8 day safari

Prices from

£4700

Excluding international flights

Tour Highlights

  • Chance to see Polar Bears sparring
  • Three Tundra Buggy excursions
  • Photograph bears at eye level on our 4X4 tours
  • 6 nights in Churchill compared to the standard 3 or 4

Budget Churchill Polar Bear Tour

We have been designing polar bear tours in Churchill since our first visit in 2003, when we used a combination of the famous train from Winnipeg and flights to create an early season polar bear tour that will live long in the memory. Because we are an ethical operator we do not want to encourage ‘weekend’ polar bear safaris, which have a heavy climate cost compared to the number of days travellers stay in this frontier town. Our solution, which has taken years of planning and does require early booking, is to book all elements of the polar bear tour in Churchill separately and pre-book the accommodation which often sells out a year before hand. By designing a longer stay in the polar bear capital of the world, we are one of the few companies able to offer 3 Tundra Buggy tours for a budget polar bear safari in Churchill.

When to Go:
  • Jan
  • Feb
  • Mar
  • Apr
  • May
  • Jun
  • Jul
  • Aug
  • Sep
  • Oct
  • Nov
  • Dec

Best time to visit -

NOV

Safari Style -

Pioneer

DAY 1

ARRIVE INTO WINNIPEG AND OVERNIGHT AT THE AIRPORT

Arrive into Winnipeg Airport and simply walk across to the ‘Grand Winnipeg Airport Hotel’ just across from the arrivals area. This is the best quality airport hotel and includes a full breakfast. If you decided to arrive into Winnipeg a couple of nights before your polar bear safari we can look at the beautifully located ‘Inn at the Forks’ on the waterfront

Accommodation : Grand Winnipeg Airport Hotel

Polar bear safari Canada Grand Hotel Winnipeg

DAY 2

MORNING FLIGHT FROM WINNIPEG TO CHURCHILL

An early breakfast and quick and easy check-in for your flight to Churchill kicks off your polar bear safari adventure and after approximately 3 hours in the comfortable mid-size jet, you will land at Churchill airport and be met and transferred 20 minutes to your cute bed and breakfast accommodation in town. It’s a good day to walk around town and get your bearings; as to where you need to be each day. Sadly, the famous Gypsy bakery is no more, but Pam from Nature 1st recommended you order any lunches required at the Dancing Bear restaurant in the Churchill Hotel.

Accommodation : Churchill Guest House

DAY 3

YOUR FIRST TUNDRA BUGGY DAY TOUR FOR POLAR BEARS

Walk across to the Frontiers North gift shop by 07:30 (position noted on Vamoos mapping), where you will be collected for a full day Tundra Buggy Tour (departing at 08:00 – lunch included) looking for Polar Bears, Arctic Fox and other wildlife out on the tundra to the east of Churchill.

DAY 4

PRIVATE NATURE TOUR WITH EXPERT GUIDE

At 09:00 (be ready by 08:45), you will be collected for a full day ‘Road and Trails’ tour (please take your own water and lunch). This will offer chances to see Snowy Owls, Arctic Fox, Ptarmigan and possibly even Polar Bears.

DAY 5

YOUR SECOND TUNDRA BUGGY DAY TOUR FOR POLAR BEARS

Walk across to the Frontiers North gift shop by 07:30 (position noted on Vamoos mapping), where you will be collected for a full day Tundra Buggy Tour (departing at 08:00 – lunch included) looking for Polar Bears, Arctic Fox and other wildlife out on the tundra to the east of Churchill.

DAY 6

FULL DAY FREE TO EXPLORE THIS FRONTIER TOWN

Full day free for your own activities in Churchill with options to visit the Parks Canada Interpretive Centre and the excellent Eskimo Museum (see Vamoos mapping). You will also have the opportunity to go dog sledding.

DAY 7

THIRD TUNDRA BUGGY DAY TOUR FOR POLAR BEARS

Walk across to the Frontiers North gift shop by 07:30 (position noted on Vamoos mapping), where you will be collected for a full day Tundra Buggy Tour (departing at 08:00 – lunch included) looking for Polar Bears, Arctic Fox and other wildlife out on the tundra to the east of Churchill

DAY 8

FLY BACK TO WINNIPEG FROM CHURCHILL

Sadly, this is the last day of your Churchill polar bear tour and you will be transferred to the airport to connect with the flight to Winnipeg.

Pricing Info & Dates

Costs £4700 based on two people sharing and not including flights. Valid for travel in late October/early November 2024. Early booking essential, as accommodation very limited

Includes:

  • Breakfast in Churchill
  • Return flights between Winnipeg and Churchill
  • Transfers from Churchill airport to your accommodation
  • Three Tundra Buggy excursions and 1 nature tour

Excludes:

  • Cost of international flights
  • Cost of applicable visas
  • Meals in Winnipeg and Churchill
  • Gratuities for lodge staff and guides

What

Our Clients Say About Us

★★★★★
Fantastic Canadian adventure

We had a two week holiday on Vancouver Island.. we went on a whale watching tour and saw Orcas, Humpbacks, Dahl porpoises, white striped Dolphins, seals and Sea lions. We then did a Grizzly bear r and saw lots of Grizzlies as well as loads of Black Bears. The highlight of the holiday was a three day kayaking trip which was fantastic. Kayaking with Orcas and Humpback whales was incredible Our holiday was completely organised by Wildlife Trails, and I can’t recommend them highly enough.. everything was planned to perfection and they made the entire holiday exactly what we asked for

ByChris and John
★★★★★
Fantastic tailored holiday to North America the itinerary and arrangements were first class

Our slightly unusual request was to cover certain National Parks in the US and then visit British Columbia with the focus on Whales and Bears all within a restricted time slot and to ensure both parents and teenage girls could be entertained on the way. Our experiences will give us life-long memories we will treasure, we enjoyed every aspect o the trip and saw amazing wildlife, the experiences surpassed our expectations. Wildlife Trails were fantastic in ensuring our arrangements and itinerary fitted perfectly with our requirements and the logistic went completely smoothly. Allan was flexible with us changing our minds on a few major things before we finalised the tour and helpful in ensuring we had everything we needed both before and during our trip. The service was first class.

ByPaul and Sally
★★★★★
Fantastic Polar Bear trip

Allan Blanchard from Wildlife Trails organised a holiday for myself and a friend to Churchill, Manitoba, Canada to see Polars Bears. All the flights connections were spot on, arrived at Winnipeg per itinerary, had a night in the hotel there, all good, got to the railway station in good time to get the 2day trip to Churchill. The train was very comfortable, food fairly good, enjoyed the experience very much. Got a taxi to the blue sky B&B, where we had 7 nights, had been there before 3yrs ago, everything was excellent, food and accomodation very high standard, and Jennifor and Gerald really looked after us very well. Had 2 great day trips on the Tundra Buggy, where we saw 45 bears, mum and cubs, bears play fighting, some up really close to the buggy. Had a good tour with North star, managed to see polar bears up very close to the bus, and we also had 2 and half days with Nature 1st, who took us all around the churchill area to try and spot bears which we were very successful with about 8 bears in total. People/drivers all excellent, very knowledgeable, and we had a great time with all the people involved in our holiday. Everything went very well, Wildlife trails did a fanastic holiday for us, and we were lucky to see a total of 62 bears, including a bear lift from the polar bear jail of a mum and 2yrs old cub. it was great. thank you to all concerned for giving me and my friend such a fanastic time Have been with Allan and Kirsty Blanchard for many years, as they do all my wildlife holidays of which there as been many. Every time it is always great, arrangements as they should be, people who should be meeting me are always there so although I travel alone quite a bit, I feel very safe with Allan and Wildlife Trails organising the trip as things are all in place and I have no need to worry about anything First Class Tour Operator.

ByAnnie and Viv
★★★★★
Bear and whale watching in British Columbia

Fantastic bear and whale watching experience in the Great Best Rainforest and on Vancouver Island. Different locations, tour operators and accommodation types, all of them great in their own ht, the most impressive being the "Great Bear Chalet" in the BellaCoola valley. We saw plenty of grizzly and black bears, orcas and humpback whales Very pleasant experience, Allan did everything possible to make this combination of different tour components fit our limited timeframe - and our bucket of extra wishes! Very much looking forward to planning the next trip with "Wildlife Trails"

ByPatrick
★★★★★
Everything I could have hoped for

I specifically wanted to see Polar bears with plenty of photo opportunities. I had a 4 night stay in the Frontiers North Tundra Buggy Lodge, with 5 eight hour Tundra Buggy trips. I also stayed in nipeg for a couple of nights before and after. The Tundra Buggy people were first class, with driver and guide being very knowledgeable, food was good, both in the Lodge and on board the Buggy. I was a little apprehensive about the long bunk room with 20 people but the inner and outer curtains provided good privacy and also sound deadening. Highly recommended. You have much more time in the area where the bears congregate that if you have a day trip for Churchill (which takes 2 hours each way to get to the area). In Winnipeg I stayed at Inn at the Forks - a good hotel in a lovely area. Also highly recommended. Everything was arrange with detailed consultation and consideration of what I wanted. I had used Wildlife Trails twice before and have always found them excellent.

ByMeryl