Six-Day Winter Aurora Package

Six days from Winnipeg to Churchill with Frontiers North Adventures, built around deep winter darkness and nights spent watching the sky for aurora.

Overview

Frontiers North Adventures runs Churchill Northern Lights and Winter Nights out of Winnipeg, moving you north to a position under the auroral oval and then taking you to a different secluded spot each night, with an Interpretive Guide along to explain what you are seeing.

The days are not idle while you wait for dark. There is a snowshoe trek, a dog sled ride through the boreal forest, a visit to the Itsanitaq Museum, and time at the Churchill Northern Studies Centre. One evening goes to Dan's Diner, an exclusive culinary experience staged on the frozen banks of the Churchill River. Four breakfasts, four lunches and four dinners are included, along with gratuities.

This suits travellers who want aurora viewing backed up by genuine winter activity rather than a passive wait, and who can handle cold nights on the tundra. The group runs to a maximum of 20 travellers. It does not suit anyone needing wheelchair access, and hotel pickup is not part of the package, so you make your own way to the meeting hotel in Winnipeg.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Arrive in WinnipegThe trip starts with 8 hours in Winnipeg, with an overnight at a Winnipeg hotel. Meals are not included on this first day.
2. Churchill adventure beginsDay 2 brings two stops, including the Itsanitaq Museum for 4 hours with admission included. You overnight at a Churchill hotel with breakfast, lunch and dinner provided.
3. Snowshoe trek and Dan's DinerDay 3 covers two stops, among them the Churchill Northern Studies Centre for 1 hour. The evening is the Dan's Diner culinary experience on the frozen banks of the Churchill River. Overnight at the Churchill hotel, with all meals included.
4. Dog sledding and Thanadelthur LoungeDay 4 has one stop, 8 hours in Churchill, with the dog sled ride through the boreal forest and time at the Thanadelthur Lounge. Overnight at the Churchill hotel, with all meals included.
5. Last day in ChurchillDay 5 includes two stops, with 3 hours in Churchill, before guests check into their hotel at the Winnipeg airport. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included.
6. Depart WinnipegThe final day is 8 hours in Winnipeg. Accommodation and meals are not included on this last day, and the activity ends back at the meeting point.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points shape this trip more than anything else, mostly around cold, self-arranged arrival, and the fact that aurora viewing is weather-dependent.

• Getting to the start. Hotel pickup is not included. You arrive in Winnipeg and make your own way to the Lakeview Signature, Trademark Collection by Wyndham at 1999 Wellington Ave, which is both the meeting point and the end point.
• Dress for the tundra. Aurora viewing happens at night from the tundra, in subarctic winter conditions. Serious layered winter gear, insulated boots and protection for hands and face are what this climate demands, so pack accordingly.
• Group size and pace. The tour runs with a maximum of 20 travellers, led by an Interpretive Guide. Days mix scheduled activities with evening aurora sessions.
• Food and drink. Four breakfasts, four lunches and four dinners are included, plus gratuities. The first day in Winnipeg and the final departure day include no meals, so budget for those separately.
• Photography. Each night moves to a new secluded location for aurora viewing and photography, with the guide on hand. Sessions happen after dark, out on the tundra.
• Weather dependence. The listing states plainly that this experience requires good weather. If it is cancelled due to poor conditions, you are offered a different date or a full refund.

Common issues. The honest limits come from the listing itself. Hotel pickup is not included, so you arrange your own arrival at the Winnipeg meeting hotel, and mandatory travel insurance coverage is required to participate and is not part of the package. The tour is not wheelchair accessible. Because aurora viewing depends on clear night skies, the experience requires good weather, and if it is cancelled for poor conditions you are offered a different date or a full refund. Confirmation also arrives within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability, so it is not instant.

What To Decide Before You Go