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!

Every summer, thousands of beluga whales return to the Churchill River to eat, socialize and raise their young. The result is one of the largest concentrations of belugas anywhere in the world. Expedition Leader Eleanor Edye shares an inside look at our Churchill Summer adventure, where Nat Hab travelers kayak among curious belugas, explore the tundra in search of polar bears, caribou, Arctic fox and other wildlife, and experience the culture and landscapes of Canada's North. Discover why summer is one of the most rewarding times to visit the "accessible Arctic." 

Would you know how to properly greet an orca matriarch or navigate a gathering of humpbacks in their feeding grounds? Biologist and Canada Expedition Leader Kristina Disney offers a lighthearted look at the surprisingly complex social lives of whales. From the evolution of cetaceans to the family bonds, communication and behaviors that shape whale societies, you'll discover what belugas, humpbacks, gray whales, orcas and other species can teach us about life beneath the waves—and why a little humility may be the key to understanding them.

Belugas are among the Arctic’s most beloved animals, but studying them is no easy task due to the remoteness and seasonal extremes of their northern habitat. Churchill Expedition Leader Eleanor Edye explores new research on these elusive whales: what scientists are discovering about beluga communication, their matrilineal family groups, the differences between healthy and endangered populations and emerging insights into how climate change may affect their future. Eleanor also highlights other Arctic species and their relationships to belugas, including narwhals, orcas, capelin fish (a vital food source for belugas) and polar bears.