Northern Lights and the Wildlife of Northern Manitoba

Arrive Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

Welcome to Canada! During leisure time, take advantage of the hotel’s many amenities.

Tonight, gather with fellow travelers to enjoy a welcome drink and learn important instructions on our next day’s adventures.
Overnight: The Grand Winnipeg Airport Hotel 

Winnipeg / Flight to Gangler's North Seal River Lodge / Eskers Tour / Northern Lights Viewing

Take an early morning charter flight, arriving at a private airstrip at Gangler’s North Seal River Lodge. After landing, enjoy lunch at the lodge followed by a brief introduction to the property and available activities.

After lunch and time to settle into your cabin, rejoin the group for a tour of the surrounding area by all-terrain vehicle. Learn about glaciation and how it plays an important role in the geography of this region. Over time, lakes, moraines, eskers, and glacial erratics have designed a visually fascinating landscape. Eskers—which are remnants of sub-glacial rivers that stretched across the area, sometimes as much as 400 feet high and 100 miles long—are a notable feature of the terrain. These winding landforms have been used for hundreds of years as an important migratory route for wildlife and First Nations indigenous peoples.

While traversing the terrain, discover different habitats, visit an actual trapper’s cabin, and view various glacial erratics—non-native rocks transported to the area by moving glaciers.

Return to the lodge for time to unpack and unwind followed by hors d’oeuvres and a relaxing dinner.

Afterward, join a presentation about regional topics such as flora, fauna, the northern lights, human history, etc.

If the northern lights become visible overnight, guests can request a wake-up call to join the viewing.
Overnight: Gangler’s North Seal River Lodge 

Wildlife Excursion / Northern Lights Viewing

Wake up this morning with fresh coffee delivered to your cabin prior to breakfast. After eating, embark on a wildlife spotting expedition and scenic tour across the vast terrain. The North Seal River is located at the very top of the transitional subboreal forest—remarkably beautiful country that’s easy to hike, traverse, and explore. This area is home to bears, moose, wolves, otters, eagles, ospreys, and many others.

This afternoon, travel by boat to a pristine esker—a long, narrow ridge that snakes across the land. Made of layers of sand and gravel, eskers mark the location of a tunnel that developed beneath a glacier. Explore the topography of this geological curiosity during an easy walking tour, and track and spot wildlife with expert interpretation by a local guide. Animals use eskers for dens and for access across lakes or boggy land. Eskers can also be important sources of clean groundwater.

Lunch is a special treat—an incredible fresh Shore Lunch, a real Canadian wilderness tradition.

After hors d’oeuvres and dinner, watch the setting sun over the river. Then bundle up and venture back outdoors to view and photograph the northern lights alongside the lodge guides.
Overnight: Gangler’s North Seal River Lodge 

Seasonal Caribou Spotting / Northern Lights Viewing

Today’s highlights include a floatplane excursion north to the Barren Lands to spot for migrating caribou, which travel in small groups. Land on the tundra (if conditions allow) to stroll the area by foot.

Retreat back to the lodge for hors d’oeuvres, dinner, and a presentation on Manitoba’s ecosystems and the North Seal River’s unique characteristics. Afterward, enjoy another opportunity to view the northern lights.
Overnight: Gangler’s North Seal River Lodge

Optional Activities / Northern Lights Viewing

After breakfast, choose from a variety of activities for the day.

Depending on demand and availability, the following options may be chosen as individual, group, or guided activities. Options with additional fees are noted accordingly.

• Kayaking
• Canoeing
• Lake exploration by motor boat
• Mountain biking
• Hiking
• Birding
• Fishing (guided or not, experienced or not, from the shore or a boat—Gangler’s will provide the equipment and instruction)
• Revisit previously explored ground to delve deeper into a particular place of interest to you
• Additional discussions, lectures, and presentations by local guides and naturalists
• Blackfish Lake flyout to Roberston Esker plus archaeological tour. $350 per person; limited to six guests.

ptional excursions with fees must be booked in advance through our Guest Services team. Price is subject to change and non-refundable within 90 days of departure.

This evening, partake in hors d’oeuvres with fellow travelers while recounting highlights of the past week, followed by a special farewell dinner.
Overnight: Gangler’s North Seal River Lodge

Flight to Winnipeg / Depart for U.S.

After breakfast, guests bid a fond farewell to the Gangler’s Lodge staff and board the return charter flight to Winnipeg to connect to flights home.