Almost everyone enjoys the great outdoors, and one of the best places on the planet to do this is in Manitoba, Canada. In this guide, we look at some great outdoor experiences you shouldn’t miss.

Located within the heart of Canada, bordered by Saskatchewan and Ontario, North Dakota and Minnesota, Manitoba is a multi-cultural hub of exploration and adventure, spanning over 250 square miles.

It is home to a spectacular variety of wildlife and natural wonders and the ideal place to watch the northern lights and see polar bears and beluga whales.

For 2020, there are some spectacular new experiences for you to try. These include outdoor adventures, wildlife tours, excursions in Churchill and more.

Understand the ‘chirps and whistles’ of Churchill’s beluga whales

New in 2020 and launching in July, Frontiers North Adventure’s six-day tour, Conservation Journey: Beluga Whales, combines field education and adventure.

The trip ventures into the Churchill River estuary, where over 4,000 beluga whales swim into the warm, shallow waters each summer to feed and give birth.

The tour is accompanied by leading beluga whale researcher and ocean scientist Valeria Vergara, who is on hand to teach travellers about beluga whale biology and ocean health, as well as the behaviour and the ‘chirps and whistles’ of Churchill’s beluga whales.

Partial proceeds from the tour are donated to Ocean Wise, a global ocean conservation organisation, to help achieve its vision of a world where oceans are healthy and flourishing.

Experience AquaGliding and get up close and personal with beluga whales

Last summer, Lazy Bear Expeditions launched AquaGliding, a water adventure enabling travellers to glide on a floating mat, tethered to a Zodiac, on the Churchill River or Hudson Bay and watch the beluga whales in their natural habitat.

This year, the tour operator is introducing a new glass-bottomed catamaran for travellers to view the whales without getting wet!

Embark on a wildlife and wellness trip of a lifetime

Combining intimate wildlife encounters with guided wellness and mindfulness activities, travellers can enjoy four days of hiking, meditation, and fitness classes with Corrina Anne-Poss of Limitless Motion on Churchill Wild’s new wildlife and wellness package.

Staying at Nanuk Polar Bear Lodge, travellers are surrounded by a diverse ecosystem which is home to Canadian icons, including polar bears, black bears, wolves and moose.

Come sundown, travellers can enjoy the northern lights shimmering across the night sky.

With an average of 300 days of aurora activity in northern Manitoba, guests may be lucky enough to take part in an outdoor yoga session under the aurora.

Enjoy the colours of Churchill this autumn

Travellers can experience the autumnal colours of Churchill from land, water and sky. Soaring over the vast tundra in a helicopter, travellers can enjoy views of Hudson Bay’s coastline and the town of Churchill from above.

There will be a chance to spot polar bears, beluga whales, moose, caribou, red and arctic fox, ptarmigan and arctic hare on the tundra in the fall.

On the ground, travellers will learn about Churchill’s cultural and natural heritage with a Parks Canada presentation, as well as go on a guided interpretive walk to see the colours of the boreal forest come to life.

Spend the night under the Northern Lights in Churchill

Travellers looking to tick off the Northern Lights from their bucket list should look no further than Nanuk Operations’ award-winning ‘Nights Under Lights’ Aurora viewing tour in Churchill.

The tour offers the very best of Churchill in the winter, including cosy evenings in a modern yurt nestled in the boreal forest to view the Northern Lights, as well as dog sledging, hikes and town tours of Churchill and its famous sites.

For more information about Manitoba, please visit www.travelmanitoba.com.

Images courtesy of Travel Manitoba.