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      Land Journey

      Manitoba: Polar Bear Adventure

      Earth Journeys | With BBC Earth | All Departures Small Groups Averaging 30 Tauck Guests

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      Days
      6
      From
      $9,080 CAD
      Includes On-Tour Air
      Journey Type
      Land
      Time of Year
      Oct - Nov
      Cities & Landmarks
      Winnipeg, Churchill
      Manitoba Polar Bear Tours
      Polar Bears, Churchill
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      Tour Overview

      Manitoba Polar Bear Tours Map MORE DETAILS

      EXPERIENCE WITH TAUCK

       

      TAUCK EXCLUSIVE – On-tour film vignettes custom-made for Tauck by BBC Earth natural history experts plus other select BBC Earth touches

       

      TAUCK VALUE INCLUDES

       

      Small groups averaging 30 Tauck guests

       

      On-tour air included (2 flights)

       

      Two exciting excursions in polar bear country with a naturalist guide aboard a specially designed tundra vehicle

       

      Private, exclusive after-hours reception and dinner at the Manitoba Museum, home to a replica of the historic 17th-century ship

       

      Private charter flights between Churchill and Winnipeg; spend three nights at a lodge in the “Polar Bear Capital”

       

      Dog sledding demonstration and a dog sled ride

       

      Visit to the Eskimo Museum in Churchill

       

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      Activity

      2
      ?

      Guests should be able to easily walk one to two miles, which may include climbing one or two flights of stairs and walking over uneven pavement, groomed hiking trails or cobblestones. Standing up to one hour or more may be required.

      Pace

      2
      ?

      Moderately paced, and may include some early morning hotel departures, one or two on-tour flights, and extended motor coach travel.

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      Where else but Manitoba can you say you've taken a polar bear tour?!

      The World Next Door

      Manitoba’s vast open spaces are filled with unique wonders, stories, and adventures on this awe-inspiring journey to the far reaches of the Canadian wilderness. Embrace your inner explorer on a once-in-a-lifetime journey to Manitoba in "Polar Bear Season," when these great white carnivores lumber across the plains toward Hudson Bay to prepare for winter... 

      One of our most popular trips immerses you in the Earth Journeys experience, featuring custom-made BBC Earth on-tour film vignettes and when the opportunity arises, the use of field equipment. Late October and November is polar bear season in Churchill, Manitoba, the start of the long-awaited migration of these great white creatures. Over icy rivers and across the subarctic plains, they make their way towards the coast and the seal-rich waters of the Hudson Bay to fulfill their need for food for the winter ahead. Normally elusive, these bears are plentiful in this remote location of northern Canada at this time of the year, giving travelers seeking an up-close look at arctic life an exciting glimpse into their world. You'll stay in a cozy lodge where family-style meals, warm camaraderie and two-footed locals share stories about Hudson Bay history, past and present, in front of a crackling fire. You'll also learn more about Manitoba and early fur-trading history during a special private evening with the Hudson’s Bay Company of Adventurers at the Manitoba Museum... at a dog sledding demonstration... on a dog sled ride... and much more.  Read Less

      Behind the Scenes on Manitoba: Polar Bear Adventure

      Learn all about the dogs – and the sleds – of Manitoba

      Day 5

      Dog sledding and the Arctic

      Polar bears are just part of the story of life in the forested Arctic wilderness; at a dog sledding demonstration you'll learn about the sport of dog sledding, an important part of Manitoba's history – and you'll meet the dogs. No one is sure who got the ingenious idea to rig dogs up to a sled for transportation over roadless, frozen landscapes. Presumably the Thule people (who arrived in Manitoba long before the Eskimos) brought the custom with them from wherever they came from; the European fur traders later picked it up from the Eskimos; and Jack London made the dog sled culture of the Canadian wilderness famous in "The Call of the Wild" (1903). Of course, for centuries dogs have been known as “horses of the poor,” and in fact are eminently more suited than horses to fast, efficient travel through snow-clad environments, as you’ll discover during a dog sled presentation in Churchill, where mushing is a venerated sport (and some residents still use dog sleds for everyday transportation). You’ll meet formidable (charming and irresistible) racing huskies bred for endurance, capable of hauling loads hundreds of miles through grueling environments – and their trainers, who’ll clue you in on the peculiar demands of the sport, its lore and history, and the politics of dog packs. Then settle in for an exhilarating ride across the tundra that is bound to awaken the call of the wild in you... flying behind the harnessed passions of dogs born to run.

      Travel aboard a special tundra vehicle to "meet the polar bears"

      Days 3 and 4

      Northern stars – when the polar bears come to call...

      Churchill, Manitoba may not look like much, with its one main road through the middle of town (that leads eventually to nowhere). It’s so remote, you can’t get here except by train or plane. In fact, in the 1950s the British government briefly considered using this area as a nuclear test site. But it turns out that Churchill is directly in the path of an ancient invisible highway; every autumn, when Hudson Bay begins to freeze over, hundreds of polar bears pass through this terminus on an annual migration to their winter hunting grounds. (Dispersed throughout the boreal forest and the tundra all summer, fasting through a “waking hibernation,” they are driven by instinct and hunger to the new-formed ice, which they need to hunt seals, their favorite prey.) There are other places you might see a polar bear – a zoo, for example – but nowhere else in such numbers, and up close, from the safety of a specially designed tundra vehicle. The inquisitive giants often come right up to the vehicle, standing full height to get a better look at you, eye-to-eye, with a penetrating gaze that visitors tend to find soul-stirring. That kind of personal, almost mystical connection with this otherworldly creature in its own habitat is rare enough but may soon become impossible, as the ice on Hudson Bay shrinks in mass every year, and the bear population evaporates with it, which means eventually you may have no choice but to go to a zoo if you want to see a polar bear... a lot more convenient than coming to Churchill, but without the unparalleled thrill and the memory.

      Three days in Churchill, the world's polar bear capital

      Days 2, 3 and 4

      The Lazy Bear Lodge – step back to simpler times

      Comfortable, cozy, rustic, simple, family owned – all of these words describe the Lazy Bear Lodge. The lodge itself is rustic, consisting of handcrafted log cabins; all rooms have a private bath / shower. Dinners around the authentic stone fireplace set the stage for story swapping – and you’ll have plenty to swap with fellow travelers after a day in the tundra. Meals are memorable and homemade; if specialty dishes such as Caribou Pepper Steak or Sirloin of Muskox Rouladen don’t appeal, there’s always more international fare like Bruschetta Grilled Chicken or Fillet of Cod, Maui-style. Buns are baked fresh in a stone baking kiln, and the chef creates homemade desserts. No alcohol is served at the lodge but you are welcome to have a bottle in your room. Owner Wally Daudrich, an excellent naturalist / historian, enriches your stay with insights and information that reflect his deep love for this remote part of the world.

      This trip was a truly outstanding and unforgettable travel experience that was conducted so well in the traditionally high Tauck standards.

      Jim & Rose Owen

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      All the information you need for this journey at your fingertips – day-by-day details, map, hotel descriptions, key highlights and more.

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      Accommodations

      Where you stay is an important part of your journey – with Tauck, accommodations have been handpicked and carefully selected for their location and ambiance, enhancing the destinations you explore. Download accommodation details and your travel plans begin!

       

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      Overnight Accommodations

      Extend your stay

      Arrive Early

      Nights 1 & 5

      Inn at the Forks

      Winnipeg, Manitoba

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      Nights 2-4

      Lazy Bear Lodge

      Churchill, Manitoba, Canada

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      Extend your stay

      Stay Later
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      Your Journey

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      Small Group Departures

      Our small group departures are designed for travelers who want more time to experience each destination up close and personally. One of the benefits of small group travel is the personalized service and attention you’ll enjoy. Small groups enable our Tauck Directors to spend more time in the places you explore with more opportunities to connect with them. Smaller groups foster camaraderie and lasting friendships among like-minded travelers; you'll engage more closely with local experts and enjoy enhanced insider access, ease of travel and freedom to linger longer.

      One Upfront Price

      Get what you pay for and then some – about 100 cost components are included on every trip. From fine hotels in prime locations to all luggage handling, most taxes, airport transfers upon arrival and departure, unique travel experiences and more. Because we believe that when you travel, just about everything should be included.

      Airport Transfers Included

      Upon arrival and departure, transfers to and from your hotel are included as noted.

      What you need to know

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      Travel Documents, Booking and Deposits, and more

      No matter where your destination may be, you should bring identification with you; a valid passport is always an appropriate form of identification. Contact your booking agent for information about all necessary documents required for your journey, such as passport and visa information or documentation required for transportation security measures.

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      Important Information

      Health and Activity

      You'll find Activity and Pace Levels on all of our trips to give you a better idea of physical activity level – higher numbers mean a more active journey. To fully enjoy most journeys, you should be in good health and able to walk reasonable distances; some of the most memorable sightseeing can only be accomplished on foot and may include unpaved and uneven surfaces. Please consult your physician for pre-departure health advice.

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      Protect Your Travel Investment

      Guest Protection Product

      Your vacation is an important investment – and to help you protect it, Tauck's Guest Protection Product provides you with important benefits before your trip and while you are traveling, including 24-hour worldwide emergency assistance services; you'll also find deposit details and information should you have to cancel. Truly peace of mind travel at its best!

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      The Tauck Experience

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        Reviews (15)

        The trip was fast paced which was fine as we had a lot to do in a short period of time. Very organized as usual with a lot of good informative people to give us history of the area and Polar Bears. We didn't see as many Polar Bears as we had hoped but we were a victim of the weather, which no one could control. Overall a special trip.

        Most Memorable Moment:

        Seeing the Polar Bear up close. Awesome!

        We traveled to Churchill the first week of November. Our tour guide was simply the best. His energy and charm made the trip so special. It was definitely on our bucket list and we would go back in a minute. The scenery was breathtaking! It was such a delight to get to see the bears in their natural environment....versus...a zoo.

        Most Memorable Moment:

        We arrived in Churchill just before a blizzard blew in and we were able to see Hudson Bay before it froze....and after it froze. The timing was incredible.

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        Book Today... And Travel Dreams Begin

        Discover The World

        Call us, or call your travel advisor, to book your preferred departure date today – and explore our beautiful brochures to find your inspiration for your next journey.

        About the Weather

        To help you plan your trip, here's an overview of average temperatures, weather conditions, and what you might expect from Mother Nature. 

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        Conditions of Tour

        Take a look at some general travel information that will be helpful to you as you plan your Tauck journey.

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