FAQs

Fill in the contact form on the website or drop us an email at info@thornhillexpeditions.com

Payments can be made via bank transfer. In order to reserve your space we require a 15% deposit when you book your trip.

Most guest will travel internationally to Winnipeg, Manitoba - the main hub for onward travel to Arviat. Depending on your arrival time, you may need to overnight at the airport hotel before flying north.

From Winnipeg, you’ll take a Calm Air flight to Arviat, where your Arctic adventure truly begins.

While many operators count hotel nights in Winnipeg as part of their expedition length, we believe your experience starts the moment you step onto the tundra. That’s why our 8 day trips are focused entirely on your time in Arviat - immersed in the land, the wildlife and the experience you came for.

At the time of booking, we’ll provide personalised guidance to help you arrange flights and accommodation for a smooth and stress-free journey north.

Packing for the Arctic depends on the time of year, but staying warm, dry, and comfortable is always essential. Once your booking is confirmed, we’ll send you a detailed information pack by email, tailored to your specific expedition. This includes a complete packing list covering recommended clothing, camera gear, and other essentials.

For example:

• Winter trips require more insulated layers, thermal base layers, down jackets, and cold-weather boots.

• Summer trips still need windproof and waterproof outer layers, but temperatures are milder and the packing list reflects that.

We’re always happy to help you prepare—if you have any questions before or after booking, feel free to contact us directly.

We remain at a distance of 100 metres (approximately 300 feet) from the polar bears.  Our expedition team is experienced in polar bear behavior and takes every precaution necessary to ensure the safety of both yourselves and the bears.

Throughout our expedition season the Northern Lights can be seen on most nights when we have clear skies.  Certain factors will affect the display.  During our camping expedition we don’t have any light pollution from town so it’s a great opportunity to see the Northern Lights. During the Defender tour we will have the opportunity to travel to various spots where we can see the Northern Lights if the skies are clear.

Mobile phone reception is extremely limited once you arrive in Nunavut. Most international phones will not have coverage, and while some North American networks may work in select areas, service is often unreliable.

If you’re joining our Summer Polar Bears and Northern Lights Safari, there is limited Wi-Fi access available in the evenings at camp. This connection supports basic tasks like messaging and email, but cannot handle streaming, video calls, or large downloads.

For guests on the Winter Polar Bears and Northern Lights Safari, Wi-Fi is available at the hotel. While more stable, the connection is shared and still limited — we recommend avoiding large file transfers or streaming services.

We suggest downloading any essential files, media, or offline apps before your trip.

Yes. On the Summer Polar Bears Safari, we run a generator in the mornings and evenings, and there will be a designated charging area where you can recharge your camera batteries, phones, and other small electronics.

Please note:

• The generator is not operated overnight, so we recommend bringing enough batteries to last between charging times.

• Be sure to bring the appropriate travel adapters for Canadian power outlets (standard North American plug type A/B, 110V).

For the Winter Polar Bear Safari, charging is available in your hotel room, as well as in the vehicles during the day.

Yes, within our terms and conditions, we insist that all guests have their own medical insurance and evacuation insurance.

Thornhill Expeditions does not provide life, health, or injury insurance for trip participants.  It is your responsiblity to ensure that your medical coverage includes life and health care risks while you are on our trips, and that the insurance provides transportation to your home country or province.  All participants must provide proof of travel medical insurance with adequate emergency coverage, which is required 90 days before the departure date.

In the event of a medical emergency requiring immediate care from a doctor, a private charter plane is typically necessary for evacuation.  The cost of this service can be quite high, depending on the patients location and nearest hospital.  Therefore, it is essential to confirm with your insurance provider that you are covered for the area you are visiting.  Please not that Thornhill Expeditions is not responsible for any medical expenses incurred.

If you do not have adequate evacuation insurance, we recommend Global Rescue (www.globalrescue.com) for their exception service in remote locations.  For detailed information on plans and pricing please visit their website.

You must complete and sign our insurance indemnity declaration prior to the trip commencing.  A copy of this form will be emailed to you at the time of booking.

Due to the challenging environments we travel to and given our cancellation policy we strongly recommend that all trip participants purchase trip cancellation and interruption insurance.  On very rare occasions, Thornhill Expeditions has had to cancel trips after they have begun due to unexpected environmental conditions.