Tundra Buggy Lodge VIA Rail Enthusiast
Trip Overview
The Tundra Buggy Lodge VIA Rail Enthusiast tour includes a two-night train journey that winds through Manitoba and Saskatchewan to Churchill; a town only accessible by train or plane.
Frontiers North’s Tundra Buggy Lodge is located on Polar Bear Point in the Churchill Wildlife Management Area (CWMA), home to the largest concentration of polar bears in Churchill. The lodge offers a unique, immersive experience where, on a clear night, you can view the dancing northern lights from our roof-top observation deck and fall asleep with polar bears right outside your window.
Daily Tundra Buggy® adventures take you out beyond the lodge and give plenty of photography opportunities. Evenings at the lodge can be just as memorable when you swap stories with other guests and enjoy world-class meals.
Photo © Simon Gee/Canuk Images
The Experience
The Tundra Buggy Lodge offers a unique, immersive experience where guests can fall asleep and wake up with polar bears right outside the window.
Day 01
Arrive in Winnipeg
I flew into Winnipeg today and I am so excited to go to the Tundra Buggy Lodge! My home for the night is the Inn at the Forks, which is just across the street from the VIA Rail Station at the Forks, a popular tourist destination. After checking in and having dinner in the hotel restaurant, I head to an evening meet-and-greet held by our Frontiers North Interpretive Guide where our group has the chance to ask last minute questions and learn more about what our adventure holds!
Photo: ©Inn at the Forks
Day 02
All Aboard!
After breakfast at the hotel I have a bit of free time to walk around the Forks before our train departure in the early afternoon. We all meet at the train station with our Interpretive Guide and board the train. The travel arrangements on the train are berths, which are essentially large comfortable booths that convert to bunk beds with privacy curtains. Some other guests upgraded to private sleeper cabins, but I am glad I stayed in the berths so I can socialize!
After dinner on board I read a few chapters of my book before retiring to my berth for the night.
Photo: ©Taylor Cole
Day 03
From Prairie to Tundra
We wake up on the train for our first full-day. We enjoy a delicious breakfast in the dining car and afterwards I snuggle up with a book and a cup of coffee in my birth. As we are travelling, I notice the landscape is beginning to change. First from prairie grasslands thick with trees to boggy muskeg with stunted growth. In the late afternoon we arrive in Thompson, one of this routes major stops.
While some people board the train I spend an hour exploring Thompson. We once again board the train for our final leg to Churchill. Once again I'm rocked to sleep by the slow chug of the train.
Photo: ©VIA Rail Canada
Day 04
Arrive in Churchill
We wake up early in the morning for breakfast before arriving in Churchill around 9 am.
Upon arrival, we have some free time to explore the town which should include a stop at at Churchill’s famous Itsanitaq Museum, home to an internationally recognized collection of Inuit art in stone, bone and ivory depicting the life and spirituality of a people deeply rooted in the north. The collection comprises of almost 1000 pieces dating from approximately 1700 BC to modern times. The museum also has an incredible little gift shop where visitors can buy local Inuit art and carvings, books and other gifts.
Shortly after lunch time we board our first Tundra Buggy® and head out into the Churchill Wildlife Management Area to the Tundra Buggy Lodge.
Photo: ©Doug Ross
Day 05
Tundra Buggy Adventure
I wake up early in the morning and peek outside the window. Before my eyes sits a polar bear snoozing on a rock! I spend a few minutes just watching this bear in disbelief. I knew I’d see bears at Tundra Buggy Lodge but I did not think I’d wake up to one outside my window! After snapping a few pictures of the sleeping bear, I grab some breakfast in Dan's Diner before heading out on our second full-day Tundra Buggy excursion.
Today we come across a mom and two cubs. They cross in front of our Tundra Buggy before disappearing into some willows. We spend the rest of the day scanning the tundra for more polar bears and other wildlife. We are not disappointed. At the end of the day we head back to the lodge for a world-class dinner at Dan's Diner. Afterwards we get to enjoy a presentation by a Polar Bears International representative in the Thanadelthur Lounge about polar bears and Canada’s North. We all head to bed early before our final day on the Tundra Buggy.
Day 06
Final Tundra Buggy
After a hearty breakfast, our group packs up and sets out via Tundra Buggy for our last day on the tundra. We spend the day getting incredible photographs, enjoying our last Tundra Buggy lunch and just taking in the beauty of the North.
In the late afternoon our Tundra Buggy rolls up to the Tundra Buggy dock area, where we say goodbye to our Tundra Buggy Driver and climb aboard the Frontiers North bus, which takes us back to the Churchill airport for the short flight to Winnipeg. They serve a light meal on board.
Once we arrive in Winnipeg, we are checked back into the Four Points by Sheraton Hotel for our last night.
Photo: ©Richard Day/ DayBreakImagery
Day 07
Depart Winnipeg
My adventure has come to an end and I’m all ready to head home today. I’m so excited to share my adventure – and all my incredible photos - with my family and friends.
Itinerary
Day 01
Arrive in Winnipeg
Guests will arrive into Winnipeg and transfer on own to Inn at the Forks, across from the VIA Rail Station. Activities: Evening meet & greet hosted by Frontiers North Interpretive Guide. Meals: None
Day 02
Boarding the Train
Board VIA Rail train early afternoon; begin first leg of journey to Churchill. Meals: B, L, D
Day 03
Day on Train
Continue on journey from Winnipeg to Churchill with a long stop in Thompson. Meals: B, L, D
Day 04
Arrive in Churchill
Early morning arrival into Churchill. Activities: Free time in Churchill to explore the Itsanitaq Museum; Tundra Buggy transfer to the Tundra Buggy Lodge. Meals: B, L, D
Day 05
Tundra Buggy Adventure
Activities: Full-day Tundra Buggy adventure in the Churchill Wildlife Management Area. Meals: B, L, D
Day 06
Final Tundra Buggy
Activities: Full-day Tundra Buggy adventure in the Churchill Wildlife Management Area. Evening flight to Winnipeg. Guests check into the Four Points by Sheraton Hotel at the Winnipeg airport. Meals: B, L, D
Day 07
Depart Winnipeg
Guests may depart Winnipeg at their leisure. Meals: None
Testimonials
Photo: © Margaret and Ken - New York, USA
"Great experience overall. We're so glad we chose to stay at the lodge rather than in town - it was well worth the extra cost. It really encouraged a sense of camaraderie and adventure. The bunks were very comfortable and the staff was great and so was the food. Of course, seeing bears while lying in bed was a real plus too! It was a wonderful way to celebrate my 60th birthday."
Margaret and Ken - New York, USA
Join the Adventure
2019
| Dates | Adventure | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Oct 7-13, 2019 Tour Code: 91 | Tundra Buggy Lodge VIA Rail Enthusiast Lodging: 2 nights Winnipeg, 2 nights train, 2 nights Tundra Buggy Lodge Maximum 20 people | $7,299 CAD $250 CAD Single Supplement |
Call To Reserve Your Spot Today
1 800 663 9832 (toll free)
1 204 949 2050 (international)
All prices CAD, plus applicable taxes.
All prices, inclusions, and dates may be subject to change due to circumstances beyond our control.
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