Frequently Asked Questions
What's the best time to visit Churchill?
Churchill is best to visit on a packaged tour to view the northern lights, polar bears in their natural habitat, the annual beluga whale migration or the migrating wild birds. Each of these has its own peak period, so we recommend planning your trip around your top choice.
The best time to see the northern lights in Churchill is January to March; birds in mid-June to mid-July; beluga whales in July to August; and polar bears in October to early November.
When's the best time to see the aurora borealis (northern lights)?
Churchill is one of the best places in the world to reliably view the northern lights, as it experiences the phenomenon for an average of 300 nights a year. The aurorae (that’s plural for aurora) are most visible on clear nights from January to March and, more rarely, from late August to early September.
When's the best time to go to Churchill to see the polar bears?
Approximately six hundred polar bears are typically active near the Hudson Bay shore in October and November. You can see them on a variety of tours—a trip on a protected wildlife-viewing vehicle, a stay at a wildlife-viewing lodge, a walking polar bear safari and even a helicopter tour.
When’s the best time to see the beluga whales in Churchill?
July and August are the best months to visit Churchill to watch the beluga whales play in the Hudson Bay and Churchill River Estuary. More than 55,000 belugas migrate through the bay in this period. They travel in large pods and are friendly, playful and intelligent, making for an unforgettable marine experience. In Churchill, you can book tours to kayak or paddleboard with the belugas or even take a trip on a boat equipped with an underwater mic to listen to the whales chirping and whistling!
Can I see the northern lights, polar bears and beluga whales at the same time?
It’s possible to see all three on a single trip if you plan it for July or August, but there are no guarantees due to the seasonality of animal migrations and lower aurora activity in the summer.
Beluga whales are only in Churchill from about early July to late August. The best times to spot polar bears are from October to November as they wait on the coast for the ice to freeze. The aurora borealis lights up the sky most days of the year, but long nights and clear skies from January to March are more suitable for successful northern lights viewing.
How do I get to Churchill?
There are no roads into Churchill, so your options are taking the train or flying from Winnipeg. You could also drive to Thompson and hop on the train, or plane, from there. To learn more about transportation options, visit our How to Get There page.
What is the average temperature in Churchill?
The weather conditions in Churchill change drastically throughout the year, so make sure you plan accordingly. The current weather conditions and short-term forecasts are available at weather.gc.ca.
Here are the average temperatures in town by month, listed in Celsius: January -26.7°C, February -24.6°C, March -19.5°C, April -9.7°C, May -0.7°C, June 6.6°C, July 12°C, August 11.7°C, September 5.6°C, October -1.7°C, November -12.6°C, December -22.8°C.
For a more comprehensive list of what to pack for each season, visit our What to Pack blog.
Should I change my currency to Canadian dollars before heading to Churchill, or should I wait until I get there?
While you will be able to find an ATM and a bank branch in Churchill, we recommend exchanging any currency you need on hand before leaving Winnipeg. You can exchange foreign currency at Canadian financial institutions, banks, trust companies, credit unions, caisses populaires, the airport or exchange booths at border entry points. Alternatively, credit and debit cards are widely accepted by businesses in Churchill.
Was Churchill named after the late UK prime minister Winston Churchill?
The famed 20th-century British prime minister Winston Churchill was a direct descendant of John Churchill, a 17th-century governor of the Hudson’s Bay Company who gave the town of Churchill its current name.
What’s being done to make polar bear tourism sustainable and protect the polar bears?
The Manitoba government regulates the number of commercial tour operators and vehicles permitted to use for polar bear viewing in the Churchill Management Wildlife Area. Polar Bears International, a leading polar bear research organization, is based in Churchill. They research sea-ice loss, industrial activity impacts, den disturbance and human-bear conflict, and work with tourism partners to protect and conserve polar bears.
Companies like Frontiers North Adventures have adopted practices to mitigate their footprint on the tundra by using electric vehicles. Churchill Wild offers low-impact tours such as walking safaris, and aims to operate their remote ecolodges with minimal disturbance to the land. Natural Habitat Adventures sponsors Churchill Northern Studies Centres’ food sustainability project, the Growcer, which uses hydroponic farming to grow fresh produce in Churchill.
Many tour operators are an active partner in reducing bear attractants that could bring polar bears into town through waste management best practices. If a polar bear does enter town and cannot be deterred, Manitoba conservation will safely trap and hold the bear in what’s known as “Polar Bear Jail”. After a certain number of days, the bear will be relocated to an area outside of town.
