Stay on the Tundra Among the Bears & in the Northern Frontier Town of Churchill
Looking for a polar bear adventure that combines the best of both worlds? You’ve found it! Spend two nights at our exclusive Tundra Lodge, a custom-designed rolling hotel positioned on the tundra each season in an area of high bear activity. Relish unparalleled proximity to wild polar bears, in total seclusion—then add two nights in the historic hamlet of Churchill, for cultural activities and a chance to meet the hardy locals who call this subarctic outpost home. Search for polar bears and other wildlife such as Arctic fox, Arctic hare and ptarmigan during Polar Rover excursions on the tundra, enjoy close-up polar bear viewing from the Tundra Lodge, learn about Churchill’s colorful past on a comprehensive tour of the town, and fly through the forest on an exhilarating dog sled ride behind a working team of huskies. This multifaceted northern adventure truly does it all!
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Trip Highlights
- Stay Among the BearsOvernight on the tundra at our exclusive Tundra Lodge, situated where polar bear density is highest—then return to the hub of activity in Churchill for two nights
- Experience Northern CultureMeet local people as we explore the frontier town of Churchill, once a Hudson's Bay Company trading post, and go dog sledding with a local musher
- Safari in Search of Arctic WildlifeFrom both the Tundra Lodge and town, look for polar bears and more aboard our custom Polar Rovers, designed to facilitate the closest encounters
Close Encounters with Polar Bears in Churchill
A Conservation Travel Experience
What Makes This Polar Bear Adventure So Exceptional?
Our exclusive Tundra Lodge, which provides guests access to polar bear environs around the clock, is the most thrilling way to immerse yourself in the King of the Arctic's realm. Yet many travelers to Churchill find this frontier town a highlight in itself. This novel itinerary brings both experiences together: Stay in wild polar bear habitat at the Tundra Lodge, positioned in seclusion each season for outstanding proximity to polar bears—then add two nights in Churchill to experience the culture of the Canadian North. With this trip, you'll get:
- The Best Polar Bear Viewing Spot on the Planet!
Each September, our Tundra Lodge is strategically placed on a small spit of land that juts out into the Hudson Bay. This is where the ice first begins to form on the bay, attracting polar bears at the very start of the bear-viewing season. The Tundra Lodge is set amid the highest polar bear density in the world. - Private Cabins & Spacious Viewing Areas Enhance Access to Bears
You won't find a more comfortable way to spend leisurely time observing polar bears than from the Tundra Lodge. Aboard this rolling hotel with accommodations fashioned after train sleeper cars, each guest has an individual cabin with sleeping berth and your own private window through which to watch bears...and, if we're lucky, the northern lights, too! Large lounge windows and outdoor viewing platforms with steel-mesh decking further enhance bear observation. - Exclusive Permits for the Best Bear-Viewing Area
There are just two operators with exclusive permits to traverse the entire Churchill Wildlife Management Area (WMA) where the best—and sometimes only—polar bear viewing occurs. Of course, the Nat Hab/Great White Bear team possesses such a permit. Other operators use school-bus-type vehicles that are confined to the paved and gravel road to Halfway Point—which, as the name suggests, is only halfway to the prime polar bear area. If you're coming to Churchill to get close to polar bears, be sure you choose a company that offers a full bear-watching experience. - Travel with Two Naturalist Expedition Leaders
Ensuring the richest interpretive experience and exceptional personal attention, two Nat Hab Expedition Leaders guide this trip. Their in-depth knowledge and experience mean better, closer and more inspiring encounters with the northern landscape and its Arctic wildlife. You won't find a better guide-to-guest ratio! - Our Polar Rovers are the Most Remarkable Vehicles in the North
Our custom-built Polar Rovers have an advanced drive train that allows us to safely cruise over the tundra with virtually no chance of breakdown, plus a custom-designed heavy-duty suspension system that evens out the ride over rugged terrain. And, with onboard flush toilets, our guests enjoy a superior level of comfort. - Steel Mesh Flooring Facilitates Close-Up Polar Bear Viewing
Built into the rear viewing platform of every Polar Rover—and into the platforms that separate the individual "cars" of the Tundra Lodge—is a pioneering feature that greatly enhances our opportunities to watch polar bears up close: corrugated steel-mesh floors, so we can witness from remarkably close proximity the curious bears that often walk underneath the platforms! - The Smallest Groups for Superior Nature Adventures
Natural Habitat Adventures is known for its small groups, including the smallest groups in Churchill— which makes sense, since traveling with fewer people at a time means a more enjoyable and less impactful nature adventure. While it may cost us a little more to offer, the benefits of a small group are well worth it. Inside the Tundra Lodge, there's plenty of room to view bears through sliding windows and from the spacious deck. Our Polar Rovers can hold 30 or more passengers, but we generally travel with just 15 per vehicle on excursions from the Tundra Lodge. Every traveler is ensured plenty of space to spread out, angle for photos and enjoy watching polar bears without being bumped by other travelers. - Private Chartered Flights Maximize Our Polar Bear Time
To achieve the most time with polar bears, rather than making you wait around airports and endure the hassle of security screenings, we charter our own aircraft to take us directly from Winnipeg to Churchill at a time that facilitates our itinerary. - The Finest Naturalist Guides on the Planet
Natural Habitat Adventures is known for employing the top guides in the industry. Our Expedition Leaders average more than 10 seasons guiding polar bear tours. They also receive additional training from WWF scientists—you won't find more knowledgeable guides in Churchill! These congenial professionals meet each guest in Winnipeg and travel with the group throughout the trip, sharing a multitude of insights. Our philosophy is simple: a nature adventure is only as good as the guide who leads it, so we must provide the best! See Expedition Leader bios with traveler comments regarding the quality of our leaders. - Local Cultural Experiences Enhance Your Adventure
We've been taking travelers to Churchill for decades, and we've built close relationships with the local people. As a result, our guests get exclusive opportunities to meet revered elders of First Nations, Inuit and Metis communities. These storytellers are some of the last of their generation, and fortunately for us, they have graciously agreed to share their history and traditions with our guests. - Our Quality-Value Guarantee Ensures Your Outstanding Polar Bear Experience
You receive Natural Habitat Adventures' exclusive guarantee that clearly states we will meet the high expectations set forth in our promotional materials. To our knowledge, this is the most ambitious guarantee made by any adventure travel company. Read our important promise. - Feel Good About Your Carbon-Neutral Journey
We care deeply about our planet, as we know you do. When you travel with us, the carbon emissions from your trip are 100% offset—including your round-trip flights from home. Natural Habitat Adventures has been the world’s first carbon-neutral travel company since 2007. - Natural Habitat Adventures is World Wildlife Fund's Travel Partner
Because of our commitment to environmentally friendly travel, as well as the exceptional quality of our small-group nature adventures, World Wildlife Fund, the world's leading environmental conservation organization, has named Natural Habitat Adventures its worldwide travel partner—a designation that makes us exceedingly proud!
