Polar Bears & Wildlife of Churchill, Canada
Experience the wildlife of the Arctic tundra and come face-to-face with the world’s largest land carnivore, the polar bear. In Winnipeg, Manitoba tour the city and visit the Canadian Museum for Human Rights. Continue to Churchill to begin your expedition into polar bear country. Learn from some of the top polar bear experts while watching these majestic mammals in their natural environment.
Itinerary
Fly to Winnipeg, where a shuttle will meet you upon arrival and take you to the Fort Garry Hotel. Dinner is on our own this night. Fort Garry Hotel
Enjoy a tour of Winnipeg’s historical and cultural points of interest and a guided visit to the acclaimed Human Rights Museum, winner of numerous awards of excellence. Tonight we gather for our welcome dinner. Fort Garry Hotel (B,L,D)
Today, a flight takes us north to Churchill, on the western shore of Hudson Bay. After settling into our hotel that will be our base for the next four nights, spend the afternoon strolling around this hospitable town. At this time of year, Churchill is wholly focused on polar bears and the excitement of “bear season” is apparent everywhere! Hotel in Churchill (B,L,D)
On two of these days, after a hearty breakfast, we will depart for all-day bear viewing drives aboard our tundra vehicle. These unique vehicles were specially designed for tundra travel; in fact, their invention was the catalyst for the polar bear viewing opportunities that have captured the world’s attention and helped to protect the bears. The pace of our drive is dictated by the bear sightings. We may see many bears in a single day, or we may see just a few; the fascination of the experience is not in the quantity, but in the quality of the sightings. Sometimes we may linger for an hour or more to watch a single bear’s behavior before heading off in search of more bears. Throughout the day our naturalist guide will provide commentary on what we are observing. Lunch will be provided picnic-style aboard the tundra buggy. Return in the late afternoon to Churchill for dinner and an evening presentation. On the day that we do not visit the tundra, we will have a tour of historic Churchill and its surrounding environs. This evening we journey to the edge of town where we’ll board a tundra vehicle for our evening on the tundra – a night drive that begins at dusk and lasts until well after dark. Our knowledgeable driver and expert naturalist guide will keep a sharp lookout as we head towards an area where the polar bears frequently congregate. As we approach the bears, care is taken not to disturb them with the special lighting, which enables us to see them in the darkness. Watch, too, for the luminescent eyes of nocturnal animals such as the Arctic fox and snowy owl. Dinner will be served on board the vehicle, and there will be ample time to observe the bears before returning to Churchill for the night. Hotel in Churchill (B,L,D)
Our final morning in Churchill leaves us free time to explore town and gather souvenirs of our northern expedition. There will be time to explore the exhibits at the small but excellent Eskimo Museum and to visit the local shops and galleries that feature Inuit carvings and other Arctic arts and crafts. Later today, fly to Winnipeg and check into our hotel. Depending on which flight schedule we have, there will be either a farewell lunch in Churchill or a farewell dinner in Winnipeg. Fort Garry Hotel (B,L or D)
Transfer by shuttle to the airport any time for your homebound flight. Hotel checkout time is noon. (B)
Cost and Details
$6,960 per person, based on double occupancy.
Included in Tour Cost: Trips to the tundra on specially designed tundra vehicles; all accommodations; all meals from dinner on Day 2 through breakfast on Day 8 (except either lunch or dinner on your final day in Churchill, depending on your flight schedule); services of Natural Habitat Adventure’s (NHA) professional Expedition Leader and assistants; all ground transportation in Churchill and airport transfers in Winnipeg; roundtrip air transportation between Winnipeg and Churchill; permits and entrance fees; all taxes and service charges including Canada’s GST.
Not Include in Tour Cost: Round-trip air transportation between your home city and Winnipeg; alcoholic beverages; lunch or dinner on your final day in Churchill; items of a personal nature (telephone calls, laundry, etc.); gratuities; and travel insurance.
Although exciting and remote (we are traveling in remote areas where medical services are very limited), this trip is not physically challenging. This itinerary is suited for anyone in good physical health with a willing attitude and adventurous spirit. This polar bear expedition requires very little walking, but travelers must be able to walk up/down stairs. Polar Rovers can sometimes offer a bumpy ride. Travelers must be prepared for below freezing temperatures and slippery surfaces.
All activities are optional, and travelers only participate in activities they feel comfortable with.
Temperatures during peak viewing season vary between 0° and 45° Fahrenheit. Conditions range from sunny and clear to snowy and overcast; windy days are common. Deep snow is unlikely, but Churchill’s streets can be icy and slippery. Warm parkas and boots are available upon request; participants will receive details after registration. We will spend most of our time in the Polar Rovers, which are generally heated from 30°F to 60°F.
Hotel accommodations are first class in Winnipeg. Churchill’s hotel rooms are less elegant but clean and comfortable with meals that are simple and hearty.
Terms and Conditions
Payment Policy - A deposit of $500 is required to confirm your reservation. Final payment is due 90 days prior to departure, approximately August 10, 2017. Your final payment will be charged to your credit card 90 days prior to departure, unless you indicate otherwise on your reservation form. Please submit a check prior to the final payment due date should you prefer to pay by check.
Refund & Cancellation Policy - All cancellations must be made in writing. Cancellations processed more than 90 days prior to departure will require a $100 handling fee. Cancellations made 90 to 45 days prior to departure require a loss of 50% of the entire program fee, including all extensions. Cancellations made within 44 days of departure require a loss of the entire program fee, including all extensions. We reserve the right to cancel this tour, and in such case the entire payment will be refunded without penalty or handling fee or any further obligation on our part.
Wildlife Viewing - Because our programs specialize in viewing wildlife, every effort is made to plan programs where wildlife is known to exist. However, the animals we visit live wild and free and we cannot fully predict or control their migratory patterns (nor would we want to). In an attempt to locate wildlife which may have deviated from its normal pattern, or in the interest of traveler comfort or safety, we may be required to make reasonable changes in itineraries. If it is necessary to change hotels or other facilities, comparable accommodations will be substituted wherever possible. If changes or fluctuations in exchange rates occur, additional costs may require the program fee to change with little or no notice. Should Natural Habitat Adventures (NHA) be required to cancel a trip due to unforeseen circumstances, travelers will be refunded for their trip cost, but neither NHA, nor Commonwealth Club of CA will be liable for accompanying expenses (such as gear purchases, airline tickets, etc.).
Health - All participants should be in good health and capable of walking over rough terrain. By forwarding the deposit for passage, the passenger certifies that he/she does not have any physical or other condition or disability that would create a hazard for him/herself or other passengers.
Currency, Fuel & Other Fluctuations - Significant fluctuations in exchange rates, energy prices and other cost factors may necessitate an increase in trip prices before or after your booking. A price increase would be implemented only if absolutely necessary and would serve only to maintain the highest quality of your adventure.
Terms & Conditions - It is Commonwealth Club of CA’s, NHA’s and our cooperating agents’ and representatives’ goal to select reliable suppliers and contractors to provide air and other transportation, hotels, guides and other travel-related services; we do not assume responsibility, directly or indirectly, for any loss, damage or injury to property or person in connection with such services. Each traveler agrees not to hold Commonwealth Club of CA, NHA, its owners, employees, agents and representatives liable, in the absence of their own gross negligence, for any loss or injury, expense or damage that results directly or indirectly from any act or omission of any person or firm that is to or does provide goods or services in connection with the trip or with any available option. You agree that Commonwealth Club of CA, NHA and its cooperating agents and representatives shall not be liable for circumstances arising as a result of acts of God, weather, detention, annoyance, delays and expenses arising from quarantine, strikes, theft, pilferage, force majeure, military, political or terrorist action, civil disturbances, government restrictions, failure of any means of conveyance to arrive or depart as scheduled, and discrepancies or changes in transit over which they have no control. NHA reserves the right to change the program fee, dates or itinerary with little or no notice. If such changes do occur, no refunds will be made beyond those described in our cancellation policy, and NHA will not be liable for expenses incurred as a result of the change (such as air ticket change fees, etc.).
