Polar Bear Watching Holiday
Itinerary
Day 1: Winnipeg, Manitoba
Arrive in Winnipeg and enjoy an orientation dinner.
Day 2: Winnipeg / Churchill
Fly to Churchill this morning. This hospitable outpost town,
originally a fur-trading post, is our base for adventure. On the
6-day trip we head to the tundra this evening for our first glimpse
of the bears, though we often see them from the bus leaving the
airport, even before we board our tundra vehicle. On the 7-day
trip, we have an evening presentation on polar bears and the
northern environs by our professional staff of naturalists and
scientists.
Days 3 & 4: Polar Bear Viewing
Unique tundra vehicles are our 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. Our
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. We spend hours watching them interact,
delighted by their antics and rugged beauty. From the warmth of our
vehicle, we may see mothers with cubs and young adult males
play-fighting. Our knowledgeable Expedition Leader offers
interpretation along the way, explaining the bears’ behavior and
how they thrive in such a harsh environment. In the evenings, we
meet for dinner, followed by presentations on wildlife or local
cultures.
Day 5: Evening on the Tundra
On the 7-day trip we tour historic Churchill, then head out to
the tundra for evening bear viewing and dinner aboard the vehicle.
During our daytime exploration, we may visit local sled dogs en
route to Cape Merry, where we often see Arctic fox and Arctic hare.
If the skies are clear, our 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. On the 6-day trip (your nighttime tundra journey takes place
on Day 2), there’s free time in Churchill or an opportunity for an
optional helicopter excursion over the frozen tundra before
boarding our flight back to Winnipeg.
Day 6: Churchill / Winnipeg
Our return flights are scheduled to depart in the mid - 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 an authentic dog-sledding
excursion.
Day 7: Return Home
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for flights home.
On the 6-day trip we return to Winnipeg on Day 5 and return home
on Day 6. Occasionally, on our 7-day trip, the schedule for the
night tundra trip alternates between Day 4 and Day 5. Itineraries
may vary slightly, but inclusions are the same.
Note: We have had, historically, a 60% chance of seeing the
Northern Lights on our nighttime trip to the tundra. On some
occasions they are more brilliant than others but they are always
quite a thrill!
Quick links:
polar bear watching holiday -
introduction
polar bear watching holiday -
factfile
polar bear watching holiday - dates &
prices
polar bear watching holiday - booking
enquiry
polar bear watching holiday - before you
go
REF: Classic polar bears - NH0001