic cruise ship featuring multiple below-water-level viewing areas. This stunning new vessel delivers opportunities to watch beluga whales and polar bears in ways never offered before. On this unique adventure, we will explore one of the more remote polar bear viewing areas on the west side of Hudson Bay.
Today we visit the Itsanitaq Museum, a cultural institution dedicated to the preservation and promotion of Inuit culture. Showcasing artifacts that are among the finest and oldest in the world, the Museum offers a unique opportunity to immerse yourselves in the rich history and traditions of the Inuit people. Then join Parks Canada staff as you discover the behind-the-scenes science and research. Learn about the impacts of a changing climate and how we are discovering patterns of movement of the caribou and a better understanding of the three bears species that roam the Park. Conclude the day with an exhilarating dog-mushing experience! We hear Indigenous stories and wisdom from a Métis dog musher, and enjoy a ride in a dog cart pulled by huskies through the northern boreal forest.
The western Hudson Bay is home to 57,000 beluga whales and every summer roughly 4,000 whales make their way to the Churchill River estuary to feed, mate and give birth. Get up close to these curious and friendly “Ambassadors of the North” on a zodiac ride along the shore. Then, explore Prince of Wales Fort’s wind-swept ruins of an early 18th-century Hudson’s Bay Company fur trade fortress. Be struck with awe by Cape Merry’s stunning panorama while being transported to an exciting and adventurous time in Canada’s founding days.
Explore the spectacular coastline of Hudson Bay and the Churchill Wildlife Management Area aboard the state-of-the-art Arctic Crawler™, designed for a comfortable and safe journey through this remarkable wilderness. Lazy Bear buses or exclusive Lazy Bear wildlife-viewing vehicles may also be used, offering a closer, ground-level perspective where appropriate. Keep watch for a variety of Arctic wildlife, including Arctic foxes, Arctic hares and ptarmigans, as well as the magnificent polar bears. After a last glimpse on the stunning Arctic landscape, we fly to Winnipeg and transfer to our hotel. This evening, we come together for our Farewell Dinner.
We bid a warm farewell to Manitoba.
You may cancel your tour up to 60 days prior to departure (120 days prior for tours requiring a visa, cruises or rail journeys) for any reason, and receive a full refund of your deposit / payment (less the $75 administration fee).
Cancellation & trip interruption insurance included!
Included in the cost of your tour is our Cancellation Insurance Policy, which provides coverage in case of emergency injury or illness (including Covid), right up to your date of departure (terms and conditions apply).
Our Manulife Out-of-Country Health Insurance Plan covers expenses related to Trip Interruption in case of emergency injury or illness. For tours within Canada, Senior Discovery Tours will cover such expenses (terms and conditions apply to all policies).
