Caribou to Wolves Ecotour

Every once in awhile we come up with an adventure that almost sounds too good to be true. An expedition that guides fight over to lead! Caribou to Wolves is one of those trips that has the potential to do it all, the potential to overwhelm with an endless offering of spectacular flora and fauna - the ability to create "shutter bugging" exhaustion!

Your travels will take you over 20,000 sq km’s of the wildest regions in the Arctic, home to wolves, caribou, moose, three species of bears (polar, black & grizzly), Arctic & coloured fox, wolverine, beaver, pine marten and countless bird life all set on a kaleidoscope of spectacular fall colors.

If that is not enough try finding some energy to stay up for the finest light show on earth as we live in the best Aurora viewing zone in the Arctic. Northern lights are rivers of light to die for!

Best of all there are no frozen fingers or seized camera gear to deal with which is typical if coming in the traditional winter months. Listening to the spine tingling thrill of a howling wolf pack, while mesmerized by the dancing Aurora, is life changing. This adventure will touch you like no other experience can. Of course it can't hurt that you have just finished a gourmet meal at our luxury North Knife Lake Wilderness Lodge and you're lounging outside in the wood fired hot tub sipping a glass of fine wine!

From our rugged cozy Caribou camp on Schmok Lake to the luxurious expanse of North Knife Lake Lodge we will pamper you with finest service, guides, accommodations, and gourmet cuisine found south of the Arctic Circle - truly the trip of a lifetime.

Caribou & Wolves Ecotour Adventure at Schmok Lake Camp and North Knife Lake Lodge

2010 Dates: September 7 – 17, 2010 – only departure
Duration: 11 days, 10 nights
Price: $12,500 CAD per person plus tax - includes roundtrip airfare between Winnipeg and our Lodges

Inclusions: 

• Return airfare between Winnipeg, Churchill and our Lodges
• 9 breakfasts, 8 lunches, & 10 dinners
• all necessary ground transfers

Price: $12,500 CAD* per person plus applicable taxes (6% for non-residents and 8.5% for Canadians), for children 5 to 12 we offer a child rate of $11,250.

* A $1500 CAD single supplement will apply for single travelers who are not willing to share their room with another same-sex single traveler (or if none are available).

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CHURCHILL WILD CARIBOU TO WOLVES ECOTOUR
11 DAYS, 10 NIGHTS
Schmok Lake Camp and North Knife Lake Lodge

Day 1 – WINNIPEG TO CHURCHILL
Arrive in Winnipeg. You will meet your expedition team at the airport in preparation for your early afternoon departure to Churchill, Manitoba. You will be spending the night in this frontier town located on the shores of the Hudson Bay. Churchill is the home to the world's highest concentration of polar bears. You will have time to take in the town sites, shops, historical points of interest, and hopefully snap a few shots of our “Great White Bear”. You will be provided a $30.00 dinner voucher and a list of local restaurants are featured on page 26 of your Adventure Album (which will be provided to you pre-departure).

Day 2 – OFF TO SCHMOK CAMP
This is it, the point of no return; you will leave Churchill this morning on the great Canadian bush plane, the deHaviland Beaver. It will wing your way north to our Caribou Camp at Schmok Lake. There will be endless visuals en-route, so keep those eyes open for polar bears, caribou and other wildlife. Arrive at the camp, find your bunk, and stow your gear. Your guide will provide you with a brief orientation and it’s time to get out on the Land!

Day 3 – 6 – TUNDRA TREKING AND PHOTOGRAPHS
In the coming days you will enjoy the wildness of this adventure. Breakfast will be served at 8:00am and lunches are typically held at the Camp. Meals may be delayed in favour of wildlife viewing and photography opportunities. Your first hike will start approximately 9:30am. You will spend your days soaking in the wonderful fall colors of the tundra. Your experienced guide is professional and knowledgeable about the land and the wildlife so be prepared to do some learning. Your hikes will lead you towards the herds of Barren Land Caribou who are beginning their migration south. You can get up close and personal with to the mighty Caribou and learn about their habitat, and eco system. There will also be opportunity to view other wildlife long the way such as wolves, geese, and even wolverine. Appetizers are served at 6:00pm with a delectable dinner to follow. Bedtime is at your leisure and your evenings are free to review your pictures and discuss your daily adventures with your fellow guests. Don’t forget to watch the night sky for an appearance of the Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights).

Day 7 – OFF TO LUXURY…
Ensure your bags are packed for your flight to North Knife Lake Lodge today. You are off to enjoy some luxury accommodations. You can look forward to a soak in our wood fired hot tub tonight! You will depart from Camp this morning with a stop-over in Churchill. You will have time to enjoy lunch at one of the local restaurants in preparation for your flight to North Knife Lodge. Upon arrival you will be shown to your rooms so you can get set up for some wolf viewing. As the landscape and Lodge has changed, you will be given another orientation on hiking in the area. The Lodge amenities will also be outlined for you to enjoy. Grab your camera gear because we are off to take some pictures!

Day 8 - 10 – WOLVES AND FISHING
Breakfast will typically be served at 8:00am with lunches served “shore lunch” style or at the lodge. Appetizers will be served at 6:00pm with a gourmet dinner to follow. In the coming days you will have the opportunity to view and learn about our resident wolf pack and you will even learn how to howl like a wolf! North Knife Lake is our trophy fishing destination. You will head out on to the lake to fish for Northern Pike and Lake Trout. On these fishing days you will also enjoy a wonderful shore lunch that is prepared for you by your experienced guide. You will need to catch something for lunch so bring along a lucky lure. If you don’t want to go fishing you can take some time to relax at the Lodge and enjoy a book, a soak in the wood fired hot tub, play some pool or even take time for a nap. Your evenings will be spent reminiscing about your wolf sightings and fishing stories! And keeping an eye out for a Northern Lights show.

Day 11 – TIME FOR REALITY...
Pack your bags yet again for your trip to reality. You will enjoy a hearty breakfast before your trip south today. You will fly from the Lodge to Thompson, Manitoba before your flight with Calm Air to Winnipeg. You will be available to fly directly home if time permits. Should you require a hotel stay please let us know so we can assist you in booking a room.

Inclusions: All accommodations and transfers required within the package dates are included in the cited price. Meal inclusions are as follows:

Day	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11
Included Meals	D	L, D	B, L, D	B, L,D	B, L, D	B,L,D	B,D	B, L,D	B, L, D	B,L,D	B

Legend:
B = Breakfast   L = Lunch   D = Dinner

North Knife Lake Lodge

While all of our lodges are luxurious by Arctic standards, our most southern property called North Knife Lake Lodge is the most so. Located approximately 200 kilometers southwest of Churchill deep in the boreal forest and home to wolves, moose, black bears, fox and a variety of bird species – North Knife Lake Lodge is the ideal “Create your Own Adventure” destination. Hiking, paddling, wildlife viewing and northern lights are all part of the experience here. And did we mention trophy fishing? Northern Pike, Lake Trout, Walleye, Whitefish and Arctic Grayling abound in this area.

North Knife Lake Lodge boasts:

• Cozy common areas with grand stone fireplaces for evening wind down
• Double occupancy Queen and Twin rooms in the main lodge with private washrooms
• Two private family condos which sleep 5 guests each.
• Expansive picture windows on virtually every wall to maximize viewing
• A wood-burning cedar hot tub and main and upper floor decks
• An upper lounge equipped with big-screen television for movie nights, a pool table, dart board and a shuffleboard table

Schmok Lake Caribou Camp

Located in the heart of barren land wilderness, Schmok Lake Camp is the last outpost at the very northern end of Manitoba - 10 kilometers more and you would end up in Nunavut! The tens of thousands of acres of pristine wilderness outside our front door is home to caribou, wolves, wolverine, silver & arctic fox and a spectacular fall waterfowl migration. The wilderness of this destination is second to none. You truly get that "last raw frontier" feeling at Schmok Lake - a real wilderness safari eco camp.

Schmok Lake Caribou Camp features:

• Comfortable warm mini-lodge with shared facilities
• Cozy dining area featuring the finest in northern cuisine
• Boats for viewing wildlife & fishing
• Endless stunning hiking landscapes
• A front yard full of caribou, snow geese and wolves prowling at night
• Amazing northern lights

Caribou to Wolves Ecotour:

Expect cool fall weather with all four seasons of weather possible from warm sunny +15 days to sub-freezing temps at night and if you’re lucky even some snow flurries! Similar to all our arctic adventures, layers are always best. Start with good quality long underwear (no cotton please), loose fitting hiking pants and shirts or pullover fleece, and finish with a lined set of Gortex type windproof/waterproof hooded jacket and pants. Bring a warm hat and gloves, and for the feet you'll want a good pair of insulated/waterproof hiking boots. Slippers are also great for use in the camp/lodge! And of course don’t forget cameras, binoculars or a spotting scope, batteries, sun glasses, bug juice, and personal items. Electrical power for charging systems is available at all sites.