Welcome to Hooked on Canada and our rail holidays in Canada. One of the last discovered rail journeys linking Metropolitan Toronto to the edge of the Arctic sea. This last discovered rail journey links several railroads together - The Ontario Northland – the Dreamcatcher Express – and the Polar Bear Express trains - and the fabled Algoma Central (ACR). On this trip you can visit the first English speaking colonial outpost in Ontario on Moose Factory Island. Travel alongside local families to the maritime Cree outpost of Moose Factory Island. Experience James Bay, the Agawa Canyon and a Wilderness Island retreat. This trip is not to be missed!

10 DAYS / 9 NIGHTS
Starts in Toronto and ends in Sault Ste Marie
Available weekly departing on Mondays from June 27th to August 22nd

Day 01 Monday: Toronto to Cochrane
Check in for the Ontario Northlander Train in downtown Toronto at the special passenger desk inside Union Station. Today’s routing will gently take you from the heart of metropolitan Toronto, through the northern suburbs in a north-westerly direction towards Georgian Bay, which is often referred to as the unofficial sixth Great Lake. The Ontario Northland is an actual transportation connector between southern and northern Ontario and you are as likely to meet mining engineers, tree surgeons or Cree First Nations residents returning home after some time in “the south” as you might your fellow travelers. Communities visited on this first day are Washago, Gravenhurst, Bracebridge, Huntsville, South River, North Bay, Temagami, Cobalt, New Liskeard, Englehart, Swastika, Matheson and Cochrane. 

Day 02: Tuesday Cochrane to Moosonee and Moose factory Island
Today you will be riding the fabled Polar Bear Express train between Cochrane and Moosonee which is the end of the rail line. This train services the coastal communities of Moosonee and Moose Factory Island and because there few roads north of Cochrane and non which serve the coast, you will see local residents loading the train with household purchases from the more developed south. During the night your train will have substantially grown with the addition of several “flat cars” on which local residents carry their trucks back home to the Arctic watershed. Boarding time is 09:00 and arrival time in Moosonee is 13:50. There is a diner on the train and a traditional dining car as well as an entertainment car, so you will have lots of choice for lunch. The Polar Bear Express travels along 250 Kilometres of pristine wild countryside, crossing the Moose River on high trestle bridges for which Canadian railroads are so famous and eventually reaching the end of the line at Moosonee. On arrival in Moosonee it is a short stroll down the dusty unpaved main street to the wharf. We have assisters located at the rail station who will help with general directions and any other advice you need. Alternately it’s a four minute taxi ride to the wharf. The journey across to Moose Factory Island is undertaken by traditional freighter canoes, generally 24 feet long and often with a Perspex canopy. These are operated by local Cree First Nations residents and they travel quite fast, making the lodge in about fifteen exciting minutes. The Cree Eco Lodge is a locally owned enterprise and occupies a dominant position on the banks of the Moose River. Your boat operator will take you to the lodge landing and your accommodation will be ready as you arrive. The Cree Eco Lodge has a full service restaurant and for snacks there are several modest shopping outlets distributed around the community.

Day 03 Wednesday: On Moose factory Island
 The history of this period British outpost is forever linked with the British expansion into North America, the fur trade, the Hudson Bay Company and the decade long struggle with the French for access to the riches of this land. It was a lonely, far-from-home colonial outpost and evidence of this can be seen in the cemetery and the museum. It was also the first English speaking community in Ontario and a fort was built here in the 1670’s! Today you will be able to visit Moose Factory Island with a resident Cree First Nations guide and discuss how life was back in colonial times and how life is now in this remote community. Later we have planned a freighter canoe ride onto James Bay so that you can get a broader perspective of Moose Factory Island from the water.

Day 04 Thursday: Moose Factory Island to Cochrane
The southbound Polar Bear Express does not leave Moosonee until 17:00 which gives you ample time to explore the island and take a late ferry across to Moosonee. By the time you arrive in Cochrane it might be too late for dinner, so we suggest dining on the train in either the diner or the restaurant car. Accommodation is again reserved in Cochrane in the station or across the road.

Day 05: Friday in Cochrane – swim with the polar bears !
Today is a day to reflect on the experiences of Moosonee and historic Moose Factory Island and to explore the two interesting attractions in this northern Ontario outpost. We suggest strolling across to the combined Polar Bear Habitat and Heritage Village, which is about fifteen to twenty minutes walk through the local community opposite the Cochrane railway station. This is an experience that will astound your friends back home. At the Polar Bear Habitat and Heritage Village you can 'swim with the polar bears'. There's a wading pool beside the polar bear pool and you are separated from the great white giants by a thick protective glass divider. The heritage village is an excellent example of life in rural Ontario and contains some mouth watering examples of restored cars trucks, snowmobiles and homes.

Day 06 Saturday Cochrane to Hearst
Our transfer to Hearst is scheduled for early evening and it is possible to arrange for a fishing or boating expedition on one of the local lakes before you leave Cochrane.

Day 07 Sunday: Hearst to trackside mile 206 – Wilderness Lodge
The Algoma Central Railroad is another of Ontario’s northern rail lines, offering a life line to far flung communities and services the massive local forest industry. It is also one of the world’s few “flag stop” trains where the entire service halts when requested by a rural resident. Our particular flag stop is at mile 206 where we offload our luggage onto a waiting boat for the journey across to our wilderness island retreat in the massive Chapleau nature reserve.
Accommodation is reserved at the Wilderness Lodge on a full board basis commencing with dinner on arrival and ending with breakfast on departure.

Day 08 Monday: Wilderness Island retreat
Your stay in the Wilderness Island Retreat includes use of small fishing boats, canoes and Kayaks as well as a full board meal plan including breakfast lunch and dinner. The Chapleau Nature Reserve is an actual Boreal Forest located quite near Lake Superior and you will need you camera handy to capture the images of their neighbourly Black Bear, Moose, Loons, Bald Eagles and other wildlife which makes this their home. 

Day 09 Tuesday: Mile 206 to Sault Ste Marie
After an early breakfast its time to board the lodge boat and rejoin the Algoma Central Railroad as it makes its way south to Sault Ste Marie. Remember to pack along some refreshments as this remote train does not have any dining facilities. There are several rural communities which are served by the “ACR” and the train goes slow to enable the crew to pick up and drop off residents near their homes. Mid way through the day the ACR winds lazily through the amazing Agawa Canyon, so have your camera handy for the most stunning views, often enhanced by equally stunning sunsets. Early evening you arrive in Sault Ste Marie and stroll across to your nearby hotel for a final night in northern Ontario

Day 10 Wednesday. Sault Ste Marie - home
After a restful night it’s time to return home or onward on your Canadian adventure holiday.

Prices per person 2012

To view our other train holidays in Canada : Mountain Express , Rockies Express , Atlantic Express , Corridor Express , Gaspe Express , Polar Bear Express

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