Churchill Belugas and Bears Summer Adventure
Length
6 days / 5 nights
Where it goes
When to go
July - August
Price from
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See belugas and polar bears on this summer tour
Accessible only by air and rail, Churchill is located on the shores of Hudson Bay and is home to a myriad of wildlife from polar bears to the elusive arctic fox, and the playful beluga whales who return to the Churchill River following the ice breakup in spring. Grab your camera, pack your sense of adventure, and prepare for wildlife viewing heaven.
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What’s Included
Frequently Asked Questions
Summer temperatures vary across Arctic regions, due to their elevation, topography and proximity to the sea. Expect temperatures anywhere from 0°C (32°F) to 15°C (59°F). Much of the precipitation at higher altitudes will fall as snow, although you’ll still be able to enjoy the rare Arctic fauna as round-the-clock daylight warms up the ground. You’ll see wildlife such as beluga whales, muskoxen, and even polar bears swimming amongst the icebergs.
Summer is the best time to see beluga whales. Nearly 60,000 of the adorable marine mammals migrate into Hudson Bay and the Churchill River between June and September.
It is possible to see polar bears wandering the taiga and tundra surrounding Churchill during the summer. The bears all come ashore when the sea ice melts and they spend the season resting, fasting and giving birth.
The polar bear migration is a special occasion, and it offers visitors a high probability of seeing the bears in the wild. Our specialized tour operators know the landscape extremely well, and will take you to places where bears are commonly spotted. There is no guarantee of a sighting, however.
A tundra buggy is a large, heated, all-terrain safari vehicle specially designed to travel over taiga and tundra landscape where polar bears live.
Summers in Churchill are mild. Anticipate daytime highs of about 19°C (66°F) in July and August, cooling off to 9°C (49°F) at night. Polar bear viewing season takes place in the fall during October and November. Temperatures vary, from daytime highs of 6°C (43°F) in October to nightime lows of -11°C (12°F) or colder in November. With windchill it can feel more like -20°C (-4°F).
Sample Itinerary
Arrive in Winnipeg
Your beluga and bears adventure begins in Winnipeg - gateway to Churchill.
- Explore Winnipeg & Welcome Dinner
- Winnipeg City Tour
Take a bus tour of Winnipeg. See the Manitoba Legislative building and the Forks — Winnipeg's most celebrated public space where the Assiniboine and Red Rivers meet.
Winnipeg to Churchill
Travel north to the remote town of Churchill, located on the Hudson Bay.
- Fly to Churchill
- Churchill Town and Area Tour
On this Churchill interpretive tour, view and photograph the Polar Bear Holding Facility, historical Cape Merry, and an impressive Inukshuk.
- Parks Canada Centre Visit
Discover Churchill's intriguing history through Parks Canada Centre's wildlife dioramas and interactive exhibits.
Whale watching, dog carting, and history
Today is action packed with unique northern activities.
- Dog Carting Adventure
Hear incredible tales of Arctic racing from a local musher before embarking on your own dog-carting adventure through the boreal forest.
- Beluga Boat Tour with Prince of Wales Fort Visit
Encounter hundreds of beluga whales on a boat tour of the Churchill River before visiting the Prince of Wales Fort, one of the oldest stone forts in Canada.
- Itsanitaq Museum Visit
Learn about Inuit culture at the Itsanitaq Museum. The museum's collection of Inuit carvings and artifacts are among the finest and oldest in the world.
Polar bear viewing
See the polar bears in their natural habitat from a specially designed Tundra Buggy.
- Summer Tundra Buggy Tour
Enjoy a thrilling excursion in a specially designed Tundra Buggy — the best way to rove across the rugged, sub-arctic landscape. Search for polar bears and other wildlife. Arctic wildflowers will be in full bloom, so have your camera ready!
Beluga zodiac tour, back to Winnipeg
See the world’s largest population of whales in the Churchill River.
- Beluga Viewing by Zodiac
Zip up and down the Churchill River looking for pods of curious beluga whales. Get up-close with the whales as they congregate in the zodiac's wake.
- Fly back to Winnipeg
Depart Winnipeg
All too soon, your Canada vacation comes to an end.
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Accommodations
Tundra Inn
The Tundra Inn is a charming, family-run hotel located in the northern town of Churchill. With comfortable accommodation and complimentary amenities, this is the perfect place to relax after each day of outdoor adventures.
Personalize This Itinerary
Here are some of the most popular ways to personalize this journey.
Explore Rockies by train
Want to experience even more of Canada? Add a train journey from Vancouver to Winnipeg — depart from the West Coast, travel through the stunning Canadian Rockies and take in the jaw-dropping alpine views.
What Our Customers Say
It was beautiful!
We had a wonderful trip! Who knew we would have to go to Churchill to find summer weather! I believe either the first or second day there Churchill was the hot spot in all of Canad...
![Kelly and Gord review of their [object Object] trip](https://cdn.bfldr.com/UAHFH8T4/as/93n58g6k4twjpnssxzpn5mjz/Kelly_Gord_26?auto=webp&format=webp&width=75)
Kelly and Gord
AB, Canada
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