Classic Polar Bear Adventure in Churchill, Canada

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Classic Polar Bear Adventure

from £7290 excluding flights

5-6 nights
Oct-Nov

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Highlights

canada polar bears on tundra at sunset churchill istk

Watch polar bears close up on the shores of Hudson Bay

canada manitoba churchill northern lights over inukshuk nh

Watch out for the northern lights over the tundra

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Travel on the Polar Rover for optimal viewing opportunities

manitoba churchill inuksuk on tundra istk

Experience life in the remote, frontier town of Churchill

Why this trip...

Conservation/Eco-tourism

This itinerary has a strong focus on wildlife and natural habitat conservation, one of our pillars of sustainability

Transport used

This holiday includes transport that is ideally suited to the area you are visiting

Special interest

Leading experts from renowned scientists to professional photographers accompany select departures

Overview

The iconic polar bear experience, this small group adventure includes two full days and an evening excursion onto the Arctic tundra. Search for wildlife and hope for a display of the aurora borealis overhead. Travelling with a small group of just 16 passengers, enjoy unobstructed views over the Arctic tundra as you watch for majestic polar bears as well as other wildlife including Arctic hare, Arctic fox and even snowy owls.

This itinerary includes two full days on the tundra, plus an evening excursion during which you may be lucky enough to witness the northern lights. During your stay in the frontier settlement of Churchill you will also take a guided tour of the town and its surroundings, and learn more about the area and its incredible wildlife during some informative evening presentations. The wilderness of the far north contrasts with the modern city of Winnipeg, where you should have some free time available to explore.

These groups are the smallest in Churchill, making for a more personal experience with unobstructed views and a window seat for everyone. The Polar Rovers all have 30 to 50 seats, but as they never have more that 16 travellers on them, they’re incredibly spacious and you never have to fight for a photo opportunity. Plus, all of the windows slide down so you can get better views and prevent reflections when taking photos.

You’ll also be well fed. The food is delicious and wholesome and whilst on the Polar Rovers, tea, coffee and soft drinks are always available as well as mid-morning snacks and lunch.

Responsible Travel

This tour is operated by Natural Habitat. Since 2007 all Natural Habitat’s trips and office operations have been completely carbon-neutral, making them the world’s first 100% carbon-neutral travel company. In 2019 Natural Habitat started offsetting all guests’ flights to and from the starting point of their adventures. And since 2022, Natural Habitat has supported Tomorrow’s Air, an innovative carbon removal technology collective.

Itinerary

Arrive in Winnipeg, once a fur-trading post and boomtown for the Canadian Pacific Railway, today Manitoba’s cultural and commercial capital at the eastern edge of Canada’s vast prairies. Transfer to the historic Fort Garry Hotel, one of the city’s most prestigious landmarks. Meet your Expedition Leader at an orientation dinner this evening.

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Fly to Churchill on a private charter flight. Originally a fur-trading post, Churchill is home to just under a thousand people and, every autumn, to hundreds of polar bears that congregate at the edge of Hudson Bay. After dinner enjoy an evening presentation on the Arctic’s wildlife and landscapes.

Spend two full days on the Arctic tundra in search of the polar bears that gather here as they wait for the ice to solidify on Hudson Bay. You may see mothers with cubs, young males play-fighting, or a lone bear ambling over the tundra in solitary majesty. Your knowledgeable Expedition Leader will offer interpretation along the way, explaining the bears’ behaviour and how they thrive in such a harsh environment. Each evening travel back to town for dinner and presentations on the wildlife or cultural aspects of life in the North.

canada polar bear walking across frozen tundra churchill nha jared

canada churchill photographing bears from polar rover viewing platform nha

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Tour historic Churchill with your Expedition Leader, perhaps visiting local sled dogs en route to Cape Merry, where Arctic fox and Arctic hare are often spotted. Later, head out to the tundra for an evening of bear viewing, with dinner aboard the Polar Rover. If the skies are clear this nightime tundra excursion might reveal another of nature’s most amazing sights – the aurora borealis.

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manitoba churchill sunset from tundra buggy adstk

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A highlight this morning is an authentic dog sled ride. Meet a local musher and his team and spend time with the lively and affectionate dogs before taking turns riding behind them on an exhilarating trot through the boreal forest. If time permits, you may be able to pick up last-minute locally made handicrafts, relax over a hot chocolate in a local cafe, or even take an optional helicopter tour over the tundra before you fly back to Winnipeg.

Transfer to the airport after breakfast.

Accommodation

Your first and last nights will be spent at the historic Fort Garry Hotel in Winnipeg. This exquisite 246 room hotel is one of the city’s most prestigious landmarks and offers luxurious accommodation with fine Italian linens, down duvets, feather mattresses, and warm cosy bathrobes. There is a pool and fitness centre within the hotel and is located a short walk to downtown.

Accommodation in Churchill is considerably more basic with limited options. The property for your specific departure will be confirmed at the time of booking.

Discuss your options with our Travel Specialists

How You Travel

The Polar Rover

Permitted to travel right into the protected Churchill Wildlife Management Area, the fully heated Polar Rover is a specially designed vehicle offering unique steel mesh-floored viewing platforms, an elite suspension system and on-board flush toilet facilities. With a capacity of 35 passengers, this trip is limited to just 16 to ensure maximum comfort and a guaranteed window seat for all guests. All emissions from this package are 100% carbon-offset. Find out more about polar rovers in our blog »

Special Departures

Women Only

17, 18 October; 11, 13 November 2024 and 06, 10, 15, 17 October; 12, 13, 14 November 2025

Exclusively for female travellers, these departures will be led by a female Expedition Leader, eager to share her knowledge as you embark upon an empowering adventure through a female lens. Meet the local and Indigenous women who are the backbone of this historic northern settlement, eager to share tales of life on the tundra, and discover the often-overlooked stories of women in Arctic exploration and science. You’ll come away not just awed by encounters with polar bears, but inspired by the exploits of the women who continue to play such an important role in the history of the Canadian Arctic.

Photography Focus

26, 27, 28 October; 02, 03, 04, 09, 10, 12 November 2024 and 2025

These special focus departures designed for photography enthusiasts include three full days on the tundra to allow the chance to capture polar bears in the wild. Travel with an expert naturalist-photographer for hands-on daytime coaching followed by evening lectures about how to capture the ethereal Arctic light and its wildlife. With just 16 guests on the Polar Rover there’s a window seat for everyone, plenty of space for camera equipment, and room to manoeuvre for unrivalled polar bear photos.

manitoba churchill wandering polar bear adstk

Climate Change Focus

08, 09 November 2024 and 08 November 2025

These special focus departures explore the fragile northern ecosystem, that is heating up faster than other places on Earth. Travel with a WWF expert and learn how climate change is affecting the bears, habitats and humans in the vulnerable Canadian North.

Prices and Departures

Price from £7290 excluding flights

Airfares start from around £550 per person and are quoted separately to the holiday price. When enquiring, our Travel Specialists will provide the best fare possible from your preferred airline / airport.
Note: Airfares tend to be cheaper the earlier you book.

What's Included

Return flight from Winnipeg to Churchill
Accommodation in rooms with private bathroom
All meals
Dog sledding excursion
Services of a professional expedition leader
Evening wildlife and cultural presentations
Loan of cold-weather gear including parka and boots
Permits and entrance fees
All airport/hotel transfers
24 hour emergency assistance from our team during your holiday
No surcharge guarantee
Full financial protection

2024 Departures

From prices per person, based on 2 sharing a room with private bathroom

Departure Dates	Duration	Twin Price (pp)	Single Price (pp)	Special Interest
05, 07, 11, 12, 14, 15, 17, 18, 20, 21, 23, 24, 26, 27, 29, 30, Oct 2024	5 nights	£7,290	£8,086
01, 02, 06, 13*, 15 Nov 2024	5 nights	£7,290	£8,086
05, 06, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 25, 26, 29, 31 Oct 2024	6 nights	£7,930	£8,966
01, 02, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08+, 09+, 11, 12, 16 Nov 2024	6 nights	£7,930	£8,966
26, 27, 28, Oct 2024	6 nights	£8,810	£9,846	Photography
02, 03, 04, 09, 10, 12 Nov 2024	6 nights	£8,810	£9,846	Photography

* Women only departures
+ Climate change focus

2025 Departures

From prices per person, based on 2 sharing a room with private bathroom

Departure Dates	Duration	Twin Price (pp)	Single Price (pp)	Special Interest
02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 08, 09, 11, 12, 14, 15, 15, 17, 17*, 18, 20, 23, 24, 25, 27, 29, 30, 31 Oct 2025	5 nights	£7,610	£8,406
01, 02, 03, 05, 07, 08, 09, 10, 12*, 13 Nov 2025	5 nights	£7,610	£8,406
03, 04, 05, 06, 08, 10, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 23, 25, 26, 29, 30 Oct 2025	6 nights	£8,410	£9,446
01, 02, 05, 06, 08+, 09, 11, 13, 13, 14, 15, 16 Nov 2025	6 nights	£8,410	£9,446
26, 27, 28 Oct 2025	6 nights	£9,210	£10,246	Photography
10, 12 Nov 2025	6 nights	£9,210	£10,246	Photography

* Women only departures
+ Climate change focus

Group Size

There is a minimum of 1 and a maximum group size of 16 passengers

Classic Polar Bear Adventure

Highlights