Optional Helicopter Tour

Our Private Tundra Vehicle

Inside Tundra Vehicle

Crossing the ice

Waiting

Current Photo Tours 2019/2020 Schedule 

- Niagara Lights at Night Tour - Saturday January 11th, 2020

- Costa Rica Photo Tour - February 6th to 15th, 2020

- Antarctica Photo Tour - February 20th to March 5th, 2020

- Morocco Photo Tour - May 1st to 11th, 2020

- Kenya & Tanzania Tour - October 8th - 22nd, 2020

- Galapagos Islands Photo Tour - November 28th to December 8th, 2020

- Our 2019/2020 Tour Brochure available for download

Polar Bear Photo Tour -  Frequently called “Lords of the Arctic”, these spectacular animals are huge. Male polar bears can grow to more than 600 kg (1,320 lbs) and stand 3.05 meters (10 feet) tall. But don’t let their massive size fool you – these white bears can move with surprising speed and agility.

    With a highly acute sense of smell, they are also skilled hunters that can pick up a scent from over 30 kilometers away, and can detect the presence of seals under three feet of snow and ice. Polar bears have no natural enemies and consequently no fear.

     I would like to invite you to join me as we photograph the Polar Bears in Churchill, Manitoba, Canada’s Arctic Gateway. This is one of my favourite excursions and I’m excited to share our Polar Bear experience with you. During our trek we will have opportunity to photograph the polar bears via tundra buggy via 4x4 for closer views via helicopter and while touring the Churchill region. Seeing the bears up-close as they wait and prepare to head further north as Hudson Bay freezes is an experience you will never forget. I look forward to traveling with you tin November and Welcome to Canada's gateway to the Arctic.

                                                                                                                        James Cowie

Polar Bears Churchill Photo Tour Itinerary - November 11th to 16th, 2019

Day One: Monday November 11th, 2019 Our Air Canada flight departs London International Airport at 9:00 a.m connecting via Toronto where we will meet up with connecting guests than on to Winnipeg, Manitoba arriving at 2:00 p.m. We will met our Churchill host at the Winnipeg airport and transfer via motor coach to the Hilton Suites Hotel. We will have some time this afternoon to relax then meet this evening for our Welcome Dinner. (D)

Day Two: Tuesday November 12th, 2019 Breakfast, check-out and transfer back to Winnipeg Airport for our morning flight to Churchill. We will meet our guide at the airport and transfer to our hotel the Aurora Inn. Later this morning with will have a roads and tracks townsite tour and visit the Eskimo Museum. Then after lunch our optional helicopter tour will be offer. A great chance to fly over the tundra to observe the bears from above and if Hudson Bay is froze over a chance to see the bears hunting (waiting at air holes) in the ice for seals. Dinner this evening then a digital slide presentation by one of Churchill’s naturalist photographers. Please note if weather does not permit we will arrange alternate day for helicopter excursion. Over night Aurora Inn. (B), (L), (D).

Day Three: Wednesday November 13th, 2019 Breakfast then out for a full day exploring the tundra and looking for the polar bears. Our group will travel along the travel and shores via 4x4. We will explore along the shore and inlands looking for the polar bears. We will serve a picnic lunch onboard our vehicle. This evening we will return to Churchill for dinner and this evening have a northern lights outing. Our tour includes one night of Aura viewing at Nights Under Lights (Mongolian Yurt) This night may vary according to schedule and weather conditions. Overnight Aurora Inn.  (B) (L) (D)

Day Four: Thursday November 14th, 2019  Early breakfast then out for a full day exploring the tundra and looking for the polar bears. Our Tundra Vehicle will cover another part of the inland and bay shore today. We will serve a picnic lunch onboard our vehicle with plenty of warm drinks and washroom onboard. This evening we will return to Churchill for dinner and weather permitting a northern lights outing. Overnight Aurora Inn.  (B) (L) (D)

Day Five: Friday November 15th, 2019 Breakfast then out for another full day via 4x4 exploring and photographing the tundra and region for Polar Bears. Each day as we explore the tundra we will have opportunities to photograph other arctic wildlife in the region including birds. This evening dinner, check-out of our hotel and evening flight back to Winnipeg. Overnight Hilton Suites Hotel. (B) (L) (D)

Day Six: Saturday November 16th, 2019 Breakfast and some time to relax this morning before we check-out of our hotel and transfer back to Winnipeg airport for our return Air Canada flight to Toronto and our connecting flight to London. (B)

Guests on our Polar Bear have the option to join the tour in London, Toronto or any other requested point. 

Prior to our departure we will be sending out a pre tour book filled with tips on packing for Canada’s North and ideas for camera gear and how to deal with the cold.

Churchill has an average temperature of -12 C to -15 this time of year. Believe it or not for such a cold place we don’t spend much time outside in the elements. Our tundra vehicle is warm, self contained with a washroom, pull down windows and a back observation deck. Please keep in mind warm foot-ware, hats, gloves, coats and snow pants are a must as we will also have shooting days outside and traveling via 4x4 vehicles to obtain great photo opportunities of the bears.

The cost of our Polar Bear Photo Tour is $6115.00 per person CAD plus HST based on double occupancy and includes airfare departing from London or Toronto, plus air taxes of $138.98 CAD. Our tour price also includes airfare from Winnipeg to Churchill. Single supplement is available for this tour for an additional $500.00 CAD plus HST. You may choose the optional Helicopter Excursion when registering for an additional $350.00 plus HST.

Includes:

• Round trip Air Canada airfare departing from London, International or Pearson International
• Other departure points are available upon request. (price may vary due to air departure point)
• Return airfare via CalmAir Winnipeg to Churchill, Manitoba
• 2 Nights Accommodations Hilton Suites Hotel pre and post Winnipeg, 
• 4 Nights Accommodations Aurora Inn Churchill
• Breakfast, lunch and dinner included each day of the tour (picnic lunch onboard tundra vehicle)
• All airport transfers in Winnipeg and Churchill
• Transportation while in Churchill
• Our own private Tundra Vehicle with window seat for each photographer
• Our own private local photographer guide with two days photography of the polar bears via 4 x 4
• One night of viewing at Nights under Lights (Mongolian Yurts) Weather will determine the evening.
• Admissions to Eskimo Museum and Naturalist Slide Presentation
• Photo Workshops and Tour hosted and escorted by photographer James Cowie

Excludes:

- Optional Helicopter Excursion - May be selected when registering for $350.00 plus HST.

• Items of a personal nature, laundry, phone calls, etc.
• Local guide tips and gratuities,
• Alcoholic beverages,

** Schedule may vary according to weather or traffic

A non refundable deposit of $650.00 is due at time of booking. The balance is due Sep 4th, 2019. We recommend travel insurance as this tour takes you out of the province.

Please click on link below to be linked to our secured tour registration.

Click here to Register for our Polar Bear Photo Tour

Click here to download Polar Bears Photo Tour Brochure

If you have any other questions or require booking assistance please contact:

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