GREAT ICE BEAR TOUR 2008
5 DAYS, 4 NIGHTS
Dymond Lake Lodge & Churchill Package
$5995 CAD per person including tax & return airfare between Winnipeg and Churchill

Your journey of exploration and adventure will take place at our Polar Bear Lodge at Dymond Lake, approximately 30 lovely kilometres by air from Churchill, Manitoba. This dynamic seaport has long been known as the ‘Polar Bear Capital of the World’ as approximately 1,200 of these enormous bears congregate on the Hudson Bay come fall in wait for the freeze.  You’ll meet several of these animals up-close and on their turf on your Great Ice Bear adventure.

Day 1
AN ARCTIC ARRIVAL AND AN AERIAL TOUR
Arrive in Churchill by air or train. One of our expert staff will meet you at the airport/train station and will provide you an orientation to the tour including a clothing check (in order to crosscheck your "What to Bring" list as provided to you in your Adventure Album).

You will then be transferred by helicopter or fixed wing aircraft to Dymond Lake Lodge at approximately 11:30 a.m. This exciting flight takes you out over the historic Churchill River, and then northwest up the rugged Hudson Bay coast to Canada's most exclusive Polar Bear viewing property. Keep a sharp eye out en route for caribou, moose, seals, wolves and of course the great Ice Bears.

Upon your arrival, your hosts Mike and Jeanne Reimer and their children, a true (and thus rare) Churchillian family, will provide a tour of the Lodge and get you settled into your room. A thorough orientation about being in polar bear country will be provided prior to any outings.  This day includes a guided hike on our rugged and starkly beautiful coastline, an interpretive slide show featuring the wildlife of Hudson Bay, and hopefully a clear night for viewing the Aurora Borealis! All this will be topped off with a gourmet lunch and dinner where your hosts and guides will regale you with tales of life and adventures in Canada's Arctic.

Day 2 & 3
TUNDRA TREKKING, POLAR BEARS, AND PRICELESS PHOTOGRAPHY!
In the coming days, your gourmet breakfast will be served at 8:00 a.m. and the first walking tour generally leaves at 9:30 a.m. Should there be a polar bear in camp (this happens frequently!), the walking tour is delayed for picture taking but no one ever seems to mind!

Once you’ve fueled up with one of Jeanne’s legendary full course breakfasts, you’ll be eager to bundle up and head out into the snow.  The walks are comfortably paced as they are geared towards plenty of viewing and photo opportunities.  They are guided by our professional and knowledgeable tour leaders and so you’ll do a lot of learning along the way as well. Obviously we cannot allow the bears to approach too closely, and your guides are expert in keeping bears at a safe distance without sacrificing exciting viewing.

Polar bears are also known to saunter by our Lodge on a regular basis so you can often view them from the warmth and comfort of one of our lounges through the massive picture windows. This opportunity is all too welcome when a squall blows in!  We have a variety of other activities to take part in as well should the weather prevent us from exploring the outdoors though such is rarely the case.

Weather permitting lunches will be had in the field.  Generally by 4:00 p.m. we are back at the Lodge for hot or cold drinks and appetizers.  Your full course delectable dinners are served at 7:00 p.m. after which, the fireplace is almost always central.  Your guide team will give informative lectures and beautiful slide presentations as well as initiate a discussion about the activities for the following day. Bedtime is at your leisure.  The entire Lodge area is patrolled for polar bears all night by one of our night watchmen so be prepared to have your sleep cut short by a nocturnal visit by one of the great Ice Bears (or by one of our dazzling displays of northern lights!).

Day 4
SAY GOODBYE TO THE LODGE…
BUT NOT TO THE BEARS!
After another hearty breakfast it is time to pack for the flight back to Churchill, say good-byes and snap a few more pictures! After another exciting aerial tour, you’ll arrive in Churchill and will be escorted to your overnight accommodations (hotel or B&B) to check in. You are then free to explore and wine and dine in this frontier community at your leisure. We recommend Nature 1st Tours and Transportation (www.nature1sttours.ca) should you prefer a guided tour of the area.  Local places such as Cape Merry, the Port of Churchill, the Eskimo Museum, the Polar Bear Holding Compound (otherwise known as the Polar Bear Jail), as well as the Parks Canada exhibit are all of great interest. Dogsledding and helicopter charters fit nicely into this afternoon if you’re so inclined. For dogsledding, contact the Wapusk General Store at 204-675-2887 for details and Hudson Bay Helicopters can be reached at info@hudsonbayheli.com or by phone at 204-675-2576.

You will have your choice of Churchill’s restaurants for dinner and will receive a $25 voucher per person. A list of local restaurants are featured on page 26 of your Adventure Album (which will be provided to you pre-departure) to assist you in making your decision. Then it will be back to your hotel/B&B so you can rest up for your 5th and final day with the bears.  

Day 5
MORE BEARS! WHAT A GREAT WAY TO FINISH UP…
Today you will travel across the tundra in the world famous Tundra Buggies ® for more polar bear viewing. Transportation by bus to and from the Tundra Buggies ® is provided at 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. respectively so do remember to grab some breakfast beforehand. Lunch “with the bears” will be prepared and served to you on the tour. Your flight south to Winnipeg is scheduled for this evening and thus we wish you safe travels back to reality. If you’ve not had enough bear action for one lifetime, ask us about our Birds, Bears & Belugas adventure which takes place in July and August annually.

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
Included Meals	L, D	B, L, D	B, L, D	B, D	L

Legend:
B = Breakfast
L = Lunch
D = Dinner