Set out on a rugged and remote Arctic region of Canada, join this 7-day Great Ice Bear Safari Tour, an ideal way to encounter and photograph bears on snow and ice and clear nights with excellent chances for northern lights photography. Located at Dymond Lake Ecolodge, Hudson Bay, Canada, capturing stunning photographs of polar bears and other Arctic wildlife, exploring the tundra, and experiencing the breathtaking natural beauty of the landscape is exhilarating, surprisingly colorful, and striking. After days of a remote adventure, spend the day exploring Churchill, learning about its rich history as a seaport, and enjoying a chartered Tundra Buggy Tour for a whole new vantage point.
Highlights
Capture stunning photographs of polar bears and other Arctic wildlife
Learn about Arctic ecosystems from a naturalist guide.
Explore the historic port of Churchill and meet local characters
Enjoy guided hikes, buggy tours, or ATV rides to see Hudson Bay coastline
Witness the sky come alive with a fascinating show of the aurora borealis
Indulge your taste buds with tundra-inspired cuisine & Canadian Wine
Moderately active but not overly strenuous. This level includes activities like casual cycling, yoga, or excursions/activities that typically last 3-5 hours total each day.
Arrive in Winnipeg, where you will enjoy a relaxing stay at our choice hotel, The Grand by Lakeview at the Winnipeg Airport. Your winter gear fitting and collection will take place at 5 p.m. before you meet the rest of your group. A Churchill Wild representative will host an orientation dinner.
*Note: Churchill Wild reserves the right to make changes to this itinerary due to weather and logistical complications that can arise from traveling in the north and to remote locations.
Day 2: Fly to Churchill | Fly to Dymond Lake Ecolodge
Arrive in Churchill by air, where one of the expert staff will meet you at the airport and provide you with instructions for the morning transfers. A fixed-wing aircraft will then transport you to Dymond Lake Ecolodge. This short flight takes you out over the historic Churchill River and then northwest up the rugged Hudson Bay coast. Watch out for moose, wolves, and, of course, the "Great Ice Bears" as you travel.
Upon arrival, your hosts will provide a tour and show you to your room. Lunch will be served soon after, and before heading out on your first excursion, you will be thoroughly debriefed regarding your stay in polar bear country.
This day includes a guided hike on our rugged and starkly beautiful coastline, an interpretive slide show featuring the wildlife of Hudson Bay, and hopefully a clear night for viewing the Aurora Borealis. Dymond Lake Ecolodge features an Aurora viewing tower for northern light observation. All this will be topped off with a lunch and dinner where your hosts and guides will regale you with tales of life and adventures in Canada’s Arctic.
Day 3-4: Dymond Lake Ecolodge Adventure Activities
Each morning, after a hot breakfast, your guides will outline a plan for the day’s excursions. If there are bears near the lodge, your morning tour may be delayed to take advantage of these photo and observation opportunities. The walks are comfortably paced as they are geared towards plenty of viewing and photo opportunities.
Back at the lodge, enjoy appetizer hour followed by one of the signature tundra-inspired meals. Evenings typically include an informative lecture or slide show presentation narrated by one of Churchill Wild’s knowledgeable guides or staff. On clear nights, you may also have a chance to view one of the spectacular aurora borealis displays common at this latitude.
Bedtime is at your leisure, and you can rest easy knowing you won’t miss out on anything. The lodge staff monitors the compound and skies and will rouse you if the aurora or a nocturnal polar bear makes an appearance.
Day 5: Fly to Churchill
1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
After another hearty Lodge breakfast, you will begin air transfers back to Churchill. Have your cameras ready for the return flight, as it affords excellent opportunities for great aerial shots.
Back in Churchill, you’ll spend the day with one of the tour guides exploring Churchill and the area and learning about its rich history as a seaport and ex-military town. Your tour will include stops such as the Parks Canada exhibit, the Itsanitaq Museum, and the Polar Bear Jail. Along the way, your guide will point out murals that were commissioned in 2016 as part of the SeaWalls mural festival. Before a group dinner, your guide will give you free time to shop for last-minute souvenirs at the unique gift stores in Churchill.
Tonight you’ll overnight in Churchill at our choice hotel.
Day 6: Churchill Adventure Activities | Fly back to Winnipeg
Today, you will travel across the tundra in a Tundra Buggy for more polar bear viewing. Transportation by bus to and from the launch site is provided pre- and post-tour. You’ll have lunch out on the tundra during your tour.
Your flight south to Winnipeg will take place this evening. Upon arrival, collect your bags, head out of the arrivals doors, and back to The Grand Hotel.
Day 7: Return Home
After a restful sleep, you will pack your bags in preparation for your flight home.
Apologies for the inconvenience. Prices for not yet published. Below per person rate based on previous season. Contact us to confirm upcoming season pricing.
Prices for are estimated based on inflation. Contact us to confirm pricing and availability for your desired departure date.
$12,3582-3 travelers
Notes
Select a Date
Solo guests can opt for a shared room with another person of the same gender at the standard double occupancy rate. Alternatively, a single room option is available at the listed rate, ensuring a private room both at the lodge and the required hotels in the package.
Initial deposit is $3,200 CAD Per Person, and most travelers will call our office and pay the deposit with a credit card.
Final payment is due 100 Days prior to departure by Bank transfer, check or credit card. All final payments by credit card may be subject to a surcharge and maximum of $20,000 charge
For full cancellation policy details, please contact us for a quote.
Included
5 Breakfasts, 5 Lunches, 6 Dinners
6 Nights Accommodations
5 Days Locally Hosted Guide Service
Accommodations as listed
Ground transportation as listed
Activities as listed
Meals as listed
Access to a 24-7 Emergency line while traveling
Roundtrip Flight between Winnipeg to/from Churchill, Manitoba
Roundtrip flight between Churchill to/from Churchill Wild Lodges
Prices include a provincial tax of 3.5% and a federal tax of 5%. Taxes are subject to change. Children from ages 8 to 12 are qualify for the child rate.
All meals, excursions, and guide services while in Churchill and at the Lodge
Winter Gear
*Note: The winter gear provided is designed to fit guests from child to adult. Boot sizes larger than a men’s size 13 or a very small child are customized sizes are not provided. Additionally, guests over 6’4” may be required to bring their own gear as we may not have clothing sizes to fit.
Chartered Tundra Buggy tour
One-night accommodation in Churchill
Excluded
Gratuities
Travel Insurance
Personal Expenses
Additional excursions during free time
Fuel and transportation surcharges (when applicable)
International Flights
Map
When to Go
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Good to ideal period to travel, and many people choose to visit at this time.
Typically not offered during this period because of weather conditions.
The trip might have been the absolute best of our lifetime (thus far). We particularly want to commend our guide Peter in the Guilin area-he was so incredibly attentive, energetic, enthusiastic-and absolutely dedicated to ensuring that our meals were 100% vegetarian.
Jack Charney
TrustScore 4.8 | 176 reviews
TrustScore 4.8 of 5
Based on 176 reviews on
9 hours ago
Adventure Life is always an excellent choice when planning complicated, extreme, or exotic vacations or expeditions. They provide friendly professional services and advice and are enthusiastic and encouraging in helping us to prepare and thoroughly enjoy our trip. They handle all the details which greatly reduces the stress of planning a difficult trip. I'm very impressed with Adventure Life and definitely recommend them to friends and family.
Scott Trochim
2 days ago
The response from Adventure Life to my first inquiry was prompt and promising. I worked with Jamie Broeckel, Trip Planner, via text, email, and phone calls- always extremely responsive and thorough with information and explaining the process to arrange a private tour for me to Malaysia Borneo. Within about week, the booking was complete and I made decisions because of Jamie's great customer service , friendly manner, and overall competence on behalf of the company's travel expertise. Now I have an itinerary, additional Trip Planner Assistants, several links for vital information for traveling to Maylasia, etc. Still many details for Sept. trip, but now the heavy lifting is done and I can enjoy the rest of the anticipation and research!! Thanks Jamie- you are amazing!!!!
Susan Campo
4 days ago
The trip was not only memorable for the amount of animals we saw but also for the people and accommodations at the two camps where we stayed. Our first guide, BK, was a wealth of information about the animals, landscape and down to the plants and what they were used for. Everyday out was a learning experience with him. All the people at the camps were gracious and the food was excellent.
Our second camp in the Okavanga was just as good as the first as far as the staff, accommodations, food and animals. After our experience at the first camp we amazed that the high quality remained the same. Our guide, G, made sure we were able to enjoy every experience including a rush through the bush to witness a cheetah and an ensuing hunt that he heard over his radio.
In both camps there were enough guides out that if they saw something the other guides were informed which helped in seeing as much as possible. It was also nice that the concessions were large enough that we did not have vehicles following each other throughout the day.
Normally there is always something in a trip of this length that we think could be improved upon but this is the rare case where we cannot think of anything. From the time we left the States to when we returned it was one of the most hassle free vacations we took.
Perhaps emphasizing the use of the laundry facilities at the camps would be useful because of the luggage restrictions would be the only thing I can think of as an improvement to future clients.
Kenneth Dropek
5 days ago
Mary was so pleasant and professional. She made sure all of our questions were answered.
