Great Ice Bear Feature #1:
Our wilderness lodge will be your home for Great Ice Bear.  Strategically located amidst the natural habitat of many Arctic creatures - polar bears, caribou, Arctic and red fox, Arctic hare, wolves and moose along with numerous bird species such as snowy owls, ptarmigan and gyrfalcons are frequently observed from the lodge, or while out on a walk.

Great Ice Bear Feature #2:
The time spent at the lodge involves mostly terrestrial travel in order to reduce our impact on climate change as much as is possible.  Out of respect for both the wildlife and the sensitive ecosystem they depend on, the use of motorized vehicles is kept to a strict minimum.  With Churchill Wild, the boots were definitely made for walking!  

Great Ice Bear Feature #3:
The town of Churchill has a population of 900 however during bear season, the population skyrockets to approximately 2,500. Our wilderness lodge, located 30 km from town, will help you escape those crowds while providing the most unique and interactive polar bear experience anywhere.

(What are those lumps hanging from the helicopter you ask?  That is actually Natural Resources Canada flying a polar bear mother and her two cubs out of town...and right over our lodge!)

Great Ice Bear Feature #4:
Our day on the Tundra Buggy® is chartered so that we have far fewer guests per buggy and more viewing opportunities than would be possible any other way.  You will have one of the most beautiful animals in the world just outside your window and plenty of space to watch and photograph. 

Dymond Lake Lodge & Churchill Package

2010 Dates: October 23 - 29, October 26 - November 1, October 29 - November 4, November 1 - 7, November 4 -10, November 7 - 13
Duration: 7 days and 6 nights (2 nights in Winnipeg, 3 nights at the Lodge, 1 night in Churchill)

Inclusions: 

• Return airfare between Winnipeg and Churchill
• 5 breakfasts, 4 lunches, & 5 dinners
• return aerial transfers from Churchill to the lodge and all necessary ground transfers

Price: $7295 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 $6565

* 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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GREAT ICE BEAR TOUR
7 DAYS, 6 NIGHTS
Dymond Lake Lodge & Churchill Package

Your journey of exploration and adventure will take place at our Polar Bear Lodge at Dymond Lake, approximately 30 kilometers 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 & 7 are in Winnipeg

Day 2 - 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 be transferred by helicopter or fixed wing aircraft to Dymond Lake Lodge.  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 3 & 4 - 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.

Lunches are served at the Lodge.  We are generally back at the Lodge by 4:00 p.m.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 5 - 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 where your bags will be stored for you until your flight back to Winnipeg later in the day. You are then free to explore and wine and dine in this frontier community at your leisure. We recommend 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 which are all of great interest. Dogsledding and helicopter charters fit nicely into this afternoon if you’re so inclined. If you are interested in a dogsledding tour please book through us so we can ensure you arrive in Churchill in time for your tour departure.  We work with Blue Sky Mushing and you can visit their website at www.blueskymush.com.  For aerial tours you can contact Hudson Bay Helicopters at info@hudsonbayheli.com or by phone at 204-675-2576.

You will have a choice of Churchill restaurants for dinner and will be provided with a $30.00 dinner voucher.  Participating restaurants will be listed on the voucher. Then it will be back to your hotel or B&B so you can rest up for your 6th and final day with the bears.

Day 6 - 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	6	7
Included Meals	D	B, L, D	B, L, D	B, L, D	B, D	L	B

Legend:
B = Breakfast   L = Lunch   D = Dinner

"Our stay at Dymond Lake Wilderness Center (operated by Seal River Heritage Lodge) in October 1999, rates as one of the most memorable excursions I have undertaken. (I have travelled extensively in Africa and Nepal.) All in all, our stay at the lodge was nothing short of amazing - polar bears, unsurpassed scenery and unbeatable care and attention."
Rose Dimauro, Australia

"I particularly loved the fact that nowhere in the pre-trip material were we promised anything that did not eventuate. In fact, much more eventuated than we even hoped for. I'd definitely go back to their lodge. All the staff made us feel special and treated us that way, too. Owners Mike and Jeanne Reimer care about the environment and they also care about people."
Delle Daniels, Australia

Dymond Lake Lodge is your base for our Great Ice Bear Tour and Fire and Ice Adventure.  It is located a short 30 km and 15 minute flight north of Churchill and is right amidst the infamous polar bear action that has brought travelers to the Churchill-area for decades.

Dymond maximizes viewing potential by giving guests the opportunities to see polar bears from a variety of locations. Whether it is from one of the nature trails, the lodge's viewing tower, or right from the lodge windows, a trip to Dymond Lake Lodge ensures guests will have exceptional wildlife viewing opportunities.

Access: By air only. Float plane, wheelplane or helicopter.
Location: Located at Dymond Lake on the Hudson Bay coast, about 30 kms north of Churchill.

Features:

• A viewing tower to take in the expansive tundra landscape and its wild inhabitants
• Cozy common areas with fireplaces for evening wind down
• 1 double room (one bunk bed), 1 triple room (one bunk bed, 1 single bed), 5 quad rooms (two bunk beds) in two separate guest cabins, all with private washrooms
• Expansive picture windows on virtually every wall to maximize viewing
• Full service and gourmet meals
• Electricity 24 hours a day, every day
• Natural gas and wood heat
• Library with maps
• Gift Shop
• Radio/Telephone

Great Ice Bear Tour (Fall/Winter):

Warm down-type Parka and insulated wind pants. Insulated hat, mitts and light gloves. Heavy duty footwear. (All outer clothing can be rented locally, approximately $250 for a complete outfit per trip.) Layers underneath work best starting with polypro underwear (or similar), sweaters, fleece pants etc. Avoid use of cotton when possible.