Beluga Whale Belinda Fitzpatrick

Belugas and Bears Adventure by Train

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See belugas and polar bears on this summer train tour

Travel by train to Churchill where, during the summer, wildflowers are in full bloom and thousands of beluga whales congregate on the Churchill River. It's a haven for wildlife enthusiasts! If you're lucky, you'll spot polar bears too.

Enjoy unique whale watching excursions

View sub-arctic wildlife and scenery from a Tundra Buggy

Spectacular photo opportunities aboard a zodiac boat

Exciting activities and guided tours

This trip has limited space and availability - book early!

Suggested length

8 days / 7 nights

Price

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When to go

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The insider
Experience

  • A tundra buggy

    Tundra Buggy

    In a specially designed Tundra Buggy, explore the Churchill Wildlife Management Area and snap the perfect picture.

  • Close-up of polar bear looking up

    Watch for Wildlife

    Keep an eye out for polar bears and other animals, including Arctic fox and Arctic hares.

  • VIA Rail train travels at dusk along Churchill route

    Train to Churchill

    Journey north through the remote regions of Manitoba, past the small communities that rely on this train line.

  • Couple exploring the old Prince of Wales Fort in the summer time.

    Visit the Prince of Wales Fort

    Sitting at the mouth of the Churchill River, the Prince of Wales Fort was built over 250 years ago by the Hudson Bay Company.

  • Person standing on top of a large rocky hill with purple wildflowers below.

    Discover Churchill

    Explore some of Churchill's top sights, including the Polar Bear Holding Facility, Parks Canada Centre, and the Itsanitaq Museum.

  • Aerial view of three beluga whales swimming in the dark ocean
  • A tundra buggy
  • Close-up of polar bear looking up
  • VIA Rail train travels at dusk along Churchill route
  • Couple exploring the old Prince of Wales Fort in the summer time.
  • Person standing on top of a large rocky hill with purple wildflowers below.
Trip

Itinerary

Below is a day by day overview of this trip. Complete details are available for download.
Indicates featured activities
Day
  • Arrive in Winnipeg
  • 1

    Arrive in Winnipeg

    Your beluga and bears adventure begins in Winnipeg — the gateway to Churchill.

    • Winnipeg City Tour
  • 2

    VIA Rail - Depart Winnipeg

    Board VIA Rail's Winnipeg-Churchill train and begin your journey north.

  • VIA Rail - Depart Winnipeg
  • VIA Rail - Northern Manitoba
  • 3

    VIA Rail - Northern Manitoba

    Wind your way through Northern Manitoba's remote communities. Residents of these areas still use 'flag stops' to board the train, so don't be surprised if you see passengers waiting by the tracks. Keep an eye out for wildlife, too.

  • 4

    VIA Rail - Arrive in Churchill

    Your journey on board VIA Rail ends as you arrive in Churchill. Only accessible by train or plane, this Manitoba town is a one-of-a-kind destination full of once-in-a-lifetime experiences.

    • Churchill Town and Area Tour
    • Itsanitaq Museum Visit
  • VIA Rail - Arrive in Churchill
  • Whale Watching and Tundra Buggy Adventure
  • 5

    Whale Watching and Tundra Buggy Adventure

    Today is action-packed! Look for beluga whales on a boat tour, then after lunch embark on an exciting tundra buggy adventure.

    • Beluga Boat Tour with Prince of Wales Fort Visit
    • Summer Tundra Buggy Tour
  • 6

    Beluga Zodiac Tour

    Hudson Bay is home to over 50,000 beluga whales — around 4,000 of these migrate into the Churchill River during summer. Whizz down the river on a zodiac boat in search of these curious creatures.

    • Beluga Viewing by Zodiac
    • Parks Canada Centre Visit
  • Beluga Zodiac Tour
  • Dog Carting and Return to Winnipeg
  • 7

    Dog Carting and Return to Winnipeg

    Today is your last morning in Churchill. Go dog carting through the boreal forest before heading back to Winnipeg later this afternoon. 

    • Dog Carting Adventure
  • 8

    Depart Winnipeg

    All too soon, your Canada vacation comes to an end. 

  • Depart Winnipeg
Trip PDF Download

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Cartoon polar bear speaking on the phone
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Prices

This trip is available on multiple dates. Please download the full itinerary or get in touch with us to explore what suits you best.

Comfort Level

Hotel Accommodations

3 Star

Activities and Wildlife Viewing

Fully Guided

Meals

Most meals included
From Loading... pp
'From' prices are per person, based on double occupancy and exclude taxes. Prices vary by departure date, the choice of activities, hotel selection and availability at time of booking.
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Itinerary

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Add a Canadian Rockies train journey

Add a Canadian Rockies train journey

Want to explore more of Canada? Add a train journey from Vancouver to Winnipeg, depart from the West Coast, travel through the Canadian Rockies and enjoy jaw-dropping alpine views.
Stay

IN STYLE

These are examples of the places you can stay on this trip. Please get in touch to discuss your options and to check availability.

  • The Tundra Inn in Churchill in the snow
    01
    02
    Exterior of the Tundra Inn

    Tundra Inn

    Example of a Comfort hotel in Churchill

    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 before or after your arctic adventure.

Insider's tip

Manitoba has a slower pace of life and some of the friendliest people in Canada. While you may know it for its Polar Bear viewing, it's rich and culture and has some great festivals and events. If you prefer nature, the 1110,000 lakes will definitely have something to offer you!

Shannon B

Shannon

Canadian Insider

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your questions answered

What's included

Hotel accommodation
Sleeper train experience in a private cabin
Meals whilst onboard the train
All meals whilst on your beluga and polar bear tour
Whale watching boat/zodiac tour
Wildlife viewing from a specialized Tundra Buggy
Unique guided activities such as dogsledding, cultural tours and more
Train station transfers
Flight from Churchill to Winnipeg
Electronic travel documentation package
Personalized Fresh Tracks Canada customer service support

Frequently asked questions

All of our overnight train journeys feature a private cabin on board the train. In addition, you'll typically enjoy the train's viewing areas, common lounges, and dining cars where you can socialize with fellow travelers.
It takes about 48 hours — two full days and nights — to get from Winnipeg to Churchill on the VIA Rail train.
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).
Aerial view of the town of Banff in the Rockies
Limited Time Offer

Expires May 31

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