- Group Size 12 People Maximum
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Activity Level
Moderate
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Travel Style
Communities Up Close
Traveling with Atlas Obscura during COVID-19
When you join one of our trips, we want you to have peace of mind.
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Traveling with Atlas Obscura amid COVID-19 How We’re Adapting Our Trips Destination Requirements (via Embassy Pages)On an otherwise uneventful spring afternoon in 1967, prospector Stefan Michalak saw something suddenly drop from the sky. According to his account, he cautiously approached the mysterious dome just in time for it to rocket off, setting his shirt ablaze. Hours later, doctors puzzled over the strange sores that had begun to emerge in a grid-like pattern across his chest.
While Michalak’s tale may seem uncommon, it’s just one of the many inexplicable experiences that can be traced back to Manitoba. The region has long had its fix of intimate brushes with the otherworldly, from Bigfoot sightings to hauntings that have earned Winnipeg the title of the “Ectoplasm Capital of the World.” Over the course of six days, we’ll delve into the mystical and the mysterious.
- Esoteric architecture
- Spiritual traditions
- Unexplained mysteries
- Memorials and ghosts
Itinerary
Day 1: Welcome to Winnipeg!
Arrive in Winnipeg, the historic capital of Manitoba, and settle into your hotel before meeting your group and Tour Leader for dinner.
Fort Garry Hotel (or similar), Winnipeg
Welcome Dinner
Day 2: Mystic City Winnipeg
After breakfast, we’ll take a guided tour of the Exchange District, a collection of heritage buildings heralded as the “Chicago of the North” due to their architectural similarities to the Windy City. As we walk along cobblestone streets glimpsing terracotta-clad buildings and historic industrial architecture, we’ll learn about the driving forces that turned Winnipeg into a hub for industry and culture. We'll learn about the hidden meanings behind architectural elements such as sphinxes, hieroglyphics, numerological codes, and Masonic Symbols.
Later in the day we'll learn about the District's haunted side before grabbing dinner at the junction of the Red and Assiniboine rivers, a public space which has been a meeting place for over 6,000 years from the INdigenous people trading there followed by European fur traders, Scottish settlers, railway pioneers, and tens of thousands of immigrants.
Fort Garry Hotel, Winnipeg
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 3: Spirit
This morning we'll spend learning about the area's connection to Sasquatch and the famous Lily Pond.
After lunch, we'll step back in time and discover how bison influenced the history of Manitoba and the lives of Indigenous peoples and pioneers.
Fort Garry Hotel, Winnipeg
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 4: Supernatural
It doesn't get more 'unexplained' than a visit to Falcon Lake, one of North America's most well-documented UFO sightings.
Learn all about that fateful day in May 1967 while exploring the site where it happened.
Later that day we'll visit a Victorian mansion back in Winnipeg built in a time when new technology collided with old traditions, resulting in an obsession with the macabre and the paranormal.
Fort Garry Hotel, Winnipeg
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 5: Parks and Ghosts
Today we'll get back out into nature with a visit to Assiniboine Park to learn about their conservation efforts.
After a local meal, we'll finish out our trip with a grand séance in an infamous hotel room that has been haunted ever since a tragedy occurred within it's very walls.
A farewell dinner will follow, hopefully without any unexpected lingering guests....
Fort Garry Hotel, Winnipeg
Lunch, Dinner
Day 6: Farewell & Departure
After a week immersed in local lore, indigenous spirituality, esoteric symbolism, and close encounters of the third kind—or perhaps just cosmically wonderful new friends—it’s time to say our goodbyes and head home. Until our next adventure!
The listed price of this trip is per person based on double occupancy. For those traveling by themselves, single accommodations can be provided, subject to availability and the latest Covid-19 guidelines, at an additional cost of $330. Please contact us to request a single room.
Travelers should feel comfortable walking three to five miles over the course of each day and remaining outside and on their feet for long periods of time. We’ll be walking both in the city and in more rural, wooded areas, as well as staying up late on our final night for the evening of supernatural investigation.
We'll be staying at Tonkiri Lodge in rural Manitoba for one night of the trip. The guest house is very comfortable and clean, but note that you'll need to use rustic, outhouse-style toilets. There is no internet or cellular signal on the entire property; be prepared to spend approximately 24 hours disconnected from the grid. You'll also want to pack bug spray—there can be a lot of mosquitos out in the woods.
For flights in and out of Winnipeg James Armstrong Richardson International Airport (YWG), you should plan to arrive by 4 p.m. on Day 1 and depart any time on Day 6.
- Accommodation throughout the trip at in a comfortable, modern hotel throughout the trip.
- All meals described in the itinerary.
- Transportation throughout the trip.
- An experienced local guide to accompany you for the duration of the trip, as well as special guests throughout.
- Admission to all proposed activities.
- A great group of fellow Atlas Obscura travelers, excited to explore all that Manitoba has to offer!
- 24/7 emergency assistance during your trip, provided by Global Rescue.
- Transportation to and from Winnipeg.
- Pre- and post-trip accommodations.
- Airport transfers.
- Travel insurance (recommended).
- Additional meals and drinks outside of Atlas Obscura offerings, including most alcoholic beverages.
- Applying for a Canadian visa, if applicable.
Trip FAQ
What will the weather be like?
June is a lovely time of year in Manitoba. You can expect daily temperatures in late June between 72 to 78 (°F), rarely falling below 59°F.
Can dietary restrictions be accommodated?
Yes, we can accommodate any dietary restrictions or allergies, as long as you give us advanced notice.
What if I want to visit some of Winnipeg's more classic sites?
If this will be your first trip to Winnipeg, we recommend staying a day or two before or after the trip to visit any more traditional tourist sites that are not included in the itinerary. We recommend the Manitoba Museum, the Royal Canadian Mint, and the Journey to Churchill.
Will I need a visa?
Visa requirements for Canada vary depending on traveler citizenship. Please check requirements for travel to Canada and any countries passed through in transit. A passport is required for international travel. We recommend your passport expire at least six months after your return home.
Upcoming Departures
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Jun 16–Jun 21, 2022$2,865 from $2,578Inquire To Book
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