Train to the Edge of the Arctic

Tour Information

This is one of those hidden gems of an adventure which takes a step back through history, to an era of European fortune seekers and fur traders, who had grand territorial ambitions and plans for Canada’s north. The Train to the Arctic actually starts in downtown Toronto and winds its way north-west along the shore of fabled Georgian Bay and the Muskoka Lakes. After breaking your journey in Cochrane Ontario, which hosts Heritage Village, you continue the next day you continue onboard the aptly named “Polar Bear Express” to the Arctic shores of James Bay and the community of Moosonee. However your northern journey could not be completed until you enjoy the thrill of a freighter canoe ride, across to Moose Factory Island where you will stay for two nights in this historic trading center.
The Train to the Arctic is a combination of two historic working railroads and a remote wilderness island retreat in a million- acre game reserve. You will travel south on the fabled Algoma Central Railroad where (*especially for you) the train will be “flagged down” to a complete stop where your luggage will be transferred to a waiting boat for the short journey to the wilderness retreat.
Be sure to bring along your camera as this region is home to black bears, moose and bald eagles. After a remote wilderness experience with great comfort and food you will travel by Canadian Bush Plane and land transport along the Eastern shore of Lake Superior to Sault Ste Marie.

Day 1

Fly from the UK to Toronto
Transfer to your hotel in Toronto
The Delta Chelsea is located in mid-town Toronto within reach of excellent shopping in the nearby Eaton Center and a vast selection of interesting restaurants. The hotel has a large coffee shop-dining room and a fine dining restaurant as well as a health club and several convenience outlets.

Day 2

Toronto At Leisure
Today is yours to explore Toronto at leisure

Day 3

Toronto to Cochrane
Check in for the Ontario Northlander Train in downtown Toronto at the special passenger desk inside Union Station. Boarding will take place 45 minutes prior to the train departure at 08:45. Once onboard we suggest that you make your way to the train’s “diner”, which is one of two restaurant facilities onboard the Northlander. The other dining facility is a full restaurant which will be located midway along the train.
Today’s routing will gently take you from the heart of metropolitan Toronto, through the northern suburbs in a north-westerly direction towards Georgian Bay, which is often referred to as the unofficial sixth Great Lake. The Ontario Northland is an actual transportation connector between southern and northern Ontario and you are as likely to meet mining engineers, tree surgeons or Cree First Nations residents returning home after some time in “the south” as might your fellow explorers. Communities visited on this first day are Washago, Gravenhurst, Bracebridge, Huntsville, South River, North Bay, Temagami, Cobalt, New Liskeard, Englehart, Swastika, Matheson and Cochrane. The Northlander pulls into Cochrane at 19:25
The Station Inn is located above the tiny Cochrane Railway Station and a perfect location for this adventurous journey. You will be able to leave your large luggage in the care of the hotel while you visit Moose Factory Island with your overnight pull-along case.

Day 4

Cochrane to Moosonee and Moose Factory Island
Note: We advise you to leave your main luggage in safekeeping at the Cochrane Rail station and travel light to Moose Factory Island with a small pull along case or an overnight backpack. This will be especially convenient as you stroll between the station and the wharf.
Today you will be riding the fabled Polar Bear Express train between Cochrane and Moosonee which is the end of the rail line. This train services the coastal communities of Moosonee and Moose Factory Island and because there few roads north of Cochrane and non which serve the coast, you will see local residents loading the train with household purchases from the more developed south. During the night your train will have substantially grown with the addition of several “flat cars” on which local residents carry their trucks back home to the Arctic watershed. Boarding time is 09:00 and arrival time in Moosonee is 13:50. There is a diner on the train and a traditional dining car as well as an entertainment car, so you will have lots of choice for lunch. The Polar Bear Express travels along 250 Kilometres of pristine wild countryside, crossing the Moose River on high trestle bridges for which Canadian railroads are so famous and eventually reaching the end of the line at Moosonee.
On arrival in Moosonee it is a short stroll down the dusty unpaved main street to the wharf. We have assisters located at the rail station who will help with general directions and any other advice you need. The journey across to Moose Factory Island is undertaken by traditional freighter canoes, generally 24 feet long and often with a Perspex canopy. These are operated by local Cree First Nations residents and they travel quite fast, making the lodge in about fifteen exciting minutes.
The Cree Eco Lodge is a locally owned enterprise and occupies a dominant position on the banks of the Moose River. Your boat operator will take you to the lodge landing and your accommodation will be ready as you arrive. The Cree Eco Lodge has a full service restaurant and for snacks there are several modest shopping outlets distributed around the community.
The Cree eco Lodge is owned and operated by the Cree First Nation who reside on Moose factory Island. It is located steps away from the Moose River landing and its typical “A” frame dining room is reminiscent of the North. There is a full service restaurant and a gift store for local purchases.

Day 5

On Moose Factory Island
The history of this period British outpost is forever linked with the British expansion into North America, the fur trade, the Hudson Bay Company and the decade long struggle with the French for access to the riches of this land. It was a lonely, far-from-home colonial outpost and evidence of this can be seen in the cemetery and the museum. It was also the first English speaking community in Ontario and a fort was built here in the 1670’s! Today you will be able to visit Moose Factory Island with a resident Cree First Nations guide and discuss how life was back in colonial times and how life is now in this remote community. Later we have planned a freighter canoe ride onto James Bay so that you can get a broader perspective of Moose Factory Island from the water.

Day 6

Moose Factory Island to Cochrane
The southbound Polar Bear Express does not leave Moosonee until 17:00 which gives you ample time to explore the island and take a late ferry across to Moosonee. By the time you arrive in Cochrane it might be too late for dinner, so we suggest dining on the train in either the diner or the restaurant car. Accommodation is again reserved in Cochrane in the station or across the road
The Polar Bear Express pulls into Cochrane

Day 7

Friday Cochrane to Hearst – Ontario Provincial park
Today is a day to reflect on the experiences of Moosonee and historic Moose Factory Island and to explore Greenwater Provincial Park, one of Northern Ontario’s outstanding wilderness parks featuring unique geological formations including a series of kettle lakes, formed by the retreat of ice age glaciers. A local guide will interpret the flora and fauna and the significance of the geology of Northern Ontario which is a features of the park. There are many fur bearing animals to observe here-- beaver, muskrat, otter, marten, fox, ermine, mink, fisher and chipmunk. There are also majestic moose and black bears to be seen in the region and the opportunities to sight these abound both in the park and in the journey along Highway 11 towards Hearst.
Following the park tour, guests will travel to the lumber town of Smooth Rock Falls, where they will break for lunch at a restaurant before touring the Smooth Rock Falls museum to learn about the settlement of the region and life in the lumber camps of Northern Ontario. After lunch travel to Hearst which is the northern terminus for the Algoma Central Railroad.
The Companion Motel is located 100 yards from the Algoma Central Railroad where you will board the train tomorrow. It has a full service restaurant and is located in the center of this northern trading town.

Day 8

Hearst to trackside mile 206 – Wilderness Lodge
The Algoma Central Railroad is another of Ontario’s northern rail lines, offering a life line to far flung communities and services the massive local forest industry. It is also one of the world’s few “flag stop” trains where the entire service halts when requested by a rural resident. Our particular flag stop is at mile 206 where we offload our luggage onto a waiting boat for the journey across to our wilderness island retreat in the massive Chapleau nature reserve.
Our Wilderness Lodge is located in the Chapleau Wilderness reserve on Wabatongushi Lake. It is operated by a family and specializes in wildlife viewing and outstanding fishing. All meals are included while at the lodge.

Day 9

Wilderness Island retreat
Your stay in the Wilderness Island Retreat includes use of small fishing boats, canoes and Kayaks as well as a full board meal plan including breakfast lunch and dinner. The Chapleau Nature Reserve is an actual Boreal Forest located quite near Lake Superior and you will need you camera handy to capture the images of their neighbourly black bear, moose, loons, bald eagles and other wildlife which makes this their home.

Day 10

To Sault Ste Marie - two choices
After an early breakfast its time to leave this corner of “paradise” and start your journey home. If guests chose this option they will board a Canadian Bush Plane for the flight and land transport journey along the Eastern shore of Lake Superior. Otherwise guests will rejoin the Southbound train and end your journey by rail.
This evening you arrive in Sault Ste Marie at your hotel
The Quality Inn is located opposite (a short walk) the Algoma Central Railroad terminus in downtown Sault Ste Marie. It is a few steps from the waterfront of the St Mary’s River and the Seaway (Soo) Locks. It has an excellent onsite restaurant and is handy for shopping and the local Casino.

Day 11

Sault Ste Marie - home
After a restful night we transfer to the Airport at Sault Ste Marie for the flight back to Toronto and your transatlantic flight home.

Day 12

Arrice back in the UK.

What's Included

• Transatlatic return flights
• 10 Nights accommodation
• All rail transport
• All accommodation in good quality local hotels
• Transfers
• All meals at the Wilderness Lodge
• Sightseeing as indicated in the itinerary
• Flight between Sault Ste Marie and Toronto City Center Airport
• Services of a Fully qualified Franklin and Frobisher tour escort
• All taxes

What’s Not Included

• Meals and sightseeing not already noted
• Items of a personal nature
• Gratuities to your drivers, local guides and your Franklin and Frobisher Tour director