If Churchill in Manitoba is on your travel radar, you’re already thinking big – Polar bears, Beluga whales, the northern lights and one of the most unique wilderness communities on Earth.
But when to go and what you’ll see depends entirely on the time of year.
Here’s a seasonal snapshot of what Churchill has to offer – and who can help you experience it.
Summer (June–August): Belugas, Biking and Bears
As the ice disappears, Hudson Bay transforms into a playground for 60,000 Beluga whales who migrate here to calve and feed. At the same time, wildflowers bloom across the tundra, birdlife explodes in colour and the days stretch long into the night.
Summer highlights:
- Beluga whale watching by boat, Zodiac or even kayak.
- Snorkelling with belugas (yes, really).
- Exploring historical sites like Fort Prince of Wales and the Ithaca shipwreck.
- Walking tours along the coast and tundra.
- Hitting the sweet spot where it’s possible to see Belugas, Polar bears and maybe even the northern lights in a single trip to Churchill.
Top operators:
- Lazy Bear Expeditions offers summer packages that include kayaking with belugas, boat tours, cultural excursions and stays at their log cabin-style lodge in town. They also offer the Journey to Fireweed Island package – the world’s only location where arctic wildflowers and Polar bears coexist.
- Churchill River Mushing and Sea North Tours provide whale watching by Zodiac, estuary tours and interpretive experiences on the water.
- Wapusk Adventures, run by Métis musher Dave Daley, offers dog carting (wheeled sleds) and cultural experiences when the ground is dry enough.
Picture courtesy of Lazy Bear Expeditions
Autumn (October–November): The Polar Bear Capital in Full Glory
Churchill’s most famous residents – Polar bears – steal the spotlight in autumn. As the ice begins to form on Hudson Bay, the bears gather along the shoreline, waiting for their frozen hunting ground to return.
This is the only place in the world where you can reliably see Polar bears in the wild from the comfort of a tundra vehicle.
Who to go with:
- Frontiers North Adventures operates the renowned Tundra Buggy® tours, including multi-day stays at the Tundra Buggy Lodge – a lodge-on-wheels parked right in Polar bear territory.
- Churchill Wild offers intimate on-foot safaris from luxury wilderness ecolodges like Nanuk Polar Bear Lodge and Seal River Heritage Lodge. Exclusive up-close bear encounters with expert guides and gourmet meals.
- Great White Bear Tours provides daily bear-viewing excursions using custom-built Polar Rovers.
Frontier North’s Tundra Buggy Lodge
Winter (January–March): Aurora and Arctic Quiet
If you’ve ever dreamed of seeing the northern lights, winter in Churchill delivers. With minimal light pollution and prime positioning under the auroral oval, this is one of the world’s best spots for aurora viewing.
The town even has a northern lights phone tree, where locals alert each other when the aurora starts to dance across the sky, so you never miss a show, even in the middle of the night.
Plus, there’s snowmobiling, dog sledding and a chance to see the town in its deep-freeze glory.
Don’t miss experiences:
- Aurora watching from heated domes, remote lodges or the back deck of your accommodation.
- Dog sledding with Wapusk Adventures, who offer unforgettable rides through the boreal forest and stories from Dave Daley’s Métis heritage.
- Fat biking through snowy trails.
- Cultural workshops and photography expeditions.
Recommended operators:
- Frontiers North’s Northern Lights and Winter Nights tour includes lodge stays, cultural talks and prime aurora viewing.
- Nanuk Operations offers storytelling evenings and forest yurts, blending Indigenous tradition with wilderness adventure.
- Wat’chee Expeditions offers rare Polar bear den emergence tours near Wapusk National Park (February–March), though these are for the serious wildlife enthusiast.
- Dene Routes Florence Hamilton offers cultural workshops including a taste of Sayisi Dene History and a Caribou Hair Tufting Experience
Shoulder Season (April–May): Off the Grid, But Still Magical
Churchill slows down in spring, with many tour operators temporarily pausing as the ice melts and animals transition.
But it’s still a rewarding time for independent travellers or those seeking cultural immersion, photography opportunities and serenity without the crowds.
Expect snowy walks, cosy community experiences and perhaps a glimpse of the aurora borealis on a clear night.
Read about Traveltalk’s Off-Season Churchill Experience.
How to Get There
Churchill is a fly-in destination, with regular flights from Winnipeg via Calm Air. For the more adventurous, VIA Rail offers a two-day train journey through the boreal forest and subarctic tundra – an experience in itself.
During high season (particularly in October–November for Polar bears and July–August for belugas), accommodation is limited and almost entirely booked out by tour operators.
Flights to Churchill can also be extremely expensive if booked independently. For this reason, the most cost-effective and stress-free way to visit Churchill during peak times is through a packaged tour with an established operator.
They not only secure your transport and lodging but also ensure you make the most of your time in the region, safely and seamlessly.
No matter the season, Churchill runs on community spirit, cultural pride and a deep respect for the land and wildlife.
Whether you’re cuddled up in a tundra lodge watching a bear amble past or paddling alongside chirping belugas, you’ll come away with more than memories – you’ll carry a piece of this extraordinary place with you.