What Is It About Churchill That Makes It A Luxury Travel Destination
Fernweh Travel, a Virtuoso Luxury Vancouver based Travel Agency, answers that question if you are curious about a travel quest to this outpost located right above the Arctic Circle. Enjoy these highlights of a magical place where you can see the spectacular northern lights, hear huskies howl as they run, and marvel at polar bears roaming in the wilderness.
Imagine, standing just six degrees south of the Arctic Circle, a place where polar bears weighing up to 900 pounds saunter across a stretch of frozen land each year in seasonal migration. Rare wildlife reserves, located hundreds of miles from the nearest highways, offer travelers strategically placed viewing platforms with over 40 kilometers and three days’ worth of caribou migration leading all the way up to the shores of the great Hudson Bay and Lake Winnipeg. These journeys hint at just some of the reasons why this area is considered throughout Canada as one of the best places on earth for visitors to to witness majestic creatures impressive for their numbers and more awe-inspiringly for their kingly size.
On the western shore of Hudson Bay, Churchill is home to some of the friendliest and most awe-inspiring residents. Polar bears are drawn to this area during spring and summer by the ice to hunt seals. It's not only polar bears that make Churchill home, but many other animals as well. Do not miss out on the chance to see these majestic creatures in person and experience something you will never forget. Experience sledding with dogs to watching breathtaking geysers shoot up into the night sky after a warm day.
LEARN MORE ABOUT CHURCHILL AND START TO PLAN YOUR TRIP TODAY WITH FERNWEH LUXURY VANCOUVER BASED TRAVEL AGENCY
GO (REALLY) REMOTE TO TRACK PAW PRINTS ON FOOT
Purists who want to get up close and personal with nature need look no further than this fantasy luxury travel of a lifetime in paradise: the polar bear capital of the world. Traveling to Churchill is like going on safari or visiting Africa because polar bears are everywhere on the expanse of the land! You can get as close to them as you like, but preferably not too close unless you have an expert handler saying it's okay. There is always a chance that you will encounter one. I did when I was out there by myself; they often appear in pairs! It's simply splendid to share that with your loved ones and Fernweh Luxury travel agency can confirm how much fun it really is.
CHART BEAR MIGRATION PATTERNS FROM A HELICOPTER
Polar bears are magnificent creatures, but spotting them is not always easy. To see the most polar bears you need to gain some altitude! Canadian Excursionist helicopters will take you on a tour of the tall cliffs which jut out into Hudson Bay and over the tidal flats, marveling at the beauty of this region. See Wapusk National Park along the way and discover its history and varied landscapes. Also, ask your travel guide about Prince of Wales Fort and the Ithaca freighter, both stranded here more than 60 years ago during a fierce snowstorm. It’s common to see as many as 30 polar bears in one hour on a helicopter tour!
“From above, you can see how the animals are migrating,” says Longley. “In November, you see how the ice starts to form on the bay, which is beautiful. Within two weeks, it goes from two inches to ten feet thick.” If you choose the 90-minute ride, you get to land and crawl into a polar bear den – a vacated one for your viewing pleasure of course!
UP YOUR ARCTIC WILDLIFE KNOW-HOW
Because of its location, Churchill, Manitoba is home to several species of animals and plants that are unique compared to the rest of Canada. In fact, such abundance and diversity can be attributed to how close The Pelly Bay Archipelago National Park on Lake Melville is relative to the community. Only 50 km away from Churchill, this national park has numerous species of trees which impacts wildlife as mentioned in another write-up. One traveler's account was also credited for mentioning an obscure bird known as the 'willow ptarmigan' which happens to be a land bird. When we researched this creature more, we learned that it falls into the avian family category, 'Cariamidae', which is not easily visible to novices. Expert bird watchers may have a chance at a sighting due only to exposure before with a travel expert who might have guided them and informed them in other distant places in Canada where birds are typically spotted by people who know what they are doing.
Once the snow arrives, travelers will understand clearly about what it takes to make igloos. In fact, you'll learn that harvesting snow is as simple as walking around and scooping out a couple of handfuls! There are tools that can be made to help - or there's always an old microwave you can use for melting the snow if you're stuck without other resources.
“It’s one of my favorite experiences because it’s so immersive – how many people can say they built an igloo in the Arctic?”
LIVE THE LOCAL CULTURE OF CHURCHILL
After a day spent spotting wildlife, explore what daily life is like in Churchill with your Luxury tour guide. This walkable town is home to numerous art galleries and the Itsanitaq Museum with its collection of artifacts from the Pre-Dorset, Dorset, Thule, and Inuit peoples that date as far back as 3000 B.C. According to Burtnick, meeting locals here is a highlight of any trip. “Churchill is still very much a frontier town where the only way to get here is by plane or train – it has a very different flavor and feel." Travelers with Fernweh Luxury Travel Agency in partnership with Canada By Design spend a day in the wide-open Churchill Wildlife Management Area on the lookout for Arctic wildlife such as polar bears from a comfortable Tundra Buggy (a vehicle with 5.5-foot-tall tires built for traversing sub-Arctic terrain). They then convene each evening at the Tundra Inn Pub for drinks, stories and laughter. “It’s the place to wind down at the end of the day and share stories," according to Burtnick.
WITNESS THE NORTHERN LIGHTS
Positioned directly beneath the auroral oval, Churchill is a top spot in the world to glimpse this stunning celestial spectacle. According to northern lights experts at the Churchill Northern Studies Centre, Churchill is one of the few places in North America where you can see the northern lights on more than 300 nights of the year. If you’re looking for the time of year where you are most likely to view them, keep in mind that polar night runs from January through March and that the light display can be spotted on clear evenings during polar bear season as well.
Fernweh Luxury Travel provides customized and unique experiences keeping your travel desires and needs in mind. Whether it is Weddings, Honeymoons, and Romantic getaways, Luxury Cruising, Tours, or Customized travels, we strive to offer our clients the very best experiences possible. As members of the world leading consortium Virtuoso Travel, Fernweh Travel offers a world of travel expertise, perks, and access to a portfolio of the best brands in luxury and group travel. Visit us at fernweltrvl.com, email info@fernwehtrvl.com or call us at 888-594-5205 for more information.
