Six-Day Package, Dog Sledding

Frontiers North Adventures runs this 6-day, 5-night package from Winnipeg with flights to Churchill and back, Tundra Buggy days among the polar bears and free evenings in town.

Overview

This six-day, five-night package from Frontiers North Adventures starts in Winnipeg, where travellers overnight at the Lakeview Signature airport hotel before flying north to Churchill on Hudson Bay. From that base, the trip builds toward its main event: two full days aboard a heated Tundra Buggy watching polar bears feed and move across the tundra, with a Frontiers North interpretive guide explaining their daily lives and how climate change affects them. Foxes, ptarmigans and snowy owls also show up on the tundra, and one reviewer reported seeing arctic foxes and arctic hares alongside the bears.

The days between tundra outings are not empty. A dog-sledding excursion with a local Métis musher gives travellers a taste of traditional northern travel, and the Itsanitaq Museum plus the Parks Canada Visitor Centre fill out the cultural side. Two cultural presentations and an interpretive tour of the Polar Bears International House are part of the package, as is a sightseeing tour of Churchill and the surrounding area.

It suits travellers who want a structured, guided polar bear trip with the logistics handled: flights, most meals, accommodation in both Winnipeg and Churchill, entrance fees and gratuities are all bundled. The group runs to a maximum of 22 travellers, and reviewers describe the organization as smooth from the first hotel meeting to the return. The buggy days are full days on the tundra.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Winnipeg arrival nightDay 1 covers 12 hours at the Lakeview Signature, Trademark Collection by Wyndham, the airport-adjacent hotel where the tour both starts and ends. No meals are included this night.
2. Fly to ChurchillDay 2, the Churchill Adventure Begins, includes the flight north and settling into a local inn in Churchill. Meals this day are not included.
3. First Tundra Buggy dayDay 3 is a full Tundra Buggy day out on the tundra looking for polar bears and other wildlife. Accommodation is again the local inn, with all three meals included.
4. Dog sledding and museumDay 4, a full day, pairs the dog-sledding excursion with a local Métis musher and a visit to the Itsanitaq Museum. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included.
5. Final Tundra Buggy dayDay 5 returns to the tundra for the second full Tundra Buggy adventure, before another night at the Churchill inn with full board.
6. Return to WinnipegDay 6 is the flight back to Winnipeg, with a final stop at the Lakeview Signature hotel. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included this day.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points shape how this trip feels day to day, from the long hours on the buggy to the luggage limits on the flights to and from Churchill.

• Dress for wind. The listing recommends layers plus protection for hands, ears and head, because strong winds can make it very cold. Tundra Buggy windows open for photographs, so even though the vehicle is heated, small children in particular can get cold. Warm gloves, a hat and ear coverage matter more than they might seem.
• Long days on the tundra. Each Tundra Buggy day is a full day out, and reviewers confirm the itinerary keeps the group busy. The buggy has washroom facilities and full heating, which makes the long stretches manageable. Travellers who prefer short outings should weigh this before booking.
• Group size. The tour caps at 22 travellers, and one reviewer noted a group of 20 with an itinerary that worked well. Reviews describe the guide keeping the whole group supplied with what they needed. Expect a shared-experience feel rather than private guiding.
• Meals and diet. Four breakfasts, four lunches and four dinners are included, along with gratuities and entrance fees. Any specific dietary requirements must be advised at the time of booking. A detailed itinerary with tour times and specific restaurants arrives 90 days before departure.
• Luggage limits. Flights between Winnipeg and Churchill allow two pieces totalling 70 lbs (31 kg) per person, split as 50 lbs checked and 20 lbs carry-on. Pack accordingly. Rooms take a maximum of four guests, with either one queen bed or two double beds.
• Photography windows. Windows on the buggy open for photographs, so keep camera gear accessible and layered up for the cold air that comes with it. Reviewers reported seeing polar bears, arctic foxes, arctic hares and ptarmigans, so bring a long lens if you have one.

Common issues. Hotel pickup is not included; travellers make their own way to the Lakeview Signature airport hotel, though a free hotel shuttle runs from Winnipeg's airport. Mandatory travel insurance is required to participate and is not part of the package. The tour is not wheelchair accessible, and independent mobility is required for walking and climbing steps. One reviewer suggested the day spent driving around Churchill would be better used as a third day out on the tundra, so travellers who want maximum bear-viewing time should note how the days are split. Confirmation also arrives within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability, so the trip is not instantly guaranteed at the moment of booking.

What To Decide Before You Go