Great Northern Adventure
Visiting the Cree Village EcoLodge 
Moose Factory, ON.
From Toronto, you take the Ontario Northland Northlander and Polar Bear Express to the southern end of James Bay with an overnight along the way. Experience the culture and adventure of a visit to northern Canada and the aboriginal culture that existed here before white explorers and ultimately settlers.
(To see more on aboriginal/indigenous ecotravel, look for this symbol on the Green Concierge Travel web site or see Resources - Indigenous Tourism.)
As this itinerary starts and finishes in Toronto, you can add on a few days at either end of this trip to explore this wonderful "green" urban center. View the itinerary on the Green Concierge Travel web site for ideas of what Toronto offers a green traveler!
Day 1 - Thursday
You head towards James Bay boarding the Ontario Northland Northlander. The Northlander departs from Union Station just off Front Street at 8:40 AM. The Northlander takes you northwest from Toronto to Cochrane, your jumping off point to James Bay. The Northlander offers a comfortable way to enjoy the scenery and is fully equipped with a dining car, wash rooms and space to read, knit, play cards or just enjoy the scenery.
You arrive in the city of Cochrane at 7:25 PM. The train for Moosonee departs daily at 9:50 AM; so tonight, you will be staying in Cochrane at The Best Western Swan Inn OR The Station Inn. If you did not have dinner on board the train, within walking distance are several options including the Station Inn's own restaurant. You may want to spend one day here in Cochrane as it serves as a strategic point for northern exploration.
Day 2 - Friday
Thursday morning you board the Northbound Polar Bear Express. Note that this train can accommodate vehicles, canoes, and snow mobiles depending on the time of year. The train departs at 9 AM winding 186 miles north through Fraserdale, Coral Rapids, Moose River and finally Moosonee. You arrive after having lunch in the dining car ready to take the last step to your destination, The Cree Village EcoLodge on Moose Factory Island at the mouth of the Moose River as it enters James Bay.
You arrive at the dock by land taxi. A water taxi will drop you directly at the Cree Village docks in front of the Ecolodge. Moose Factory, previously known as Moose Fort was settled in 1673, the oldest English settlement in Ontario. Henry Hudson landed here in 1610 on his search for a trade route to Asia. The settlement remained in isolation until the railroad arrived in 1931 at the sister city Moosonee.
The Cree Village Ecolodge was constructed in 2000 and featured in natural Home Magazine in the Jan/Feb 2005 Issue as one of the Top 10 Eco-destinations in North America. The lodge is "designed and operated by the MoCreebec people in accordance with traditional values and a focus on Cree cultural and ecological sustainability" (from the lodge web site, www.creevillage.com). Using local and natural materials such as stone, wood and fibers, the lodge has 20 rooms and provides a comfortable base for exploration, relaxation and reconnecting with the spirit within.
But by now its late afternoon and all your really want to do is settle in to your room and enjoy a quiet evening with dinner at the lodge's restaurant, the Shaapuhtuwaan restaurant. The translation "long teepee with doors at each end" is a clear reference to the architecture found in this space. The food is inspired by modern takes on traditional dishes using local ingredients as available including some grown in the lodge's own garden! Wild rice, bison and caribou can be found at different times on the restaurant's menu reflecting both the geographic location but also the lodge's support for other indigenous operations. Vegetarians can be accommodated upon request.
Day 3 - 5, Saturday through Monday
For the next three days you can explore by foot, boat and bike the island, the local area and James Bay where the freshwater of the interior meets the saltwater of the sea and wildlife abound. "Cree Village Ecolodge and Moose Factory Island activities focus on traditional skills, the fur trade history, contemporary Cree life, and musical and cultural events. You are invited to explore Moose Factory Island and the James Bay region." (From the Cree Village Lodge web site, www.creevillage.com)
Choose from options offered at the lodge or create your own adventure and picnic. The lodge lists: boat tours to James Bay, a sunset tour around Moose Island, a tour looking at the details of the ecolodge and the vision that created it, self guided paddles or a bike around town. And of course you can walk on paths on the island.
Day 5 - Monday
You depart the lodge feeling refreshed taking a water taxi back to the dock at Moosonee. The Polar Express departs Moosonee at 5:00 PM and will carry you back south through the remote areas. You board the train as the afternoon merges into the evening. Traveling south, you enjoy dinner and the sunset in this remote part of Ontario.
You arrive back in Cochrane late in the evening about 9:45 PM. Once again, you check in to your hotel content to relax and head for bed.
Day 6 - Tuesday
The final leg of your journey is back aboard the Northlander heading south from Cochrane to Toronto at 8 AM. The train provides the time and space to relax and reflect on your journey to Moose Island Factory and the Cree Ecolodge. It is a window into history, the stories of survival and the shared peace and quiet of the north woods.
The train trip provides transition time from this experience to the urban scene of Toronto. You arrive mid-evening having eaten on board. This is the end of the line for the Northlander and the end of this northern adventure.
Trip Summary
DAYS/NIGHTS: 6 Days/5 Nights
ESTIMATED COST: $ 1456.00 for two
This includes: round trip train tickets from Toronto to Cochrane; Cochrane to Moosonee; Boat taxi round trip; 2 nights at Best Western Swan Castle Inn; 3 nights at the Cree Ecolodge. It does not include: meals; transportation to and from Toronto; lodging in Toronto; activities/tours at the Cree Lodge; trip insurance.
If you are interested in booking this eco-adventure or want to design your own with Green Concierge Travel, send us an email to get started at info@greenconciergetravel.com. Or just give us a call ++1 877.200.2840 toll free or ++1 608.204.2717.
TRAVEL PHILANTHROPY:
Green Concierge Travel encourages its clients to participate in Travel Philanthropy. Travel Philanthropy is the practice of giving back to the destination. This can be through volunteer work and, or donations to an organization working to protect the local culture and environment.
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