.:: Heartland International Travel and Tours

Unique Manitoba Day Tours - arranged for groups only except the Churchill day tour excursion which is available for individuals.

Agricultural Day Tour
Festival du Voyageur
Oak Hammock Marsh

Agricultural Day Tour: 8 hours

A guided agriculture tour of a progressive farm and high tech computerized flour mill plus a fascinating visit to a modern communal Hutterite Colony.

For farm operators or those interested in agriculture or rural Manitoba living, this is an ideal tour for you. It provides the opportunity to visit a very progressive farm and flour mill operation plus experience the unique communal lifestyle of a fascinating Hutterite Colony.

At 08:30am you depart your Winnipeg hotel for the nearby town of Elie and the Abtshof Farm. On route our agricultural tour guide will provide you with a commentary of the state of agriculture in Manitoba. Abtshof, operated by Andreas Boersch, is a 3200 acre grain farm which produces wheat, canola, rye, oats and some corn. You will be taken on a tour of the farm with its facilities and equipment. Besides the farm Andreas will show you the state of the art multi million dollar Prairie Flour Mill. Andreas, along with his investors designed and built this highly technical computerized mill. Following the visit to the mill you will travel west to the village of Newton Siding where you will visit the Sunnyside Hutterite Colony. Following a traditional meal in their main dining hall you will be taken on a tour of this very impressive communal Colony. The Colony has 61 residents and farms 6400 acres: mainly canola, barley and wheat plus flax, beans and peas. Also they raise pigs, cattle and chickens for consumption and sale. After the tour you return to your Winnipeg hotel arriving at approximately 4:30pm.

Cost per person: We require a minimum group of 20 participants and price to be determined at that time.

Package Includes:

Agricultural specialist tour guide throughout the entire day Transportation all day Tour of the Abtshof Farm and the Prairie Four Mill
Tour of the Sunnyside Hutterite Colony
Traditional lunch at the Sunnyside Colony

Festival du Voyageur
February

Go back to the days of the fur trade and experience the " joie de vivre" at Western Canada's largest winter festival, the "Festival du Voyageur".
This unique ten day celebration, themed on the fur trade era, is held each February in St. Boniface, Winnipeg's French Quarter. It celebrates the "joie de vivre" of the fur traders. It's a place of sights, ceremony and celebration, a reflection of Canada's unique French Canadian heritage and a showcase of historic and cultural treasures. Enjoy the wonders of winter, exciting nightlife and entertainment, traditional cuisine, arts and crafts, exhibits and displays. It is where the mystique and colourful traditions of the eighteenth century Red River Colony are fused into friendly Manitoba hospitality.

a) Winterer Evening Tour

At 4:00pm you are met at your Winnipeg hotel by your costumed guide and transferred to the Festival site, Voyageur Park. Before arriving you are taken on a brief guided tour of the French Quarter, St. Boniface. Once at the park you will see magnificent snow sculptures, visit a native encampment, tour a historic fur trade fort and enjoy traditional entertainment in five heated tents. You may even wish to take in a sleigh ride or sled dog ride.

Then you are off to one of the Festival's entertainment spots, commonly referred to as trading posts. You'll enjoy a delicious French Canadian meal and live entertainment, including some toe-tapping Acadian melodies by our maritime cousins. Later in the evening you are transferred back to your Winnipeg hotel.

Cost per person: Pricing to be determined - contact us for details and pricing

Package Includes:

Transportation from your Winnipeg hotel to Voyageur Park and return
Costumed guide throughout the entire evening
Festival pass
Dinner and entertainment package
Brief tour of St. Boniface
Group rates upon request

b) Winterers Full Day Weekend Tour

Your costumed guide will pick you up at your Winnipeg hotel at 9:00am. You will be taken on a brief guided tour of the French Quarter, St. Boniface, before heading to Voyageur Park, the Festival's main site. To start the day, enjoy a delicious maple pancake breakfast at the Sugar Shack while enjoying live entertainment.

Then you will visit this wonderful winter wonderland, with its magnificent snow sculptures. You continue with a visit to a native encampment, tour a historic fur trade fort and enjoy traditional entertainment in five heated tents. You may even wish to take a sleigh ride or sled dog ride.
In the late morning you are off to the Forks to enjoy lunch on your own at one of the restaurants or in the food court. If you visit during the first weekend of the Festival, you can take a walk down onto the Red River to watch the Voyageur International Sled Dog Classic race. More than 60 teams and 800 dogs participate in this world class event.

After lunch you will visit the St. Boniface Museum and the St. Boniface Basilica before returning to your hotel to change for the evening.
In the late afternoon you return to Voyageur Park and one of the Festival's entertainment spots, commonly referred to as trading posts. You will enjoy a delicious French Canadian dinner and live entertainment, including some toe tapping Acadian melodies by our maritime cousins. Later in the evening you are transferred back to your Winnipeg hotel.

Cost: Pricing to be determined - contact us for details and pricing

Package Includes:

Transportation from your Winnipeg hotel to Voyageur Park and return
Costumed guide throughout the entire day
Festival pass
Dinner and entertainment package
Brief tour of St. Boniface
Museum admission

* Group rates upon request

Oak Hammock Marsh - 5 hour tour
September 10 to October 15
Oak Hammock Marsh Fall Migration Adventure Tour

Experience the magic of the spectacular fall migration as hundreds of thousands of birds migrate through Oak Hammock Marsh, one of North America's best bird viewing hot spots.

This all inclusive 5 hour package features a fully escorted experience including transportation to and from Canada's Best Outdoor Attraction of the year 2000. At 3:30pm your escort will meet you at your Winnipeg hotel and commence your privately guided van tour. The guide will provide commentary on the region. You travel through the Wildlife Management Area which encompasses 36 square kilometres including stops at the tall grass prairie, lure crops, artesian spring and north observation mound. Upon arrival at the Oak Hammock Marsh Interpretive Centre. You will enjoy a dinner featuring a Manitoba Menu of Excellence. This includes; wild rice and mushroom soup, a selection of prairie whole grain, rye and onion flat breads, breast of chicken with Medallion of buffalo, roasted red skin potato, sautéed root vegetables, corn on the cob, apple cobbler for dessert, coffee and tea.

After dinner your escort will take you on a discovery tour of the Interpretive Centre's exhibits followed by a marsh walkabout out on the trails, with an experienced naturalist.

Upon returning to the Centre at sunset you will be treated to a rooftop viewing of the breathtaking Canada Geese as they return to the Marsh for the night. Coffee, tea and hot chocolate will finish off the evening. You will have time to do some shopping in the gift shop and at 8:30pm you will be taken back to your Winnipeg hotel.

Cost per person: Pricing to be determined - contact us for details and pricing

Package includes:

All transportation by private van
Oak Hammock Marsh tour escort throughout
Manitoba Menu of Excellence dinner
Entrance and tour of the oak Hammock Marsh Interpretive Centre
Naturalist guide on the marsh trails
Coffee/tea and hot chocolate

Should you have any questions or require additional information please e-mail info@heartlandtravel.ca or call Don Finkbeiner or one of our group travel counsellors at (204) 989-9630 (in Winnipeg) or 1-866-890-3377 or fax 204-989-9636.