Summer in the Hudson Bay is a wonderful time to view polar bears and the other enthralling Subarctic species. This small group trip allows you to observe wildlife on daily excursions, returning to a comfortable lodge each evening.
The tidal flats and plains of Hudson Bay and the surrounding boreal forests is the setting for a unique summer adventure. Staying at one of most remote lodges in the Canadian wilderness, you explore these summer feeding grounds for polar bears to encounter and hopefully photograph polar bears, as well as the area’s other abundant wildlife: migratory birds, wolves and moose. Given the time of year, there is a chance that you may observe mother polar bears with cubs and witness their playful approach to life.
Typical Itinerary
Day1: Fly to Winnipeg
Fly toWinnipeg, arriving later the same day. Your hotel is conveniently situated at the airport, ready for your flight to Northern Manitoba tomorrow morning.
Accommodation: Inn at the Forks, Winnipeg, 1-night
Day2: Fly to Churchill, Northern Manitoba & transfer to lodge by light aircraft
Early departure from Winnipeg for Churchill, and transfer to a private charter plane for the one hour flight to Nanuk Polar Bear Lodge. There should be some great opportunities for aerial photography during the flight, so make sure you have your camera to hand. Upon arrival at the lodge, and after lunch or light snack, there will be a short interpretive walk on the inland Palsa Bogs, Tundra Ponds and Taiga Forest. After dinner, relax and enjoy an informative slide show presentation, before lights out at 10pm (this is when the generator is turned off). You may even be lucky enough to view the Aurora Borealis.
Days3-5: Polar bear activities - explore the area with a naturalist guide
Nanuk is unique in possessing a high concentration of wild polar bears, so hopefully you should have multiple sightings and encounters with these enigmatic creatures during your stay. You’ll enjoy daily excursions to view polar bear with possibilities to view the mothers with their cubs as well as the rest of region's enthralling wildlife, such as black bear, wolf, moose and a remarkable variety of birds.
You return at the end of each day to your comfortable cabin and cosy lounge, with its large windows overlooking the coast and passing bears, to compare your encounters with other members of the group. Or you may choose to remain close to the lodge and photograph the wildlife there.
Day6: Transfer to Churchill by light aircraft & fly to Winnipeg
This morning there is a chance for last-minute photo opportunities before a charter flight back to Churchill after breakfast.
Upon arrival into Churchill you will have free time to explore the town and local places of interest before continuing to Winnipeg later in the afternoon.
Accommodation: Four Points by Sheraton, 1-night
Day7: Depart Winnipeg
Depart on your overnight flight connections back to the UK.
Day8: Arrive UK
Key info
Duration and price including flights from/to UK: 8 daysfrom £10,595 pp
Duration and price excluding international flights: 7 daysfrom £9,945 pp
Single supplement:
On request – please contact us.
The Hudson Bay Lowlands are a wetland, and serve as part of the migration route for polar bears heading south. An area of transition between boreal forest and tundra, Hudson Bay is host to a large diversity of wildlife, the greatest occurring in the spring, with the arrival of migrating birds and newborn animals.
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Where: Manitoba
Ideal for viewing: American beaver, American black bear, polar bear, willow ptarmigan, caribou
Due to its location at the confluence of two major rivers that provide access to an extensive network of canoe routes, Winnipeg was a trading post for First Nations peoples long before the first Europeans arrived. It serves as a gateway to Churchill in northern Manitoba, where our polar bear tours start.
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Where: Manitoba
Excellent for: City stopover
Churchill is known as the ‘Polar Bear and Beluga Whale Capital of the World’ and lies right in the migratory path of polar bears, as they head north onto the ice floes to spend the winter hunting seals. Situated in Northern Manitoba, the coastline here is so remote that it has not changed in thousands of years.
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Nanuk Polar Bear Lodge is in a remote location on the Hudson Bay coast, 250 kilometres from Churchill. Accommodation consists of four heated twin cabins with private bathrooms. A full programme of daily activities focuses on seeing polar bears, using 4-wheel drive vehicles with naturalist guides.
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