Churchill Town and Tundra Experience - Enthusiast - Family Adventure
Trip Overview
Experience the spectacular beauty and wildlife of Canada’s North on a family-friendly adventure that’s sure to leave lasting memories. This vacation runs during Churchill’s peak polar bear season when bears roam the area as they await the freeze-up of the Hudson Bay. The Western Hudson Bay polar bear population actually outnumbers Churchill’s residents!
Explore the wide open landscapes aboard an official Tundra Buggy adventure in the Churchill Wildlife Management Area, home to the most accessible population of polar bears in the world. Watch in amazement as they massively stride across the tundra, sniff the cold air and perhaps even wander in for a closer look! It’s a wildlife safari unlike any other, and an experience your family will remember forever. Keep an eye out for other subarctic wildlife such as snowy owl, red fox, arctic fox, willow ptarmigan and arctic hare.
Other activities include an exhilarating dog sled excursion through the boreal forest and interactive, family-friendly programming from Parks Canada. Your family will also have the unique opportunity to become citizen scientists with Field Ambassadors from Polar Bears International. Frontiers North’s Autumn Family Adventure is sure to thrill travellers of all ages, with specialized programming for children age 12 and under.
Enthusiast Level: 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. Enthusiast-level tours are medium-capacity, escorted departures so you can sit back and relax while we take care of all the details.
The Experience
Autumn Family Adventure
Day 01
Welcome to Winnipeg
My family and I flew into Winnipeg today and we are so excited to go on this family-oriented Churchill polar bear tour! Our home for the night is a Winnipeg hotel which is just across the street from the airport. After checking in and having dinner in the hotel restaurant on our own, we 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. The kids can't stop talking about polar bears!
Day 02
Churchill Adventure Begins
Today we are going to Churchill! After a very early breakfast our tour group boards a warm bus for the short ride to the private hangar from where our plane will depart for Churchill. The flight is two and a half hours.
Upon arrival, we head straight out on an interpretive transfer into Churchill led by a Frontiers North representative. They point out areas of interest in and around Churchill and give us some background on the town itself. We even had a stop at the Polar Bear Holding Facility (formerly known as the Polar Bear Jail). After, we head over 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. The educational and child-focused programming was an amazing introduction to Churchill and this adventure. 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?
After lunch the group heads out for 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 pack and then takes each of the group on a mile-long dog sled ride through the boreal forest. The kids even got a chance to visit this season's puppies while we were waiting!
After dog sledding, we head to our hotel where we have a chance to freshen up before enjoying a wonderful dinner.
Day 03
Tundra Buggy Adventure
It’s our first day on a Tundra Buggy and the group can hardly contain their excitement. After breakfast we are 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 driver navigates the bumpy trails of the CWMA in search of polar bears and other subarctic wildlife while our Interpretive Guide shares interesting facts about the area’s geology and history. He even let my son use his binoculars! 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 tour of Polar Bears International House, a space used to educate Churchill's visitors about polar bears and climate change. What a great day!
Photo © Brandi Hayberg
Day 04
Final Tundra Buggy Adventure
Today is our second and final Tundra Buggy adventure. Similar to yesterday, we are picked up at our hotel 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 back into our hotel. The evening is ours to do as we wish, which means an early bedtime for the kids while we review photos from our trip.
Photo © Toby Lacey
Day 05
Depart Winnipeg
It's time to head home.
This was an amazing adventure our kids will never forget. Not only was it an incredible fun vacation for them, but also a really great learning experience for all of us. We definitely plan on returning to Churchill again in the future!
Itinerary
Day 01
Welcome to Winnipeg
Guests will arrive into Winnipeg and check into their hotel at the Winnipeg airport; Evening meet and greet hosted by Frontiers North Interpretive Guide. Meals: None
Day 02
Churchill Adventure Begins
Early morning flight to Churchill; Interpretive transfer; Parks Canada Visitor Centre; Dog sledding and interpretive program; Family-friendly activities; Overnight at Churchill hotel. Meals: B, L, D
Day 03
Tundra Buggy Adventure
Full-day Tundra Buggy adventure in the Churchill Wildlife Management Area; PBI House; Overnight at Churchill hotel. Meals: B, L, D
Day 04
Final Tundra Buggy Adventure
Full-day Tundra Buggy adventure in the Churchill Wildlife Management Area. Evening flight to Winnipeg. Guests will check into their Winnipeg hotel. Meals: B, L, D
Day 05
Depart Winnipeg
Guests may depart Winnipeg at their leisure. Meals: None.
Join the Adventure
See dates for:
202120222021
| Dates | Adventure | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Oct 8-12, 2021 Tour Code: 4 | Churchill Town and Tundra Experience - Enthusiast - Family Adventure Lodging: 2 nights Winnipeg, 2 nights Churchill Maximum 38 people | $5,729 CAD $999 CAD Single Supplement $4,729 CAD Child Rate |
2022
| Dates | Adventure | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Oct 8-12, 2022 Tour Code: 5 | Churchill Town and Tundra Experience - Enthusiast - Family Adventure Lodging: 2 nights Winnipeg, 2 nights Churchill Maximum 38 people | $5,929 CAD $999 CAD Single Supplement $4,929 CAD Child Rate |
Call To Reserve Your Spot Today
1 800 663 9832 (toll free)
1 204 949 2050 (international)
All prices CAD, plus applicable taxes.
All prices, inclusions, and dates may be subject to change due to circumstances beyond our control.
*Child rate applies to a traveller 12 years and under at the time of travel. All prices based on double occupancy. Comprehensive travel insurance is mandatory.
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