Four ways to experience polar bears in Churchill, Manitoba

Ever since the pandemic, travellers have prioritized bucket list travel adventures. One of the trips that consistently ranks high is travelling to experience polar bears in Churchill, Manitoba. Beyond polar bears there is other Arctic wildlife as well as the chance to see the northern lights.

When to book

Polar bear trips book out far ahead of time. Book at least 18 months in advance to get your preferred trip. Book a year in advance and you have a reasonable chance of getting the trip you want. Book six months in advance and you will find only some trips still available.

Here are four ways to experience polar bears in Churchill, Manitoba.

For the budget concsious - Tundra Buggy day trips

Five nights, 6 days, from CA$8,499

Travel to Winnipeg to board your plane to Churchill, Manitoba, where you stay in a hotel. Use it as a base to spend at least two days on Tundra Buggy safaris in the Churchill Wildlife Management Area (CWMA), where polar bears await the freezing of the Hudson Bay. Specially designed for the northern landscape, Tundra Buggies are all-terrain vehicles that take guests to the best locations in the Churchill area to safely experience wildlife and the phenomenal northern lights. These tours include lodging and transportation with a mix of cultural and wildlife or northern lights viewing activities built in.

Need more information? Contact us and quote tour code FN-CTTE

For the point-and-shoot photographer

7 days from CA$15,195

Escape town and fly from Churchill to one of the remote Arctic lodges, thus giving you opportunities to see polar bears from a variety of locations. View them from one of the nature trails, from inside the fenced-in compound, or right from the lodge picture windows. You may also see Arctic fox, Arctic hare, wolves and moose, along with numerous bird species such as snowy owls, ptarmigan and gyrfalcons. In addition to wildlife viewing at the Lodge, highlights include a Tundra Buggy tour and often northern lights shows.

Need more information? Contact us and quote tour code CW-GIBA

In the midst of the action - the tundra buggy lodge

7 days from CA$13,699

Tundra Buggy Lodge offers a unique, immersive experience where, when conditions are right, you can view the dance of the northern lights from the rooftop observation deck and fall asleep with polar bears right outside your window. Daily Tundra Buggy excursions take you beyond the lodge for plenty of photography opportunities. Evenings at the lodge can be just as memorable, with delectable, regional dishes created by your private lodge chef and ample time to swap stories with other guests and enjoy regional cuisine.

Need more information? Contact us and quote tour code FN-TBLO

For photographers - remote fly-in lodges

7 days from CA$15,995 - single lodge

11 days from CA$24,195 - two lodges

Nanuk Polar Bear and Seal River Heritage Lodges were listed as National Geographic Unique Lodges of the World while that programme existed. Located on the shoreline of Hudson Bay, they provide discerning photographers with the opportunity to experience rare ground-level polar bear photography in a pristine, untouched wilderness environment. Wildly rugged and remote, these lodges allow photographers the opportunity to dedicate long days in the field getting close to Arctic wildlife in search of the perfect shot. The ground-level photo opportunities for polar bears are further enhanced by the possibility of moose, wolves Arctic fox, ptarmigan, gyrfalcon, snowy owls and more.

Single lodge trips spend two nights in Winnipeg and four nights at the lodge. Dual-lodge trips spend two nights in Winnipeg and four nights at each lodge.

Need more information? Contact us and quote tour code CW-PBPS

When to go

October and November is traditonally considered the best time to see polar bears in Churchill as the animals congregate waiting for freeze-up of Hudson Bay so they can go out for their seal-hunt.

But polar bears come off the ice and wander the coastline of Hudson Bay from late May until late November. During this time, each season offers a different experience. Perhaps you want to experience the tundra in summer when it bursts with life, migratory birds have arrived and belugas can be seen at Seal River. Perhaps you'd like to see polar bears sparring on the ice, or lazing among the flowers. Or perhaps you want to see other wildlife too, like wolves, snowy owl and Arctic fox. Or maybe you want to see the northern lights.

As polar bears spend much of their time far away from civilization, fly-in lodges offer the best chance of seeing the bears at ground level.