Churchill Summer Photo Expedition

Arrive in Winnipeg and transfer to the Fort Garry Hotel, built in 1913 by the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway. The French-style chateau is still the grande dame of Winnipeg, offering first-class hospitality in Manitoba's capital. Once a fur-trading post and trade hub where the Assiniboine and Red Rivers meet, today Winnipeg is a thriving cultural and commercial center on the eastern Canadian prairie. Gather with your Expedition Leader for a welcome dinner on this first evening of your northern summer photo safari.

This morning, fly north by private chartered plane to Churchill, a remote community inaccessible by road and the gateway to Manitoba's Arctic. Spend the day exploring this frontier town, which lies near the site of Prince of Wales Fort, an important 18th-century Hudson's Bay Company fur trading post. Built in 1717, its remains occupy an area first scouted by Danish explorer Jens Munk in 1619 on his quest for the Northwest Passage. The fort became an important commercial hub and a key locale in the opening of the Canadian West as British and French forces vied for territorial control. On the opposite bank of the river, the settlement of Churchill grew up when the rail line was built to Hudson Bay in 1929, facilitating the transport of grain grown on the prairies from a new port facility.

During our tour, we visit Churchill's Itsanitaq Museum, showcasing the region's Indigenous cultures with artifacts collected from centuries of habitation. We also meet with local residents to gain insight into their cultural traditions and northern lifestyles. These captivating storytellers share tales from their personal histories, offering a window into the enduring cultures that have flourished in this daunting environment for thousands of years. Our Expedition Leader offers an introduction to the natural history of the region as we explore the boreal forest, one of three ecosystems that merge where Churchill is located. This juncture is called an ecotone—the nexus of different ecologically and geographically defined areas; in this case, the boreal forest, or taiga, to the south, Arctic tundra to the northwest, and the marine environs of Hudson Bay to the north. In such a dynamic environment, summer wildlife flourishes, and we go in search of it to photograph over the next several days.

With Churchill as our base, we spend four days chasing photo opportunities on the tundra, river and seacoast of Hudson Bay. On a helicopter flight over the vast subarctic plain, scout for polar bears that roam the tundra during the summer. They are waiting until the cold temperatures of late autumn freeze the bay once more, allowing them to return to the sea ice to hunt seals. From the helicopter, gain an aerial view on beluga pods that gather where the river meets the sea. More than 3,000 of these small white whales congregate in the mouth of the Churchill River each July and August.

During our visit, we make four separate outings to photograph these gentle whales at thrilling close range. View belugas on two Zodiac trips, then meet them at eye level on two kayaking excursions—plus a chance to float the river on "beluga boards," buoyant mats that allow us to capture underwater shots with GoPros or other underwater cameras, while wearing a mask and snorkel. These gentle, inquisitive cetaceans often nudge close to our paddles or follow in our human-powered wakes. With their unusual ability to turn their heads from side to side, belugas seem to be as curious about us as we are about them. Through the use of a hydrophone, we can also listen to their otherworldly songs. Spend time searching for wildlife on land, too, in search of Arctic fox, ptarmigan, caribou and polar bears. At this time of year, it is not uncommon to find mothers with cubs.

The tundra is vibrant in summer, and we'll walk amid a riot of wildflowers that carpet the green expanse with bright bursts of color. At the interface of the boreal forest and tundra, we investigate this nexus of ecosystems that's home to a variety of flora and fauna, exploring on short walks with our Expedition Leader. On later-season departures, when the sun sets earlier and dark night skies return, there's a possibility we could get photos of the northern lights if conditions are just right. Churchill lies directly beneath the auroral oval, one of the best places on Earth to photograph the aurora borealis when it is visible.

Our chartered flight back to Winnipeg leaves this afternoon, allowing plenty of time to do more in Churchill today. Meet a local musher and his lively team of sled dogs we learn about this historic mode of northern transportation, and snap action shots as you ride in a wheeled cart pulled by the avid huskies. Pick up some last-minute gifts or souvenirs on the town's main street, where several shops sell locally made handicrafts from Inuit-designed wall-hangings to caribou fur sculptures. All too soon, it's time to head to the airport for our chartered flight back to Winnipeg. Transfer to the Fort Garry Hotel, where we gather for a festive farewell dinner this evening.

After breakfast, our Arctic summer photo tour comes to a close with a transfer to the airport to meet homeward flights.

Please note: Specific itinerary timing may vary and activities may happen in a different order from what is listed, but inclusions are the same.