The coastal town of Churchill is the undisputed Polar Bear Capital of the world. Just outside of town, where the tundra of sub-arctic Manitoba meets the frigid waters of Hudson Bay, large numbers of these great carnivores congregate with astounding regularity. By mid-October, no better place exists to see Polar Bears with such ease and safety. Clear nights should yield the spectacular Northern Lights too.

 

For Polar Bears, the shores around Churchill are a regular stopover point where they await the advancing winter bay freeze. With the freeze come tidal movements, which crack and shift the ice, opening leads and channels over large areas. This creates prime seal habitat within ten to fifty miles offshore. The bears test the ice until around the third week in November when the bay freezes sufficiently and they disappear almost overnight, heading for the rich seal hunting areas on the pack ice. Day trips onto the tundra are in specially designed vehicles called Polar Buggies. While the buggies keep us above and at a safe distance from the bears, we can open windows for amazingly close viewing and photographic opportunities. The ultimate way to enjoy the bears is from the unique Tundra Buggy Lodges, at Cape Churchill and Polar Bear Point, staying out on the ice itself rather than back in town. We now offer a large choice of itineraries, including photographer’s specials. In addition to choosing the Tundra Buggy Lodge or a hotel based departure, you must also select the level of guiding services required; either the services of just the tundra buggy’s driver/interpreter (the ‘Adventurer’ for up to 38 participants), the services of very knowledgeable guides throughout (the ‘Enthusiast’ for up to 22 participants, history, culture and bear watching) or the services of a Professional Photographer/Naturalist guide (the ‘Specialist’ for up to 18 participants with optimum bear viewing for serious photographers and naturalists). Dogsledding is also included on all Enthusiast departures.

 

Limited space and the immense popularity of these tours make early booking a must – contact us today for the dates and to reserve your space on the greatest Polar Bear adventures offered, a full colour brochure giving full details of these tours is available from us.

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Holiday Information

Dates: Departures mid October – mid November 2008

 

Prices: Hotel-based from £1125 per person sharing a twin (1 night Adventurer), £2249 per person sharing a twin (5 nights Enthusiast) or £2675/£2799 twin share (7 nights Specialist)

 

            Tundra Buggy Lodge-based from £1885 per person sharing a twin (2 nights Adventurer),

           £3489 per person sharing (6 nights Enthusiast) or from £3879 per person twin share)

            (7 nights Specialist)

 

Single supplements: from £95 depending on the exact tour.

 

Deposit: £400 per person

 

Price includes: return flights from Winnipeg to Churchill, accommodation (Tundra Buggy Lodge or hotel in Churchill) and meals as per itinerary, transfers, services of guides as booked, Tundra Buggy tours, some itineraries include other excursions, GST.

 

Price excludes: Flights (UK to Winnipeg from £625 return with a minimum of seven nights stay required in Canada), other meals, insurance (available from £32.57 per person), drinks, gratuities and items of a personal nature.