Highlights:

• Deluxe motorcoach from Regina or Saskatoon* to Thompson, Manitoba
• Via Rail** Coach Seats***from Thompson to Churchill
• 2 Nights Accommodations in The Pas, MB
• 2 Nights Accommodations in Churchill, MB
• Beluga Whale Watching Boat Tour
• Churchill Area Tour including Cape Merry, Fort Prince of Wales and the Eskimo Museum. (Optional Tundra Buggy Excursion)
• Wine and Cheese Reception
• Port of Churchill Grain Terminal Tour (Great Excursions Exclusive!)
• Special Evening Presentation with a local Historian/Storyteller

*Departures are also available from Alberta and Manitoba; please contact us for price.

**The rail line into Churchill is frequently active, so temporary delays can occur (delays may occasionally affect the schedule and availability of events, as well as arrival times in both directions).

***A selection of sleeping berths is available; ask for pricing.

All aboard! Join us as we travel by Via Rail through the wilderness to Churchill, Manitoba, a rustic town nestled on the untamed coast of mighty Hudson Bay. From the comfort of your train, enjoy the changing landscape -- from the boundless Manitoba wheat fields, passed jewel-coloured lakes and rivers, through the hills of Porcupine and Duck Mountains into the sub-arctic tundra, carpeted with millions of wildflowers.

Although Churchill is renowned in winter for being "The Polar Bear Capital of the World”, in summer it’s one of the best places on the planet to view Beluga whales up close. It’s here, where the warm waters of the Churchill River flow into Hudson Bay, that over 3000 Beluga whales frolic, feed and raise their young (the most vocal of all whales, Belugas are nicknamed "the canaries of the sea”). Resembling pure-white porpoises, these friendly, intelligent and curious creatures will congregate around boats and even allow people to swim amongst them.

This unspoiled region, devoid of highways and paved roads, sits at the apex where three ecosystems converge (marine, arctic tundra and boreal forest), providing for a wonderful diversity of plants and animals. More than 270 species of birds have been recorded within a 25-mile radius of Churchill, including the snowy owl, tundra swan, American golden-plover, pacific loon, Smith's longspur, stilt sandpiper and Harris's sparrow. The unique habitat is also home to caribou, arctic and red fox, wolves, arctic hare, seals and polar bear.

Those looking for outdoor adventure will find a variety of activities – from hiking and kayaking to snorkeling and sport fishing. Local guides offer optional tours in tundra buggies, boats, canoes, helicopters and even ultra-light aircraft. 

First Nations (Cree, Dene, Chipewyan and Inuit) have occupied this coastline for centuries and Churchill is proud of its aboriginal culture and traditions. In the company of a local guide, you’ll tour the Churchill area and visit the Eskimo Museum, distinguished for its 850 piece collection of exceptional Inuit sculpture, artifacts, and archaeological and wildlife specimens. 

You’ll visit Fort Prince of Wales, built between 1731 and 1741 (a large stone fortress on the western peninsula at the mouth of the river) and Cape Merry - former cannon battery and a National Historic Site. 

Churchill is also a marine shipping port, and WestWorld is the only company that provides a guided tour of the town’s impressive 140,000-tonne Grain Elevator (with the capacity to unload over 100 rail cars per day!).

Last, but not least, you’ll enjoy a special evening presentation by a local historian/storyteller, who was born and raised in this fascinating and challenging Northern landscape.

How This Holiday Makes A Difference

Transportation:

• Motorcoaches and trains use significantly less fuel per passenger than individual vehicles or planes.
• A motorcoach also offers these environmental advantages (Ontario Motor Coach Association):
  • Emits 60 per cent less CO2 than a standard mid-sized car and 86 per cent less than a commercial airline.
  • Produces up to 20 per cent less greenhouse gas emissions. The ultra-low-sulfur fuel used exclusively on motorcoaches burns cleaner than regular unleaded.
  • Requires less parking space (35 square metres compared with 625 for 56 average cars; motorcoaches displace up to 56 cars), reducing the need for larger parking lots and leaving more room for trees and natural habitat.

Ecology:

• Eco-tourism supports the care and protection of polar bears, Belugas and other indigenous wildlife and their habitat.

Native Culture:

• Tourism in Churchill (pop. 923) provides the aboriginal population with employment opportunities (artists/craftsmen, shopkeepers, tour guides, service personnel and small business owners).
• It also helps preserve Native culture and traditions, which are readily shared with visitors.