Two polar bears standing on rocks near flowers in the Arctic.

Polar Bears and Beluga Whales

Trip Dates: Friday, July 26, 2024 - Thursday, August 1, 2024

Trip Pricing: 

$6,495, per person, based on double occupancy
$8,495 single occupancy

Trip Details & Highlights

Head north and discover the beauty and wildness of Churchill Manitoba.  This small town on the banks of the Hudson Bay is known for hosting polar bears in the fall.  During summer, visitors can possibly spot polar bears along the local shores before they return to the pack ice when it forms in early winter. Summertime is also when the bears share the area with more than 60,000 beluga whales—who come to feed, mate, and give birth in the shallow waters—as well as a wide variety of other wildlife. Come and see this annual exhibition that can only be found here in the Canadian north, and meet the local people who call it home. Pioneering spirits and welcoming smiles are waiting for you.

Trip Inclusions

  • Begin in Winnipeg with a private reception and three-course welcome dinner at Assiniboine Park Zoo along with a presentation on polar bears.
  • In Churchill, stay at the iconic Lazy Bear Lodge, hand-built by local pioneer Wally Daudrich from stone and reclaimed boreal forest timbers.
  • Embark upon two separate water tours of Hudson Bay to see and photograph many of the 60,000 beluga whales that inhabit the area. Keep an eye out for polar bears, caribou, seals, and a multitude of bird species found along the shore.
  • Aboard the Arctic Crawler™, venture out onto stark and beautiful landscapes, stopping to enjoy the scenery as you search for arctic hare, snowy owl, ptarmigan, or arctic fox.
  • Choose between two optional guided excursion activities (additional fee): a 3-hour kayaking tour or a 3-hour Beluga AquaGliding™ tour.
  • Visit Churchill’s Itsanitaq Museum for an exploration of indigenous ways of life while viewing remarkable examples of Inuit craftsmanship.
  • Meet an energetic team of sled dogs and their experienced handler, then climb into a dog cart for your own exciting ride.

What's included: 6 nights hotel and lodge accommodations; round-trip airfare for the charter flight between Winnipeg and Churchill; 6 breakfasts, 4 lunches, and 3 dinners including a special welcome reception and dinner plus a farewell reception; all excursion transportation and entry fees; full guiding services of an Orbridge Expedition Leader and a local naturalist; and all gratuities.

INFORMATION AND REGISTRATION

Contact Information


Luminary Society Members

CWRU’s Luminary Society members may receive additional discounts on CWRU Educational Travel programs. For further information on Luminary Society travel discounts only, please contact The Office of Strategic Giving at 216.368.4460.