Canada - Bears ........ 20th to 31st October 2010

Black and White Bear Adventure

Experience a quite unique situation of being located at a mobile lodge in the heart of Polar Bear Kingdom! Polar Bears and Arctic Fox roam the bleak tundra at Polar Bear Point in the environs of Churchill on Hudson Bay; Tundra Swans and Snow Geese bring their own special magic to Oak Hammock Marsh and Moose, Elk and Black Bears haunt the dark forests of Riding Mountain National Park. This is a marvellous opportunity for a chance, before it is too late, to encounter both Black and majestic Polar Bears in the same trip.

Day 1: Fly from UK to Winnipeg via Toronto, and transfer to our hotel.
Overnight - Winnipeg.

Day 2: Visit Oak Hammock Marsh, looking for ducks, Snow Geese, Tundra Swans, Bald Eagle, Rough-legged Hawk and possibly Sandhill Cranes. Later we drive to Riding Mountain N.P.
Overnight – Wasagaming

Days 3 & 4: We spend two days in the beautiful Riding Mountain National Park, with splendid opportunities to observe the wildlife. The birdlife present at this time of year should include Common Loon, Redhead, Bufflehead, Hooded Merganser, Ruffed & Spruce Grouse, Great Grey Owl, Pileated & Downy Woodpeckers, Grey & Blue Jays, Boreal Chickadee, Pine & Evening Grosbeaks and we may also see some wonderful mammals: Black Bear, Bison, White-tailed Deer, Beaver, Moose and Elk.
Overnights - Wasagaming.

Day 5: Morning birdwatching in the National Park before driving to Winnipeg.
Overnight - Winnipeg.

Days 6 - 9: We fly to Churchill for a one night stay. On Day 7 after a tour of the town and lunch we will depart for 'Tundra Buggy Lodge' and a unique location at Polar Bear Point, thereby avoiding an hour and a half's travel each day from Churchill. This is the area where Polar Bears gather, waiting for the ice to form before heading off into Hudson Bay. We will make whole day excursions in search of Polar Bears, watching and photographing them from the warmth and safety of specially-designed ‘Tundra Buggies’. We may also see Arctic Fox, Willow Ptarmigan, Snowy Owl, Gyrfalcon, Snow Bunting and Arctic Redpoll. The spectacular Aurora Borealis is also a possibility. A bus tour of the town will give us the opportunity to see Parks Canada Interpretive Centre, the Arctic Trading Post and Polar Bear Jail. There may also be the options of a Husky Dog Sled ride In the Boreal Forest and a helicopter flight to see this fascinating landscape from the air.
Overnights - Tundra Buggy Lodge.

Day 10: The morning and early afternoon will be spent in the Tundra Buggy and then return to Winnipeg.
Overnight - Winnipeg.

Day 11: We catch the return flight to UK where we arrive on Day 12.

Tour Ref: AA1025

Cost: £5,900 (approx)
Deposit: £500
Single Room Supplement: £340

Leaders: Barrie Taylor/Gerry Griffiths

Max. Group: 10 plus Leader

Includes:
Scheduled tourist class return flights (UK-Winnipeg-UK), domestic flights (Winnipeg-Churchill-Winnipeg), accommodation is: bunk beds with shared facilities at Tundra Buggy Lodge and twin occupancy in hotels, all meals, transfers, ground transportation, entrance fees and services of leaders and guides.

Excludes:
Travel insurance, drinks and items of a personal nature.