Is Churchill Worth Visiting? My One Day Visit to see Polar Bears
As a wildlife photographer, getting the opportunity to photograph Polar Bears is a dream come true. There are only a few places in the world with access to them. And Churchill, known as the Polar Bear Capital of the World, may be the best place to see them.
In early November, I had the crazy opportunity to do a whirlwind, one-day trip to Churchill in Manitoba, Canada. Visiting Churchill was so worth it, and the photos and memories will stick with me forever.
Inside is my quick recap of the trip and photos of polar bears!
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My Experience Visiting Churchill for a Day
I was invited by Polar Bears International and Frontiers North Adventures to visit Churchill and learn about the new Tundra Buggy EV 1. The all-electric research buggy is climate-friendly, quieter, and enables scientists to conduct research and broadcast from the subarctic.
It was an early wake-up, with a meeting at 6am in the hotel lobby. From here, we headed to our chartered flight with 75 other people.
The flight was easy enough, about 100 minutes from Winnipeg to Churchill. With no Wi-Fi or TV screens, I spent the flight chatting with those around me. In a world full of distractions, having human-to-human interactions was pleasant.
Polar Bears On the Tundra
Once on the ground, our group loaded up into the van and headed toward the Tundra Buggy dock. Not 8 minutes out of town did we see our first polar bear! And it was a mom-and-cub. Sitting in the front seat, I was the only one with a clear view for taking photos.
I was awestruck. We were seeing polar bears! There they were, 25 yards away, just walking through the snow.
After spending five minutes with them, we continued to the dock. When we pulled in, we looped around the area, making sure there were no polar bears nearby. Now in the clear, we unloaded and headed into the new, state-of-the-art buggy.
After a 15-minute debrief about the new EV, we set out in the giant vehicle that reminded me of the AT-ATs from Star Wars. With a new suspension system, the ride was apparently much smoother than the older versions. Still, going over large rocks and through half-frozen pools made for moments of shakiness.
We ended up only driving about 10-15 minutes out before we stopped. We had four bears on our left-hand side, walking across the ice. Two of them, a mom and cub, were walking fast as a boar had just emerged on the far side.
As the sow and cub crossed the ice, another male, this one smaller, passed by on her southern flank.
While mom and cub eventually disappeared, the two males ended up roughhousing for about three hours. And we stayed with them.
It was pretty cool to watch, though, with your naked eye, they were pretty far away. If you plan to visit, make sure to bring binoculars.
Eventually, a few more bears rolled through from both sides, bringing our total bears seen to eight! I selfishly was hoping for more, but it was an incredible day watching North America’s apex predators live life wild.
Weather in Churchill
With the wind chill, it was pretty chilly out!
Thankfully, I had a nice big parka on, and if you faced away from the wind, it wasn’t too bad. The one thing that really got me was cold fingers. To photograph, I need some dexterity with my fingers, and having them exposed, especially early in the day, was rough!
Wrapping up a trip to Churchill
Around 3pm, we left the bears and headed into the town to visit the Polar Bears International Interpretive Center. This gave us a time to learn more about the non-profit organization, see the small museum, and chat with the staff without polar bear distractions.
After 30 minutes, we took a quick tour around the town before heading back to the airport. It had been an unbelievable day with the bears. And now I’m even more ready to get back up there and spend longer with these beautiful creatures.
How climate change is affecting bears
Arctic sea ice is vanishing at a pace that has outstripped even the most sobering scientific forecasts, reshaping the rhythms of life for the region’s most iconic predator. As summer melt seasons lengthen, polar bears are forced to swim farther and fast longer, burning precious energy in search of seals that are now harder to reach.
Scientists tracking the animals across Hudson Bay and the Beaufort Sea say declining ice not only shortens their hunting season but also disrupts denning and reduces cub survival. The quiet retreat of sea ice, once a dependable platform, is becoming a stark signature of a warming world.
According to PBI, the Western Hudson Polar Bears have declined 27% since 2021. This is in addition to an 11% decline from the mid-2010s.
Polar bears depend on the sea ice surface to efficiently catch their seal prey. A shorter duration of ice cover over their productive hunting areas means less opportunity to hunt. A reduction in sea ice has been statistically linked to reduced stature and weight in polar bears and to lower survival rates of cubs. Source: PBI
Things to Know About Visiting Churchill, Manitoba
It was a super cool experience to visit Churchill, even for a quick day trip. While most of the time was spent out on the tundra, watching polar bears, we did get a chance to drive through town and stop at the Polar Bears International Interpretive Center.
The town is basically what you would expect for the middle of nowhere. It’s not fancy or luxurious, but it gets the job done for those who visit and live there. It especially feels intimate. The locals know each other, and they have one goal each fall – don’t get attacked by a polar bear.
Where is Churchill?
Churchill is a small town with around 800 full-time locals. It sits on the southern shores of the Hudson Bay. From Winnipeg (Manitoba’s largest city), it is a 100-minute flight or a two-day train ride.
Most people take a chartered flight on a 737 because the other option is so slow.
What is so special about Churchill?
Churchi is the Polar Bear Capital of the World. Each fall, hundreds of polar bears congregate on the shores of Hudson Bay, waiting for sea ice to form so they can start hunting seals.
With freshwater from nearby rivers flowing into the saltwater bay, this area freezes sooner than other parts of the region.
Besides polar bears, what is there to do here?
This is the summer-through-winter tourism mecca!
In the summer, you have magical weather with thousands of Beluga Whales coming to mate and give birth. You also have polar bears leaving the ice and coming onto land – though that is less of a mass congregation.
Then in winter, Churchill offers incredible northern lights viewing.
Learn how to take photos of the northern lights
How Cold Was It? And What Should I Wear
It honestly wasn’t that cold when I visited Churchill in the second week of November. The high was around 32°F, which, compared to true winter, is beach weather. What was pretty cold was the wind chill.
This likely made it feel like it was in the teens.
Wearing a parka and having my back to the wind made it bearable. The one frigid part of my body was the fingers. But that’s a photography issue.
What to pack for your trip to Churchill, Manitoba
Looking for gear to bring along on your trip up north? Use my quick packing guide to help!
- Parka (Men’s/Women’s)
- Down Jacket (Men’s/Women’s)
- Fleece (Men’s/Women’s)
- Wool Baselayer (Men’s/Women’s)
- Beanie
- Gloves or these could work for photography
- Warm Pants (Men’s/Women’s)
- Wind/Rain Pants to pull over
- Warm Boots (Men’s/Women’s)
- Sunglasses
Day Trip vs Longer Experience
The cost difference between a day trip and a longer excursion ranges from 4 to 10 times more expensive. But you also get more time with the bears and to explore the town and its museums.
The day trip option is far less prevalent, but it is there if you are on a budget and want just one day to see polar bears.
If you’re okay spending $6,000-10,000 per person, go for a longer trip. It’ll be worth it.
Is it worth visiting Churchill for only one day?
I know it is expensive and way out of the way for most people, but Churchill is so worth visiting. I mean, it’s the Polar Bear Capital of the World!
If I’m being honest, it’s a pretty small market for those who can afford it and are interested in visiting. And for that small Venn Diagram, you should go!
You’ll get unparalleled access to polar bears in the wild, learn about conservation efforts to protect the polar regions, and get a chance to explore the town that dates back to the 1600s. All in all, yes, Churchill is worth visiting, and you’re in for one exciting and memorable trip!
10 Photos From the Trip
If you plan to photograph polar bears in Churchill, I have a guide to help!
Final Thoughts on Visiting Churchill for Only One Day
My one day in Churchill was a whirlwind, but it was terrific. I do wish I could have spent another day up there. But, considering I was invited by Polar Bears International and Frontiers North Adventures, and there were no more lodging available, how could I pass up even one day with North America’s apex predator?
It was such an amazing day, and it was worth every bit of the trip to Churchill, Manitoba. The bears, photos, experience, and people made for one helluva time in the sub-arctic.
Until next time, adventurers, stay safe.
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