Churchill’s Belugas, Polar Bears & Arctic Wildlife

Arrive in Winnipeg and transfer to the Fort Garry Hotel, built in 1913 by the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway. The French-style chateau is still the grande dame of Winnipeg, offering gracious hospitality in Manitoba's capital. Once a fur-trading post and trade hub where the Assiniboine and Red rivers meet, today Winnipeg is a thriving cultural and commercial center on the eastern Canadian prairie. Gather with your Expedition Leader for a welcome dinner on this first evening of your northern summer safari.

Fly north this morning by private chartered plane to Churchill, a remote community inaccessible by road and the gateway to Manitoba's Arctic. Spend the day exploring this frontier outpost that grew up when the rail line was built to Hudson Bay in 1929, facilitating the transport of grain from the prairies to a new port facility. Photogenic murals cover many of the town buildings, and the Itsanitaq Museum, showcasing the region's Indigenous cultures with artifacts collected from centuries of habitation, is a highlight of our tour. We also meet with local residents to gain insight into their cultural traditions and northern lifestyles. These captivating storytellers share tales from their personal histories, offering a window into the enduring cultures that have flourished in this daunting environment for thousands of years.

Our Expedition Leader offers an introduction to the natural history of the region as we explore the boreal forest, one of three ecosystems that merge around Churchill. This juncture is called an ecotone—the nexus of different ecologically and geographically defined areas—in this case, the boreal forest, or taiga, to the south, Arctic tundra to the northwest, and the marine environs of Hudson Bay on the north. In such a dynamic environment, summer wildlife flourishes, and we go in search of it over the next several days. On later-season departures, when the sun sets earlier and dark night skies return, there's a possibility we could also see the northern lights if conditions are just right. Churchill lies directly beneath the auroral oval, one of the best places on Earth to view the aurora borealis when it is visible.

With Churchill as our base, spend three days exploring the tundra, river and seacoast of Hudson Bay. Belugas are the uncontested highlight, as more than 3,000 of these small white whales migrate to the mouth of the Churchill River each July and August, congregating where the river meets the bay. We make four separate outings to observe these gentle whales at thrilling close range. View belugas on three Zodiac trips, then meet them at eye level from a kayak. These inquisitive whales often nudge our paddles or follow in our wakes. With their unusual ability to turn their heads from side to side, belugas seem to be as curious about us as we are about them. Through the use of a hydrophone, we can also listen to their otherworldly songs.

Search for wildlife on land, too, as we look for Arctic and red fox, ptarmigan, caribou and roving polar bears. At this time of year, it is not uncommon to find mothers with cubs roaming the tundra, waiting until the cold temperatures of late autumn freeze Hudson Bay, allowing them to return to the sea ice to hunt seals. The tundra is vibrant in summer, and we'll walk amid a riot of wildflowers that dot the green expanse with bright bursts of color.

On one day, we cross the Churchill River by Zodiac to reach Sloop Cove, once a sheltered haven for wooden sailing vessels used by the Hudson’s Bay Company during the fur trade for exploration, whaling expeditions and northern trading attempts with the Inuit, Dene and Cree. Iron rings, which were driven into the rocks to secure the sloops, are still visible today, as are names carved into the lichen-covered stone by Company men. From the cove, take a scenic guided walk along the shoreline to view the exterior of Prince of Wales Fort, an important 18th-century HBC trading bastion. Built in 1717, its ruins occupy an area first scouted by Danish explorer Jens Munk in 1619 on his quest for the Northwest Passage. The fort became an important commercial hub and a key locale in the opening of the Canadian West as British and French forces vied for territorial control. From here, we board a Zodiac for the return trip to Churchill.

Our chartered flight back to Winnipeg leaves this afternoon, allowing plenty of time to do more in Churchill today. Meet a local musher and his lively team of sled dogs, learn about this historic mode of northern transportation, and ride in a wheeled cart pulled by the avid huskies. Pick up some last-minute gifts or souvenirs on the town's main street, where several shops sell locally made handicrafts from leather and beadwork to caribou fur sculptures. Eventually, it's time to head to the airport for our chartered flight back to Winnipeg. Transfer to the Fort Garry Hotel, where we gather for a farewell dinner this evening.

After breakfast, our Arctic summer adventure comes to a close with a transfer to the airport to meet departing flights.