Aurora Borealis Tour

Manitoba, Canada

March 20-23, 2009

Reserve your front row seat today for the most spectacular exotic natural light show this planet has to offer. Winter brings a whole new sense of adventure and thrill to Northern Manitoba. In the cold winter evenings the aurora come out to put on one of the most awesome displays of nature.

Friday, March 20:

•  Manitoba Planetarium "Fire in the Sky" presentation

•  Photography clinic

•  Meet and greet with light lunch

•  Flight Winnipeg International Airport to Flin Flon

•  Aurora viewing

•  Slide show presentation                ( taken Mar. 08/08 at Bakers Narrows Lodge

                                                                           by Andrew Brana from New York)

Your adventure begins in downtown Winnipeg at The Manitoba Museum's Planetarium. Your Heartland International representative will greet participants on the lower level at the entrance to the Planetarium between 11:30am and 12:15pm. A sandwich platter luncheon will follow giving you an opportunity to meet your traveling companions for this adventure. At 12:15pm you will take  a photo workshop with Scott Young, the Planetarium's resident astronomy expert. He will provide tips on filming the Northern Lights. At 1:30 pm we will view the "Fire in the Sky" presentation. Enjoy Scott's in-depth presentation on the spring constellations visible in our night sky, and open your imagination to the mythology, mystery and magic of one of nature's most exotic phenomena - the aurora borealis.

Some time will be provided for those wishing to explore the Museum Gift Shop located on the main level.

A shuttle will transport the group to the Winnipeg International Airport to check in for the flight to Flin Flon. We will be flying on a CalmAir SAAB 340B. Departure from Winnipeg is at 5:30pm arriving non-stop into Flin Flon at 6:55pm. (Note that government issued photo I.D. is mandatory for the airlines and must be presented at airport check in)

Upon arrival into Flin Flon we will be met by the representative from Bakers Narrows Lodge and transported to the largest winter lodge in Manitoba. Located on Lake Athapapuskow, this lodge offers one of the best locations in the world for viewing the aurora borealis (northern lights). After dinner, you can sit out on the deck or enjoy the show from the outdoor hot tub. There will also be a telescope available for stargazing. In addition, a slide show presentation on the history and founding of Flin Flon will be offered by one of the local historians. Bakers Narrows Lodge location & photos click here.

Saturday, March 21:

•  Flin Flon Museum Tour / Mining History

•  Bombardier excursion

•  Cultural Arts demonstration

•  Aurora viewing

After a hearty breakfast we will be transported to the Flin Flon Museum. The museum is housed in the former Canadian National Railway Station building. The Museum contains artifacts collected from mining, transportation and cultural sources, including a diving suit and helmet, a Linn tractor used in early freight hauls, and a train sweeper and ore car. Also on display is a 63 lb. Lake trout caught in the Flin Flon area.

We will return to the lodge for lunch. In the afternoon you will be able to experience a unique tour by Bombardier vehicle to view the lake push-ups. Bombardiers are the "Trucks of the North." A very funky looking vehicle which looks like an overgrown Volkswagen Bug with a rounded front, plated sites, big tracks, and a huge ski in front used to steer. The bombadier is named after its inventor, Joseph-Armand Bombardier, who built the first one back in 1934 when he was only 27 years old.

We will gather in the main dining room for dinner followed with another opportunity for more aurora borealis viewing in the night sky. There will also be a cultural arts demonstration on the art of Caribou tufting during the evening.

Sunday, March 22:

•  Ice fishing

•  Dog sled excursion

•  Northern Buffalo Sculpture Gallery tour

•  Aboriginal Traditions presentation

•  Aurora viewing

After breakfast we start the day winter fishing on Lake Athapapuskow. Tackle the mammoth pike and trout like never before, while earning an even greater sense of achievement as you sit in your warm, cozy ice shack, knowing that you have tried and tested a true Canadian art, the art of ice fishing.

Lunch will be served back at the lodge followed by a visit to the Northern Buffalo Art Gallery in nearby Cranberry Portage. The gallery features the work of Irvin Head and other aboriginal artists. Irvin has become known in the art community as a Master Carver. The mediums with which he works are; Soapstone, Alabaster, Pipestone, Moose Antler and Diamond Willow. Irvin has been asked to make and has made many gifts for the Aboriginal leaders of today.

Also in the afternoon you experience the "Old North" as you will be taken on a unique dog sled excursion.

We will return to the lodge for dinner.

The evening will provide another chance to view the spectacular Aurora Borealis. An Aboriginal Traditions presentation will also be offered.

Monday, March 23:

•  Airport transfers

•  Return flight to Winnipeg

After an early breakfast you will be transferred to the Flin Flon airport to check in for the return flight to Winnipeg. The CalmAir flight departs at 8:55am and arrives non-stop into Winnipeg at 10:20am. Should you wish to continue your journey to your home city on this day we recommend you schedule connecting flights from Winnipeg in the later afternoon. This will allow for any miscellaneous delays (weather) that can occur when departing from the North.

Iris Maurstad - Winnipeg, Manitoba on the 2006 tour - "It was a great weekend, fun and well planned".

Stan Krylow - Chicago, Illinois on the 2007 tour - "We thorougly enjoyed our trip. The company and the scenery were excellent. Your arrangements were flawless".

Gerry Mattinson - Markham, Ontario on the 2007 tour - "I was absolutely stunned by the number and variety of interesting things you found to keep us busy".

Cost per person:   $1924.00 cdn + 5% GST based on double occupancy

Triple or Quad reduction - $25.00     Single supplement - $225.00 + GST

(price subject to change)

Included:

•  All airport transfers

•  Return flight Winnipeg - Flin Flon

•  All meals

•  Planetarium presentation on the Aurora Borealis and constellations

•  Photo clinic for technical tips on photographing the Northern Lights

•  Flin Flon history slide presentation

•  Flin Flon Museum entrance

•  Bombardier excursion

•  Dog sled excursion

•  Caribou tufting demonstration

•  Half day ice fishing

• •  Northern Buffalo Sculpture Gallery tour

•  Aboriginal Traditions presentation

•  Heartland International Travel group escort throughout the entire journey

•  3 nights accommodation at Bakers Narrows Lodge (private cabin - double occ)

Not Included:

•  Items of a personal nature
•  Alcoholic beverages
•  Gratuities
•  Insurance
•  Fishing license

Things to bring - camera (with extra batteries), film, binoculars, warm clothing including a jacket, hat, boots, mitts or gloves, bathing suit (lodge has outdoor hot tub).

Optional: Comprehensive Travel Insurance

Includes: trip cancellation & interruption insurance. Subsistence allowance up to $3500.00 CDN. Unlimited hospital/medical coverage. Air flight accident insurance up to $100,000.00 CDN. Travel accident insurance up to $50,000.00 CDN. Limited loss of baggage insurance up to $1000.00 CDN and delay of baggage up to $400.00 CDN (see booking request form for rates)

Tour numbers : This is a very exclusive tour that is limited to a maximum of 14 persons.

Booking Request Form : If you would like to download a copy of our Travel Request Form click here.

For booking information contact :           Heather, Don or Shannon