Set in six million acres of forest, lakes and rivers, 230 miles from the nearest road and only accessible by floatplane from Winnipeg, Gangler’s North Seal River Lodge in northern Manitoba is as remote as it gets. It’s also one of the best places in the world to watch the Northern Lights in summer, with days spent exploring the sub-arctic landscape and observing the native wildlife, including wolves, moose, black bears and caribou.
Prime aurora viewing season is August and September, when not only are the lights most frequently seen, the weather is also warmer, meaning Northern Lights viewing without the need for winter thermals.
Black bears, moose, wolves, beavers, bald eagles, ospreys and occasionally grizzlies might all be spotted in the surrounding wilderness, with Gangler’s also running floatplane trips to Churchill to see polar bears and belugas.
An exceptional day trip is to travel north by floatplane to Courage Lake near the Nanavut border to witness North America’s largest herd of caribou, some 300,000 animals, on their annual migration.
Other activities include floatplane trips, fly-fishing, mountain biking, bird watching, beach picnics, photographic safaris and incredible lessons on First Nation history.
The sub-arctic tundra is a unique wilderness, defined not only by water and forest but by glacially-formed sand eskers snaking across the landscape, some soaring as high as 200 feet.
Owned and operated by Arctic safari specialist Churchill Wild, Seal River Heritage Lodge sits 60 kilometres north of Churchill near the Seal River Estuary, where thousands of beluga whales congregate each summer to feed and calve.
Situated 250 kilometres south-east of Churchill, Nanuk Polar Bear Lodge is the only place in the world where polar bears and wolves cohabitate. Like all Churchill Wild lodges, it sits directly in the path of the polar bears as they walk up and down the Hudson Bay coastline during summer and autumn.
A true wilderness oasis, Dymond Lake Ecolodge lies 40 kilometres north of Churchill, huddled near the treeline of the Boreal Forest and bordered by Dymond Lake and Hudson Bay. It’s one of the few places in Canada where – in addition to the thrill of spotting polar bears on foot – you may even catch a glimpse of the elusive wolverine.
Built from reclaimed timber, this authentic family-owned lodge offers first-rate Arctic adventures around Churchill, Manitoba, where polar bears outnumber people during the peak migratory months of October and November. It’s also possible to see both bears and beluga whales in summer by taking a trip along the coast in the lodge's purpose-built vessel, the Matonabee.
Named after the trading camp that preceded Winnipeg, the century-old Fort Garry is one of the most impressive and recognisable works of architecture on the Winnipeg skyline. Designated a National Historic Site in 1981, it continues to impress with its old-world appeal, high-end amenities and gracious hospitality.
At the centre of Winnipeg where the Assiniboine and Red rivers meet, The Forks has been a meeting place for over 6,000 years. Today it’s the cultural heart of the city, home to museums, markets, restaurants and, in winter, the world’s longest outdoor skating trail. Stay at this stylish boutique hotel to be right among the action.