Autumn Predeparture Information

PASSPORT

All international travellers are required to have passports to enter Canada. Well before your departure, we invite you to visit the Government of Canada’s Citizenship and Immigration website for more information. All travellers to and from the United States are required to have a passport. For more information, visit travel.state.gov.

TRAVEL INSURANCE

Travel in Canada’s North is not like other parts of the world. You will be travelling to a remote destination. Comprehensive Travel Insurance coverage is mandatory. See our full Booking Terms and Conditions.  

GRATUITIES

As of 2024 gratuities are included in the price of your trip. Should you wish, you are still able to provide additional gratuities to any individual you interact with. 

EXTENDING YOUR TRIP

Your adventure includes both a pre and post night stay in either Winnipeg or Calgary, depending on your itinerary. If you would like to add more time in Winnipeg or Calgary, please contact our office for more information. Please note, these departure cities are itinerary specific and are not interchangeable.

CURRENCY EXCHANGE

We suggest you exchange your currency into Canadian dollars prior to your departure. Currency exchange can be completed at most major banks or international airports. Visa and Mastercard are accepted in Churchill at most shops, hotels and restaurants. There is also an ATM at the Royal Bank in the Bayport Plaza.

Depending on the type of trip guests have booked they will stay at a Churchill hotel, the Tundra Buggy Lodge or both. If you're not sure what type of trip you are booked on please consult your trip itinerary or reach our to one of our adventure planners or your travel advisor.

Churchill Hotels

The hotels in Churchill are clean, comfortable, centrally located and include all basic amenities, including internet access.

Tundra Buggy Lodge

The Tundra Buggy Lodge is a unique experience built into certain autumn package tours. Not all Frontiers North guests will stay at the Tundra Buggy Lodge.

What is the Tundra Buggy Lodge?

The Tundra Buggy Lodge is Frontiers North's pop-up hotel, located in the Churchill Wildlife Management Area (CWMA) which is the heart of polar bear country. The Lodge consists of two accommodation units for our guests, a lounge, a dining hall and staff quarters. Outdoor viewing platforms connect each unit and allow for outdoor photography. Situated far from the lights of town, it's the perfect place to view bears all day long and have optimal northern lights viewing at night (weather permitting). The lodge is also equipped with exterior field lights that enable us to continue watching the bears even after the sun sets.

Staying on the Tundra Buggy Lodge

The Tundra Buggy Lodge is not like a regular hotel and can only be accessed through packaged tours. While onboard, Thanadelthur Lounge is where guests are invited to mingle before and after dinner to share photos and stories about their exciting day on the tundra. After dinner, guests can partake in presentations from Polar Bears International representatives and Frontiers North staff. Thanadelthur Lounge has WiFi access, and is also the best place to view the northern lights with its panoramic views from the wall-to-ceiling windows and roof-top observation deck.

Accommodations on the Tundra Buggy Lodge

The accommodation units, named Hearne and La Perouse after two important figures in Churchill's history, consist of 10 upper and 10 lower sleeping berths, each with a window, a reading light and four 110-volt electrical outlets. Each berth houses a standard twin-sized coil mattress. A sound-dampening curtain provides privacy by separating the berths from the aisle. In addition, each 20-person accommodation unit has three bathrooms, two of which are equipped with showers.

Food on the Tundra Buggy Lodge

The lodge has a private chef who makes delicious home-cooked meals each day. There’s hot breakfast, cereal, coffee/tea in the morning, homemade soup and sandwiches for lunch, and local cuisine such as arctic char, bison or elk for dinner. The chef can also accommodate special dietary requirements with prior notice.

A Typical Day

Please note, this is guideline to a typical day and actual times may vary.

Guests are served a buffet breakfast between 7:00 am and 7:50 am. After breakfast guests will board their Tundra Buggy and spend about 8 hours in the Churchill Wildlife Management Area. Snack, refreshments and a picnic style lunch are provided through out the day. Upon returning to the Tundra Buggy Lodge guests are invited to unwind and socialize in Thanadelthur Lounge before heading for dinner. After dinner guests will either have free time or a presentation from Polar Bears International. Thanadelthur Lounge remains open 24 hours a day for the night owls and early birds of the group.

PACKING

Temperature can vary from -13˚C to -2˚C (9˚F - 29˚F) but often strong winds can push the temperature down several more degrees (the ‘windchill’ factor). The Tundra Buggies are heated, however dressing in warm layers is the best way to stay comfortable.

Learn What to Wear While in Churchill

Here is a list of items that we recommend you pack for your time in Churchill:

•  Warm hooded parka
•  Long underwear or thermal layers
•  Snow/ski/wind pants
•  Warm sweater and/or hooded sweatshirt
•  Wool blend socks
•  Warm gloves/mitts and thin gloves
•  Hat, Scarf, neck warmer or similar gear to cover and protect your face against the cold north winds
•  Warm-rubber soled winter boots
•  Camera and extra camera batteries and memory card 
•  Reusable, sealable travel mug or water bottle

Checked baggage for all flights must be limited to one piece per guest for a maximum total of 23kg (50lbs), and not be larger than 158cm (62in) (L+W+H). Each guest is allowed 2 carry-on, including personal items, for a maximum combined weight of 9kg (20lbs).

The maximum dimensions permitted for carry on-baggage is 25cm x 40cm x 30cm or 10in x 16in x 12in. Carry on that exceeds these dimensions will be considered checked baggage and will have to be stored in the general baggage compartment. Space permitting and if able to be safely stowed, additional items such as coats, medication bag, a cane, CPAP etc. may be permitted in the cabin.

We are happy to offer our guests outstanding Canada Goose parkas, snow pants and Baffin boots through our Gear Rental Program. Visit our Gear Rentals page for more information.

Weather Conditions/Day Light

Temperature can vary from -13˚C to -2˚C (9˚F - 29˚F) but often strong winds can push the temperature down several more degrees (the ‘windchill’ factor). 

The days are longer during October and decrease in length as November progresses. You can expect approximately 7-10 hours of daylight during October and November.

What are the hotels like in Churchill?

The hotels in Churchill are clean, comfortable, centrally located and include all basic amenities, including internet access.

The Churchill Inukshuk

Located directly on Hudson Bay, this large Inukshuk is a popular spot for group photography. Be aware: there are often bear sightings along this shore.

Seawalls Churchill Murals

Spearheaded by Manitoba artist Kal Barteski, this event transformed abandoned buildings, objects and blank walls around Churchill into beautiful murals to raise awareness for ocean health and conservation. Transportation required for some murals. Multiple locations throughout Churchill.

Town Centre Complex

Opened in 1976, this expansive structure serves as a focus for many community activities. The Centre includes the municipal offices for The Town of Churchill, the Churchill hospital, Duke of Marlborough School, the public library, as well as a curling rink, arena, swimming pool, cafeteria, bowling alley, indoor playground and theatre.

Cape Merry National Historic Site

A stone battery built on this site in 1746 provided additional protection for Prince of Wales Fort across the Churchill River. It is an excellent location for watching whales, viewing waterfowl or migrating birds or simply enjoying the panoramic view of Hudson Bay. Transportation required. Please note that bear sightings in this area are common. Never walk alone in this area and always be bear aware!

MV Ithaca

The wreck of the MV Ithaca sits 20 km (12 miles) east of Churchill, high and dry when the tide is low and surrounded by water when the tide is in. Bound for Rankin Inlet in September 1960, the right rudder broke in an 80mph gale and it floundered near Bird Cove where it rests to this day. Transportation required.

Miss Piggy

The site of a crashed airplane affectionately known by locals as Miss Piggy. The plane crashed in November 1979 as it attempted to return to the Churchill airport shortly after take-off. The plane landed in rough terrain and still remains there today. Transportation required.

Polar Bear Holding Facility

The Polar Bear Holding Facility in Churchill is referred to by the locals as Polar Bear Jail. If a bear is repeatedly chased from the town it may eventually be captured and put in ‘jail’ for up to 30 days before being released north of the town or out onto the frozen Hudson Bay. Transportation required.

As phone technology continues to evolove our guests have had great success using mobile phones for both photography and videography while on their trips with Frontiers North. It is worth remembering that printing imagery from a mobile phone is still not as good as printing imagery from a camera. 

PHONES TO CONSIDER

It is a good bet that if you purchased a smartphone in 2020 onwards your phone will be able to take good imagery. However, many of our staff and guests have found success with following phones:

Google Pixel 6 and newer: excellent captures

Samsung GalaxyS21 and newer: excellent captures

iPhone 12 and newer: excellent captures

Google Pixel 5: great captures

iPhone 11: great captures

Equipment

Cameras

Any camera can be used to capture images while aboard the Tundra Buggy. Compact cameras or mobile phone cameras are fine at times when bears or other wildlife are close to the Tundra Buggy, but a midrange zoom or interchangeable telephoto lens with image stabilization allows the most flexibility. Many digital cameras also have a video feature built in, which is great for capturing wildlife behaviour, movement and audio.

Lenses

A midrange zoom lens allows for quick manoeuvrability and composure. For those with interchangeable lenses, it’s a good idea to have at minimum wide and midrange lenses on hand (less than 80 mm and 70-200 mm, respectively). You may also consider adding a good telephoto lens to complete your kit (greater than 200 mm). In autumn, heavy cloud over Churchill often results in lower light levels, so faster lenses (minimum F4.0) will help combat low-light conditions. Wide angle lenses are well suited for images of the landscape, northern lights and bears when they’re near the Tundra Buggy, while longer lenses are great for wildlife such as foxes, birds and bears that may be approaching from further away. Longer lenses also give the illusion of being closer to eye level with your subjects. Autofocus settings (AF) work well the majority of the time but rely on contrast, so they may not function well when aimed directly at light patches of fur or snow without obvious detail. Focus on the animal’s eye, nose or other obvious detail, or change your camera settings to manual focus (MF) if it’s too challenging.

Memory Cards

Make sure you have enough memory card storage with you. Bring extra memory cards and/or have a way to download the images on another storage device, such as a laptop and spare hard drive. It’s common to use 32GB of storage—or more—in a single day. TIP: Take a few smaller cards (four 8GB cards) rather than one big card (32GB or 64GB) unless shooting HD or 4K video continuously. If a card breaks, it’s hard to retrieve images.

Extra Batteries

The cold will drain batteries quicker than normal, so keep spares in a warm pocket near your body to help maintain their charge.

Light Sensitivity

Digital capture at ISO 400-800 usually works well on overcast days and early evenings as the light wanes. For bright days when the sun is out, it is recommended to set your camera settings to ISO 100.

Monopod

Most point-and-shoot cameras can be hand held, but cameras with longer lenses need support in order to obtain sharper images. A monopod is a good form of support for your camera when shooting from the Tundra Buggy. It is also recommended to bring a beanbag to rest your camera on the windowsill while shooting.

Polar Bears International 

Frontiers North Adventures has been working with Polar Bears International since 2002. Polar Bears International is the only conservation organization dedicated solely to wild polar bears. Frontiers North supports Polar Bears International through Churchill-based conservation initiatives, including developing and building Tundra Buggy® One, which Polar Bears International uses throughout the autumn polar bear season as a roaming studio enabling them to air their Tundra Connections webcasts worldwide. Tundra Connections allows Polar Bears International to share their polar bear conservation messaging with teachers, students, and lifelong learners around the globe. Partial proceeds from our trips go directly to Polar Bears International. 

Raincoast Conservation Foundation 

Frontiers North Adventures has been working with Raincoast's Cetacean Conservation Research Program since 2022. Raincoast Conservation Foundation works in collaboration with Indigenous communities and other organizations to study how cetaceans use sound, to interpret trends and impacts of underwater noise, to evaluate killer whale health and nutrition in the face of ecosystem change, and to understand beluga whale communication and behaviour. Partnering with with Raincoast Conservation Foundation allows Frontiers North to provide their guests with the opportunity to learn about and deepen their understanding of beluga whales and their Arctic ecosystem, their complex vocalizations, and the conservation threats they face.

Polar Bear Alert Program

Autumn is Churchill’s polar bear season, meaning this time of year is when they are most active in the region. Always practice bear safety during your time in Churchill.

Polar bears spend much of their year roaming the ice of Hudson Bay hunting seals. When the ice begins to melt in July, the bears come ashore and remain on land until the bay freezes over in late November. While on land in the summer, the bears eat little and are quite inactive. But as autumn approaches, they begin to move northward along the coast and congregate where the first winter ice forms. This annual movement brings many bears into the town of Churchill each year.

Manitoba Conservation and the Town of Churchill have worked hard to educate the people of Churchill and visitors about polar bears and how to avoid potentially dangerous situations. Manitoba Conservation operates the Polar Bear Alert Program, which has the following objectives:

1. To protect people and property from the dangers posed by the presence of polar bears.

2. To ensure the conservation of polar bears and avoid undue harassment and killing of bears.

3. To prevent polar bears in the Churchill area from becoming conditioned to scavenging for food or developing other problem behaviours.

4. To protect Manitoba Conservation staff who work in the Polar Bear Alert Program.

IF YOU ENCOUNTER A POLAR BEAR

• Stay calm

• Stay with your group

• Back away, facing the bear at all times

• Do not turn and run away

• Do not play dead

• Get into your vehicle or a building as fast as possible

• Call the Polar Bear Alert line at 204-675-2327 (204-675-BEAR)

We offer Family Learning Adventure trips designed for families who value the cultural teachings and unique bonding experiences that come with travelling together.

What kind of family friendly activities will there be?

We designed this adventure to be for the whole family, with a focus on learning to keep your kids engaged and excited about the wildlife and culture of Canada’s North. Specialized family activities for the kids include: a behind-the-scenes tour of the Assiniboine Park Zoo Journey to Churchill exhibit, a yurt excursion, an exclusive tour of Polar Bears International House, the chance to learn how to be a citizen scientist and time put aside for family recreation, such as swimming at the Town Centre Complex.

What is there to do during our free time?

We encourage you to chat with the locals! Churchill is a vibrant, close-knit town of around 900 residents. Stop by the Canada Post Office to get a “Churchill—Polar Bear Capital of the World” stamp on a postcard. A family favourite is seeing the bright, vibrant and colourful murals during a the Mural Walking tour. There are also a variety of gift shops in town, including our own Fifty Eight North. Known for their passion for supporting local and Canadian makers. Additionally, the Town Centre Complex holds most of the town’s amenities, including the hospital, school, arena and swimming pool.