manitoba polar bear adventure

Tauck Luxury Escorted Tours – Manitoba: Polar Bear Adventure

New for 2010, join Tauck on an adventurous Manitoba vacation featuring the polar bears of Churchill for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to observe these magnificent, endangered animals up close! And, Manitoba offers so much more than just polar bears… the rich human and natural history of this Canadian province, as well as its scenic beauty, have been engaging and enriching visitors for decades. Discover marvelous Manitoba during a special private evening with the Hudson’s Bay Company of Adventurers at the Manitoba Museum… at a dog sledding demonstration… during a visit to the Lower Fort Garry National Historic site with North America’s oldest existing stone fur-trading post… exploring the natural beauty surrounding Manitoba’s #1 four-season resort on Hecla Island… and so much more.

Itinerary

Day 1 Welcome to Winnipeg 

After an included transfer from Winnipeg Airport, your Manitoba vacation adventure begins at 3:00 PM at the Inn at the Forks. Discover why Manitoba’s capital city is often called the “Gateway to the West” during a sightseeing tour before joining us for our welcome cocktail reception and dinner at the Manitoba Museum, housing artifacts 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 Nonsuch, a replica of the 17th-century ship responsible for the founding of the Hudson’s Bay Company in 1670.

Meals: Dinner

Lodging: Inn at the Forks, Winnipeg, Manitoba

Day 2 Churchill bound 

Tauck’s private charter flight whisks you up and away to Churchill, called the “Polar Bear Capital of the World.” Set on the shore of remote Hudson Bay, it’s famous for the annual migration of polar bears from inland to the water in autumn. But, there are more than just bears in Churchill – approximately 923 people with rich cultural traditions live here, too. See the local sights on a guided cultural heritage tour of town before a local Metis elder who has lived here all his life shares stories and lore. Chat with the owner of the Lazy Bear Lodge, your charming accommodation here, about the lifestyles of the two-footed and four-footed residents of these parts as you enjoy the warmth of the fire.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Lodging: Lazy Bear Lodge, Churchill, Manitoba

Day 3 You’ll “bearly” be able to contain your excitement 

Today is the day you’ve been waiting for on your Manitoba vacation! 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.” From the safety of your vehicle, you’ll have unrestricted views of the bears in their natural habitat as they go about their daily business, so keep your camera at the ready. Your expert 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.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Lodging: Lazy Bear Lodge, Churchill, Manitoba

Day 4 Mush! 

Learn more about dog sled racing, one of the most popular pastimes in the arctic, at a demonstration this morning. Then, travel south to Hecla Island via Tauck’s private charter flight. On the island in the middle of Lake Winnipeg, you’ll spend two nights at the Radisson Hecla Oasis Resort, voted Manitoba’s #1 all-season resort, where you’ll find award-winning cuisine and an abundance of recreational options. Upon arrival, chat with a local naturalist about the area’s boreal forest and island environs over a glass of wine. Dinner is at your leisure this evening.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Lodging: Radisson Hecla Oasis Resort, Hecla Island, Manitoba

Day 5 Delightful diversions 

Join a local naturalist to explore Hecla Island’s forests, marshes and fields on a hike in search of the abundant wildlife inhabiting the island. The remainder of the day is yours to fill with one of the outdoor adventures available (some at an additional cost), at the indoor / outdoor water park, pampering yourself at the Hecla Oasis Mineral Spa or just relaxing as you please on your Manitoba vacation.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Lodging: Radisson Hecla Oasis Resort, Hecla Island, Manitoba

Day 6 Fur trading way back when 

The oldest stone fur-trading post still intact in North America awaits your exploration today at Historic Lower Fort Garry on the banks of the Red River. See what people wore back then, listen to the rhythm of the blacksmith’s hammer, smell what’s cooking on the hearth fires, feel the furs stored in the fur loft and discover how the powerful and the meek lived as interpreters tell you all about what life was like. Back in Winnipeg, please join us for our farewell dinner.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Lodging: Inn at the Forks, Winnipeg, Manitoba

Day 7 Journey Home 

Your Manitoba vacation adventure ends in Winnipeg. Fly home anytime; a transfer is included from the Inn at the Forks to Winnipeg Airport. Please allow 2 hours for airport check-in formalities. We wish you a safe and pleasant journey home.

Meals: Breakfast

Price Guide

7 Days from $5,190

  Double Single Triple
2010 Price Per Person $5190 $6900 $4818

All prices are per person in U.S. dollars.

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