Classic Churchill Polar Bear Adventure by Train
Trip Overview
The Classic Churchill Polar Bear Adventure by Train tour is led by an Interpretive Guide and includes a two-night train journey that winds through Manitoba and Saskatchewan to Churchill; a town only accessible by train or plane. There, guests will spend time getting to know the wondrous charm of the town of Churchill, while also spending plenty of time on the tundra watching majestic polar bears, and other arctic wildlife, in their natural habitat.
This hotel-based adventure offers the excitement of polar bear viewing from a Tundra Buggy®, and the opportunity to take in the eclectic charm of this remote northern town.
Our Classic Churchill Polar Bear Adventure by Train includes two full-day Tundra Buggy safaris in the Churchill Wildlife Management Area (CWMA), where polar bears await the freezing of the Hudson Bay. You will have plenty of opportunity to explore the CWMA for these majestic mammals and other subarctic wildlife in their natural environment.
Indulge in and explore the history and culture of Churchill at the Itsanitaq Museum, home to a large collection of Inuit artifacts including traditional carvings and kayaks. Next, take in the Parks Canada Visitor Centre for its in- depth displays revealing the history of Churchill, dating back to the fur trade era and beyond. You can even race through the boreal forest with a local dog musher and team of enthusiastic sled dogs by partaking in the traditional northern sport of dog sledding.
Sitting on the edge of the Hudson Bay, built on deep Indigenous roots and home to Canada’s most iconic wildlife, the town of Churchill is a must-visit destination for those who seek an authentic Canadian adventure!
Formerly known as: Churchill Town and Tundra Experience - Enthusiast - VIA Rail.
Interpretive-Guided: Our most well-rounded adventures, these tours include lodging and transportation with a mix of cultural and wildlife or northern lights viewing activities built in. Interpretive-guided tours are medium-capacity, escorted departures so you can sit back and relax while we take care of all the details.
The Experience
Visit Churchill by train and experience the charm of the town while spending time viewing Churchill’s incredible polar bears.
Day 01
Welcome to Winnipeg
I flew into Winnipeg today and I am so excited to go on my Churchill polar bear tour! My home for the night is the Inn at the Forks, which is just across the street from the VIA Rail Station at the Forks, a popular tourist destination. After checking in and having dinner in the hotel restaurant, I head to an evening meet-and-greet held by our Frontiers North Interpretive Guide where our group has the chance to ask last minute questions and learn more about what our adventure holds!
Day 02
The Train Voyage Begins
After breakfast at the hotel I have a bit of free time to walk around the Forks before our train departure in the early afternoon. We all meet at the train station with our Interpretive Guide and board the train. The travel arrangements on the train are private sleeper cabins, but there are plenty of opportunities to socialize with my fellow travellers during meals!
Photo © Taylor Cole
Day 03
Day on Train
We wake up on the train for our first full day. We enjoy a delicious breakfast in the dining car and afterwards I snuggle up with a book and a cup of coffee in my birth. As we are travelling, I notice the landscape is beginning to change. First from prairie grasslands thick with trees to boggy muskeg with stunted growth. In the late afternoon we arrive in Thompson, one of this route's major stops.
While some people board the train I spend an hour exploring Thompson. We once again board the train for our final leg to Churchill.
Photo © VIA Rail Canada
Day 04
Churchill Adventure Begins
We wake up early in the morning for breakfast before arriving in Churchill around 9 a.m. We're here!
Upon arrival, we head straight out on a Churchill and area tour which comprises of an exploratory drive in the area surrounding the town of Churchill, including historical Cape Merry; the site of a crashed airplane affectionately known by locals as Miss Piggy; and Manitoba Conservation’s Polar Bear Holding Facility.
We take a break for lunch and enjoy a warm, home-cooked meal at one of Churchill’s family run restaurants – who knew Churchill had such incredible food?
Next we're treated to a true piece of northern culture: a dog sled excursion! We participate in a dog sledding program with local dog musher Dave Daley of Wapusk Adventures. Dave regales us with his incredible dog sledding stories, introduces us to his dog team and then takes our group on a mile-long dog sled ride through the boreal forest.
We head to our hotel where we have a chance to freshen up before enjoying a wonderful dinner. Our final activity of the day is an evening cultural presentation by a local who tells us about growing up in Churchill.
Photo © Abby Matheson
Day 05
Tundra Buggy Adventure
It’s our first day on a Tundra Buggy®! After breakfast our group is picked up right from our hotel and transferred out to the Tundra Buggy Dock where we board our Tundra Buggy. After a safety speech from our Tundra Buggy driver, we hit the trails and travel into the Churchill Wildlife Management Area (CWMA)!
Our Tundra Buggy Driver navigates the bumpy trails of the CWMA in search of polar bears and other subarctic wildlife while our interpretive guide points out interesting facts about the area’s geology and history. We enjoy a delicious picnic lunch right on the Tundra Buggy as we watch and photograph wildlife.
At the end of an incredible first day on the tundra, we return to town for a warm dinner and relaxing evening. What a great day!
Photo © Frontiers North Adventures
Day 06
Explore Churchill
I am so excited for today as our activities focus is on northern culture. Our first activity is a visit to the Parks Canada Visitor Centre, which has in depth displays that reveal the remarkable history of Churchill through wildlife dioramas and exhibits that portray the history of the fur trade in the area.
Next we pay a visit to Polar Bears International House, where we receive a short talk from a Polar Bears International Ambassador who teaches us about polar bears around the world, polar bear research, climate change and more. We also tour the Interpretive Centre and learn how to support polar bear conservation efforts!
After lunch it's off to Churchill's Itsanitaq Museum, home to an enormous collection of Inuit artifacts honouring the town’s Indigenous history and culture. I've learned so much about Churchill today!
Photo © Doug Ross
Day 07
Final Tundra Buggy Adventure
Today is our second and final Tundra Buggy adventure. Since it's our last day in Churchill, we pack our bags and leave them securely at the hotel. We are picked up and transferred to the Tundra Buggy Dock. There is no need for a safety speech today, and we set out right away to search for polar bears.
It is another great day on the tundra, full of extraordinary wildlife and many chances to get great photos. Once again we enjoy a picnic style lunch on the Tundra Buggy. It’s been a successful day on the tundra and our entire group celebrates our amazing luck to have been able to see polar bears in the wild.
As our day comes to an end, so does our time in Churchill. We are transferred back to the Churchill airport for our return flight to Winnipeg. When we arrive in Winnipeg we check into the Four Points by Sheraton Hotel at the Winnipeg airport. The night is ours to do as we wish, which gives me a lot of time to look over all the photos I took!
Photo © Robert R. Taylor
Day 08
Depart Winnipeg
I wake up happy, thinking back on my wonderful polar bear adventure. What an amazing experience! Today I check out of my hotel and head home, ready to share my adventures with family and friends!
Itinerary
Day 01
Welcome to Winnipeg
Guests will arrive into Winnipeg and make their own way to Inn at the Forks hotel; Evening meet and greet hosted by Frontiers North Interpretive Guide. Meals: None
Day 02
The Train Voyage Begins
Board VIA Rail train early afternoon; Begin first leg of journey to Churchill; Overnight on train. Meals: B, L, D
Day 03
Day on Train
Continue on journey from Winnipeg to Churchill; Overnight on train. Meals: B, L, D
Day 04
Churchill Adventure Begins
Morning arrival into Churchill; Churchill and area tour; Dog sledding and interpretive program; Evening cultural presentation; Overnight at Churchill hotel. Meals: B, L, D
Day 05
Tundra Buggy Adventure
Full-day Tundra Buggy adventure in the Churchill Wildlife Management Area; Overnight at Churchill hotel. Meals: B, L, D
Day 06
Explore Churchill
Parks Canada Visitor Centre; PBI House; Itsanitaq Museum; Overnight at Churchill hotel. Meals: B, L, D
Day 07
Final Tundra Buggy Adventure
Full-day Tundra Buggy adventure in the Churchill Wildlife Management Area; Evening flight to Winnipeg; Guests will check into their hotel at the Winnipeg airport. Meals: B, L, D
Day 08
Depart Winnipeg
Guests may depart Winnipeg at their leisure. Meals: None
Testimonials
"We had an experience of a lifetime! This tour and the chance to see polar bears was #1 on our "bucket list. My husband gave this to me as my 10 year anniversary present, how will he ever top this experience?"
Kelly and Joe - New York, USA
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