Classic Polar Bear Photo Adventure
Trip Details
- Duration: 7 days days
- Visited Areas: Antarctica , Arctic
This Churchill-based polar bear tour promises much proximity and time among the King of the Arctic, coupled with an intensive focus on helping you gain superlative photos. With the Classic Polar Bear Photo Adventure, you'll start from your base in Churchill. You will head out for three full days on the tundra at the edge of Hudson Bay, where polar bears congregate each fall waiting for freeze-up and the winter hunting season. Specially-designed tundra vehicles take you into the heart of their wild habitat, with plenty of space for equipment and spreading out to get just the right shots. On-site guidance from your expert photographer guide is complemented by evening lectures on how best to capture the wonder of Arctic wildlife, most notably the famed Churchill polar bears, through the cameraÂ’s lens.
Itinerary
Day 1: Winnipeg, Manitoba
Arrive in Winnipeg. Meet your expert photographer-guide and fellow travelers at an orientation dinner this evening. Overnight at the historic Fort Garry Hotel, a prestigious Winnipeg landmark that dates to the opening of the Canadian West.
Day 2: Winnipeg / Churchill
Fly to Churchill this morning. This hospitable outpost town, originally a fur-trading post, is your base for adventure. This evening, enjoy a lecture on Arctic photography and the northern environs by your Expedition Leader, who is both an expert photographer and naturalist.
Days 3-5: Polar Bear Photography
Unique tundra vehicles allow you to get within prime photographic range of the polar bears. Although they accommodate up to 35 passengers, there will be just 15, ensuring everyone a window seat, space for camera gear, and plenty of room to shoot. For three full days, you will spend daylight hours on the tundra, photographing bears as they roam the shores of the Hudson Bay waiting for the ice to freeze. From the warmth of your vehicle, you may see mothers with cubs and young adult males play-fighting. A large adult male may turn his attention toward you, sometimes approaching within feet or even lifting his massive paws on the side of your vehicle to peer inside. Out on the white expanse of the tundra, you may also spot other northern wildlife, including Arctic fox, snowy owl, ptarmigan and gyrfalcon. Meanwhile, in addition to sharing photography advice, your Expedition Leader provides a captivating interpretation of the animal behavior and natural phenomena you are observing. Each evening, as dusk descends to envelop the wild northern landscape, meet for dinner, followed by presentations on wildlife or local native cultures. If the night skies are clear and youÂ’re fortunate enough to see the dancing colors of the Aurora Borealis, youÂ’ll head for a place away from the lights of town to capture this magical event on camera.
Day 6: Churchill / Winnipeg
Your return flights are scheduled to depart in the mid-to-late afternoon to offer as much time as possible to explore Churchill today. Those who wish may opt to visit nearby Cape Merry, a promising spot for photographing fox, hare, and Arctic bird life. Or, stay in town for some last-minute shopping to pick up native handcrafts and souvenirs. Other optional adventures available this morning include a dog-sled excursion and helicopter flight over the tundra. Enjoy a farewell lunch in Churchill or dinner together in Winnipeg, depending on your flight schedule.
Day 7: Winnipeg / Return Home
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for flights home.