A group of three polar bears walking toward the Tundra Lodge.
Two polar bears on a riverbank nuzzling each other.
The Tundra Lodge at dusk with a snowy ground and pink and blue sky
A man with white hair wearing blue fleece leans over railing of tundra lodge to photograph 3 polar bears walking on snow below
Group of Tundra Lodge Canadian Arctic travelers in blue down jackets ride in a dogsledding wagon among snow & scrub brush.
View Photos
$10495USD
Starting At
6-7
Days
Oct
Nov
Polar Regions Arctic Land Tour

Tundra Lodge Adventure

Tundra Lodge Adventure is a 6- or 7-day experience based in Churchill, the polar bear capital of the world. Experience polar bear viewing day and night in the subarctic tundra aboard the Tundra Lodge, a custom-designed rolling hotel that offers unparalleled seclusion and proximity to wild bears.

By day, explore aboard comfortable all-terrain tundra vehicles called Polar Rovers and perhaps be inches away from a polar bear below the corrugated steel mesh floors, where the more curious bears often walk. By night, be immersed in the Hudson Bay polar bear migration from inside the Tundra Lodge, where each guest has a private sleeping berth with window through which to watch polar bears and perhaps even the northern lights.

Stay two nights in the town of Churchill for cultural activities and a chance to meet the hardy locals who call this subarctic outpost home. Learn about the historic frontier, once a Hudson’s Bay Company trading post, and its distinctive northern identity through cultural presentations. Meet a local dog musher and his team to learn all about working sled dogs, and ride behind the enthusiastic huskies as they race through the boreal forest.

In addition to the main 6-day itinerary, there’s a 7-day Photography Adventure that focuses on photographing polar bears, with an accomplished photographer as your guide. And the 7-day Tundra Lodge & Churchill Highlights adds the unique opportunity to explore the historic town of Churchill.

You won’t find a more comfortable way to leisurely observe polar bears than from the Tundra Lodge. Enjoy this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity in warmth and comfort. Don’t miss this chance to possibly check polar bears and the northern lights off your bucket list!

Read on for details about this trip, or learn more about AdventureSmith’s Arctic tours, Arctic trips, Canada adventure travel and northern lights tours.



Itinerary

6-Day Tundra Lodge Adventure Itinerary

The 6-day Tundra Lodge Adventure trip is aboard a custom Polar Rover that sits directly on the tundra, offering round-the-clock proximity to polar bears. This trip offers optimal polar bear viewing, begins and ends in Winnipeg, Canada, and includes a charter flight to and from Churchill.

Route map of 6- & 7-day Classic Polar Bear & Tundra Lodge Adventures, including photo departures, operating round-trip from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, with visits to polar bear habitat near Churchill and Hudson Bay.
Read More
Day 1
Arrive Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

Arrive in Winnipeg, the capital of Manitoba. Once a fur-trading post and boomtown for the Canadian Pacific
Railway, today Winnipeg is the cultural and commercial center of the province, lying on the eastern edge of the vast Canadian prairie. Transfer to the historic Fort Garry Hotel, grande dame of Winnipeg hospitality and one of the city’s most prestigious landmarks. Once you arrive, visit the gear room in the hotel to pick up your heavy arctic parka and winter boots to use while you are in Churchill. This evening, join the expedition leader at a welcome dinner.

Accommodations

Fort Garry Hotel

Meals

dinner

Read More
Day 2
Fly to Churchill & Tundra Lodge

Fly to Churchill and transfer by Polar Rover to the Tundra Lodge, watching for arctic wildlife against the expansive backdrop along the way. On arrival, a presentation on polar bears by the expedition leader provides an enlightening introduction to your northern adventure. Dinner this evening is prepared by a professional chef who resides at the lodge during the season. Don’t be surprised, though, if your meal is interrupted by a mad dash to the windows to watch a polar bear lumbering over the tundra around the lodge.

Accommodations

Tundra Lodge

Meals

breakfast, lunch, dinner

Read More
Days 3 - 4
Tundra Lodge Polar Bear Viewing

The Tundra Lodge is strategically positioned at the beginning of each season in a spot that attracts the greatest number of polar bears in the Churchill area. Inquisitive bears often approach the lodge, which features rows of windows and raised observation decks to accommodate your curiosity. Find Ursus maritimus even more majestic up close than you could have imagined. Yet these giant bears, the largest land carnivores in the world, are charming and whimsical. It is a rare treasure to see them in their wild habitat. As you watch them interact, you’ll be delighted by their antics and rugged beauty. You may see mothers protecting and teaching their cubs, young males play-fighting, or massive adults patrolling the shore as they wait for the bay to freeze, which signals the start of their winter seal-hunting season.

The unique location of the Tundra Lodge, combined with excursions in the special all-terrain tundra vehicles (Polar Rovers), affords the best possible wildlife encounters in the region. The small spit of land where the lodge is located often attracts the greatest number of bears in the entire area. The group will typically split time between a half-day Rover excursion trip and viewing bears from the lodge, in order to split the group of 29 into smaller groups. In addition to polar bears, you may see caribou, arctic fox, arctic hare, ptarmigan and snowy owls. At the end of each exhilarating day, retire to your cozy accommodations for dinner and presentations. In the light cast by the lodge across the frozen tundra, look for the illuminated eyes of animals. And with luck, enjoy a rare clear fall night when the northern lights may appear after darkness descends—Churchill has some of the world’s most concentrated auroral activity.

Accommodations

Tundra Lodge

Meals

breakfast, lunch, dinner

Read More
Day 5
Sled Dog Excursion (Churchill), Optional Helicopter Flight & Fly to Winnipeg

This morning, board the Polar Rover, leaving the frosty coastline of Hudson Bay in the distance as you make your way back to Churchill. Your return flight to Winnipeg is scheduled to depart in the mid- to late afternoon, to offer as much time as possible for exploring Churchill today. This rough-and-tumble town was once a historic Hudson’s Bay Company fur trading post, and even today it retains much of its frontier character. A special highlight this morning is a traditional dog sled ride. Meet a local musher and his team, spending time with the enthusiastic huskies before taking turns riding behind them on a thrilling excursion through the boreal forest. If time permits, you may be able to pick up a few northern handicrafts and souvenirs or take an optional helicopter tour over the tundra before you depart. Enjoy a farewell lunch together before flying back to Winnipeg, where there is a final reception before your adventure concludes.

Accommodations

Fort Garry Hotel

Meals

breakfast, lunch, dinner

Read More
Day 6
Depart Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

After breakfast, a transfer to the airport is provided for homeward flights.

Accommodations

n/a

Meals

breakfast

Read More
Details
Inclusions, Terms & Notes

Included

Accommodations in Winnipeg and on private Tundra Lodge; services of professional expedition leaders and assistants; Polar Rover excursions; dog sledding excursion; evening wildlife and cultural presentations; all meals from dinner on Day 1 through breakfast on final day; some alcoholic beverages; cold-weather gear, including a parka and boots during the trip; most gratuities; airport transfers (not including internal air); all activities and entrance fees; all taxes, permits and service fees.

Exclusions

Travel to and from the start and end point of the trip; some alcoholic beverages; some gratuities; passport and visa fees (if any); optional activities; items of a personal nature (phone calls, laundry and internet, etc.); airline baggage fees, airport and departure taxes (if any); optional travel protection and medical evacuation insurance (strongly recommended); insurance of any kind; cost of internal air, which includes round-trip private charter flights from Winnipeg to Churchill ($1,297 in 2024, to be added to your invoice).

Payment & Cancellation

In order to confirm this trip, a deposit of $500 is required per person at time of booking. Deposit may be transferred to a new departure date of this trip anytime before the balance of the trip price is due, 120 days before the departure date. Special holiday payment and cancellation terms may apply. Guests who must cancel their trip for any reason must do so in writing. Standard cancellations are subject to the following per-person penalties, based on number of days prior to departure:
Up to 121 days – $100 cancellation fee
120 to 61 days – 50% of total trip cost
60 to 0 days – 100% of total trip cost

Terms & Conditions

This trip is subject to AdventureSmith Explorations Terms and Conditions. Please read this information carefully and call us if you have any questions. A Traveler Information Form, which includes a release of liability, must be completed and signed by all travelers. Your Adventure Specialist will send you a unique link to complete this form along with a packing list and extensive pre-departure and travel insurance information upon booking confirmation.

Arrival & Departure

The Tundra Lodge Adventure begins and ends in Winnipeg, Manitoba (YWG). We highly recommend arriving one day prior to your trip start date in case of any flight delay, cancellation or lost luggage issues. Plan flights to arrive to Winnipeg no later than 5:30pm on Day 1 of the itinerary in order to participate in a mandatory group welcome briefing and dinner beginning at 7pm. Plan flights to depart Winnipeg anytime on the final day of the trip. If you would like assistance with international flights, please visit our Booking Flights resource page.

Internal Flights

Required internal group flights on Day 2 and the second-to-last day of your itinerary, between Winnipeg and Churchill, are not included in the rate; see the mandatory transfer package information listed in this trip’s Exclusions.

Activities

The Tundra Lodge Adventure is a genuine wilderness experience, located in an exceptionally remote and rugged area that is accessed via a charter flight. Activities take place in this remote and rugged environment with unpredictable weather, so be prepared for a true wilderness adventure. Active days revolve around watching for bears from the Tundra Lodge and possible excursions in polar rovers. A night may be spent watching for the aurora borealis. Other daytime activities may include free time in Churchill, dog sledding or an opportunity for an optional hour-long helicopter excursion for up to 5 guests over the tundra (inquire for pricing & details).

Room Configuration

Single travelers wishing to book a double-occupancy room may do so at a $195 (2024) supplement, in addition to the per-person listed rate in select cabins upon availability. Solo travelers willing to share, please ask your Adventure Specialist about the possibility of matching with a roommate; this program allows you to pay the per person double-occupancy rate whether or not a roommate is found.

Families & Children

Due to the expedition nature of this program, children must be 16 years old at time of departure.

Travel Insurance

Optional emergency medical evacuation insurance with a minimum coverage of $250,000 per person is recommended for this trip. Trip cancellation insurance is also optional but highly recommended. Protect your travel investment with insurance. Our partners at Travelex Insurance offer a variety of plans and policies to fit every trip and budget. Coverage for a pre-existing medical condition is also available if you purchase the Travel Select plan within 15 days of the initial trip payment; refer to plan details. Learn more about travel insurance or get a free quote.

Itinerary Notes

Use the itinerary as a guide only. Itineraries may be altered due to weather, wildlife, national park regulation or at the guides’ discretion. Remember that flexibility is the key to the success of any Arctic expedition. This itinerary has been run over 1,500 times and there have only been a handful of occasions where the polar bears have been missed. Some sightings are up close, other are far away or even from helicopter. It is important to remember that visiting the Churchill area is one of the best opportunities to see polar bears in the wild; however, the experience is weather dependent, which means that viewing polar bears, and the distance at which one may be seen, is unpredictable and not guaranteed.

Polar Bear Season

Polar bears are typically found in the Churchill area year-round with the highest concentration in October and November as the bears gather on the shores of Hudson Bay awaiting the annual freeze-up. Sometimes the best bear viewing is at the beginning of the season, sometimes it happens in the middle, and sometimes at the end. Once Hudson Bay freezes, many of them depart. Historically, this has occurred in early December, but an unusually early cold spell sometimes happens, hastening their departure.

Variable Departure Details

Rates and dates are tentative and will be allocated to guests on a first-come, first-serve basis. Your Adventure Specialist will confirm details at time of booking.

7-Day Tundra Lodge Photography Adventure Itinerary

The 7-Day Tundra Lodge Photography Adventure trip is designed specifically for avid photographers who want to spend their days shooting. With daily Polar Rover excursions and guidance from professional photographers and naturalists, guests are likely to snap once-in-a-lifetime shots. This trip begins and ends in Winnipeg, Canada, with charter flights to and from Churchill.

Route map of 6- & 7-day Classic Polar Bear & Tundra Lodge Adventures, including photo departures, operating round-trip from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, with visits to polar bear habitat near Churchill and Hudson Bay.
Read More
Day 1
Arrive Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

Arrive in Manitoba’s vibrant capital and transfer to the classic Fort Garry Hotel. This French-style chateau is a National Historic Site, built in 1913 by the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway and still the grand dame of Winnipeg, offering an elegant atmosphere and first-class hospitality. Meet your expedition leader for an orientation and welcome dinner this evening.

Accommodations

Fort Garry Hotel

Meals

dinner

Read More
Day 2
Fly to Churchill & Tundra Lodge

Fly by chartered plane to Churchill, a remote subarctic hamlet that was originally an important Hudson’s Bay Company fur-trading post. On arrival, transfer to the Tundra Lodge via Polar Rover—a specialized vehicle built to traverse the tundra—with your first chance to photograph polar bears and other wildlife along the way. Here on the edge of Hudson Bay, where boreal forest gives way to arctic tundra, animals abound, even in the harsh climate that envelops this environment much of the year. Look for caribou, arctic fox, arctic hare, ptarmigan and snowy owl, as well as the undisputed lord of the North, the mighty polar bear. Photo expedition leaders who are intimately acquainted with polar bear behavior interpret the scene. At the lodge later this evening, guides share tips for capturing the best shots of arctic wildlife and landscapes, drawing on their extensive experience in these environs.

Accommodations

Tundra Lodge

Meals

breakfast, lunch, dinner

Read More
Days 3 - 5
Tundra Lodge Polar Bear Viewing

The Tundra Lodge is strategically positioned at the beginning of each season in the best area for polar bear viewing. Every fall, some 300 polar bears return to the Churchill vicinity, waiting for the ice to freeze on Hudson Bay and the start of their winter seal-hunting season. The small spit of land where the Tundra Lodge is situated often attracts the greatest number of bears in the area. While you won’t see dozens at once, there is historically frequent bear activity in this location. By staying directly on the tundra, enjoy ideal early-morning and late-afternoon photo opportunities. Inquisitive bears often approach the lodge at close range, and safely elevated outdoor observation decks provide exceptional proximity to indulge your own curiosity. And the interior common areas—a lounge with sofas and chairs as well as a dining car—have large sliding windows, so you’ll never miss a shot.

While watching the bears interact, be delighted by their antics and rugged beauty. Possibly see mothers with cubs, young males play-fighting and solitary individuals lumbering over the tundra. Combine observation from the Tundra Lodge with Polar Rover excursions to afford the best possible variety of wildlife encounters in the region. The expedition leaders and the entire group may opt to take a full-day excursion together, or the group may split for a half-day Rover outing along with viewing bears from the lodge. At the end of each exhilarating day, come together for dinner and presentations. And with luck, enjoy a rare clear fall night to photograph the northern lights after darkness descends—Churchill has some of the world’s most concentrated auroral activity.

Accommodations

Tundra Lodge

Meals

breakfast, lunch, dinner

Read More
Day 6
Churchill, Optional Helicopter Flight & Fly to Winnipeg

Reluctantly leave the tundra wilds this morning and head back to the town of Churchill. Before departing on an afternoon flight to Winnipeg, have a chance for one more distinctively northern adventure: an authentic dog sled ride! Just outside town, meet a local musher and his team and spend time getting to know and learn about the dogs before taking turns riding behind them on an exhilarating run through the boreal forest. If time permits, there may also be a chance to pick up last-minute native-made handicrafts and souvenirs, or to take an optional helicopter flight over the tundra before departure. Have a farewell lunch together before the chartered flight back to Winnipeg, where a final reception caps this arctic adventure.

Accommodations

Fort Garry Hotel

Meals

breakfast, lunch, dinner

Read More
Day 7
Depart Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for flights home.

Accommodations

n/a

Meals

breakfast

Read More
Details
Inclusions, Terms & Notes

Included

Accommodations in Winnipeg and on private Tundra Lodge; services of professional expedition leaders and assistants; Polar Rover excursions; dog sledding excursion; evening wildlife and cultural presentations; all meals from dinner on Day 1 through breakfast on final day; some alcoholic beverages; cold-weather gear, including a parka and boots during the trip; most gratuities; airport transfers (not including internal air); all activities and entrance fees; all taxes, permits and service fees.

Exclusions

Travel to and from the start and end point of the trip; some alcoholic beverages; some gratuities; passport and visa fees (if any); optional activities; items of a personal nature (phone calls, laundry and internet, etc.); airline baggage fees, airport and departure taxes (if any); optional travel protection and medical evacuation insurance (strongly recommended); insurance of any kind; cost of internal air, which includes round-trip private charter flights from Winnipeg to Churchill ($1,297 for 2024, to be added to your invoice).

Payment & Cancellation

In order to confirm this trip, a deposit of $500 is required per person at time of booking. Deposit may be transferred to a new departure date of this trip anytime before the balance of the trip price is due, 120 days before the departure date. Special holiday payment and cancellation terms may apply. Guests who must cancel their trip for any reason must do so in writing. Standard cancellations are subject to the following per-person penalties, based on number of days prior to departure:
Up to 121 days – $100 cancellation fee
120 to 61 days – 50% of total trip cost
60 to 0 days – 100% of total trip cost

Terms & Conditions

This trip is subject to AdventureSmith Explorations Terms and Conditions. Please read this information carefully and call us if you have any questions. A Traveler Information Form, which includes a release of liability, must be completed and signed by all travelers. Your Adventure Specialist will send you a unique link to complete this form along with a packing list and extensive pre-departure and travel insurance information upon booking confirmation.

Arrival & Departure

The Tundra Lodge Photography Adventure Trip begins and ends in Winnipeg, Manitoba (YWG). We highly recommend arriving one day prior to your trip start date in case of any flight delay, cancellation or lost luggage issues. Plan flights to arrive to Winnipeg no later than 5:00pm on Day 1 of the itinerary in order to participate in a mandatory group welcome briefing and dinner beginning at 7:00pm. Plan flights to depart Winnipeg anytime on the final day of the trip. If you would like assistance with international flights, please visit our Booking Flights resource page.

Internal Flights

Required internal group flights on Day 2 and the second-to-last day of your itinerary, between Winnipeg and Churchill, are not included in the rate; see the mandatory transfer package information listed in Exclusions.

Activities

The Tundra Lodge Photography Adventure Trip is a genuine wilderness experience, located in an exceptionally remote and rugged area that is accessed via a charter flight. Activities take place in this remote and rugged environment with unpredictable weather, so be prepared for a true wilderness adventure. Active days revolve around watching for bears from the Tundra Lodge and possible excursions in polar rovers. A night may be spent watching for the aurora borealis. Other daytime activities may include free time in Churchill, dog sledding or an opportunity for an optional hour-long helicopter excursion for up to 5 guests over the tundra (inquire for pricing & details).

Room Configuration

Single travelers wishing to book a double-occupancy room may do so at a $195 (2024) supplement, in addition to the per-person listed rate in select cabins upon availability. Solo travelers willing to share, please ask your Adventure Specialist about the possibility of matching with a roommate; this program allows you to pay the per person double-occupancy rate whether or not a roommate is found.

Families & Children

Due to the expedition nature of this program, children must be 16 years old at time of departure.

Travel Insurance

Optional emergency medical evacuation insurance with a minimum coverage of $250,000 per person is recommended for this trip. Trip cancellation insurance is also optional but highly recommended. Protect your travel investment with insurance. Our partners at Travelex Insurance offer a variety of plans and policies to fit every trip and budget. Coverage for a pre-existing medical condition is also available if you purchase the Travel Select plan within 15 days of the initial trip payment; refer to plan details. Learn more about travel insurance or get a free quote.

Itinerary Notes

Use the itinerary as a guide only. Itineraries may be altered due to weather, wildlife, national park regulation or at the guides’ discretion. Remember that flexibility is the key to the success of any Arctic expedition. This itinerary has been run over 1,500 times and there have only been a handful of occasions where the polar bears have been missed. Some sightings are up close, other are far away or even from helicopter. It is important to remember that visiting the Churchill area is one of the best opportunities to see polar bears in the wild; however, the experience is weather dependent, which means that viewing polar bears, and the distance at which one may be seen, is unpredictable and not guaranteed.

Polar Bear Season

Polar bears are typically found in the Churchill area year-round with the highest concentration in October and November as the bears gather on the shores of Hudson Bay awaiting the annual freeze-up. Sometimes the best bear viewing is at the beginning of the season, sometimes it happens in the middle, and sometimes at the end. Once Hudson Bay freezes, many of them depart. Historically, this has occurred in early December, but an unusually early cold spell sometimes happens, hastening their departure.

Variable Departure Details

Rates and dates are tentative and will be allocated to guests on a first-come, first-serve basis. Your Adventure Specialist will confirm details at time of booking.

7-Day Tundra Lodge & Churchill Highlights Itinerary

The 7-Day Tundra Lodge & Churchill Highlights trip combines the best of both worlds: two days in the exclusive Tundra Lodge viewing polar bears, and three days exploring historic Churchill with cultural activities that highlight the frontier history and indigenous heritage of the area. This trip begins and ends in Winnipeg, Canada, with charter flights to and from Churchill.

Route map of 6- & 7-day Classic Polar Bear & Tundra Lodge Adventures, including photo departures, operating round-trip from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, with visits to polar bear habitat near Churchill and Hudson Bay.
Read More
Day 1
Arrive Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

Arrive in Winnipeg and transfer to the historic Fort Garry Hotel. Built in 1913 by the Canadian Pacific Railway, this prestigious landmark has long been a symbol of genteel elegance in the heart of Manitoba’s capital, which was once a fur-trading post and railway boomtown. Once you arrive, visit the gear room in the hotel to pick up your heavy arctic parka and winter boots to use while you are in Churchill. This evening, meet for a welcome dinner and orientation with your expedition leader.

Accommodations

Fort Garry Hotel

Meals

dinner

Read More
Day 2
Fly to Churchill & Tundra Lodge

Take a chartered flight to Churchill this morning and board a custom-designed Polar Rover vehicle and transfer to the Tundra Lodge. On the drive out of town, watch for arctic wildlife against the vast, wide-open landscape. Perhaps even get a first polar bear picture en route!

Upon reaching your tundra outpost, get settled in to spend the next 2 nights surrounded by the vast expanse of treeless plain on the edge of Hudson Bay. Enjoy a presentation on polar bears by a naturalist expedition leader, providing an enlightening introduction to the northern adventure. As dinner is served in the Tundra Lodge dining room, keep all cameras ready—you may see polar bears wandering right outside the windows!

Accommodations

Tundra Lodge

Meals

breakfast, lunch, dinner

Read More
Day 3
Tundra Lodge Polar Bear Viewing

Accommodating just 29 guests, the Tundra Lodge is strategically positioned at the beginning of each season in the best area for bear viewing near the edge of Hudson Bay. Inquisitive bears often approach the lodge, which features rows of windows and safe outdoor observation decks to accommodate your own curiosity. Watch the bears interact and be delighted by their antics and rugged beauty. Perhaps see protective mothers with cubs, young males play-fighting, and solitary individuals patrolling the tundra as they wait for the ice to form on the bay, signaling the start of their winter seal-hunting season.

The unique location of the Tundra Lodge, combined with excursions in the custom all-terrain Polar Rover vehicles, offers lodge guests the best possible wildlife encounters in the region. The small spit of land where the lodge is located often attracts the greatest number of bears in the area. The group typically divides up for activities so each guest enjoys a half-day excursion on the tundra, complemented by a half day of viewing bears from the lodge. In addition to polar bears, possibly also spot caribou, arctic fox, arctic hare, snowy owl and ptarmigan. At the end of an exhilarating day, gather inside your cozy accommodations for dinner and a naturalist presentation. And with luck, enjoy a rare clear fall night to photograph the northern lights after darkness descends—Churchill has some of the world’s most concentrated auroral activity.

Accommodations

Tundra Lodge

Meals

breakfast, lunch, dinner

Read More
Day 4
Polar Bear Viewing & Churchill

Head out onto the tundra this morning for a full day of nature and wildlife observation. Traveling aboard the custom Polar Rover, scout for polar bears and other arctic animals. The Polar Rovers are the newest and best in Churchill, with huge picture windows, a slanted front windshield that allows guests to look down on bears that may wander in front, and best of all, a steel-mesh grated observation deck on the back—bears sometimes wander directly below, and you are able to safely see them remarkably up-close! These heated vehicles are large and comfortable, and while they can accommodate 30+ passengers, a maximum of 16 guests or fewer are booked, so everyone has a window seat and plenty of room to spread out and get terrific photos. Later this afternoon, drive back to Churchill and check in to your hotel. Have dinner at a restaurant in town, followed by an evening cultural presentation.

Accommodations

Churchill hotels TBA

Meals

breakfast, lunch, dinner

Read More
Day 5
Exploring Churchill

This remote subarctic hamlet of Churchill, inaccessible by road, was once an important Hudson’s Bay Company trading post, and your comprehensive tour of the town and surroundings includes cultural activities that highlight the frontier history and Indigenous heritage of the area. There will be time to wander the few blocks that comprise the town, with a chance to pick up northern handicrafts and souvenirs from the local shops.

Accommodations

Churchill hotels TBA

Meals

breakfast, lunch, dinner

Read More
Day 6
Sled Dog Excursion, Optional Helicopter Flight & Fly to Winnipeg

This morning, learn about a distinctly northern pastime: dog sledding. Meet a local musher and hear all about this traditional means of arctic transportation, interacting with the lively dog team while learning about their care and training. Then take turns enjoying an exhilarating ride as the dogs whisk you down a trail through the boreal forest. Depending on flight schedules, there may also be time for an optional helicopter tour over the tundra—a great chance to spy polar bears from the air. Enjoy a farewell lunch together in Churchill before the return flight to Winnipeg, followed by a reception and final night at the Fort Garry Hotel.

Accommodations

Fort Garry Hotel

Meals

breakfast, lunch, dinner

Read More
Day 7
Depart Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for flights home.

Accommodations

n/a

Meals

breakfast

Read More
Details
Inclusions, Terms & Notes

Included

Accommodations in Winnipeg and on private Tundra Lodge; services of professional expedition leaders and assistants; Polar Rover excursions; dog sledding excursion; evening wildlife and cultural presentations; all meals from dinner on Day 1 through breakfast on final day; some alcoholic beverages; cold-weather gear, including a parka and boots during the trip; most gratuities; airport transfers (not including internal air); all activities and entrance fees; all taxes, permits and service fees.

Exclusions

Travel to and from the start and end point of the trip; some alcoholic beverages; some gratuities; passport and visa fees (if any); optional activities; items of a personal nature (phone calls, laundry and internet, etc.); airline baggage fees, airport and departure taxes (if any); optional travel protection and medical evacuation insurance (strongly recommended); insurance of any kind; cost of internal air, which includes round-trip private charter flights from Winnipeg to Churchill ($1,297 for 2024, to be added to your invoice).

Payment & Cancellation

In order to confirm this trip, a deposit of $500 is required per person at time of booking. Deposit may be transferred to a new departure date of this trip anytime before the balance of the trip price is due, 120 days before the departure date. Special holiday payment and cancellation terms may apply. Guests who must cancel their trip for any reason must do so in writing. Standard cancellations are subject to the following per-person penalties, based on number of days prior to departure:
Up to 121 days – $100 cancellation fee
120 to 61 days – 50% of total trip cost
60 to 0 days – 100% of total trip cost

Terms & Conditions

This trip is subject to AdventureSmith Explorations Terms and Conditions. Please read this information carefully and call us if you have any questions. A Traveler Information Form, which includes a release of liability, must be completed and signed by all travelers. Your Adventure Specialist will send you a unique link to complete this form along with a packing list and extensive pre-departure and travel insurance information upon booking confirmation.

Arrival & Departure

The Tundra Lodge & Town Adventure Trip begins and ends in Winnipeg, Manitoba (YWG). We highly recommend arriving one day prior to your trip start date in case of any flight delay, cancellation or lost luggage issues. Plan flights to arrive to Winnipeg no later than 5:00pm on Day 1 of the itinerary in order to participate in a mandatory group welcome briefing and dinner beginning at 7:00pm. Plan flights to depart Winnipeg anytime on the final day of the trip. If you would like assistance with international flights, please visit our Booking Flights resource page.

Internal Flights

Required internal group flights on Day 2 and the second-to-last day of your itinerary, between Winnipeg and Churchill, are not included in the rate; see the mandatory transfer package information listed in Exclusions.

Activities

The Tundra Lodge & Churchill Highlights trip is a genuine wilderness experience, located in an exceptionally remote and rugged area that is accessed via a charter flight. Activities take place in this remote and rugged environment with unpredictable weather, so be prepared for a true wilderness adventure. Active days revolve around watching for bears from the Tundra Lodge and possible excursions in polar rovers. A night may be spent watching for the aurora borealis. Other daytime activities may include free time in Churchill, dog sledding or an opportunity for an optional hour-long helicopter excursion for up to 5 guests over the tundra (inquire for pricing & details).

Room Configuration

Single travelers wishing to book a double-occupancy room may do so at a $795 (2024) supplement, in addition to the per-person listed rate in select cabins upon availability. Solo travelers willing to share, please ask your Adventure Specialist about the possibility of matching with a roommate; this program allows you to pay the per person double-occupancy rate whether or not a roommate is found.

Families & Children

Due to the expedition nature of this program, children must be 16 years old at time of departure.

Travel Insurance

Optional emergency medical evacuation insurance with a minimum coverage of $250,000 per person is recommended for this trip. Trip cancellation insurance is also optional but highly recommended. Protect your travel investment with insurance. Our partners at Travelex Insurance offer a variety of plans and policies to fit every trip and budget. Coverage for a pre-existing medical condition is also available if you purchase the Travel Select plan within 15 days of the initial trip payment; refer to plan details. Learn more about travel insurance or get a free quote.

Itinerary Notes

Use the itinerary as a guide only. Itineraries may be altered due to weather, wildlife, national park regulation or at the guides’ discretion. Remember that flexibility is the key to the success of any Arctic expedition. This itinerary has been run over 1,500 times and there have only been a handful of occasions where the polar bears have been missed. Some sightings are up close, other are far away or even from helicopter. It is important to remember that visiting the Churchill area is one of the best opportunities to see polar bears in the wild; however, the experience is weather dependent, which means that viewing polar bears, and the distance at which one may be seen, is unpredictable and not guaranteed.

Polar Bear Season

Polar bears are typically found in the Churchill area year-round with the highest concentration in October and November as the bears gather on the shores of Hudson Bay awaiting the annual freeze-up. Sometimes the best bear viewing is at the beginning of the season, sometimes it happens in the middle, and sometimes at the end. Once Hudson Bay freezes, many of them depart. Historically, this has occurred in early December, but an unusually early cold spell sometimes happens, hastening their departure.

Variable Departure Details

Rates and dates are tentative and will be allocated to guests on a first-come, first-serve basis. Your Adventure Specialist will confirm details at time of booking.

Rates & Dates

Trip Rates & Dates

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Accommodations

Learn About the Lodges & Hotels on Your Itinerary

Lodge
Tundra Lodge

Optimally located in prime polar bear habitat, this distinctive, customized rolling hotel offers unmatched close-up polar bear viewing opportunities and a full, supremely comfortable Arctic immersion.

Hotel
Fort Garry Hotel

This historic downtown hotel in Winnipeg provides a lavish place to relax before heading to explore Churchill and the special polar bear migration.

Hotel
Churchill Hotels

Hotels vary on the Classic Polar Bear Adventure, but all are clean, comfortable and centrally located in the Arctic town of Churchill.

Testimonial

Hear It From Travelers Who Have Explored With Us

"Trip Preparation Was Excellent"

We felt lucky to see the animals we did and as many polar bears as we did. The trip preparation by AdventureSmith was excellent. We have used AdventureSmith a number of times and have been very satisfied with their service, and have recommended them to our family and friends.

Overall
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Accommodations
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Meals
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Extend Your Trip

Additional Travel Options Before or After Your Land Tour

In conjunction with this land tour, the following pre-tour option is available. Contact AdventureSmith Explorations for pricing.

Winnipeg Extension is a 1-day pre-tour exploration including hotel, breakfast and lunch; a city tour with historical and cultural points of interest; a tour of the Manitoba Museum; and a visit to the FortWhyte Alive nature reserve. October travelers will view bison and birds at FortWhyte Alive, while November travelers will have a hands-on experience in monitoring and forecasting weather.

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Tundra Lodge Adventure

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