Tundra Buggy Lodge: Town and Polar Bears

Day 01

Welcome to Winnipeg

I flew into Winnipeg today and I am so excited for the Tundra Buggy Lodge! My home for the night is a Winnipeg hotel which is just across the street from the airport. After checking in, 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

Churchill Adventure Begins

Today we are going to Churchill! After a very early breakfast with our Interpretive Guide at our hotel, 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 a Churchill and area tour, which comprises of an exploratory drive past various points of interest in and surrounding Churchill. Our driver stopped briefly at Manitoba Conservation’s Polar Bear Holding Facility so we could get out and take photos. 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 we stop at Churchill’s famous Itsanitaq Museum, which is home to an enormous collection of Inuit artifacts and has an incredible little gift shop where visitors can buy local Inuit art and carvings, books and other gifts. 

In the evening we enjoy a wonderful dinner and a relaxing night in our hotel.

Photo © Alex Cupeiro

Day 03

Dog Sledding and Tundra Buggy Lodge

After breakfast, our first excursion of the day is 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. Next 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.

In the late afternoon we board the Frontiers North bus and head out to the Tundra Buggy Dock for our trip out to the Tundra Buggy Lodge in the CWMA. It’s our first chance to see the incredible landscape of the North and it is absolutely breathtaking.

As the light begins to fade, we see the Tundra Buggy Lodge in the distance – it’s almost as if we’re approaching an isolated space station in the middle of nowhere. As we board the Tundra Buggy Lodge the feeling of isolation disappears. The welcoming staff greets us warmly and we are treated to an incredible home cooked meal before settling in to our new home on the tundra.

© Alex Cupeiro

Day 04

Tundra Buggy Adventure

After waking up in our comfortable accommodations, we gather for a hearty breakfast before boarding the Tundra Buggy in time for first light. We set out to explore the Churchill Wildlife Management Area (CWMA), in search of polar bears, arctic fox, ptarmigans and other incredible wildlife.

Our amazing Tundra Buggy Driver and Interpretive Guide teach us about the history and importance of the northern landscape. Midday we enjoy a picnic style lunch packed just for us by the lodge chef.

At the end of the day, we return to the Tundra Buggy Lodge in time for a delicious meal and a chance to relax in the lounge getting to know fellow travellers.

Photo © Abby Matheson

Day 05

Tundra Buggy Adventure

I wake up early in the morning and peek outside the window. Before my eyes sits a polar bear snoozing on a rock! I spend a few minutes just watching this bear in disbelief. I hoped to see bears at Tundra Buggy Lodge but I did not think I’d wake up to one outside my window! After snapping a few pictures of the sleeping bear, I grab some breakfast before heading out on our second full-day Tundra Buggy adventure.

Today we head out in a different direction and quickly come across a mom and two cubs. They cross in front of our Tundra Buggy before disappearing into some willows. We spend the rest of the day scanning the tundra for more polar bears and other wildlife. We are not disappointed. At the end of the day we head back to the lodge for another lovely dinner. Afterward we get to enjoy a presentation by a Polar Bears International representative about polar bears and Canada’s North. We all head to bed early before our final day on the Tundra Buggy.

©Steven Potash

Day 06

Final Tundra Buggy Adventure

After a hearty breakfast, our group packs up and sets out on the Tundra Buggy for our last day on the tundra. We spend the day getting incredible photographs, enjoying our last Tundra Buggy lunch and take in the beauty of the North.

In the late afternoon our Tundra Buggy transfers us to the Tundra Buggy Dock, where we say good bye to our Tundra Buggy Driver and climb aboard the Frontiers North bus, which takes us back to the Churchill airport for the short flight to Winnipeg. They serve a light meal on board.

Once we arrive in Winnipeg, we are checked back into our hotel for our final night.

Photo © Alex Mowat

Day 07

Depart Winnipeg

My adventure has come to an end and I’m all ready to head home today. I’m so excited to share my adventure – and all my incredible photos – with my family and friends.