helicopter tours churchill manitoba

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About Churchill

• Churchill Wildlife

Polar Bear Tours

Get the most out of your visit to Churchill. Fly with us and see the polar bears and much more from the safety and comfort of our helicopters.

About Hudson Bay Helicopters

We are a full service helicopter charter company as well as a first class helicopter sightseeing tour operator. We are located in downtown Churchill.

Churchill is steeped in a rich history dating back to the 1600s. There’s much more to Churchill than polar bears. Come and visit the historic sites with us.

Contact us to book a flight today!

THE BEST Churchill Helicopter Tours

Helicopter tours in churchill.

• Sightseeing Tours
• Up to 1 hour
• 1 to 4 hours
• 4 hours to 1 day

Hudson Bay Helicopters

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Hudson Bay Helicopters - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024) - Tripadvisor

Bears and Aurora Arctic Adventure

Adventure Plans & Activities

Upon arrival, make your own way to the Winnipeg hotel. Free day to explore Winnipeg

Winnipeg to Churchill

Check out from Winnipeg hotel. Group transfer included to the airport if designated hotel is included

Flight from Winnipeg to Churchill

Check-in at Lazy Bear Lodge

Churchill Heritage Tour, includes exploring Cape Merry and an outside tour of the 'Polar Bear Jail' among many other historic sites (approx. 2-3 hours)

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Helicopter Tour & Parks Canada Presentation

Helicopter Tour (approx. 1.5 hours)

Parks Canada Interpretive Presentation (approx. 1 hour)

Zodiac Excursion, Arctic Crawler™ Excursion & Dog Mushing

Zodiac Boat Excursion (weather dependent) (approx. 2 hours)

Arctic Crawler™ Excursion

Dog Mushing Experience

Churchill to Winnipeg

Check-out from Lazy Bear Lodge

Transfer to airport to depart for Winnipeg

Flight from Churchill to Winnipeg

Check-in at Winnipeg hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Check-out from Winnipeg hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast

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Hop on a Tundra Tour to the Churchill Wildlife Management Area aboard our brand new, custom-built, state of the art Arctic Crawler™ tundra vehicles with all the modern amenities including USB ports, with a chance to view various wildlife including Arctic Fox, Ptarmigan, Arctic Hare and sometimes even Polar Bears.

Take a cruise down the Churchill River, to meet and greet our "Ambassadors of the North", the gentle and curious Beluga Whales!

You will have a Dog Mushing experience which includes an exhilarating 1 mile dog mushing ride. The dogs love to run whether or not there is snow. Spend time with the dogs, learn how they are trained and hear many entertaining stories.

You will have a Churchill Heritage Tour of the town plus a Parks Canada presentation.

What Our Adventure offers

Three nights at Lazy Bear Lodge in Churchill and Two nights in Winnipeg (one pre- and one post-adventure)

Opportunity to see the Northern Lights all 3 evenings

Roundtrip airfare between Winnipeg and Churchill

Group transfer from the designated Winnipeg hotel to the airport on Day 2

Shuttle service in Churchill included upon arrival and departure

Helicopter Excursion (approx. 1.5 hours)

Arctic Crawler™ excursion

Dog Mushing experience

Zodiac Boat Excursion (weather dependent)

Churchill Heritage tour

Parks Canada Presentation

Professional Tour Guide

Meals provided by the Lazy Bear Café and included in your adventure

Adventure Photo Gallery

The 1.5 hour helicopter tour was fantastic! - the time in the helicopter makes a huge difference compared to a shorter ride; The zodiac tour was also fantastic. Tour guide Jason was fantastic. Seeing the Northern Lights was also fantastic-Jason took our group, 10 pm - 12 am to see the Northern Lights near Miss Piggy, which was really appreciated… The Boreal walk was excellent. The cultural/heritage tour and Churchill Northern Studies walk/presentation (by the director) were very good.

Pick the perfect option

Adventure dates & prices.

August 29 – September 3

1 – 7 September, 2024

5 - 10 September, 2024

Bears & Aurora Arctic Adventure

Additional info.

Our Bears & Aurora Arctic Adventure is recommended for ages 8 & up.

Easy: Light walking and hiking. Suitable for most fitness levels.

• Per person, based on double occupancy, single supplement add $525.00 CDN.

Travel Packing Checklist

Expeditioners toolkit:.

A single supplement fee covers the loss of income by the lodge when one single person occupies a room. That person pays a premium as room availability is limited during our operating seasons.

You can also visit the gift shops and the Parks Canada center at the Churchill train station in your free time where they provide films, slideshows and lectures to visitors (based on availability).

Your flight between Winnipeg and Churchill will be with Calm-air on either a chartered or regular flight (either an ATR 42 or ATR 72). Further instructions will be provided upon booking and/or with your travel documents.

The average temperature in September is between 2 and 9 degrees Celsius (35 and 48 degrees Fahrenheit). It might feel cooler because of wind so be sure to bring the recommended clothing.

Winnipeg Office: For Reservations in Winnipeg we accept Visa and MasterCard. All payments are charged in Canadian Funds. If applicable, funds will be converted to US Funds by your credit card company at the exchange rate they use at the time of processing. ‍ At The Lodge: Lazy Bear Expeditions, Lodge & Café accept Visa, MasterCard, Debit and cash. ‍ US credit card or debit: US and Canadian currencies are accepted. All payments are charged in Canadian Funds and converted to US Funds by your bank or credit card company at the exchange rate they use at the time of processing. ‍ Cash: It is best to bring Canadian Funds because US Funds are accepted at par with Canadian currency.

The weather in September can vary quite significantly. There can be warmer days and cooler days so it is important to layer your clothing. Warm clothing is recommended. We recommend packing the following:

• Loose fitting clothing, long socks, long-sleeved shirt and pants for cooler days (be sure to layer)
• A wind breaker/light rain jacket/sweatshirt/fleece jacket/warm fall jacket for cooler days
• Thermal under clothing, a touque (a close fitting hat covering your ears), mittens or gloves for the boat and walking tour
• Hiking shoes or runners with ankle support
• A good shade hat, sun glasses, binoculars, camera
• Spare batteries for each camera type you bring
• Charging cords for laptops, cell phones, tablets
• We also recommend bringing along a small carry-on bag with your absolute necessities just in case your luggage makes it to Churchill after you do

Are You Ready For The Adventure of Lifetime

Spaces fill up fast. Secure Your Spot Today

o/a Lazy Bear Expeditions 313 Kelsey Blvd. Churchill, Manitoba R0B 0E0

[email protected]

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Please note: The tour includes 60 minutes of flying time.

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17 Oct Polar Bears from Above: Helicopter Tour of Churchill, Manitoba

Peering over the edge of the window, I looked down at white sand and aqua waters. If I didn’t know better, I’d think we were flying through the Caribbean. In reality, that couldn’t have been much further from the truth. Where were we? We were flying over the Canadian tundra…in Churchill, Manitoba . Our one-hour helicopter tour of Churchill was full of one surprise after another, and we absolutely loved every minute of it.

The tour started out at our hotel, Polar Inn and Suites. Alex, our helicopter pilot from Custom Helicopters, picked us up in a shuttle and drove us to the departure point at the Churchill airport. Custom Helicopters has offered helicopter charters for quite some time, and they recently added tourism and sightseeing flights into the repertoire.

We watched with anticipation as Alex prepped the helicopter for our flight. He loaded a shotgun and other bear safety gear in the rear compartment and casually explained how to open the compartment should anything go wrong. Polar bear safety is definitely taken seriously round these parts.

Once everything was prepared, it was time to board after a brief safety demonstration. Since this was Micah’s first time in a helicopter (my second), we figured he needed to sit in the front seat. We buckled ourselves in, put on our headsets, and it was time to go!

With floor to ceiling glass, the front seat was almost entirely made of windows. One of the windows in the door could even be opened, which was perfect for taking photos without glare. It wasn’t until I was looking through Micah’s photos that I realized he even had glass underneath his feet! So cool.

Surprisingly, I had great views from the back seat, as well. The window to my left was a giant dome that extended way out past the edge of the helicopter body. It wasn’t until halfway through the ride that I realized just how far the window extended out. I was leaning out the window and kept going farther and farther. I felt as though I was going to fall straight over the edge…that is until my forehead finally bumped into the glass and I remained safely inside the helicopter. In other words: the domed window provided AMAZING views, too.

We had an hour flight scheduled and our flight path sent us all over the Churchill region. We flew over the MV Ithaca ship that ran aground in 1960, along the coast of the Hudson Bay, over Cape Churchill, above Wapusk National Park, and then back over the town of Churchill and the Churchill River. It was so interesting to see how diverse the landscape could be from one part of the area to the next. It surprised us to find beaches, trees, and lakes mixed in with the barren landscapes of the tundra that we had always imagined.

To top it off, we also had a heyday with our wildlife spotting! We observed numerous birds, 3 caribou, more belugas than we could count…and 9(!) polar bears. This helicopter ride happened to fall on the last full day of our trip to Churchill. Up until this point, we had yet to see a polar bear in person. Seeing so many bears in such a short amount of time, in a helicopter no less, was better than we ever imagined. And, as luck would have it, we also spotted two more polar bears on our Tundra Buggy tour that afternoon!

Throughout our trip, people told us that the polar bears don’t like the sound of the helicopters, so they tend to run away when you fly by; however, we did not find this to be the case. Alex told us that pilots are required to stay a certain distance above and away from the polar bears and other wildlife so as to not disturb them. I can’t remember the exact distance that we needed to keep, but Alex was very conscious about not getting too close to the bears.

He asked us to keep an eye out for any signs that we were being a nuisance. But, none of the polar bears we spotted even seemed to notice we were there. They just moseyed around, lounged in the water, and relaxed on the beaches. Even still, Alex didn’t want to stay near any specific bear for too long, so we stayed to take a few photos and observe a bit before heading on our way again.

We had so much fun on our helicopter tour of Churchill, Manitoba, and Alex was a wonderful pilot and guide. Our flight went by way too fast—we could have stayed up in the sky all day long. We would have to say it was an extremely successful 1st (and 2nd) ride in a helicopter. It’s definitely going to be a hard one to top!

Special thanks t o  Travel Manitoba   and Custom Helicopters for hosting us on this tour. As always, all opinions are our own. 

Would you go on a helicopter tour of Churchill?

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SEE POLAR BEARS ON CHURCHILL MANITOBA HELICOPTER TOURS

Story and photos by Barb & Ron Kroll

A helicopter flight over Churchill and Hudson Bay was a great introduction to our polar bear trip .

Tour guide, Steve Clubb, drove our group to Hudson Bay Helicopters (phone number: 204-675-2576, address: 294 Kelsey Boulevard). Staff divided us into sub-groups of three-to-five people and assigned us to pilots.

Our pilot was Charles, who wore a toque labeled "Chopper Chuck." After leading us across the tarmac to his Bell Long Ranger III Superior helicopter, he ensured that we were properly buckled in before starting the engines.

Charles showed us how to use the headphones, which had microphones so we could ask him questions and listen to his commentary.

The four helicopters lifted off, one after the other, raising clouds of snow powder around the runners below them. We noted that one of the helicopters had a hook below it to support a sling that carried errant polar bears out of the town of Churchill .

Flying east, we had great views of the VIA Rail trains and tracks, homes, streets, shops and hotels in Churchill. It was mid-November and ice had already formed at least one kilometer (0.6 miles) into western Hudson Bay. Farther out, we observed an icy soup of bergy bits floating in olive-green water.

Much of the Hudson Bay ice was fractured like broken glass. It looked as if some massive hand had crumpled a bag of white potato chips and left them scattered along the coast.

Hudson Bay shipwreck

We flew over the wreck of the M/V Ithaca , located 16 kilometers (10 miles) east of Churchill, on the western tip of Bird Cove. Charles explained that it was a nickel ore-carrying ship that ran aground in the 1960s, during a storm.

"It lost both rudders and its anchor. Locals went out and removed everything of value after the cargo was recovered. The crew survived."

Viewing polar bears

Charles told passengers on the left side to look down. A mother bear and her two cubs were resting beside floating chunks of ice.

"I'm going to turn around now, so folks on the right side of the helicopter can see the bears," he said after everyone on the left had taken their photos.

We spotted another female bear with twin cubs following her nose-to-tail. Mama bear stopped walking and gently nuzzled her cubs before they continued their journey.

Helicopter pilots are very careful not to disturb the polar bears. "If a bear runs or seems disturbed, we avoid them," explained Charles.

"Sometimes we're 60 meters (200 feet) above them and they don't react. Other times, we're 300 meters (1,000 feet) high and they run, so we quickly fly away." The bears below us seemed oblivious to our presence above them.

Tundra tours

The blades of our helicopter made throp , throp sounds as we flew northeast over Cape Churchill Wildlife Management Area toward Fox Island, near Wapusk National Park.

"We're now in Tundra Buggy land," said Charles. We flew over Tundra Buggies and Polar Rovers slowly making their way along snowy trails, so passengers could look for bears.

Near Great White Bear Lodge, Charles pointed out a big male polar bear slowly plodding over the ice. His hair had a yellowish tinge, so it was easy to spot him on the white ice.

Over the radio, another helicopter pilot reported two male bears sparring. From above, they looked like sumo wrestlers pushing their massive bodies against each other.

After ensuring that passengers on both sides of the helicopter saw the bears, Charles said: "Let's fly over the islands off Cape Merry and Prince of Wales' Fort to see if we can find more polar bears."

We saw only a solitary male bear, sitting on his haunches sniffing the air. A fellow participant later showed us photos of moose that he took from a previous helicopter flight over Cape Merry.

Helicopter flights are one-hour-long, but our trip was so interesting that it felt like five minutes.

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HUDSON BAY HELICOPTERS (Churchill) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

How To See Churchill Polar Bears In The Wild

Seeing the Churchill Polar Bears in Manitoba is a wildlife bucket list item. Here are the best ways to see polar bears in Churchill.

The great white bear is the undisputed king of the Arctic. Polar bears are the largest land predators on Earth. Males stand up to 3M (9.84 ft) in height and can weigh as much as 450 kg (992 lbs). The best place in the world to see this mighty beast is right here in Canada, in the small town of Churchill Manitoba .

Thanks to unparalleled accessibility and the crazy stories of life in this small Manitoba town, the Churchill Manitoba polar bears have become legendary. Seeing the polar bears in Churchill is one of our favorite wildlife experiences in Canada .

You may know of Churchill through David Attenborough-narrated features such as BBC Earth or through wild news reports of the polar bears that can be seen strolling through the town. Nothing though can prepare you for seeing the polar bears in Churchill Manitoba firsthand. There’s a reason that Churchill made our list of the most incredible family-friendly wildlife experiences . And you’ll soon learn why.

Each year, as the weather begins to cool, thousands of polar bears make their way to the shores of Hudson Bay to await the formation of sea ice that will allow them to hunt for seals. It’s during this brief window that it’s the best time to see polar bears in Churchill. For the rest of the year, they are either far out on the ice sheets or deep within the boreal forest and difficult to find.

While you can always get up close and personal with polar bears at the incredible exhibit in Winnipeg , there is no experience that comes close to the rush of seeing polar bears in the wild.

5 Ways To See The Churchill Manitoba Polar Bears

Table of Contents

Even though Churchill is deemed the polar bear capital of the world, it doesn’t mean that there are always polar bears wandering down the street. Seeing polar bears in Churchill requires a combination of timing, luck, and persistence. We’ll get to ‘when’ to see polar bears in Churchill shortly. But when the timing is right, here are five ways to see the Churchill Manitoba Polar Bears.

Explore The Hudson Bay Shoreline On A Tundra Buggy Expedition

If you’re looking for the closest possible Churchill polar bear experience, look no further than the Frontiers North Tundra Buggy tours . These incredible machines are completely unique to Churchill. On these massive overland vehicles,  you’ll be perched 15 ft above the ground.

With massive tires towering ground clearance, guests will be safely out of the reach of the Churchill Manitoba polar bears. But you’ll be close enough to get photos that your friends back home will scarcely believe.

There are a few massive overland vehicle tours offered in Churchill. Companies such as Lazy Bear Expeditions and Great White Bear Tours. But the classic Churchill Tundra Buggy tour is run by local experts,  Frontiers North .

These unique tours can be extended to multi-day outings in Tundra Buggy hotels. These overland trains include kitchens, sleeping quarters, and the chance to wake up with the world’s largest land predator sniffing around outside your window.

Onboard the Churchill Tundra Buggy tour. You’ll be comfortable and warm yet have access to the open-air photo deck. You’ll also be served lunch catered by one of the incredible local Churchill restaurants and a selection of tea and coffee. Tundra Buggy tours run year-round, but book your Churchill polar bear tour for October or November to get your best chance of seeing the Churchill Manitoba polar bears.

In 2023, Frontiers North updated their massive Tundra Buggies, converting all of these vehicles to electric motors. It was an excellent conservation initiative that should help to protect these glorious wilds for a long time to come.

You can read all about our experience on the Frontiers North Tundra Buggy tour here .

Experience Remote Churchill Polar Bears From A Safari Lodge

Polar Bears are incredible wild animals. Wild animals tend to avoid humans when they can. While it is possible to see the Churchill Manitoba polar bears near town (and sometimes in the town itself), the further you get from civilization, the more wild the Churchill polar bear experiences are.

It doesn’t get much more remote than the Churchill Wild eco-lodges. These remote lodges situated on the shores of Hudson Bay can accommodate those with a spirit for rugged adventure. And if you like a little luxury with your polar bear safari, you can opt for packages that pamper you as well.

The Churchill Wild compounds are fenced in for safety. And there are few places in the world where you will have this kind of unfettered access to wild polar bears. And every day begins and ends with some of the scrumptious organic, locally sourced food. The menu, put together by founding chefs, Helen Webber and Marie Woolsey, offers the perfect way to fuel your time with the polar bears in Churchill, Manitoba.

See Churchill Polar Bears From The Air On A Helicopter Tour

If you visit Churchill during the shoulder season in late summer to early autumn, the polar bears in Churchill Manitoba tend to be hiding in the trees or further out in the wilds of Wapusk National Park. This remote and sprawling environment is one of the most amazing national parks in Canada , but it can only be accessed via snowmobile, ATV, and helicopter. While brave locals might feel comfortable venturing into this untamed wilderness, I would never recommend an unguided experience for anyone who hasn’t spent their lives in polar bear country.

To get the best views of the polar bears in Wapusk National Park, join Custom Helicopter Tours in Churchill Manitoba for a birds-eye view. It’s during one of these hour-long aerial Churchill tours that you’ll really get a glimpse of just how many polar bears there are in Churchill Manitoba. During the warmer months, these bears lazily bide their time until the sea ice forms. And when it does, it’s only a short period of action before they make their way out onto the ice to hunt for seals.

A helicopter tour of Churchill will allow you to catch a glimpse of roaming herds of caribou, solitary moose, and many of the magnificent birdlife that calls the sub-arctic tundra home during the warmer months. And, you’re likely to see loads of polar bears waiting for the ice sheets to form. You may even catch a glimpse of pods of majestic beluga whales swimming just under the surface. If you aren’t planning a Churchill Beluga whale tour, this is one of the best ways to see the white whales of the north.

Take a Local Guided Tour Of The Polar Bears In Churchill

Lodges and multi-day tours in Churchill can be pricey. Any time you visit a destination as remote and specialized as the polar bear capital of the world, you’re going to be paying a premium. But one of the more economical ways to see the Churchill polar bears is via a locally guided tour. There is no better way to understand a destination than through the experiences of a local. And Churchill is the kind of place where that inside information will blow your mind.

Churchill is a place where the local personalities are almost as big as the polar bears that live on the outskirts of town. You’ll hear the stories of the pilots of the Miss Piggy plane crash,  controversial local figure Brian Ladoon who was known for feeding polar bears and rescuing Inuit sled dogs, and much more. But tales in Churchill are as tall as a Tundra Buggy, so take everything you hear with a grain of salt. There are as many tales as there are people in town.

Churchill locals know the town better than anyone. And because of that, they know where to find the polar bears in Churchill. And, most importantly, how to do it safely . Local Churchill tour companies such as Nature 1st can take you to the locations where locals know the Churchill Manitoba polar bears like to spend their time.

You can read our complete guide to Churchill Manitoba here .

Rent A Truck For A DIY Churchill Manitoba Tour

Yes, it is possible to do a do-it-yourself Churchill Manitoba tour. But, it requires some inside knowledge. If you’ve never visited Churchill before, you might want to think about whether this option is for you. There is one car rental company in Churchill. Tamarack Rentals , which is located on Kelsey Blvd right isn’t your typical car rental spot. You’ll have your choice of a small selection of pickup trucks. And there isn’t any insurance as an option.

Don’t expect the cream of the crop when you pick your vehicle. The fleet consists of older model pickup trucks. And you’ll have your choice of 2wd and 4wd options and regular and king cab models. Shipping vehicles up to Churchill is a pricey project, so expect the vehicles you rent to have had some wear and tear. If you’re traveling to Churchill with children, you’ll need to bring your own car seats.

With a car rental, you’ll have the opportunity to drive the tens of kilometers of roads that make up the Greater Churchill Area. The best areas for catching a glimpse of polar bears on a self-drive Churchill Manitoba tour are on the rocks along Thompson St. between La Verendrye Ave. and Robert Crescent. On this stretch, you’ll find the hard pink rock of the Hudson Bay shoreline blocking the views of the water. Keep your eyes peeled for small, white tufts on the various outcrops and on top of the rocks. Or, better yet, for other cars or tour vans stopped with their cameras out.

With a do-it-yourself tour comes a very important risk. Having a professional bear guide with you means having someone who understands the local wildlife and what safety precautions must be undertaken to protect yourself. If you choose a self-drive tour without understanding the risks, you could end up putting yourself and others in danger. It is very important to follow local rules regarding keeping a large distance between yourself and polar bears. These animals are huge, vicious, and incredible fast when they want to be.

Churchill Manitoba Polar Bear Safety

It’s hard to walk anywhere in Churchill Manitoba and not see a polar bear safety warning. After all, this town has a year-round population of just 1,000 people. But during the high season, it swells to over 2,500. That’s a lot of people visiting, many of whom have never encountered an animal such as polar bears before. Just like any wild animal experience, there are important safety facts to consider in order to keep yourself safe.

Whether you’re going on a group tour, a local guided exploration, or a do-it-yourself experience, practicing polar bear safety is crucial to your safety. These things are even more important if you are traveling to Churchill with kids. Here are some polar bear safety tips to help you stay safe.

• Always stay close to your vehicle and leave your vehicle unlocked and easy to access.
• Travel in groups and make noise as you walk. Polar Bears will usually avoid you if they can hear you coming.
• Avoid walking around coastal areas that have poor sightlines such as the bedrock mounds.
• Take advantage of guided tours to ensure that you’re with people who understand the animals and the terrain.
• Bears can be found at any time of the day but are most active in the early morning and at night.
• Make sure someone in your group is responsible for spotting bears while others are taking photographs or using binoculars or spotting scopes.
• Be aware of your surroundings. Remember, it’s not the Polar Bear that you can see that is the one you need to be most worried about.
• If you see a bear, make sure everyone around you is aware. For a large animal, polar bears can be remarkably difficult to see. You do not want to surprise a polar bear.
• Do not run, move quickly, or make dramatic motions near a polar bear.
• If you find yourself too close to a polar bear, slowly walk back the way you came.
• If you surprise a polar bear STAY CALM. Don’t yell, hiss, run or do anything to spook the animal.
• If the animal shows signs of aggression or stalking stay calm and walk slowly back the way you came or in a wide arc away from the animal.
• If a polar bear appears ready to charge, use any potential weapon. Bang, yell, group together and make loud noises. Do not run. Stand your ground.
• Never get between a female bear and her cubs. A female separated from her cubs is likely to attack to defend them.
• Avoid wandering around the town at night. Especially near the water. It can be difficult to see animals in the dark and you may inadvertently startle a polar bear.
• Never feed or approach Polar Bears in Churchill, Manitoba

When Is The Best Time To See Polar Bears In Churchill Manitoba?

Witnessing the polar bears of Churchill in the wild is one of the most unforgettable things to do in Manitoba . The sheer accessibility and abundance of polar bears in the region make the Churchill population one of the most studied polar bear populations in the world. But these animals are only accessible for a limited time.

Each year polar bears make their way to the Hudson Bay shoreline for the ‘Big Freeze’ that marks the start of seal hunting season. This period, from October to November, is the best time to see polar bears in Churchill, Manitoba.

During the late summer months such as August and September, you may still have a chance of seeing the Churchill polar bears, but sightings will be more challenging. During these months you’ll be more likely to find Beluga whales , wolves, and caribou roaming the outskirts of town. However, this period, where the nights begin to lengthen is the only time of year when you may have the opportunity to see beluga whales, polar bears, and the northern lights. Often called the “holy trinity” of Churchill travel.

What To Pack For Churchill

Weather in Churchill Manitoba can be all over the map. During our last visit in August, the temperatures ranged from 7 C (44.6 F) to 28 C (82.4 F). We saw rain, sunshine, fog, and everything in between. This Churchill Manitoba guide won’t recommend packing light. Bring what you need. If you’re traveling to Churchill for polar bears, you’ll likely be visiting in the autumn. You didn’t spend all that money making the trek to northern Manitoba in order to save $25 on a check-in bag. Here are a few things to pack for Churchill polar bear tours

Boots and Warm Socks:  Winter boots are a must in the cold months. In the summer you can often get by with a good pair of hiking boots. Something with a sticky tread. More important though are the socks. Pack a pair of warm,  breathable wool or wicking socks  to help keep your feet warm and dry. Expeditions in Churchill can be long and you don’t want wet feet.

Hat, Scarf, and Gloves:  Yes you do need these, even during summer in Churchill. They are especially important if you plan to spend time on the water with the Churchill Beluga Whales. Temperatures on the water can be quite cold, and you can get splashed. If you get warm, you can always take them off.

Camera and Binoculars:  Contrary to those amazing NatGeo photos that are often posted, seeing the Polar Bears in Churchill means keeping your distance (unless you’re on the Tundra Buggy tour). Make sure to bring a camera with a long zoom lens so that you can snap great photos.  This camera  has the equivalent of a 450mm, which is about as long as you can get without going pro. It also helps to have a pair of binoculars to scope out those bears hidden in the rocky hollows of the bedrock.  This model packs up small  yet offers great glass.

My personal camera is a Canon EOS R mirrorless . It’s compact and lightweight and offers the option for interchangeable lenses. Consider picking up a 300mm lens and then adding a 2x telephoto extender to it.

Do We Recommend Joining A Churchill Manitoba Tour

No matter how you plan to see the Churchill polar bears, you’ll need to plan your trip appropriately. Churchill is an incredible city. From the food to the people, the landscape to the history, Churchill is truly one of the gems of travel in Canada . If the idea of independent travel in Churchill is overwhelming, consider joining a Churchill Manitoba tour.

A Churchill polar bear tour will give you better access to these magnificent animals. You’ll be safer, and you won’t need to deal with all the complicated logistics of travel in this remote part of northern Manitoba .

Churchill tours like these usually take care of everything from flying out of Winnipeg to transportation on the ground, and the actual adventures once you arrive in Churchill. They aren’t cheap, but you’ll be well taken care of, and will likely have better opportunities for photography and wildlife spotting than a self-guided Churchill Manitoba tour.

No matter how you plan on seeing the Churchill polar bears though, you’re guaranteed to have an unforgettable adventure in one of Canada’s most unique landscapes.

Have you ever visited Churchill Manitoba before? Tell us about your experiences in the comments below. Or tag our Instagram account on your photos. We would love to share in your travels.

Disclosure: Our Tundra Buggy Experience was hosted by Frontiers North . All opinions remain our own. Wandering Wagars is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com, amazon.co.uk, amazon.ca. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.

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Wednesday 25th of August 2021

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Custom Helicopters is approved by Transport Canada to carry out maintenance and is a certified overhaul facility for various aircraft and their components. Our skilled technicians excel and returning your helicopter to flying condition, following stringent safety regulations, Transport Canada standards, and Custom’s philosophy of providing the utmost in quality and value for our clients.

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Churchill has a subarctic climate with long, cold winters and mild summers. Weather events and variability throughout the year add to the interesting aspects of visiting Churchill; however, with such variability, air travel can become challenging. Safety is our number-one priority. If the weather is marginal, we might have to cancel or postpone flights. When you book with us, however, we work with you and your schedule and try our best to reschedule your flight for another time or day when the weather improves.

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Our tour aircraft can accommodate a maximum of 5 passengers per helicopter. The maximum duration of a flight depends on passenger weight, as our flight operations use passenger load to calculate maximum fuel load. Groups of 2 or 3 passengers can fly for up to 120 minutes, groups of 4 passengers can fly for up to 90 minutes, and groups of 5 passengers can fly for up to 60 minutes. When calling to book, please let us know the size of your group and passenger weight, so we can let you know which tour durations are available to your group.

Top Tours in Churchill, Manitoba

Churchill tours.

• Nature & Wildlife Tours
• Sightseeing Tours
• 4WD, ATV & Off-Road Tours
• Photography Tours
• Helicopter Tours
• Private Tours
• Multi-day Tours
• Walking Tours
• Adrenaline & Extreme Tours
• 5.0 of 5 bubbles
• 4.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• Adventurous
• Good for Couples
• Good for Big Groups
• Good for Adrenaline Seekers
• Good for Kids
• Budget-friendly
• Hidden Gems
• Good for a Rainy Day
• Honeymoon spot
• Things to do ranked using Tripadvisor data including reviews, ratings, photos, and popularity.

1. Discover Churchill Tours

2. Great White Bear Tours

3. Frontiers North Adventures

4. Sea North Tours

5. Nanuk Operations

6. Wapusk Adventures

7. Lazy Bear Expeditions

8. The Tundra Buggy Adventure - Day Tours

9. Hudson Bay Helicopters

10. Bluesky Expeditions - Day Tours

11. Sub-Arctic Explorers

12. Kischikamee Wildlife Adventure

13. Seal River Fall Polar Bear Photography Tour

14. Custom Helicopters

15. Beyond Boreal Expeditions

16. North Star Tours

What travellers are saying

• Discover Churchill Tours
• Frontiers North Adventures
• Great White Bear Tours
• Nanuk Operations
• The Tundra Buggy Adventure - Day Tours
• Wapusk Adventures
• Sea North Tours
• Lazy Bear Expeditions
• Hudson Bay Helicopters