Churchill’s Belugas, Polar Bears & Arctic Wildlife

Through the perspective of a gratified Nat Hab traveler, get an aerial view of beluga whales swimming in the Churchill River and watch polar bears roaming the rocky shoreline of Hudson Bay.

On our Arctic summer adventure, we get the opportunity to kayak at eye-level with beluga whales in the mouth of the Churchill River. Watch the glee on this Nat Hab traveler's face as the curious marine mammals follow closely behind her kayak!

Curious what the warmer months are like in the “accessible Arctic”? Expedition Leader Eleanor Edye offers an inside look at our summer adventure in Churchill, Manitoba. Discover what it’s like to kayak with dozens of beluga whales, ride with a local musher and his dog team, and search for polar bears, caribou, Arctic fox and more aboard our custom Polar Rovers and on a private helicopter tour. Eleanor also shares packing tips and covers key trip details, including the itinerary, transportation, and lodging in both Winnipeg and Churchill.

Imagine you’re paddling your kayak when a formless white ghost rises from the murky depths of the Churchill River. Yet it’s no supernatural being: A playful beluga whale has come to say “Hello!” We meet these amiable marine mammals on our summer adventures in Churchill, Manitoba, but the majority of their time is spent in the remote High Arctic. Expedition Leader Kristina Disney introduces us to the hidden world of belugas, including their migration path, what they eat (and what eats them), how they raise their young, and what draws them to Churchill each summer.

February 27 is International Polar Bear Day! But don’t celebrate too loudly—this holiday coincides with the time of year when polar bear mothers and cubs are sleeping soundly in their dens. Expedition Leader Eleanor Edye introduces us to these beloved bears, highlighting the Hudson Bay population we encounter on our Churchill adventures. Learn about polar bear reproduction and denning habits, seasonal hunting strategies, the challenges mothers and cubs face each winter, and why it’s vital that we protect polar bears during this vulnerable time.