Canada | Polar Bears and Northern Lights with Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden

Arrive into Winnipeg and walk to the hotel for check-in. Finish the evening with a welcome orientation and dinner.

Today, transfer to FortWhyte Alive. Experience the sights and sounds of plains bison, Manitoba's provincial mammal and the ninth largest land animal in the world. Complete your experience by sipping wild herb tea as you roast bannock, a staple in the diets of early settlers and fur traders, on an open campfire near an 1890s-era pioneer sod house. Next, transfer to the Assiniboine Park Zoo where the 'Canadian Signature Experience: Journey to Churchill' awaits. This experience at one of the world's best Arctic zoo exhibits will immerse you in Manitoba's majestic north and the importance of polar bear research happening at the zoo. Afterwards, return to your hotel.

After breakfast, depart on an early morning flight from Winnipeg to Churchill. Upon arrival, set out for a Churchill area tour to local and historical points of interest such as Cape Merry, the Port of Churchill, and Manitoba Conservation's Polar Bear Holding Facility (weather permitting). After lunch at a local restaurant, visit the Itsanitaq Museum, home to one of the most extensive collections of Inuit art in the world. Marvel at the intricate carvings, hand-made kayaks, and artifacts dating from pre-Dorset, Dorset, Thule, and modern Inuit times. Next, make your way to the Parks Canada Visitor Centre, located in Churchill's historic train station. Here, guests learn about the wonders of Wapusk National Park and the national historic sites in Northern Manitoba through interactive exhibits. Experience an in-depth presentation of the ecology and human history of Churchill with the guidance of knowledgeable Parks Canada representatives. After dinner, visit the Polar Bears International (PBI) House, an innovative public space where visitors learn about polar bear conservation and research. Here, participate in an exclusive tour of the facilities followed by a private presentation hosted by PBI species experts and representatives.

After breakfast, travel beyond the town limits to Churchill's boreal forest to take part in an interpretive program paired with a thrilling dog sled excursion. Hosted by a local Churchill resident and dog sledding expert, your group will learn about the history associated with dog sledding and experience a mile-long ride on a custom-built sled behind a powerful team of athletic huskies. After lunch, go on a guided tour of the Churchill Northern Studies Centre, a non-profit research and experiential education facility in Canada's remote subarctic. Afterwards, relocate to the Tundra Buggy dock. Here, you will board a Tundra Buggy®, a large vehicle that can safely maneuver the rough terrain of the tundra. Then, make the journey to the Tundra Buggy Lodge to meet with lodge staff for a safety briefing followed by a meal prepared by the lodge chef.

Please note: The Tundra Buggy Lodge accommodates 20 per unit in upper and lower bunk beds. Each bed has a window and there is a curtain for both bunks for privacy. Each 20 passenger unit shares three toilets and two showers.

Over the next two days, breakfast will be followed by a full-day Tundra Buggy adventure exploring the Churchill Wildlife Management Area in search of polar bears, arctic foxes, ptarmigans, and other subarctic wildlife. Lunch and refreshments will be served on board. Return to the Tundra Buggy Lodge each evening in time for cocktails and appetizers followed by dinner. Spend the remainder of the evening relaxing in the Thanadelthur Lounge, listening to presentations and sharing stories with fellow travelers. At night, look to the skies in search of the northern lights.

Full-day Tundra Buggy adventure in the Churchill Wildlife Management Area.

This morning bid farewell to the Tundra Buggy Lodge, and embark on a third and final full-day Tundra Buggy adventure. After a day of exploring the tundra, travel to the airport for an evening flight back to Winnipeg. A light meal will be served on board. Head to the hotel upon arrival.

Walk to the airport for flight back to US.