Photo by Zhang Yongpeng
Conservation Journey®: Beluga Whales
Visit the Beluga Whale Capital of the World!
Duration
6 Nights
Departure city
Winnipeg
Season
Jul - Aug
Starting from
-$0
Single Supplement
$1,031
This exclusive tour combines immersive education and adventure to create a unique opportunity to experience Churchill’s coastal waters with an experienced marine expert.
Our Conservation Journey®: Beluga Whales adventure is the experience of a lifetime and offers a unique opportunity to view beluga whales alongside a leading expert and participate in exclusive presentations on ongoing research.
Travel alongside renowned beluga whale scientist Jaclyn Aubin from the Raincoast Conservation Foundation, and immerse yourself in the fascinating world of beluga whale science. Witness these incredible cetaceans by the hundreds in their natural habitat while gaining a deeper understanding of their biology, ecology, and conservation.
A portion of the proceeds from this trip directly supports Raincoast Conservation Foundation’s Cetacean Research Program, contributing to the protection of beluga whales and their habitat. This trip is designed for travellers seeking a meaningful adventure and a profound connection to these remarkable marine mammals.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Travel with a Raincoast Conservation Foundation cetacean scientist
- Kayak with playful beluga whales
- Tundra Buggy® adventure in the CWMA
- Tour the historic Prince of Wales Fort
- Exclusive tour of the Beluga Boat behind explore.org’s livestream
Raincoast Conservation Foundation Cetacean Scientist-Guided Trip!
Day 1
Welcome To Winnipeg
Guests will arrive into Winnipeg and check into their hotel at the Winnipeg airport; Assiniboine Park Conservancy; Welcome reception hosted by a Frontiers North Interpretive Guide; Overnight at Winnipeg hotel.
Winnipeg
Day 2
Churchill Adventure Begins
Early morning flight to Churchill; Churchill and area tour; Presentation from beluga whale researcher and marine mammal scientist; Behind the scenes Beluga Boat tour; Overnight at Churchill hotel.
Welcome to Churchill
Day 3
Kayaking with Beluga Whales and Museums
Morning kayaking with beluga whales; Itsanitaq Museum; Parks Canada Visitor Centre; Overnight at Churchill hotel.
Day 4
Beluga Whale Zodiac tour and Coastal Hike
Beluga Whale Zodiac tour on the Churchill River; Cultural Presentation from a local Churchillian; Churchill Northern Studies Centre; Coastal Hike; Overnight at Churchill hotel.
OBSERVE BELUGAS WITH AN EXPERT
View beluga whales alongside a leading cetacean researcher, gaining first-hand insights into their behaviour and ecology—an unparalleled chance to ask your scientific questions.
THOUSANDS OF BELUGA WHALES
Each summer, 3,000–4,000 beluga whales gather in the Churchill River, raising their young and feeding in its shallow, sheltered waters.
CANARIES OF THE SEA
Don’t just watch—hear beluga whales sing! Use a hydrophone to listen to their vocalizations and learn from a scientist what their sounds mean.
Day 5
Dog Carting, Beluga Whales. and Prince of Wales Fort
Dog Carting and Interpretive Program; Beluga whale viewing and boat tour of the Churchill River; Interpretive walking tour of Prince of Wales Fort; Polar Bears International House; Overnight at Churchill hotel.
Day 6
Tundra Buggy® Adventure
Tundra Buggy® adventure in the Churchill Wildlife Management Area; Evening flight to Winnipeg; Overnight at Winnipeg hotel.
Wildlife Viewing
Day 7
Depart Adventure
Guests depart Winnipeg at their leisure.
Full Trip Details
Conservation Journey®: Beluga Whales
What to Expect:
Frequently Asked Questions
This tour emphasizes both education and adventure, offering guests the unique opportunity to accompany a leading marine mammal scientist to observe wild beluga whales. Participants will gain firsthand insight into beluga whale communication and behaviour, while contributing to ongoing conservation efforts.
The tour is co-hosted with the Raincoast Conservation Foundation, supporting their Cetacean Conservation Research Program and accompanied by Jaclyn Aubin. Who is a Canadian whale researcher based in the Mennill lab at University of Windsor, working in collaboration with the Groupe de Recherche et d’Éducation sur les Mammifères Marins, and RainCoast Conservation Foundation. She has been studying St. Lawrence belugas since 2017. This population is listed as endangered: fewer than 900 belugas remain in the St. Lawrence Estuary. Jaclyn uses hydrophones, drones, and cameras to study the vocal behavior, social structure, and culture of St. Lawrence belugas with the goal of better protecting this endangered population.
Partial proceeds from this tour support the Cetacean Conservation Research Program, an initiative of the Raincoast Conservation Foundation. This program focuses on studying how cetaceans use sound, interpreting trends and impacts of underwater noise, and understanding beluga whale communication and behaviour.
Itinerary
Day 1
Arrive in Winnipeg and check into their hotel at the Winnipeg airport; tour of the Assiniboine Park Conservancy (Zoo); Welcome reception hosted by a Frontiers North Interpretive Guide.
Day 2
Early morning flight to Churchill; Churchill and area tour; Presentation from beluga whale researcher and marine mammal scientist; Overnight at Churchill hotel.
Day 3
Morning kayaking with beluga whales; Itsanitaq Museum; Parks Canada Visitor Centre; Overnight at Churchill hotel.
Day 4
Beluga Whale Zodiac tour on the Churchill River; Cultural Presentation from a local Churchillian; Churchill Northern Studies Centre; Coastal Hike; Overnight at Churchill hotel.
Day 5
Dog Carting and Interpretive Program; Beluga whale viewing and boat tour of the Churchill River; Interpretive walking tour of Prince of Wales Fort; Polar Bears International House; Overnight at Churchill hotel.
Day 6
Tundra Buggy® adventure in the Churchill Wildlife Management Area; Evening flight to Winnipeg; Overnight at Winnipeg hotel.
Day 7
Guests depart Winnipeg at their leisure.
Accommodations
- Churchill Hotel
- Winnipeg Hotel
Meals and Snacks
ALL MEALS ARE INCLUDED
While in Churchill, enjoy meals at restaurants like a local favourite the Ptarmigan.
*Any special dietary needs can be accommodated, please notify our team in advance.
Activities
Churchill and Area Tour
A guided bus tour of Churchill’s most notable sites, including the Polar Bear Holding Facility.
Activity Level:Moderate
Beluga Zodiac
A guided excursion into the Churchill River beluga whale estuary in an inflatable Zodiac boat.
Activity Level:High
Beluga and Fort Tour
On a Transport Canada approved vessel, discover hundreds of beluga whales in the mouth of the Churchill River. Then, across the river, a Parks Canada guided tour of Prince of Wales Fort National Historic Site of Canada; the oldest, most northerly stone fort in Canada.
Activity Level:High
Beluga Kayak or Stand Up Paddle Boarding
Experience an excursion into the beluga whale estuary in either a single- or double-seated kayak or stand up paddle board.
Activity Level:High
Tundra Buggy Adventure
Search for wildlife on a full-day Tundra Buggy adventure in the Churchill Wildlife Management Area.
Activity Level:Moderate
Dog Carting
Learn about Métis culture, the history of dog sledding and enjoy an exhilarating dog cart ride.
Activity Level:High
Itsanataq Museum
Tour one of Canada’s finest Inuit collections dating from pre- Dorset, Dorset, Thule and modern Inuit times.
Activity Level:Low
Polar Bears International Interpretive Presentation
Hear from a Polar Bear International representative and tour the centre to learn about polar bear research and climate change.
Activity Level:Low
Coastal Hike
Embark on a scenic morning coastal hike to the Churchill Northern Studies Centre.
Activity Level:High
Assiniboine Park Zoo
Go behind-the-scenes of the Journey to Churchill exhibit at the Assiniboine Park Zoo and learn about polar bears.
Activity Level:Moderate
Beluga Boat Tour
Get a behind-the-scenes tour of the Beluga Boat, a vessel documenting the belugas in the Churchill River.
Activity Level:Low
Cultural Presentation
An evening presentation from a local resident on the culture, history, wildlife and/or lifestyle of Churchill.
Activity Level:Low
Churchill Northern Studies Centre
Tour Churchill's independent field station dedicated to the research of the subarctic region, established in 1976.
Activity Level:Moderate
On the Tundra Buggy
Info about safety & comfort on the Tundra Buggy, as well as the experience on the TB—how many guides, what’s provided, and where you’ll go.
Getting to Churchill
Return airfare; direct from Winnipeg to Churchill.
*Guests are responsible for their own travel to Winnipeg.