There are a few ways to get to Churchill… dogteam, stowing away on a ship, driving a car up the rails… but the easiest options are flying or taking the train. Here are some tips.
Last Update: January 2013
HOW DO I GET TO CHURCHILL BY AIR?
HOW DO I GET TO CHURCHILL BY TRAIN?
The only real inexpensive option for travel to Churchill is the Economy Fare by train. A sleeper on the train is actually almost as expensive as the flight from Winnipeg which is already kind of expensive. Still, polar bears, beluga whales and Hudson Bay are worth it when its all said and done.
WHY AM I GOING TO CHURCHILL?
Polar bears can be found on land from late July until late November with peak season occurring from October 25th until November 15th.
Beluga whales visit the Churchill River each summer. Here, you can go whale-watching or even snorkel with the whales.
BELUGA WHALE WATCHING IN CHURCHILL
I did not have a ‘life list’ before I moved to Churchill, now I own expensive binoculars and a bunch of bird books. A seven day trip in the spring can result in 100 plus species…
BIRDING IN CHURCHILL (COMING SOON)
Polar Bear season for 2012 was one day, Nov 13. Ice came in, bears went out. My wife saw nine from her office window. Another lady told me she saw 27. Sure she did. There were not many roaming into town all fall. Back in 2011, they were all over the place like rats.
Go to Churchill in the summer, for the Beluga whales. That is something to see.
If you insist on going there to try to see bears, there is no best or worst time. Pure luck.
I am planning on going to Churchill October 14th, now I read that the best time to go is after October 25th. Not sure whether to cancel?
Peak polar bear viewing is the end of October, early November. October 14th would be considered ‘early’ but there should still be polar bears and there would be other wildlife viewing opportunities as well.
All depends on where you are going – Seal River is good early in the season, Tundra Buggy has the best chance at viewing early season arrivals…
Thank you for your response. Not going to cancel, just going to look forward to the trip!
Cheers! Loads of tips!
This is probably spam – but its a nice sentiment.
Nos ha parecido interesante la web, volveremos sin duda, un saludo desde salamanca,
Thank you so much for taking free time in order
to publish “Travel to Churchill | Polar Bear Alley – Guide to the Polar Bears of Churchill”.
Thanks yet again -Jean
Hi
I am planning to go to Churchill during this coming Christmas with my girlfriend. I am living in Ottawa now so basically our departure location is Ottawa. I check the flight from Calmair. They have the flight from Ottawa directly to Churchill, which is even cheaper than to Winnipeg. Is it possible and better we fly from Ottawa to Churchill directly?
When the hotels are full there is nowhere to stay. Oct and Nov they are booked solid with pre-paid tours.
Sam, sigh, cable TV, satellite, elctric lights, indoor plumbing.
I tried looking at calmair.com just now. There site is down. If you can skip Winnipeg, by all means do so. Be sure you have a room. Generally the only place open after the end of Nov is the Seaport. The only restaurants are Seaport, Gypsies, cafeteria in the hospital.
$1700 each way plus tax to a town that has shut down for the winter? Don’t do it.
Is there cable tv in Churchill? I won’t go anywhere without Fox News
Could you help me to find an accomodation in Churchill for 3 nights in October.
All the hotels I have tried, seem already full.
Is there an Internet site, which could give me the rooms disponibility in Churchill
Merci
claudie
France
If you want to know about churchille, there is this video I found, about “life in churchille”… URL is: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=72WrSNMR2fc
If you want to know about via rail, and what they offer, you can use their website… This is the Winnipeg- Churchille train page. From here you can find the schedule, accomadations, menu, activities, as well as the tourist info for Winnipeg and Churchille. URL: http://www.viarail.ca/en/trains/prairies-and-northern-manitoba/winnipeg-churchill
I live in Churchill, part time. There is no real best time to come up here as the weather can be what ever it weants. Back in Oct is was cloudy, rainy, windy, for nine days straight. 90 KPH winds. The house swayed in the wind. Saw one (1) Polar Bear in Oct. Saw seven (7) in July.
It is impossible to get here any other way other than aeroplane or train.
Hi
Does Churchill have a supermarket? If so I would so appreciate its telephone number and /or email address.
Thanks
I’m planning to go to Churchill in January, could you give me some suggestion?
I didn’t actually stay in Thompson, but fellow train passengers did & they said they left their car at the Days Inn with no parking fee after they stayed there. I would give the hotel a call if you are thinking of doing this.
I still hav a question, if I drive form winnipeg to thompson, where can i park my car safely, then enjoy the train?
Thanks for the info, very useful!!
Also, James is right… cost and duration are simple things to search… show some initiative folks…
Here is a Q better suited… when is the best time to go to Churchill?
I can go one of the next two upcoming weekends… here is to hoping that it falls in the range!
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All of the folkes here asking questions need to show a little initiative and get the answers yourselves. It’s not hard. Life must be easy when others just do things for you.
i live in michigan and im planing to get on a train from Windsor to Churchill ,( i want a great journal on a train
do u have any idea how much does it cost for round trip (viarail)?
I am planning a trip for two,can you tell me the best time to go either early or late september?Can you tell me how much it will cost for two tickets from Thompson?Thanks David.
As a local woman who has travelled by train my whole life I can give one more suggestion on what to bring on the train, I never get on the train without lysol wipes or some reasonable substitute. Some one in their infinate wisdom thought men and women should share washrooms on a moving train and for some reason men feel they need to stand to use the toilet.
We will be in Winnipeg around June 15 , 2011.
Can we travel to Churchill on a road on my SUV ?.
Or do we travel by train ?.
You cannot travel by SUV or car to Churchill. Train or airplane are the only options from Winnipeg.
there is’nt any roads going to churchill.you can drive to thompson,mb and take the train from there,or you can take the train from winnipeg.another option is to fly on calmair,but you miss the experience of the total wilderness…
You cannot drive to Churchill, you need to either drive to the pas or Thompson. Then take the train or plane.
Could you please advise departure times Winnipeg to Churchill and return for month of October 2011. Also cost for two senoirs sharing a bedroom.
Thanks
Frank
Could you please send me departure times from Winnipeg to Churchill for the month of April/May 2011
Thank you, Carmen