Churchill in August For Families

Aug 09-15, 2025

7 days | Canada | alumni UBC Travel Club

Mid-August is an eventful time on the Hudson Bay Lowlands and adjacent tundra and boreal forest around Churchill, Manitoba. Belugas are active in the bay and Churchill River estuary, as Polar Bears prowl along the shoreline while the sea ice is close to its lowest extent of the year. Breeding pairs of water-, forest-, and shorebirds have become family groups, all busily feeding in preparation for their southward migration. Large groups of ducks and sandpipers from farther north are already making their way south, often congregating in large numbers. This all happens against a backdrop of the evergreen boreal forest and a tundra landscape that is starting to exhibit its “fall” colours. Days remain long, but there are enough hours of near-darkness to observe the Northern Lights or Aurora Borealis from the lookout tower at the Churchill Northern Studies Centre, our home for a quartet of nights. We have specially timed this tour to also coincide with the peak of the annual Perseid meteor shower!

This multigenerational tour includes encounters with Subarctic researchers and Indigenous guides among activities like kayaking with Belugas, taking a zodiac ride in the Churchill River estuary, dog-carting in the boreal forest, hiking through the tundra, and dining at top restaurants.

The tour begins with a two-night stay in Winnipeg that includes guided tours of the Winnipeg Art Gallery and Assiniboine Park as well as an interactive carving activity. Seasoned traveller and host Wendi Lacusta accompanies you on this adventure at the gateway to the North.

Note: Due to limited and variable flight options to and from Churchill, there is a chance tour dates could shift by as many as five days. We will try our best to ensure that the original dates are honoured, but please prepare to have some scheduling flexibility just in case.

For travellers residing outside of Ontario, Manulife Travel Insurance is now available through alumni UBC. Please click here for more information and to protect your travel investment.

Tour Cost (per person):

C$6995 + 5% GST, incl. gratuities

Group Size:

10 - 12 participants

What’s included: Hotel accommodation in Winnipeg for two nights based on double occupancy; single-sex quadruple rooms in Churchill at Churchill Northern Studies Centre (Family groups of four can also share a room on request); ground transportation in Winnipeg and Churchill; all activities as described in the detailed itinerary; entrance fees in Winnipeg and Churchill; round-trip airfare from Winnipeg to Churchill; meals as specified in the detailed itinerary; gratuities for guides, drivers, boat captains, and included meals; services of local guides; services of your alumni UBC Tour Manager

"Our guide was a fount of knowledge about polar bears and the areas we travelled through." - Past alumni UBC traveller

"Very informative and educational tour." - Past alumni UBC traveller

Itinerary at a Glance

Day	Activity
1	Arrival / Winnipeg arts and cuisine
2	Exploring Winnipeg
3	Flight to Churchill / Exploring Churchill and area
4	Tundra drive / Kayaking with Belugas
5	Exploring the boreal forest and tundra
6	Belugas by zodiac / Churchill Marine Observatory
7	Flight to Winnipeg / Departure

Download Itinerary

Your Tour Leader

Wendi Lacusta is our Concierge in Charge. Hailing from Nova Scotia where she grew up sailing and open ocean swimming, Wendi has lived many years since on Canada’s West Coast. Wendi is an inveterate (and veteran) solo world traveller and since her first retirement, has also undertaken work aboard polar expedition cruise vessels.

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