Churchill Adventures
Tucked into the northeast corner of Manitoba, Churchill is a small northern community full of adventure. Its remote location on the edge of the Hudson Bay and close to Wapusk National Park is notable for many reasons, especially since it is a migratory route for many mammals and birds. Polar bears are the primary attraction and though they can be seen in all seasons, most visitors come in autumn when the great beasts gather along the ragged edges of the Bay, awaiting an opportunity to travel over the frozen waters.
TOURING THE RUGGED WILDERNESS
There are no roads to Churchill so visitors arrive via by train or plane from the province’s capital city of Winnipeg. Both of these transport methods offer a unique perspective by conveying the remoteness and vastness of the landscape. From the air, the edges of the tundra crinkle and fold into the deep blue Hudson Bay and, from train, the setting changes smoothly from prairie to taiga, then to the rugged terrain of the northern tundra.
Arriving in Churchill in such dramatic fashion, many visitors choose to begin a stay with a tour or sightseeing venture. Tours are available on almost every conceivable mode of transport. Visitors can see the awe-inspiring landscape from the air on a helicopter tour with Hudson Bay Helicopters, but should consider that this option is less conducive to wildlife viewing in winter since many mammals have creamy, almost white pelts, which blend in with the snow.
Tourists can also choose to see the area by taking a walking tour of the small town or joining a hiking tour of Wapusk National Park. Munck's Cafe offers customized tours of the town and surrounding area perfect for the spontaneous traveller. Wildlife is plentiful and the weather can change quickly so if independently minded enthusiasts choose a self guided option, they should use caution and be well prepared with trail information and equipment.
Alternatively, tourists may choose to opt for an all-inclusive package, an ideal way to maximize short visits by creating the opportunity to see all that Churchill has to offer without pre-planning. Many tour operators arrange flights from Winnipeg, accommodation, meals, tours and activities. Churchill Wild has three backcountry lodges in the area, all of which focus on creating exciting adventures while also maintaining environmentally sensitive, low-impact practices. Guests of Churchill Wild can look forward to luxury accommodations, gourmet meals and expert guides on their eco-sensitive adventures.
SNOW & ICE
While Churchill hosts tourists all year around, autumn and winter are especially popular times and sport enthusiasts often choose to enhance their vacations by taking part in cool weather activities.
For centuries, aboriginal people have used dogsleds to cross the vast terrain. The Blue Sky Bed and Sled also runs Blue Sky Expeditions, one of Churchill's dogsled adventure companies that guides enthusiasts on short excursions, as well as longer jaunts, to scenic points. Adventurers can sit back and enjoy the ride or take up the opportunity to mush their own dogsled team.
Adrenaline junkies can also enjoy fast-paced adventures such as snowmobiling and heli-skiing with Hudson Bay Helicopters, which offers customizable trips for snow enthusiasts. Visitors needn’t worry about packing for a snowy adventure as organizers provide all the necessary equipment. Alternatively, the slower, quieter pace of snowshoeing allows naturalists to savour the landscape and possibly catch a glimpse of wildlife.
FIRE IN THE SKY
Churchill’s northerly setting makes it an ideal venue for viewing one of Earth’s most dramatic phenomenon: the aurora borealis, also known as the northern lights. Several tour companies offer northern lights excursions outside of the community for better viewing, such as Churchill Wild, which creates memorable adventures, customized to guests’ desires. For example, artistically inclined individuals can combine northern lights viewing with a photography and painting tour. One of the most popular tours begins with a snow shoe trek before dusk and ends under the stars and lights with hot chocolate and a few good stories.
A more comfortable, serene experience can be found by visiting the Aurora Dome, an amenity of the Tundra Inn, which is situated outside of town and away from the lights. The heated indoor facility is unique in Churchill; in the past it was used by scientists and today allows tourists to watch the auroras’ fiery dance across the sky.
BEARS, BELUGAS & MORE
Churchill is known as “the Polar Bear Capital of World” since these great beasts inhabit the area year around. But polar bears are not the only attraction; upon closer inspection, the seemingly desolate landscape is teaming with wolves, foxes, caribou, hares and birds.
There are many polar bear tours operating in Churchill that range from half-day trips to overnight adventures at backcountry lodges. Bears are most popularly seen on custom-designed vehicles called tundra buggies, which are comfortable vehicles equipped with furnaces, washrooms and open decks. Viewers can stand safely at an elevated height above the bears and still be close enough to view the animals in their natural habitat. Memorable tundra buggy tours are offered by Great White Bear Tours, Lazy Bear Lodge and Tundra Buggy Tours.
On land, birdwatching is a popular pursuit for patient enthusiasts. In the sea, the most dramatic sight are beluga whales and seals, which can be seen by boat or more personally by kayak. Churchill Wild leads regular boat expeditions to view beluga whales, seals, seabirds, and polar bears. Whale watching tours are fully equipped with warm weather gear, life jackets, safety devices, and even hydrophones so that the eerily whale song can be heard above the waters.
Those that would like to spend an extended time observing and learning about the wild flora and fauna of Northern Manitoba may choose to enroll in a learning program. The Churchill Northern Studies Centre, an independent, non-profit research station located along the coast of Hudson Bay, offers five-day learning vacations about ecology, environment and preservation. Topics include the study and close observation of beluga whales, polar bears and birds, as well important features of the northern environment such as trees, alpine wildflowers and northern lights. Environmentally conscious participants might also appreciate that all proceeds support northern research.
TOURING THE RUGGED WILDERNESS
There are no roads to Churchill so visitors arrive via by train or plane from the province’s capital city of Winnipeg. Both of these transport methods offer a unique perspective by conveying the remoteness and vastness of the landscape. From the air, the edges of the tundra crinkle and fold into the deep blue Hudson Bay and, from train, the setting changes smoothly from prairie to taiga, then to the rugged terrain of the northern tundra.
Arriving in Churchill in such dramatic fashion, many visitors choose to begin a stay with a tour or sightseeing venture. Tours are available on almost every conceivable mode of transport. Visitors can see the awe-inspiring landscape from the air on a helicopter tour with Hudson Bay Helicopters, but should consider that this option is less conducive to wildlife viewing in winter since many mammals have creamy, almost white pelts, which blend in with the snow.
Tourists can also choose to see the area by taking a walking tour of the small town or joining a hiking tour of Wapusk National Park. Munck's Cafe offers customized tours of the town and surrounding area perfect for the spontaneous traveller. Wildlife is plentiful and the weather can change quickly so if independently minded enthusiasts choose a self guided option, they should use caution and be well prepared with trail information and equipment.
Alternatively, tourists may choose to opt for an all-inclusive package, an ideal way to maximize short visits by creating the opportunity to see all that Churchill has to offer without pre-planning. Many tour operators arrange flights from Winnipeg, accommodation, meals, tours and activities. Churchill Wild has three backcountry lodges in the area, all of which focus on creating exciting adventures while also maintaining environmentally sensitive, low-impact practices. Guests of Churchill Wild can look forward to luxury accommodations, gourmet meals and expert guides on their eco-sensitive adventures.
SNOW & ICE
While Churchill hosts tourists all year around, autumn and winter are especially popular times and sport enthusiasts often choose to enhance their vacations by taking part in cool weather activities.
For centuries, aboriginal people have used dogsleds to cross the vast terrain. The Blue Sky Bed and Sled also runs Blue Sky Expeditions, one of Churchill's dogsled adventure companies that guides enthusiasts on short excursions, as well as longer jaunts, to scenic points. Adventurers can sit back and enjoy the ride or take up the opportunity to mush their own dogsled team.
Adrenaline junkies can also enjoy fast-paced adventures such as snowmobiling and heli-skiing with Hudson Bay Helicopters, which offers customizable trips for snow enthusiasts. Visitors needn’t worry about packing for a snowy adventure as organizers provide all the necessary equipment. Alternatively, the slower, quieter pace of snowshoeing allows naturalists to savour the landscape and possibly catch a glimpse of wildlife.
FIRE IN THE SKY
Churchill’s northerly setting makes it an ideal venue for viewing one of Earth’s most dramatic phenomenon: the aurora borealis, also known as the northern lights. Several tour companies offer northern lights excursions outside of the community for better viewing, such as Churchill Wild, which creates memorable adventures, customized to guests’ desires. For example, artistically inclined individuals can combine northern lights viewing with a photography and painting tour. One of the most popular tours begins with a snow shoe trek before dusk and ends under the stars and lights with hot chocolate and a few good stories.
A more comfortable, serene experience can be found by visiting the Aurora Dome, an amenity of the Tundra Inn, which is situated outside of town and away from the lights. The heated indoor facility is unique in Churchill; in the past it was used by scientists and today allows tourists to watch the auroras’ fiery dance across the sky.
BEARS, BELUGAS & MORE
Churchill is known as “the Polar Bear Capital of World” since these great beasts inhabit the area year around. But polar bears are not the only attraction; upon closer inspection, the seemingly desolate landscape is teaming with wolves, foxes, caribou, hares and birds.
There are many polar bear tours operating in Churchill that range from half-day trips to overnight adventures at backcountry lodges. Bears are most popularly seen on custom-designed vehicles called tundra buggies, which are comfortable vehicles equipped with furnaces, washrooms and open decks. Viewers can stand safely at an elevated height above the bears and still be close enough to view the animals in their natural habitat. Memorable tundra buggy tours are offered by Great White Bear Tours, Lazy Bear Lodge and Tundra Buggy Tours.
On land, birdwatching is a popular pursuit for patient enthusiasts. In the sea, the most dramatic sight are beluga whales and seals, which can be seen by boat or more personally by kayak. Churchill Wild leads regular boat expeditions to view beluga whales, seals, seabirds, and polar bears. Whale watching tours are fully equipped with warm weather gear, life jackets, safety devices, and even hydrophones so that the eerily whale song can be heard above the waters.
Those that would like to spend an extended time observing and learning about the wild flora and fauna of Northern Manitoba may choose to enroll in a learning program. The Churchill Northern Studies Centre, an independent, non-profit research station located along the coast of Hudson Bay, offers five-day learning vacations about ecology, environment and preservation. Topics include the study and close observation of beluga whales, polar bears and birds, as well important features of the northern environment such as trees, alpine wildflowers and northern lights. Environmentally conscious participants might also appreciate that all proceeds support northern research.
Eco Adventures
