Routes · Americas

Delhi to Manitoba: Winnipeg and Churchill

Delhi → Winnipeg → Churchill

Polar bears & the northern lights Best season (general guide): Oct–Nov (bears)

Churchill, on the shore of Hudson Bay, is one of the best places in the world to see polar bears in the wild. This route spends one night in Winnipeg and four in Churchill. From Delhi you'll connect through Europe or Toronto to Winnipeg.

How to pace it: Spend day one in Winnipeg: the Forks and the museum. Then spend days two to five in Churchill: day two, fly to Churchill; day three, tundra vehicle day; day four, second tundra day; day five, town and the bay.

Winnipeg is home to the Canadian Museum for Human Rights, a striking building, and The Forks, a meeting place where two rivers join.

There are no roads to Churchill, so you fly or take the train.

In autumn, polar bears gather near Churchill waiting for the bay to freeze so they can hunt seals. Tours in large tundra vehicles take visitors out to see them safely.

Wapusk National Park, nearby, protects polar bear denning areas. On clear nights, the northern lights are often visible.

October and November is the bear season.

Good to know: Tours sell out early, so book well ahead. Dress for real cold, with warm boots and layers.

Winnipeg's Exchange District has old warehouses turned into restaurants and shops. The Forks market is a good place for lunch before your flight north. In Churchill, the town is small, with a museum of Inuit art and history. Tundra vehicle days are long, so bring snacks, a camera and binoculars. Days are short and cold in November, so dress in layers and cover your face against the wind. Some tours also offer dog sledding. The northern lights are best seen away from street lights, and some lodges will wake guests when they appear. Bear safety rules in town are strict, so listen to local advice. Flights are often delayed by weather, so allow a spare day in Winnipeg on the way back.

Never walk alone outside town; bears can be anywhere.

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