Know Before You Go

© 

What to Pack for Your Churchill Polar Bear Adventure

The following packing list contains general recommendations for a Churchill polar bear adventure. If you are currently booked on a polar bear tour with Nat Hab, please consult your pre-departure materials for the most up-to-date packing list specific to your trip. You will receive these pre-departure materials 60-90 days before your departure.

Items indicated in color below are typically available in the Nat Hab Gear Store. Please note that due to global supply chain issues beyond our control, we cannot guarantee that every item will always be in stock.

Essential Gear

  • Winter parka and boots (if you do not wish to use the down jacket and boots provided by Nat Hab)
  • Warm gloves or mittens  
  • Glove liners
  • Warm hat (make sure it covers your ears)   
  • Scarf or neck buff
  • Warm insulated pants (ski pants are good if you have them)
  • Warm socks and sock liners (several pairs) 
  • Warm socks (several pairs)
  • Water-resistant daypack (to carry equipment/gear during outings) 
  • Binoculars
    —Binoculars are a must for wildlife viewing on the tundra. For optimal viewing, we suggest those with specs between 10x42 and 8x42. You may even try 8x35, but only if they contain high-quality glass. Practice using your binoculars before your adventure. Couples should consider bringing two pairs of binoculars, so both people can view wildlife simultaneously.

Clothing

  • Lightweight neck gaiter (included in your pre-departure package)
    —Provides sun, wind and/or dust protection.
  • Silk, wool or polypropylene long underwear for layering (tops & bottoms)
  • Turtleneck shirts for layering
  • Warm sweaters or fleece tops
  • Comfortable warm pants (for wearing in the evenings)
  • Underwear
  • Sleepwear
  • Swimsuit (if you wish to use the pool at the Fort Garry Hotel)

Additional Gear

  • Hand/foot warmers—highly recommended! (These can help keep you toasty if you tend to have cold feet and hands. Per TSA regulations, you will need to pack these in your checked luggage on commercial flights.)
  • Sunglasses (with UV protection)
  • Prescription glasses/contact lenses
  • Goggles—optional (If you already own a pair of goggles, it might be useful to bring them along. However, we would not recommend buying a pair just for this adventure, as it is not a necessity. An example of when they might come in handy would be if you are participating in the sled dog excursion and conditions are windy and snowy.)
  • Yaktrax—optional (Please check the weather in Churchill just prior to your departure. If it has already snowed, or if snow is in the forecast, Yaktrax, which you strap onto your boots, can be extremely helpful to prevent slipping in snowy or icy conditions: www.yaktrax.com. Other popular brands of traction devices include DueNorth, Kahtoola, and Stabilicer. Make sure they are big enough to fit around bulky snow boots. There are a limited number of Yaktrax available for guests' use in Churchill.)
  • Earplugs (these can be very helpful when sleeping in a new environment)
  • Toiletries (Shampoo, conditioner and soap are provided at all accommodations.)
  • Sunscreen & lip balm—SPF 15+ (Bring protection for your hands, face and lips, as the reflection off of snow and ice can be intense.)
  • Battery-operated alarm clock or wristwatch
  • Dry bags or reusable waterproof bags (great for wet or dirty clothing and to protect camera equipment) 
  • Hairdryers are provided at all accommodations, including the Tundra Lodge
  • Reusable water bottle (included in your pre-trip package)
    —In our continuing effort to operate our adventures with as little impact on the environment as possible, you will receive a reusable water bottle (unless you opted out on your Booking Form) to take with you on your adventure. We will provide drinking water throughout the adventure for you to refill your bottle. By doing this, you will avoid using multiple disposable plastic bottles.

For Those Staying at the Tundra Lodge

  • Small flashlight or headlamp with spare batteries (helpful for locating personal items in the bedrooms)
  • Hard-soled slippers (helpful when walking outside on the decks between cars)
  • Toiletry bag (helpful for carrying personal items, as the bathrooms are located outside of your sleeping compartment)

If you are staying at the Tundra Lodge, please remember to pack your belongings for this stay in a small, soft-sided bag. It should be separate from your partner’s luggage, as you will each have your own room at the Tundra Lodge. It is also easier to store in the limited space available at the lodge. Additional luggage can be stored at the Fort Garry Hotel in Winnipeg.

Header Credit: Brad Josephs
See Polar Bears on These Churchill Adventures
Admin Note : Repeater Settings
Current Settings: trip
Edit Settings
Canada's Premier Polar Bear Adventure 16
New 2024 Dates!

Canada's Premier Polar Bear Adventure

Meet the King of the Arctic! Our flagship polar bear tour is an expertly guided small-group adventure to see the world's largest concentration of polar bears in their wild tundra home on Hudson Bay.
6 or 7 Days / Oct–Nov
$7795 (+air)
16
Photo Expeditions Available
Make it Custom Make it Private
New 2024 Dates!
View Trip
Polar Bear Quest & Helicopter Safari 15
New Itinerary!

Polar Bear Quest & Helicopter Safari

A total immersion in the world of the polar bear! View bears from our custom Polar Rover, visit a polar bear den, survey the tundra by helicopter, and learn about the history and culture of the Canadian North.
7 Days / Oct–Nov
$10495 (+air)
15
Photo Expeditions Available
Make it Custom Make it Private
New Itinerary!
View Trip
Tundra Lodge Adventure 29
New Itinerary!

Tundra Lodge Adventure

Watch polar bears around the clock from our private Tundra Lodge, stationed in an area of high bear density. This is arguably the most extraordinary polar bear encounter in the world!
6 Days / Oct–Nov
$12895 (+air)
29
Photo Expeditions Available
Make it Custom Make it Private
New Itinerary!
View Trip
Ultimate Churchill: Tundra Lodge & Town 29
New Itinerary!

Ultimate Churchill: Tundra Lodge & Town

Stay at our exclusive Tundra Lodge, situated for unparalleled proximity to roving polar bears—then add two nights in the frontier town of Churchill to experience the culture of the Canadian North.
7 days / Oct–Nov
$10495 (+air)
29
Photo Expeditions Available
Make it Custom Make it Private
New Itinerary!
View Trip
Know Before You Go

Send Me Travel Emails

Get the Inside Scoop on the

World of Nature Travel

Our weekly eNewsletters highlights new adventures, exclusive offers, webinars, nature news, travel ideas, photography tips and more. Sign up today!

Natural Habitat Adventures Logo WWF Logo
Send Me Travel Emails
Text Messaging Policy Message and data rates may apply. You can unsubscribe from SMS at any time by texting STOP. Reply HELP for help. 2-4 promotional msgs/month. Informational msg frequency varies.
Privacy Policy
Thank you for joining our email list

Look for a special welcome message in your inbox, arriving shortly! Be sure to add naturalhabitat@nathab.com to your email contacts so you don’t miss out on future emails.

Get Weekly Updates

Our weekly eNewsletter highlights new adventures, exclusive offers, webinars, nature news, travel ideas, photography tips and more.

Privacy Policy
We're Proud of the Reputation We’ve Earned
Voted "World's Best Travel Company" by Outside Magazine
Travel & Leisure logo
Voted "Top Tour Operator" in Travel + Leisure World's Best Awards
Newsweek logo
Voted "Best Adventure Travel Company" in Newsweek Reader's Choice Awards
VIEW MORE AWARDS

View Our 2025/2026 Digital Catalog

Discover the World's Best

Nature Travel Experiences

Nathab 2024 Catalog

Together, Natural Habitat Adventures and World Wildlife Fund have teamed up to arrange nearly 100 nature travel experiences around the planet, while helping to protect the magnificent places we visit and their wild inhabitants.

Natural Habitat Adventures and World Wildlife Logos
Request Your 2025/26 Catalog
Text Messaging Policy Message and data rates may apply. You can unsubscribe from SMS at any time by texting STOP. Reply HELP for help. 2-4 promotional msgs/month. Informational msg frequency varies.
Continued - Page 2 of 2
To help us customize your catalog request, please tell us more about your travel needs:
Thank you for requesting a catalog
We’ve received your request. If you have any questions about our trips, please feel free to contact an Adventure Specialist today by calling 800-543-8917.

Get Weekly Updatess

Discover the World's Best

Nature Travel Experiences

Our weekly eNewsletter highlights new adventures, exclusive offers, webinars, nature news, travel ideas, photography tips and more. Sign up today!

Natural Habitat Adventures Logo WWF Logo
Send Me Travel Emails
Text Messaging Policy Message and data rates may apply. You can unsubscribe from SMS at any time by texting STOP. Reply HELP for help. 2-4 promotional msgs/month. Informational msg frequency varies.
Privacy Policy
Thank you for joining our email list!

Look for a special welcome message in your inbox, arriving shortly! Be sure to add naturalhabitat@nathab.com to your email contacts so you don’t miss out on future emails.

Send Us a Message

Send Us a Message

Have a question or comment? Use the form to the right to get in touch with us.

Natural Habitat Adventures Logo WWF Logo
Send Us a Message
Text Messaging Policy Message and data rates may apply. You can unsubscribe from SMS at any time by texting STOP. Reply HELP for help. 2-4 promotional msgs/month. Informational msg frequency varies.
Text Messaging Policy Message and data rates may apply. You can unsubscribe from SMS at any time by texting STOP. Reply HELP for help. 2-4 promotional msgs/month. Informational msg frequency varies.
Thank you for your message

We’ll be in touch soon with a response.

Refer a Friend

Refer a Friend,
Get $250 Off
Earn rewards for referring your friends! We'd like to thank our loyal travelers for spreading the word. Share your friend's address so we can send a catalog, and if your friend takes a trip as a first-time Nat Hab traveler, you'll receive a $250 Nat Hab credit you can use toward a future trip or the purchase of Nat Hab gear. To refer a friend, just complete the form below or call us at 800-543-8917. It's that easy! See rules and fine print here.
Natural Habitat Adventures Logo WWF Logo
Refer a Friend

Earn rewards for referring your friends! We'd like to thank our loyal travelers for spreading the word. Share your friend's address so we can send a catalog, and if your friend takes a trip as a first-time Nat Hab traveler, you'll receive a $250 Nat Hab credit you can use toward a future trip or the purchase of Nat Hab gear. To refer a friend, just complete the form below or call us at 800-543-8917. It's that easy! See rules and fine print here.

Text Messaging Policy Message and data rates may apply. You can unsubscribe from SMS at any time by texting STOP. Reply HELP for help. 2-4 promotional msgs/month. Informational msg frequency varies.
Thank you for the referral!

We've received your friend's information.

View Our 2025/2026 Digital Catalog

View Our 2025/2026

Digital Catalog

Help us save paper! We offer a digital version of The World's Greatest Nature Journeys. If you'd prefer a mailed copy, please provide your contact details here. To view our digital catalog, please enter your info in the form to the right.
Natural Habitat Adventures Logo WWF Logo
View Digital Catalog
Text Messaging Policy Message and data rates may apply. You can unsubscribe from SMS at any time by texting STOP. Reply HELP for help. 2-4 promotional msgs/month. Informational msg frequency varies.
Happy browsing!

Thanks for requesting access to our digital catalog. Click here to view it now. You’ll also receive it by email momentarily.

Our Trips

Polar Bear Tours

Polar Bear Tours

African Safaris

African Safaris

Galapagos Tours

Galapagos Tours

Alaska Adventures

Alaska Adventures

U.S. National Parks Tours

U.S. National Parks Tours

Canada & the North

Canada & the North

Europe Adventures

Europe Adventures

Mexico & Central America Tours

Mexico & Central America Tours

South America Adventures

South America Adventures

Asia & Pacific Adventures

Asia & Pacific Adventures

Antarctica & Arctic Journeys

Antarctica & Arctic Journeys

Photography Expeditions

Photography Expeditions

Adventure Cruises

Adventure Cruises

Women's Adventures

Women's Adventures

Family Adventures

Family Adventures

New Adventures

New Adventures

Questions? Call 800-543-8917

Contact Us

Have a question or comment?
Click any of the buttons below to get in touch with us.

Hours
Mountain Time

  • 8 am to 5 pm, Monday - Friday
  • 8 am to 3 pm on Saturday
  • Closed on Sunday
Call 800-543-8917
Questions? Click to Chat
Questions? Click to Chat
/know-before-you-go/churchill/polar-bears/packing-list/