Muir's Tours
polar bears


Classic Polar Bear Tour

This is a mid cost tour, with two days AND one evening watching the polar bears on the tundra in the safety of a roving tundra vehicle near Churchill (Hudson Bay, Canada).  This tour includes a specialist guide who is passionate about the bears and he just loves telling you about polar bears and their activities. The aurora borealis may be an additional highlight.

   

This particular version of polar bear tour has been running since 1989, and is now regarded as a classic. Providing wildlife observers with the opportunity to view polar bears over two full days and one evening on the tundra. It is the evening journey onto the tundra that makes this an excellent choice of tour if you want to experience a wide range of tundra moods without a big price.  Almost all meals are provided on this tour.

The Classic Polar Bear Tour is a Specialist tour, with only 15 of the 35 seats filled on the tundra vehicle, leaving you plenty of space to spread out your gear and everyone has a window seat.

Daytime polar bear activity is well documented – young males play fight, mother bears cautiously explore with their cubs alongside, and solitary adults lumber across the tundra. But the wildlife enthusiast who has had the opportunity to experience the tundra at night is rare.  You too may want to be there as the tundra provides an eerie and remote adventure, ever changing around the clock.  You may even see the remarkable aurora borealis – the northern lights.



 Sample Itinerary
 
Day 1: Arrive Winnipeg.  Upon arrival you will be transferred to your hotel where we gather for an informal dinner at 7pm. 

Day 2: Winnipeg to Churchill. This morning, we fly to Churchill. On the 6-day trip: First we explore Churchill and may have time for optional helicopter flights (subject to weather conditions) over the tundra. Later we will head to the tundra for an evening where we may get the chance to see the northern lights (aurora borealis) and we will get our first sightings (if we did not see some after landing at Churchill airport) of the polar bears and other wildlife such as the Arctic fox. On the 7-day trip: First we explore Churchill and may have time for optional helicopter flights (subject to weather conditions) over the tundra. In the evening we will have an audio visual presentation on polar bears and the northern environment they live in, presented by our professional staff of naturalists and scientists. Overnight in Churchill (both options).

Days 3 & 4: Polar bear watching from our roving tundra vehicles.  These days will be spent on our tundra vehicles viewing bears and other wildlife. We travel from our hotel by bus to the area where we keep our specially designed tundra vehicles. Here, our program leader will begin his/her nature interpretation, telling you all about how these remarkable animals thrive in such a harsh environment. From the warmth and comfort of our vehicle (we only take 15 travellers in vehicles that can accommodate on average 35, allowing plenty of room for a window seat and to store your gear), we may see mothers and cubs, as they avoid the male bears, as well as young adult males play-fighting. The polar bears frequently visit an area, not far from town, where huskies are kept and the friendly interaction of the polar bears and the dogs is fascinating and we hope to show you this. Each day, we return in the late afternoon with a short time to relax before dinner and evening presentations. Overnight in Churchill.

Day 5: On the 7-day trip: we take a full-day tour of historic Churchill and then head out to the tundra in the evening for night time bear viewing and dinner on the vehicle. We may have the opportunity to travel to Cape Merry where Arctic fox and Arctic hare tend to appear as well as to the sled dog base, where polar bears often show up to interact with the dogs. This gives us a great chance to view northern lights away from the glare of town. We return late in the evening to Churchill. On the 6-day trip: we will have some free time to explore Churchill or participate in an optional helicopter excursion (subject to weather conditions) before boarding our flight back to Winnipeg.

Day 6: Churchill to Winnipeg.  On the 7-day trip: After some free time to pick up last-minute crafts and souvenirs, we transfer to the airport for our return flight to Winnipeg. On the 6-day trip: Transfer to the airport for the flight home.

Day 7: Return Home. On the 7-day trip: After breakfast, we will transfer you to the airport for your return flight.

Please Note - On the 6-day trip we return to Winnipeg on Day 5 and return home on Day 6. Occasionally, on our 7-day trip, the schedule for the night tundra trip alternates between Day 4 and Day 5. 

Age Limits: 12 years or older, if you are passionate about polar bears. Only suitable for those who can stay confined for 8 hours or more in the buggy.


Feedback from our travellers


 

The Classic Polar Bear Tour - 6 Day

2009

Price Per Person: USD4195

Single Supplement: USD575

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Available Space

12 Places

14 Places

15 Places

9 Places

8 Places

2009 Dates

Oct 20-25

Oct 25-30

Nov 01-06

Nov 08-13

Nov 14-19

Winnipeg Hotel

2 nights

2 nights

2 nights

2 nights

2 nights

Evening on the Tundra

1 evening

1 evening

1 evening

1 evening

1 evening

Overnight Churchill

3 nights

3 nights

3 nights

3 nights

3 nights

Leader

Naturalist

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The Classic Polar Bear Tour - 7 Day

2009
Price Per Person: USD4495

Single Supplement: USD625

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Available Space

12 Places

14 Places

13 Places 

15 Places

10 Places

14 Places

14 Places

12 Places

8 Places

9 Places

2009 Dates

Oct27-Nov02

Oct28-Nov3

Oct 30-Nov5

Oct31-Nov06

Nov 02-08

Nov 04-10

Nov 06-12

Nov 08-14

Nov 12-18

Nov 13-19

Winnipeg Hotel

2 nights

2 nights

2 nights

2 nights

2 nights

2 nights

2 nights

2 nights

2 nights

2 nights

Evening on the Tundra

1 evening

1 evening

1 evening

1 evening

1 evening

1 evening

 1 evening 1 evening

1 evening

1 evening

Overnight Churchill

4 nights

4 nights

4 nights

4 nights

4 nights

4 nights

4 nights 

4 nights

4 nights

4 nights

Leader

Naturalist

Naturalist

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Naturalist

Naturalist

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Naturalist

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Local Flights

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The above prices include all net local taxes at the current rate.

Email for availability                 Ask questions about this option               Feedback from our travellers


Deposit: USD500 Per Person          Balance Due: 100 days prior to travel

What Is Included
Return flight Winnipeg / Churchill / Winnipeg, accommodation as detailed, all meals (except either lunch or dinner on your final day in Churchill), professional expedition leaders and assistants, all activities/entrance fees, evening wildlife and cultural presentations, all taxes and service charges.

What is NOT Included
Travel (international flights etc.) to Winnipeg, lunch or dinner on your final day in Churchill, alcoholic beverages, gratuities, travel insurance, items of a personal nature (telephone calls, laundry, etc.).

Dog Sledding experience in Churchill
We can arrange this for you, to provide either a sit on ride or mushing your own dog team. The cost for a sit on ride is about CAD100 per person for 1 hour and mushing will cost about CAD250 for 1 hour.

 Getting There & Getting Home
International flights are not included. In case of flight or weather delays, we recommend that you arrive a day early and either participate in our Extra Day in Winnipeg program or stay on your own. Our trip begins with a 7:00 pm welcome dinner on Day 1. You are free to depart at any time on the final day.

Extra Day in Winnipeg Extension
We have arranged an optional guided Extra Day in Winnipeg Program. It takes place prior to each Polar Bear program and includes hotel room, breakfast and lunch, a bus tour of Winnipeg, a visit to the Manitoba Museum (voted the best museum of Canada and a trip to Oak Hammock Marsh, where we can see thousands of snow and Canada geese, as well as other bird-life.

Estimated Price Per Person - Single: USD195
Estimated Price Per Person - Double: USD165
Includes: Airport transfers, hotel accommodations, breakfast and lunch, tour of Winnipeg, entrance fees.

Northern Helicopter Journey Option
We have arranged for an exclusive helicopter adventure to the tundra to view the North’s most intriguing wildlife. Track Arctic wolves, migrating caribou, Arctic fox and the mighty polar bear from a unique aerial perspective as we fly over the captivating northern environs. This vast land of endless lakes and colourful tundra also reveals ancient pre-Dorset tent rings and intriguing archaeological sites. Our helicopters enable you to be among the very few privileged visitors to travel to this remote and wild region.

Estimated Price Per Person: USD425 per person
Includes: 90 minute journey (Generally one hour of flying time. The total journey may be shorter if it is too cold to spend 30 minutes walking on the tundra).

What gear do I need ?

Terms & Conditions   Reservation Form

Travel Insurance

Comprehensive personal insurance, including search and rescue is required on this trip. For UK clients we recommend the policies of the British Mountaineering Council, for their expertise in evacuation from remote areas worldwide. Details at www.thebmc.co.uk  As Insurance is always provided by a company based in your home country, we are unable to suggest suitable insurance companies unless you reside in the UK.