Polar Bear Trip Churchill, manitoba
Feb 6th, 2013, 08:24 AM
#2
Join Date: Nov 2003
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I tried to do that as I'm more of an independent budget traveller vs. group/tour-type. Only those massive tundra buggies are allowed out there so DIY isn't possible.
Best we could do for saving $$ was to book the hotel at the airport ourselves instead of within their package. While the trip was expensive, we felt it was well worth it and we talk of doing it again sometime.
I recommend staying out there rather than in town as the trek in/out is quite long. While others were doing that, we were already enjoying the polar bears.
This was a few years ago now (you can click on my name for my trip report), so maybe things have changed. Good luck!
Enjoy-la!
Best we could do for saving $$ was to book the hotel at the airport ourselves instead of within their package. While the trip was expensive, we felt it was well worth it and we talk of doing it again sometime.
I recommend staying out there rather than in town as the trek in/out is quite long. While others were doing that, we were already enjoying the polar bears.
This was a few years ago now (you can click on my name for my trip report), so maybe things have changed. Good luck!
Enjoy-la!
Feb 6th, 2013, 08:49 AM
#3
Join Date: Aug 2012
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There is no reasonably priced way to get to Churchill other than by canoe 
The train is $400 return for a seat, in which you will spend 2 nights on the way up and 1 night on the way back. Sleepers are around $800 return. Airfare is $1300 return from Winnipeg.
Accommodation prices tend to be high except in spring. Polar bears in fall, aurora borealis in winter and wildlife tours in the summer keep people coming.
The train is $400 return for a seat, in which you will spend 2 nights on the way up and 1 night on the way back. Sleepers are around $800 return. Airfare is $1300 return from Winnipeg.
Accommodation prices tend to be high except in spring. Polar bears in fall, aurora borealis in winter and wildlife tours in the summer keep people coming.
Feb 6th, 2013, 07:09 PM
#5
Unlike the first people who responded, I have been to Churchill twice. Both times were in the month of October. Both times were by train in coach. The first time I walked out of town which was foolish and got a ride back into town with the government type that watches out for the bears and foolish tourists.
The second time I took my wife and soon after we got off the train we and a Japanese tourist hired a taxi for $20/CDN per person to go out and see a polar bear. We did see one laying down in the other side of a narrow slough less than 5 miles out of town. I can honestly say I have seen a polar bear in the wild without riding a tundra buggy or flying over it in a helicopter. The train stays in Churchill for 12 hours and than heads back to Winnipeg. It is sort of uncomfortable sleeping 3 nights in coach but we did manage. I will never go back again, but it was a memorable experience.
My first trip was a real bargain. I had a North America Rail Pass for less than $800 for 30 days of travel in the US and Canada. I've been hooked on rail travel since October 2001.
Sadly the North America Pass no longer exists.
The second time I took my wife and soon after we got off the train we and a Japanese tourist hired a taxi for $20/CDN per person to go out and see a polar bear. We did see one laying down in the other side of a narrow slough less than 5 miles out of town. I can honestly say I have seen a polar bear in the wild without riding a tundra buggy or flying over it in a helicopter. The train stays in Churchill for 12 hours and than heads back to Winnipeg. It is sort of uncomfortable sleeping 3 nights in coach but we did manage. I will never go back again, but it was a memorable experience.
My first trip was a real bargain. I had a North America Rail Pass for less than $800 for 30 days of travel in the US and Canada. I've been hooked on rail travel since October 2001.
Sadly the North America Pass no longer exists.
