Polar bear sightseeing

Escorted tours are a fantastic way to see the best bits of a country. Travelling with the experts, you are sure to visit the truly must-see locations and get all the inside local knowledge from your professional tour director.

Churchill Town & Tundra Experience with VIA Rail in and around Churchill, Manitoba, is one of the more adventurous tours, taking you into the wilds of northern Canada. Churchill is known as the ‘Polar Bear Capital of the World’, and is the best place to see these great white bears, the largest land predator, in their natural habitat.

Churchill is a small, northern community with a lot of character; you won’t find one of the big-chain hotels here that you might find in a larger centre. You will, however, find warm, down-home hospitality and clean, comfortable hotels with all the amenities. Staying in town will allow you to walk to and from the different venues, spend some time on your own, and perhaps meet some of the locals.

Our hotel-based adventures offer a well-rounded programme combining polar bear viewing with activities in and around the community of Churchill. These programmes are designed for those who wish to learn about the history and culture of Churchill and region, as well as experience polar bears.

On days that have a Tundra Buggy Adventure scheduled, participants will be transferred from town to the Tundra Buggy Launch where they will board a buggy and begin their search for wildlife. The buggy meanders over a system of established trails, stopping at leisure to enjoy the scenery, search for wildlife, and take photos. When daylight begins to fade, we’ll head back to Launch and be transferred back to town and our hotels.

The great northern lights, or aurora borealis, are also visible from Churchill for a natural night time show to remember.