You'll find them where the icy shore of the Hudson's Bay freezes first. They follow an ancient migratory route repeated since time immemorial to begin their annual autumn seal hunt. To see them, venture out to Churchill, Manitoba - the undisputed "Polar Bear capital of the world". Our small group tour observes polar bears from the safety and comfort of specially designed Tundra Buggies that travel through this sub-Arctic wonderland. Watch out for the Aurora Borealis, take on dog sledding, lock eyes with a curious bear approaching the buggy, and absorb the wonders that only the North offers.

Highlights

• View polar bears in the Churchill Wildlife Management Area during their annual seal hunt via a six-wheel tundra buggy.
• Visit the Itsanitaq Museum, home to one of the largest collections of Inuit art in the world.
• Embark on a dog sledding excursion led by a local Churchill resident, learning about the history of dog sledding.
• Soak in the history of Churchill, encountering Cape Merry and Fort Churchill, the Parks Canada Visitor Centre, and famous town landmarks.
• Discover the region’s other unique wildlife, such as arctic foxes, lemmings, ptarmigans, and gyrfalcons.
• If you're lucky - observe the Aurora Borealis dancing across the sky.

7 Day Suggested Itinerary
Day 1 - Winnipeg
Our small group tour arrives in Winnipeg for our first step of the journey. Overnight accommodation is provided at Lakeview by Wyndham. There will be an evening orientation with tour members.

Day 2 - Winnipeg to Churchill
Breakfast is included at our hotel. After we eat, we embark on an early morning flight from Winnipeg to Churchill. Upon arrival, our group will enjoy a Churchill tour, visiting historic points of interest such as the Manitoba Conservation’s Polar Bear Holding Facility and the Inukshuk at town beach. Afterwards, we’ll experience a breathtaking panoramic view of the Churchill River, Hudson Bay, and Prince of Wales Fort at Cape Merry. A popular place for viewing wildlife, you can get an in-depth look at the role Cape Merry played in the history of Prince of Wales Fort. You will see Hudson's Bay Company fortifications, cannon, remnants of the powder magazine, and the signatures of historic people carved into the rocks. Other areas of interest include the Hudson's Bay shoreline, the area beaches with their Pre-Cambrian rocks and fossils and Goose Bay. We will observe plenty of birds and wildlife enroute. On this day, lunch and dinner are included in Churchill. Following dinner, the evening can be spent exploring Churchill’s authentic shops, enjoying a beverage at the local pub or relaxing at the hotel. We will be accommodated at the Tundra Inn for 3 nights.

Day 3 - Polar Bear Viewing in the Churchill Wildlife Management Area
Breakfast will be included at the Inn. We’ll depart in the morning to the fascinating tundra, where we’ll board the specially designed six-wheel-drive Tundra Buggy. We’ll spend this full day out via tundra buggy exploring the Churchill Wildlife Management area on an established network of trails. Often, curious polar bears will approach the vehicles providing wonderful close range encounters and excellent photographic opportunities. We will also look for Arctic foxes, caribou, lemmings, ptarmigans and white-phase Gyrfalcons. Lunch and refreshments will be served on board. At night, we will return to Churchill for dinner, included on this day. Churchill is one of the best places in the world to observe the Aurora Borealis. Should this occur during our stay, we’ll drive out of town to experience this incredible phenomena.

Day 4 - Dog Sledding and exploring the Town of Churchill
After our included breakfast this morning, we will be transferred just outside of town to Churchill’s boreal forests. Here, we will enjoy an interpretive program paired with an exciting dog sled excursion. Hosted by a local Churchill resident and dog sledding expert, guests will learn about the history associated with dog sledding, paired with a mile-long ride on a custom-built sled behind a strong team of huskies. Lunch will be included in town, which will precede a visit to the Parks Canada Centre, located in Churchill’s historic train station. Step back in time during this interpretive program as you learn about Churchill’s history - both man-made and natural. Next, we’ll visit the Itsanitaq Museum, home to one of the most extensive collections of Inuit art in the world. Dinner will be served at a local restaurant followed by a visit to Polar Bears International (PBI) House, an innovative public space allowing visitors to learn about polar bears, polar bear conservation and research. Here, we’ll enjoy an exclusive tour of the facilities followed by a private presentation hosted by PBI species experts.

Day 5 - Polar Bear Viewing in the Churchill Wildlife Management Area
Breakfast will be included at the Inn, after which we will depart for the tundra in the morning for a second full day of our tundra buggy adventure. Today, we will be accompanied by a Polar Bear International species expert who will share their wildlife expertise in the Churchill Wildlife Management area. A field lunch and refreshments will be served on board. After our adventure, we’ll return to town for a group dinner included with your tour. At 7:00pm, we’ll board the VIA Rail train for a 7:30 departure. We’ll spend the overnight in a sleeper car on the train!

Day 6 - VIA Rail Train
This will be our second evening aboard the train! We’ll have the full day to enjoy the transition of the sub-Arctic terrain, to boreal forest, to prairie landscape while we re-enter Winnipeg. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner will all be included on board.

Day 7 - Arrival in Winnipeg
Breakfast will be included on the train on this day. We are expected to arrive in Winnipeg by 4:45 pm. A post tour night in Winnipeg is recommended to book or anticipate for, in the case of a late train arrival. For an extra night in Winnipeg, add $185 CAD plus applicable taxes per room. Unfortunately, our adventure comes to a close here, but we’ve made memories and seen wildlife sightings that will be etched into our minds for a lifetime.

Pricing $ 5,910 USD / $ 7,520 CAD per person.

Pricing is dependant on the your choice of booking the upper or lower berth on the VIA Rail train.

Add $300 CAD / $225 USD if booking a one bed cabin on the train

Additional Information
Included:

• 2 nights on the VIA Rail train with a sleeping compartment
• 1 night in Winnipeg, 3 nights in Churchill
• Airfare between Winnipeg and Churchill
• All meals indicated in the itinerary
• 2 full days in comfortable, heated Tundra Buggies
• Escorted roads and trail excursion by a local naturalist
• Dog sledding
• Hotel taxes

Excluded:

• Any meals that are not explicitly mentioned in the detailed itinerary
• Alcoholic beverages
• Travel Insurance
• Optional gratuities
• Personal items
• Any additional excursions not listed in the detailed itinerary

OUR ACCOMMODATION:
Accommodation in Churchill is in a comfortable three-star hotel with a private bathroom facilities. The tour price is based on twin occupancy. On request, single travelers may be matched with a suitable roommate. A limited number of single rooms are available on request. The single supplement cost is not included in the tour cost.

OUR MEALS:
Breakfast and dinners are served at local restaurants in town. Lunches are served both as field style and in restaurants.

SIGHTSEEING:
A variety of sightseeing tours are included in the price to enhance your Arctic experience. Local guides will provide insight to the history and wildlife of the area.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
This program should not present any difficulty to persons in reasonable physical condition. There will be some walking on rocky terrain. Proper outdoor clothing should be carried at all times. The trip is suitable for families although not recommended for children under 8.

WEATHER:
The weather conditions are generally stable.

Tours of Exploration by Adventica guide: Catherine Evans
For over 30 years, Catherine Evans has applied a mission of “enriching lives through nature & cultural travel”, achieving this by linking conscientious travellers to like-minded hosts in remote destinations on all seven continents. She has been involved with many innovative projects that earned recognition including an Ecoliteracy Field School; a multi-disciplined arts retreat in the wilderness; volunteerism projects with whale researchers in both the Atlantic and Pacific waters; and an ecotourism project with three communities in rural Costa Rica. In 1998 CBC’s Marketplace awarded her company Tours of Exploration “10/10” for their Ecotourism practices. Catherine Evans is an Associate Faculty member at Royal Roads University in the Tourism & Hospitality Department for both Graduate and Undergraduate studies. This will be her fourth journey to Churchill.

Contact us for more information on this wild adventure