Churchill Itinerary

Belugas,  Bears, History and Culture Itinerary

A Multi-Sport Adventure to the Sub Arctic~ Churchill, Canada

* The following is a sample itinerary which outlines  daily activities we hope to offer  and areas we’ll be visiting during our adventure to  Churchill.  Our itinerary is dependent upon weather, marine  and tide  conditions.

Day One: Arrival into Churchill

Our adventure begins with a mid  morning  arrival  into the Polar Bear and Beluga Whale Capital of the World, the remote town of Churchill, Canada. The only morning flight from Winnipeg currently arrives at 1:00pm  which will require that you overnight in Winnipeg on  July 16th.  See Getting to Churchill  for more details. Upon arrival, we begin our daily search for polar bears and other arctic wildlife as we make our way across the barren terrain to our hotel base for the next 5 nights, the Polar Boutique Inn and Suites in the heart of Churchill.

By mid July, the arctic sea ice has typically melted away. Polar bears, an apex predator of the tundra start roaming the rocky shores of the Hudson Bay where Churchill is located. By early – late fall, polar bears are frequently seen around Churchill.  While Polar Bear sightings in July are less predictable, we have a  good chance of seeing polar bear activity during our adventure to the ” accessible arctic”.

After getting settled into our accommodating hotel and headquarters of our primary outfitter, Sea North Tours we will gather for an orientation. Our afternoon will include exploring  Churchill and its surrounding terrain by  van with a local naturalist.  (double occupancy rooms included throughout our itinerary).

Day Two: Kayaking Among the Beluga Whales  

This morning we will offer our first  exciting opportunity to kayak  among the beluga whales that forage, molt and mate in or near  the Churchill Estuary. It has been estimated that more than  3000 beluga whales arrive into this ecologically productive estuary each summer as the ice fields melt allowing access.

Our day will include a visit to the Itsanitaq Museum, formerly known as the Eskimo Museum.” Itsanitaq” is an Intuit word meaning “things from the past”. Intricate carvings, sculptures and pictorial displays help reveal the fascinating story of the Inuits and other First Nation people of the region.

Showcasing narwhal horns, seal skin qayaq or covered canoes, moose antlers and mounted polar bears, the museum is a must see for those intrigued by natural and cultural history (Breakfast, lunch and double occupancy rooms included, dinner will be on your own tonight).

Day Three: Kayaking Or  Paddle Boarding and Prince of Wales Tour

For many people, kayaking or stand up paddle boarding  among the curious belugas is described as a bucket list activity not to be missed.

Worried about your balance? Never Sup before? Sometimes, the best beluga interaction is while sitting on your board.  Beluga whales seem particularly intrigued by Sups. It has been speculated that the white coloration of the boards may bring these curious whales in for a closer look.

Later today  we will explore the Churchill Estuary in a motorized vessel heading to the historic Fort Prince of Wales. Built 250 years ago and strategically positioned in the entrance of the Churchill River, this iconic stone structure reveals the region’s rich cultural history including its use as an early 18th century Hudson Bay Company Fur trading center.

Since polar bears roam freely throughout the Churchill region, our interpretive hike will be escorted by an armed park service guard trained in polar bear safety. After touring the fort, we will head back on the water dropping a hydrophone into the bay listening to the “Canaries of the Sea”. Belugas are known as one of the most vocal marine mammals and belong to the order cetacean which includes baleen and toothed whales such as beluga whales, sperm whales, all dolphins and porpoises.

The eerie clicks, chirps and whistles signal not only communication among the pod, but sounds are used in their hunting strategies as they employ a sophisticated sonar known as echolocation. The ethereal sounds produced by beluga whales are mesmerizing.

 (Breakfast, lunch and double occupancy rooms included, dinner will be on your own tonight)

Day Four:  Kayaking/Paddle Boarding and Beluga Boarding!         

Expect another thrilling day on the water as we offer another session of Kayaking or Paddle Boarding (SUP) this morning.

 In the afternoon, we will have an opportunity  to view  the underwater world of the Beluga Whale through a  truly phenomenal experience. Donning our dive masks and a wetsuit, we will go Beluga Boarding! This relatively new eco-adventure sport involves floating on a foam platform that is towed behind a Zodiac. Beluga Boarding is the epitome of a  profoundly  unique  aquatic adventure! Curious by nature, belugas may approach the platform allowing you to dip your head into the chilly arctic water for a closer look or submerge a waterproof camera. During this activity you will wear wetsuits to protect from spray created by potentially choppy marine conditions.

Day Five:  Dog Karting  and Cultural Encounters

Today  we will  meet the canine crew of Wapusk Adventures  and learn about the historical significance of dog sledding in the region. You will soon see that each husky has its own unique personality as we meet the friendly working team. Our day will include a Dog “karting” adventure through the boreal forest.

In 2005, Wapusk Adventures received both the Manitoba Aboriginal Tourism Award and the Manitoba Hydro Spirit of the Earth Award. Later today, we have arranged another special cultural event providing further insight into the  rugged frontier life on the edge of the Hudson Bay.

Day Six: Exploring The Tundra and The Historical Sites of Churchill

Today we will explore the  rugged terrain found around  Churchill area while visiting some of its most famous historical sites. Joined by a local naturalist,  we will search the landscape looking for arctic species such as caribou, arctic foxes, arctic hares and lumbering polar bears. Over 200 species of birds migrate through this region each summer. We will scan the vast landscape for a variety of wildlife in the comforts of our rugged tour bus. We plan to visit the famous “Polar Bear Jail”  and “Miss Piggy”,  a wreck of a Curtiss C-46 “Commando” twin-prop cargo aircraft which tells  another  compelling  story of the  history of Churchill.

Our flight departs today at TBA  and arrives into Winnipeg at TBA. We will then transfer to a nearby hotel.

(Breakfast, lunch and double occupancy rooms included,  dinner will be on your own tonight).

Day Seven: Optional Park Outing, Onward to Home

We suggest that you have an early breakfast at our hotel and join us for the optional outing to the Assiniboine Park and the incredible Polar Bear Research and Conservation Center at the Leatherdale International Polar Bear Conservation Centre in Winnipeg.  

This extremely informative educational center opens at 9:00am. Admission into the park is less than $20 and is well worth it. Those who wish to visit the park may share Ubers or taxis from our hotel in Winnipeg. We suggest that you allow at least 2 1/2 hours or explore Assiniboine Park and its world renown Polar Bear Center.

Please consider a flight back home on July 23rd   after 2:00pm or later allowing enough time to explore this educational park and polar bear center. For those who decide to skip this outing, you may arrange a taxi to the Winnipeg Airport at your convenience. (airport transfers and park admission is on your own today)

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