Winnipeg to Churchill Polar Bear Tour
Fly from Winnipeg to Churchill in late autumn and ride a Tundra Buggy to see polar bears on Hudson Bay.
The standard itinerary for a classic polar bear tour: gather in Winnipeg on Day 1, take a charter flight to Churchill, spend two full days on a Tundra Buggy in the Wildlife Management Area, and fly back. The trip is fully packaged by tour operators, with stays in town hotels. Spots sell out far in advance every year and the cost is high. Ideal for wildlife and photography enthusiasts, with a travel window of only about 6 weeks.
Best from mid-October to mid-November; booking one year in advance is usually required.
Day by day
Day 1 · Arrive and Gather in Winnipeg
Approx. 20 minutes from the airport to the hotel; evening briefing with the tour leader.
Stay: Downtown Portage & Main
Day 2 · Fly to Churchill and Town Tour
Churchill（Churchill Station & Parks Canada Visitor Centre、Itsanitaq Museum、Miss Piggy Plane Wreck）
Early morning charter flight (approx. 2.5 hours) to Churchill; afternoon bus tour of the town.
Polar bears roam outside the town; do not go out alone.
Stay: Churchill Town
Day 3 · Tundra Buggy Day 1
Churchill（Churchill Wildlife Management Area & Tundra Buggy Tours）
Early morning transfer (approx. 30 minutes) to the Tundra Buggy launch site; full day of observation on the tundra.
The buggies are heated, but warm winter clothing is required for the outdoor viewing platform.
Stay: Churchill Town
Day 4 · Tundra Buggy Day 2
Another full day of observation on a Tundra Buggy, exploring different routes toward the bay.
Stay: Churchill Town
Day 5 · Town Activities and Fly Back
Churchill（Cape Merry Battery、Churchill Northern Studies Centre） → Winnipeg
Daytime activities in town; evening flight back to Winnipeg (approx. 2.5 hours).
Activities like dog sledding depend on snow conditions; confirm before departure.
Stay: Downtown Portage & Main
Day 6 · Half Day in Winnipeg and Departure
Winnipeg（Canadian Museum for Human Rights、Exchange District）
Walking tour of downtown; transfer to the airport according to your flight (approx. 20 minutes).