Only Polar Bears
Once a year for a short amount of time a far northern town in Canada gets taken over by a very special visitor. The largest aggregation of polar bears in the world takes place in Churchill. With the help of local expert guides and the specially made Tundra Buggy this tour will get you up close and personal with these incredible animals. But make sure that your indoors before dark as the siren that occasionally sounds is not there for show; it signals the presence of one of these predators inside the town. What a place and what a tour!
Unrivalled Polar Bear Watching
Tundra Buggy Tour on the Ice
Local Naturalist Guides
Rare Arctic Species
Great Local Accommodation
Including Flights from Winnipeg
- Polar Bear
- Arctic Tern
- Arctic Fox
- Ross Gull
- Arctic Hare
- Snowy Owl
Destination:
Canada
Tour Dates:
17/10/2012 - 23/10/2012
Duration:
6 nights
Type / Focus:
Polar Bears
Tour Difficulty:
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Price:
£4930 per person
Deposit:
£1235 per person
Single Supplement:
£685
Minimum Passengers:
4 persons (total) before tour runs
Holiday Breakdown
Day 1
Winnipeg
On arrival at Winnipeg you will be met by your guide who will drive you to your first nights accommodation, level – boutique hotel (Hotel Fort Garry). This hotel has been a Winnipeg landmark since 1913 and is superbly positioned for you to spend the rest of the day exploring the nearby Forks or the vibrant Exchange District. Your evening meal will be at your accommodation or a nearby restaurant.
Day 2
Churchill
Today after breakfast you will leave Winnipeg and fly even further north to Churchill with Calm Air. When you arrive our new local guide will meet you and transfer you to our accommodation, level - Arctic lodge / Eco-lodge (Bear Country Inn). This afternoon you will explore the cultural and historical side of Churchill and visit attractions like Cape Merry and the Polar Bear Compound. Lunch will be taken in one of the many cafes in Churchill and your evening meal will be a real welcome to the far north with local delicacies like Arctic Char available in the accommodation.
Day 3
Churchill
Today you will be treated to a trip in the world famous Tundra Buggy and enter the Kingdom of the Ice Bear. This vehicle is specially built to explore this environment with a heated interior, toilet facilities and observation platform you will be sure to get the best views of the polar bears as they come to inspect the vehicle. A hearty lunch will be served on board and your evening meal will be back at the accommodation or in one of the many restaurants in Churchill.
Day 4
Churchill
Today you will have the day to explore the wonderful town of Churchill. The local tour will take in many sites like the Cape Merry, Port of Churchill and the renowned Polar Bear Jail (where bears are kept if they cause a nuisance around the town- before they can be relocated to other areas). There are optional excursions available today such as helicopter trips and dog-sled excursions (but these are an extra cost on the tour price). Throughout the day it is important to keep an eye out for the polar bear, Arctic foxes, Arctic hares and other wildlife as they are abundant around the area. Often the night silence is broken by the siren which warns that a polar bear has been spotted in the town and to avoid going outside. Accommodation, level - Arctic lodge / Eco-lodge (Bear Country Inn).
Day 5
Churchill
Today is your second chance to get out on into the Tundra as you will take a guided tour of the Arctic Wildlife Management Area. Here polar bears are very common as well as Artic hares, Arctic foxes, snowy owls and sometimes caribou. After the day trip you will be treated to a farewell dinner at your accommodation, level - Arctic lodge / Eco-lodge (Bear Country Inn) with time to reflect on this unique experience.
Day 6
Winnipeg
After breakfast you will have a last chance to visit the curios and souvenier shops and take in the beauty of the high Arctic. Later you will be transferred to the airport to catch our return flight to Winnipeg where we will stay overnight in the same accommodation as day one, level – boutique hotel (Hotel Fort Garry).
Day 7
Home
After breakfast you will be transferred to the airport in time to catch your return flight home.
Please note that the itinerary stated above is correct as our planned intentions for the tour. However adverse weather conditions and other local considerations can necessitate some modifications of the itinerary during the course of the tour; any changes will be made to make the best of the time and weather conditions available to us.
This tour is available on different date (subject to availability) please contact us for more details about running this tour on a date which suits you more.
Extra Information
Weather Conditions
The weather in Churchill during October is cold with the average temperature between 0 and -5 degrees C. Snow fall is common during this time of year too although the depth of the snow is not as great as later in the winter. The rainfall is minimum but the wind does pick up and can decrease the temperatur due to the windchill factor.
What's Included
Everything mentioned in the itinerary is included. Including three meals per day (breakfast, lunch and dinner). There will be an amount of bottled water (approx 1ltr) available for each guest each day. We have our own private vehicle to be driven by a local guide for transfers and taxis when needed. You get the services of the zoologist escort included in the fee as well as local guides where needed.
All our excursions including guided walks, Tundra Buggy trips and park entrance fees are also included.
Personal Equipment
We recommend you bring along your own binoculars or scope as well as appropriate clothing; which should be cold weather clothes, including at least one warm Parker, fleece, woolly hat, pair of gloves, scarf and long trousers, thermal socks and other cold weather gear. Comfortable water-proof walking shoes are a must. Any medication, books or other items of a personal nature is of course up to you to bring along. Oh and please bring plenty of memory cards or film for your camera. Also do not forget a pair of sun glasses as the sun reflecting off the snow can be strong here during the day.
Included Equipment
We provide a comprehensive species list of all the vertebrates present in the areas we are visiting as well as some of the best field guides and reference books for the areas we are visiting. There is usually a spare pair of binoculars but in a group of 4-6 people these do not stretch too far.
Extra Expenses
Nearly everything is included in this tour. The only things not included are international flights, travel insurance (contact us for more information one what is required from your insurance policy), any food bought outside of the three main meals, drinks outside of any offered with the meals and the bottled water provided each day and any items of a personal nature such as souvenirs and tips. Any applicable departure taxes and not included (but maybe included in the cost of your flights). Please check before departure.
Flight Information
As we are based in Manchester we recommend flights from Manchester International Airport
We recommend Continental Airlines and United as good airlines for flights to Winnipeg. One of the best websites to search for the best fares for these flights is www.odopo.co.uk; who are IATA accredited this is a link direct to their site. Please check our terms and conditions regarding booking flights.
Please contact us for more information about flights and we can provide you with a link direct to the flights from another supplier; in which case you only have to enter the passenger information and payment details. By using the above link you will leave our site and we at Royle Safaris hold no responsibility for the content on the site.
Visas and Health Information
All UK passport holders are not required to have a visa for Canada. However things change so the easiest way to find information is by visiting http://www.canadavisa.com/ (be aware that this link leaves our site and we at Royle Safaris hold no responsibility for information on the site).
There are no mandatory vaccinations needed to visit Canada. Please consult your GP about your individual requirements for visiting Canada as soon as you have decided on this trip.
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Very good trip, excellent photo opportunities and great excitement
Adam & Chloe
October 16, 2010
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I have seen Polar Bears before but never this close, the Tundra buggy is a great invention!!!!
CB Hughes
October 16, 2010
