Polar Bear Quest & Helicopter Safari

A very important feature of this polar bear expedition is the limited group size. Nature is always best experienced in smaller groups, and it is particularly important on this adventure to ensure that all guests have plenty of room on board the Polar Rovers.

• Trip price includes: Accommodations, services of Nat Hab's professional Expedition Leader(s) and assistants, Polar Rover excursions, helicopter excursion to female bears' denning area, dog sledding excursion, evening wildlife and cultural presentations, all meals from dinner on Day 1 through breakfast on final day, cold-weather gear including a parka and boots during your trip, some gratuities, airport transfers on Day 1 and final day, all activities and entrance fees, all taxes, permits and service fees.

• Internal air cost includes: Round-trip private charter flights from Winnipeg to Churchill (this will be listed separately on our invoicing).

Travel to and from the start and end point of your trip, 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.

Easy 
A polar bear expedition with Natural Habitat Adventures requires very little walking. Travelers must be able to walk up/down stairs. Our Polar Rover vehicles, designed to travel over the tundra for polar bear observation, can sometimes offer a bumpy ride. Travelers must be prepared for below-freezing temperatures and slippery surfaces. During our helicopter journey to an empty polar bear den, travelers must be able to walk for approximately 10 minutes across uneven snow to reach the denning site.

This trip is designed for guests who want the fullest experience of the Canadian North. Included are daytime Polar Rover trips to see polar bears, a nighttime excursion (with the possibility to view the northern lights if they are visible), dog sledding and a helicopter flight over the tundra. During our years of experience in Churchill, we have forged intimate relationships with the local people, including indigenous Inuit, Metis and First Nations hosts who teach our guests about the cultures, lifestyles and history of people who have long been at home in the Canadian Arctic.

Polar bears are typically in the Churchill area all year-round. The highest concentration occurs in October and November. Sometimes the best bear viewing happens at the beginning of the season, sometimes the middle and sometimes at the end—we never know for sure. Each fall, the bears congregate as they wait for Hudson Bay to freeze, and when it does, many of them depart. Historically, this happens in early December, but an unusually early cold spell may occur, hastening their departure.

Meals
Please understand that the meals in Churchill are specially planned and prepared for well in advance. With ample notice, dietary requirements due to serious medical conditions or strict personal restrictions can be met, but must be adhered to while on the adventure. If you have a very restricted diet, we recommend bringing some of your preferred snacks along with the appreciation that certain foods are limited in this part of the world.

In case of flight or weather delays, we recommend that you arrive a day early. Please schedule your flights to arrive by 5 pm in order to attend a 7 pm orientation dinner on Day 1 of your program. You are free to depart at any time on the final day.