World Wildlife Fund

The Polar Bears of Churchill

$4,895 per person, based on double occupancy. Single supplement: $675

Trip Overview

Alternately regal and whimsical and always awe inspiring, polar bears in the wild offer a natural encounter charged with drama and magic. Immerse yourself in the world of the icon of the Arctic on a tour in Churchill, Manitoba, in Canada. 

Trip Itinerary

Saturday, November 6, 2010: U.S. / Winnipeg, Canada
Arrive in Winnipeg, in the province of Manitoba, and enjoy an orientation dinner. Fort Garry Hotel (D)

Sunday, November 7: Winnipeg / Churchill
Fly to Churchill this morning on an included charter flight. This hospitable outpost town, originally a fur-trading post, is your base for adventure. Have an evening presentation on polar bears and the northern environs by our professional staff of naturalists and scientists. Hotel TBA (B,L,D)

Monday & Tuesday, November 8 & 9: Polar Bear Viewing
Unique tundra vehicles are your mobile means for spending time among the polar bears. Although they accommodate an average of 35 passengers, we take just 15, ensuring everyone a window seat. The expedition leaders know the best places to view bears, which are waiting for the ice to solidify on Hudson Bay so they may begin the winter seal-hunting season.

Spend hours watching them interact, delighted by their antics and rugged beauty. From the warmth of the vehicle, you may see mothers with cubs and young adult males play-fighting. The knowledgeable expedition leader offers interpretation along the way, explaining the bears’ behavior and how they thrive in such a harsh environment. During the evenings, meet for dinner, followed by presentations on wildlife or local cultures. Hotel TBA (B,L,D daily)

Wednesday, November 10: Evening on the Tundra
Tour historic Churchill then head out to the tundra for evening bear viewing and dinner aboard the vehicle. During your daytime explorations, you may visit local sled dogs en route to Cape Merry, where Arctic foxes and Arctic hares are often spotted. If the skies are clear, the nighttime tundra excursion might provide one of nature’s most exhilarating experiences – a chance to view the Northern Lights away from the glare of town. Though they are never predictable, sometimes amidst the darkness of the sub-arctic tundra, the lights begin as a white glow in the northern sky, then begin to flicker and dance in shimmering curtains of color. Hotel TBA (B,L,D)

Thursday, November 11: Churchill / Winnipeg
Return flights are scheduled to depart in the mid-to-late afternoon, to offer as much time as possible to explore Churchill. Pick up last-minute native handcrafts and souvenirs or, if time permits, take an optional helicopter journey over the tundra or go on an authentic dog-sledding excursion. Fort Garry Hotel (B,L,D)

Friday, November 12: Return Home
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for flights home. (B)

Optional Extension

Pre-tour extension: Extra Day in Winnipeg
November 5-6, 2010
For those travelers who would like to see as much as possible during their trip to this area of the world, we have arranged a guided Extra Day in Winnipeg program. The extra day includes hotel accommodations, breakfast and lunch, a tour of the city highlighting historical and cultural points of interest and a guided visit to the acclaimed Manitoba Museum, winner of numerous awards for excellence in tourism and service. Cost: $195 per person, based on double occupancy; single occupancy: $235.

Optional Outings
An optional helicopter flightseeing outing and an optional dog sled ride are also available during this trip, conditions permitting; contact us for more details.