Polar Bear Photo Tour October 30th to November 5th, 2023
Our tour is sold out - please contact to add your name to our standby list. Thank you.
Polar Bears Photo Tour - "Canada's Arctic Gateway"
Polar Bears - Frequently called “Lords of the Arctic”, these spectacular animals are huge. Male polar bears can grow to more than 600 kg (1,320 lbs) and stand 3.05 meters (10 feet) tall. But don’t let their massive size fool you – these bears can move with surprising speed and agility.
With a highly acute sense of smell, they are also skilled hunters that can pick up a scent from over 30 kilometers away, and can detect the presence of seals under three feet of snow and ice. Polar bears have no natural enemies and consequently no fear.
I would like to invite you to join me as we photograph the Polar Bears in Churchill, Manitoba, Canada’s Arctic Gateway. This is one of my favourite excursions and I’m excited to share our Polar Bear experience with you. During our trek we will have opportunity to photograph the polar bears via tundra buggy via and 4x4 vehicle for closer views while touring the Churchill region. Seeing the bears up-close as they wait and prepare to head further north as Hudson Bay freezes is an experience you will never forget. I look forward to traveling with you in at the end of October and welcome to Canada's gateway to the Arctic.
Polar Bear Registration Contact Us Terms & Conditions
Polar Bear Photo Tour Itinerary - October 30th to November 5th, 2023
Day One: Monday October 30th, 2023 Guests joining us from London will meet outside the departures door at London Airport at 6:30 a.m. and board our coach to Pearson International Airport. (Pay parking available at the airport for guests wishing to leave their cars) We will do any prearranged pick ups enroute all the 401 corridor. Our Porter Airlines flight departs Pearson International Airport at 11:00 a.m connecting guests will meet group at Pearson departure gate flying on to Winnipeg, Manitoba arriving at 12:44 p.m. We will transfer to the Marriott Hotel only steps away from the terminal. We will have some time this afternoon to relax then meet this evening for our dinner and tour briefing.
Day Two: Tuesday October 31st, 2023 Breakfast, check-out and transfer back to Winnipeg Airport for our morning flight to Churchill. We will meet our guide at the airport and transfer to our hotel the Aurora Inn. Later this morning with will have a roads and tracks townsite tour and visit the Eskimo Museum. Then after lunch check out some of the Churchill region and of course keeping an eye out for our first sightings of bears. Dinner this evening. Over night Bears Den . (B), (L), (D).
Day Three: Wednesday November 1st, 2023 Breakfast then out for a full day exploring the tundra and looking for the polar bears. Our group will travel along the travel and shores via 4x4. We will explore along the shore and inlands looking for the polar bears. We will serve a picnic lunch onboard our vehicle. This evening we will return to Churchill for dinner and this evening have a northern lights outing. Our tour includes one night of Aura viewing at Nights Under Lights (Mongolian Yurt) This is a great evening out on in the forest away from the town lights, make sure to pack your tripod and remote control. We will spend one time going over camera settings prior to our night shoot. This night may vary according to schedule and weather conditions. Overnight Bears Den. (B) (L) (D)
Day Four: Thursday November 2nd, 2023 Early breakfast then out for a full day exploring the tundra and looking for the polar bears. Our Tundra Vehicle will cover another part of the inland and bay shore today. We will serve a picnic lunch onboard our vehicle with plenty of warm drinks and washroom onboard. This evening we will return to Churchill for dinner and weather permitting a northern lights outing. Overnight Bens Den. (B) (L) (D)
Day Five: Friday November 3rd, 2023 Breakfast then out for another full day via 4x4 exploring and photographing the tundra and region for Polar Bears. Each day as we explore the tundra we will have opportunities to photograph other arctic wildlife in the region including birds. Overnight Bears Den. (B) (L) (D)
Day Six: Saturday November 4th, 2023 Breakfast and some time for photography around Churchill, last minute shopping and then travel to the airport for our early afternoon fight to Winnipeg. Upon arrival check into our hotel and dinner. Overnight Winnipeg, Maritott Suites (B)
Day Seven: Sunday November 5th, 2023 Breakfast and some time to relax this morning possibly visit a site or two in Winnipeg before we check-out of our hotel and transfer back to Winnipeg airport for our return Porter Airlines flight to Toronto departing Winnipeg at 1:35 p.m. and arriving in Toronto at 5:08 p.m. We will say farefell to connecting and GTA guests. Guests travelling back along the 401 to back to London and drop off points previously arranged will board our coach and arrive at approximately 7:30 p.m. at London Airport. (B)
Guests on our Polar Bear tour have the option to join the tour in London, Toronto or any other requested point.
Prior to our departure we will be sending out a pre tour book filled with tips on packing for Canada’s North and ideas for camera gear and how to deal with the cold.
Churchill has an average temperature of -12 C to -15 this time of year. Believe it or not for such a cold place we don’t spend much time outside in the elements. Our tundra vehicle is warm, self contained with a washroom, pull down windows and a back observation deck. Please keep in mind warm foot-ware, hats, gloves, coats and snow pants are a must as we will also have shooting days outside and traveling via 4x4 vehicles to obtain great photo opportunities of the bears.
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Polar Bear Registration Contact Us Terms & Conditions Privacy Policy
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The cost of our Polar Bear Photo Tour is $6,990.00 per person CAD plus HST based on double occupancy and includes airfare departing from London or Toronto, plus air taxes of $314.88 CAD. Our tour price also includes airfare from Winnipeg to Churchill. Single supplement is available for this tour for an additional $875.00 CAD plus HST.
A non refundable deposit of $100.00 is due at time of booking. A second deposit of $550 is due Monday June 19, 2023 with the balance is due 60 days prior to departure. We recommend travel insurance as this tour takes you out of the province.
You may also choose to pay over 12 monthy payments through our Uplift finance program estimate - $550 per month. You select 12 month payment option under the payment section during registration.
Includes:
- Round trip Porter airfare departing from Pearson International
- Other departure points are available upon request. (price may vary due to air departure point)
- Return airfare via CalmAir Winnipeg to Churchill, Manitoba
- 2 Nights Accommodations Maritott Suites Hotel pre and post Winnipeg,
- 4 Nights Accommodations Bears Den Churchill
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner included each day of the tour (picnic lunch onboard tundra vehicle)
- All airport transfers in Winnipeg and Churchill
- Transportation while in Churchill
- Our own private Tundra Vehicle with window seat for each photographer
- Our own private local photographer guides with two days photography of the polar bears via 4 x 4
- One night of viewing at Nights under Lights (Mongolian Yurts) Weather will determine the evening.
- Admissions to Eskimo Museum
- Photo Workshops and Tour hosted and escorted by photographer James Cowie
Excludes:
- Items of a personal nature, laundry, phone calls, etc.
- Local guide tips and gratuities,
- Alcoholic beverages,
* Schedule may vary according to weather or traffic
* Policy dose not allow us to do residental pickup
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