Churchill for Polar Bears
Realm of the Ice-Bear
Saturday 25 October – Saturday 1 November 2008 (8 days)
Churchill, in Arctic Canada, is simply the best place in the world to see Polar Bears. On our tour we spend two full days amidst the tundra to see and photograph these fabulously impressive animals.
© Jamie McMillan/Nature Portfolio
Ice Bear: a photo taken from the Tundra Buggy
During the arctic winter, Polar Bears roam the ice of Hudson Bay, feasting on seals. In the short arctic summer they head inland where there is little food for them, so, by the autumn, they are getting pretty hungry while they wait for the sea to freeze. The Churchill shore is one of the first places to freeze up in November, and at this time of year Polar Bears are congregating here, waiting for the sea-ice to form. So if you want to see these superb creatures, this is probably the best place anywhere in the world to go, in late October.
But despite their cuddly appearance, Polar Bears are the world’s largest land predator, and at this time, particularly hungry and dangerous to man! So in Churchill the locals have developed a unique vehicle, the ‘Tundra Buggy’, from which to view the bears in comfort and safety. The buggy is well heated, and is equipped with basic lavatories, while its over-inflated tyres allow unparalleled access onto the tundra. Conservation regulations restrict the routes these vehicles can follow in order to protect the fragile ecosystem of this sub-arctic region. The vehicles have excellent visibility, and the bears are used to these strange apparitions joining them on the tundra, and are completely indifferent to their presence - they will approach the vehicles to within a few feet, allowing unparalleled opportunities for photography, or simply getting a close look at one of the world’s most impressive mammals. Mostly, the bears are quietly resting, but with luck we’ll see young males play-fighting, or females shepherding their cubs across the stark, snow-covered landscape.
The Polar Bears are, we're sure, enough of a magnet, but if a 'bonus' is needed, the Northern Lights could well also be showing at this time, as they have done for us in spectacular fashion on our previous tours. Churchill is one of the world’s top spots for the Aurora Borealis, and a fine night will give us a good chance of seeing this superb natural spectacle.
Join us for what could be the arctic experience of a lifetime!
But despite their cuddly appearance, Polar Bears are the world’s largest land predator, and at this time, particularly hungry and dangerous to man! So in Churchill the locals have developed a unique vehicle, the ‘Tundra Buggy’, from which to view the bears in comfort and safety. The buggy is well heated, and is equipped with basic lavatories, while its over-inflated tyres allow unparalleled access onto the tundra. Conservation regulations restrict the routes these vehicles can follow in order to protect the fragile ecosystem of this sub-arctic region. The vehicles have excellent visibility, and the bears are used to these strange apparitions joining them on the tundra, and are completely indifferent to their presence - they will approach the vehicles to within a few feet, allowing unparalleled opportunities for photography, or simply getting a close look at one of the world’s most impressive mammals. Mostly, the bears are quietly resting, but with luck we’ll see young males play-fighting, or females shepherding their cubs across the stark, snow-covered landscape.
The Polar Bears are, we're sure, enough of a magnet, but if a 'bonus' is needed, the Northern Lights could well also be showing at this time, as they have done for us in spectacular fashion on our previous tours. Churchill is one of the world’s top spots for the Aurora Borealis, and a fine night will give us a good chance of seeing this superb natural spectacle.
Join us for what could be the arctic experience of a lifetime!
Price: £ 3,495
Single supp. £ 475 per room
Deposit: £ 400 per person
The price is per person, and is fully inclusive of scheduled economy-class return flights London-Winnipeg* and Winnipeg-Churchill, airport taxes, accommodation, all meals, incidental tips, transport, and the services of the leaders.
The price excludes travel insurance, optional tips to local guides and drivers, drinks and other personal expenses.
*For a price excluding the return flights London-Winnipeg, please deduct £ 595 from the tour cost. If you are booking your own flights please contact us first to check that the times fit with the current itinerary.
This trip will be operated in conjunction with Limosa Holidays.
Leaders: John Muddeman and local guides
Itinerary
Day 1
We take a scheduled flight from London to Winnipeg, arriving in the evening.
Overnight Winnipeg
Days 2 - 5
Today we fly to the Arctic. Upon arrival we will be met by our local guide, who will brief us over dinner… and alert us to any auroral activity.
Next day we head out by coach on to the tundra, joining our buggy where the road ends, keeping an eye out for Polar Bears as soon as we leave the town area. We’ll be on board all day, with hot soup and rolls provided for lunch. As well as bears, we’ll be looking for splendid white Arctic Hares and silver Arctic Foxes. Birds include Willow Ptarmigan - again, nearly all white at this time - Gyrfalcon and Snowy Owl.
Churchill itself is on a peninsula between Hudson Bay and the Churchill River. We’ll spend one day exploring the area and birdwatching. The ice floes are forming at this time, and make for a spectacular view at the point, Cape Merry, across to one of the 19th-century forts - this certainly feels like the ‘frozen north’! Here we should see a variety of sea duck and Glaucous Gull, while flocks of Snow Buntings are everywhere. During the day we’ll have some time to visit the fascinating Eskimo Museum.
Next day we’ll be back on the tundra buggy hoping for more fabulous bear sightings, and celebrating with a farewell dinner at one of Churchill’s restaurants.
Four nights Churchill
Day 6
We have a morning to watch birds and explore the town of Churchill. Possibilities here include Gyrfalcon, which we’ve seen a few feet over our heads in the middle of town! We fly back to Winnipeg in the evening.
Overnight Winnipeg
Day 7
We have a morning in Winnipeg for a little local birdwatching in the parks along the river. These can be surprisingly productive, with both Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers, White-breasted Nuthatch and Black-capped Chickadee in the riverside trees. We should also have time to visit the excellent Museum of Man and Nature before our return flight to London, arriving on the morning of Day 8.
Accommodation: Good quality hotel in Winnipeg and reasonable quality hotel in Churchill with all rooms en suite. Evening meals and lunches are usually in nearby restaurants, except for picnics on the Tundra Buggy. Please note that all meals are included in the price of this tour.
Transport: Small coach or minibus around the town of Churchill and Winnipeg. The Tundra Buggy for two excursions as described above. Please note that the Tundra Buggy has space for 40-50 passengers and our group will share the excursions with others.
Numbers: Max. 14 clients
Day 1
We take a scheduled flight from London to Winnipeg, arriving in the evening.
Overnight Winnipeg
Days 2 - 5
Today we fly to the Arctic. Upon arrival we will be met by our local guide, who will brief us over dinner… and alert us to any auroral activity.
Next day we head out by coach on to the tundra, joining our buggy where the road ends, keeping an eye out for Polar Bears as soon as we leave the town area. We’ll be on board all day, with hot soup and rolls provided for lunch. As well as bears, we’ll be looking for splendid white Arctic Hares and silver Arctic Foxes. Birds include Willow Ptarmigan - again, nearly all white at this time - Gyrfalcon and Snowy Owl.
Churchill itself is on a peninsula between Hudson Bay and the Churchill River. We’ll spend one day exploring the area and birdwatching. The ice floes are forming at this time, and make for a spectacular view at the point, Cape Merry, across to one of the 19th-century forts - this certainly feels like the ‘frozen north’! Here we should see a variety of sea duck and Glaucous Gull, while flocks of Snow Buntings are everywhere. During the day we’ll have some time to visit the fascinating Eskimo Museum.
Next day we’ll be back on the tundra buggy hoping for more fabulous bear sightings, and celebrating with a farewell dinner at one of Churchill’s restaurants.
Four nights Churchill
Day 6
We have a morning to watch birds and explore the town of Churchill. Possibilities here include Gyrfalcon, which we’ve seen a few feet over our heads in the middle of town! We fly back to Winnipeg in the evening.
Overnight Winnipeg
Day 7
We have a morning in Winnipeg for a little local birdwatching in the parks along the river. These can be surprisingly productive, with both Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers, White-breasted Nuthatch and Black-capped Chickadee in the riverside trees. We should also have time to visit the excellent Museum of Man and Nature before our return flight to London, arriving on the morning of Day 8.
Accommodation: Good quality hotel in Winnipeg and reasonable quality hotel in Churchill with all rooms en suite. Evening meals and lunches are usually in nearby restaurants, except for picnics on the Tundra Buggy. Please note that all meals are included in the price of this tour.
Transport: Small coach or minibus around the town of Churchill and Winnipeg. The Tundra Buggy for two excursions as described above. Please note that the Tundra Buggy has space for 40-50 passengers and our group will share the excursions with others.
Numbers: Max. 14 clients