Fire and Ice Adventure

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Tour Information

Your journey of exploration and adventure will take place at the authentic wilderness lodge, located north up the coast from Churchill, Manitoba. This dynamic seaport has long been known as the ‘Polar Bear Capital of the World’ and is also one of the original New World arrival points of the Old World Explorers.

Please note:

• Arctic expedition style clothing is available for a small fee. Please reserve with us in advance.
• We do have radio-telephone connection to Churchill from the Lodge.
• Accommodations consist of 8 bedrooms with ensuite bathrooms.
• Due to winter conditions a limited amount of water is available for personal use - no showers/flush toilets available
• Electricity is available for a portion of each day (morning and evening)

Day 1

Fly from the UK-Winnipeg. Independant transfers to your hotel. Overnight Winnipeg.

Day 2

Arrive in Churchill by air. A tour representative will meet you at the airport and transport you to your hotel for the evening. After you drop your bags, you’ll have breakfast at a local restaurant, followed by a thorough Arctic orientation as well as an introduction to the program and a gear and clothing check.

You’ll have the afternoon and evening free for browsing. We encourage you to take in the world-famous Eskimo Museum, the Parks Canada exhibit at the train station, and “the complex,” a building that has it all (library, schools, movie theatre, hockey and curling rinks, et cetera) which is absolutely necessary in a seaport with the range of temperatures that Churchill experiences annually.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 3

Rise and shine, a winter wonderland awaits you! This morning, you will depart for the wilderness lodge by snowmobile and komatik (traditional Inuit sleigh) via the Fort Prince of Wales, a citadel built in 1717 in order to expand the Hudson Bay Company’s presence in the north. We will continue to travel the paths of ancient explorers across the mighty Churchill River to your first stop, a 300-year old stone fort built by early fur traders. Imagine the dog teams of yesteryear arriving from distant outposts with their cargoes of gold. Continue on the sea ice, keeping a sharp eye out for Nanuk, the Great Ice Bear! There will be plenty of time en route for exploration and photography.

Arrive at the Lodge in the early afternoon to the welcome of a crackling fire and a hot cup of tea. This afternoon you are free to take in a variety of winter activities, such as a snowshoeing along the coastline, a snow polar bear building competition, or grab a book (or a nap!) in front of the fire. Your evening will include a scrumptious dinner and tales of Arctic life under the northern lights.

Meals Included: Lunch, Dinner

Day 4

Today you will travel via snowmobile and snowshoe in order to explore the Hudson Bay coast’s many treasures, not the least of which are its many caribou, wolves, foxes, wolverines, hares and ptarmigan. The coast come springtime is like one giant ice-sculpture so be prepared to take a lot of photos. You will have a traditional “trappers” lunch with tea & fresh bannock baked over the fire whilst you take in the expansiveness of the icy shoreline. You will also learn outdoor survival skills in a rigorous workshop this afternoon.

Return to the lodge in the late afternoon, just as the sun begins to set. With nothing to get in the way, colors like you’ve rarely seen will move across the sky to create a world-class sunset. On evening 3, you will receive your instruction on building your “ice cottage” by the frozen sea, so that
you are equipped to construct your own igloo on Day 4. After enjoying the grand and authentically northern dishes that will be served to you at dinner, settle in by the pops and squeals of the fire for some storytelling and hopefully another brilliant display of northern lights.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 5

Stretch well this morning because today will be a day of snowy labour! Your snow condo awaits and after yesterday’s lesson, you are prepared to get started. If you want to spend the night in it, you had better get building! The expert guides are there to help you through this surprisingly challenging process so not to worry. While you’re building, keep your ears open for the calls of the mushers and the barks of the dogs who are competing in the 250 km Hudson Bay Quest dog sled race from Churchill to Arviat, Nunavut. They are scheduled to come right past the lodge and will likely stop to rest their dogs after the day’s journey from Churchill. Then, weather permitting, you’ll have a pack lunch at your building site and if igloos are complete, we will head out onto the floe edge in search of seals and the mighty bears that hunt them. We’ll be home in time for another lovely meal and to prepare you for a night in your igloo under the dancing northern lights (should you choose to do so, of course).

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 6

After another hearty lodge breakfast, take one last picture of your snow condo and pack up. After a final snowshoe or hike to the coast, you will head back to Churchill for your flight south to Winnipeg this evening. Overnight Winnipeg.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 7

Check out of your hotel and transfer independantly back to the airport. Fly from Winnipeg back to the UK.

Day 8

Arrival back to the UK

What's Included

• Transatlantic flights from the UK-Winnipeg
• Return flights from Winnipeg to Churchill
• 1nt pre-tour accommodation in Winnipeg
• 4nts on the Fire and Ice Adventure
• 1nt post-tour accommodation in Winnipeg
• Meals as shown in itinerary above