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.

Each summer, thousands of beluga whales migrate to the warm, shallow waters of the Churchill River in Manitoba, Canada, to feed and raise their young. Join intimate Zodiac and kayak excursions among these curious white whales, and explore tundra alive with Arctic wildlife, including polar bears.

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!

From sparring polar bears and gregarious beluga whales to the glow of the northern lights, Canadian Expedition Leader Kristina Disney has spent years guiding Nat Hab travelers through one of the planet’s most extraordinary regions. Join host Rob Mess for a wide-ranging conversation with Kristina about her path to becoming a naturalist guide, her life in and beyond the field, and what makes Churchill so special in every season. Plus, hear behind-the-scenes stories from our polar bear, beluga and northern lights adventures!

Canada’s North is shaped not only by its dramatic landscapes and wildlife, but by the people who have lived there for thousands of years. Expedition Leader Katrina Rosen explores how northern Indigenous communities thrived in balance with the land — and how colonization, the fur trade, railways and residential schools disrupted that harmony. Discover Canada’s ongoing journey toward truth and reconciliation through a perspective grounded in hope, healing and connection to place. 

Western Hudson Bay is home to the longest-running polar bear research program in the world, a 50-year effort that has tracked thousands of individuals to reveal how this species lives and adapts. Decades of data have illuminated polar bear genetics, behavior, movements and survival, while also showing the profound impacts of a warming climate on the Arctic. Ph.D. candidate and Nat Hab Expedition Leader Kristina Disney will share the studies that have shaped our understanding of polar bears, highlight what makes this population unique and explore why long-term science is essential to protecting the species into the future.