Polar Bears of Churchill
Tour Operator:
Tour Code:
1082
Start City:
Winnipeg
End City:
Winnipeg
Tour Style:
Tour Quality:
First Class
Tour Length:
7 days
Dates & Prices
| Start Date | End Date | Offers | Brochure Land Price | Quote |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuesday, Jul 30, 2024 | Monday, Aug 05, 2024 | Get Lower Price | Get Quote | |
| Sunday, Aug 11, 2024 | Saturday, Aug 17, 2024 | Get Lower Price | Get Quote | |
| Monday, Aug 19, 2024 | Sunday, Aug 25, 2024 | Get Lower Price | Get Quote | |
| Tuesday, Jul 22, 2025 | Monday, Jul 28, 2025 | Get Lower Price | Get Quote | |
| Monday, Aug 11, 2025 | Sunday, Aug 17, 2025 | Get Lower Price | Get Quote | |
| Tuesday, Aug 19, 2025 | Monday, Aug 25, 2025 | Get Lower Price | Get Quote |
Promotions
Save 7% Off this Tour - Guaranteed!
$600 Off Pay-In-Full Savings
$600 Off Pay-In-Full Savings
Promotion Details
Offer valid on new bookings only. Discounted rates are per person. For travel in 2024 and 2025. Cannot be combined with any other offer, promotion or discount. Additional restrictions may apply. Offer is capacity controlled and may be removed at anytime without notice.
Family & Friends Discount: Save $100
Family & Friends Discount: Save $100
Promotion Details
Applies to new bookings only. Offer combinable with pay-in-full discount. Certain restrictions may apply.
Tour Itinerary
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Day 1
Day 1 - General Tours Canada Tour begins in Winnipeg, ManitobaOn arrival at the airport this morning, you’ll be met and chauffeured to the Inn at The Forks. Distinguished by its casual sophistication, General Tours contemporary luxury boutique hotel offers a privileged location in the heart of Winnipeg. Just outside General Tours hotel’s front door, The Forks is a National Historic Site at the confluence of the Assiniboine and Red Rivers. With a fascinating past dating back 6,000 years to ancient aboriginal settlements, the area has witnessed waves of history from European fur traders and buffalo hunters to 19th-century railway pioneers.
This afternoon, you’ll join General Tours in-the-know resident guide for a sightseeing tour of the city. You’ll see St. Boniface Cathedral, a well-known landmark in Winnipeg’s vibrant French Quarter, and drive along Broadway to marvel at the Manitoba Legislative Building. Built in the early 1900’s, the cupola of this impressive provincial building is topped by the Golden Boy, a gilded statue of the Roman God Mercury.
Then learn more about Winnipeg’s long history as you get to know The Forks, still a popular gathering place as it has been for centuries. Here along the banks of the two rivers, not far from your hotel, you’ll find tree-shaded parks, promenades, and outdoor sculptures along with cafes, shops and restaurants – many of them set in restored architectural landmarks. After sightseeing, you’ll have time to refresh before this evening’s Welcome Dinner. Meals D -
Day 2
Day 2 - Flight to Churchill, the Polar Bear CapitalAfter breakfast, we’ll take you to the airport for General Tours flight to Churchill. Set along the Churchill River where it flows into Hudson Bay, this remote and inviting northern town of 1,000 residents is uniquely situated between two distinct eco-systems: The Boreal Forests to the south and the Arctic Tundra that stretches north toward the Arctic.
On arrival at the airport, you’ll be met and escorted to the Lazy Bear Lodge where you’ll find a welcome bottle of wine in your cozy log and wood-paneled guestroom. This afternoon, join your fellow Lodge guests for a Culture + Heritage Sightseeing Tour of Churchill. You’ll see the legendary Polar Bear Jail where rogue bears that come too close to town are safely housed until they can be released deeper in the wilderness. At historic Cape Merry, you’ll learn about the town’s founding in 1717 when James Knight sailed up the mouth of the Churchill River and built a fur trading post for the Hudson’s Bay Company. In the midst of the boulders and hardy pine trees that dot the shores of Hudson Bay, you’ll also see Miss Piggy, a Curtiss C-46 freight plane that famously went down in 1979 – landing in the wilderness, well short of the runway, without any fatalities.
This evening, A+R guests will join a local wildlife and nature photographer for a specially arranged private presentation. Viewing his mesmerizing photographs of the Hudson Bay region offers an excellent introduction to your own upcoming explorations. Photographers, regardless of your experience level, will find his tips insightful and helpful.
Tonight you’ll dine at the Lazy Bear Café, an inviting venue with a vaulted log-beam ceiling and stone fireplace. If fresh homemade specialties like Roasted Manitoba Bison or Braised Peppered Elk don’t appeal, the chef is also well-known for his fine pasta dishes, vegetarian stir-fries, and Arctic Char fresh from the waters of Hudson Bay! During your stay, Lodge staff will invite you to an exciting late night venture to observe the dancing Northern Lights.. Meals B+L+D
The order of your included excursions at Lazy Bear Lodge may change during your stay, but all excursions will be provided. -
Day 3
Day 3 - Polar Bears Capital of the WorldThe western coast of Hudson Bay is one of the best places in the world to encounter polar bears in their native habitat. This morning, you’ll step aboard General Tours Coast Guard-certified, custom-built boat to go in search of these amazing creatures. In late summer, the polar bears are a little bit lazy, gathering on the shore and giving us an amazing opportunity to watch as they lumber among the rocks and wildflowers that dot the shoreline. Often, we’ll also see them swimming in the pristine waters of the Bay. Local conditions permitting, you might even have the chance to go ashore to walk with the bears! With insight and guidance from General Tours expert wildlife guides, it’s not unusual for guests to have remarkably up-close encounters that allow for truly once-in-a-lifetime photographs! Today’s expedition lasts 6 to 8 hours and includes a boxed lunch. Meals B+L+D
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Day 4
Day 4 - Beluga Whale WatchingToday’s 3-hour expedition finds you in General Tours highly maneuverable Zodiacs, exploring the waters of the Churchill River and Hudson Bay. In summer, up to 60,000 beluga whales come here to feed, mate, and raise their young. Belugas are highly intelligent and curious, and they will often swim surprisingly close – as if to investigate General Tours boats and their 2-legged passengers! You’ll also step ashore for a guided tour of the Prince of Wales Fort, built by the Hudson’s Bay Company during the fur trading days of the 1700s. Later today, A+R guests will have a chance to get even closer to the beluga whales with their choice of an included Beluga AquaGliding™ or kayaking adventure:
Beluga AquaGliding™ Adventure: Get up-close with these gentle giants under the experienced eye of General Tours guides. Starting with an instructional session, this 3-hour tour includes an Arctic dry suit and all gear; it is shared with other Lodge guests and subject to weather and water conditions.
Kayaking Expedition: This 3-hour guided adventure begins with a short instructional session. Venturing onto the Churchill River in single or double kayaks, you’ll have a chance to closely observe beluga whales in their natural environment. This excursion is shared with other Lodge guests and includes wet suits, life jackets and equipment. Meals B+L+D -
Day 5
Day 5 - Tundra Tour on General Tours Arctic Crawlers™Today you’ll hop aboard General Tours Lodge’s exclusive Arctic Crawlers™ for a guided tour across the Tundra. With massive all-terrain wheels and large windows that open, these vehicles are prefect for exploring the rugged landscapes outside of town. In addition to the more-famous Polar Bears and Beluga Whales that you’ve already encountered, the lands along the western coast of Hudson Bay are home to many other species - including a variety of migratory birds, Arctic Hare, Arctic Fox, caribou, moose and eagles. Accompanied by General Tours expert naturalists, you and other Lodge guests will spend 3 to 4 hours getting to know the geology, flora and fauna of the wildly beautiful Tundra.
Spend some time with a local resident and dog musher, Dave Daley. In the 1960s, Cormorant, Manitoba was a small Métis community accessible only by the Hudson Bay Rail Line – and dog sleds. They are proud of their Métis heritage and strive to give their visitors a glimpse of the Métis lifestyle. Congenial discussions with Dave promise unique insight into the life, people and traditions of Manitoba. Then ride behind his team of energetic sled dogs—it’s a terrific way to appreciate the beauty of the countryside and to experience a slice of Manitoba life. You’ll also learn how the dogs are trained and gain insight into the local dog-mushing culture. Meals B+L+D -
Day 6
Day 6 - The Life of the Polar Bear + Return to Winnipeg
After breakfast, A+R guests will enjoy a private presentation at the Churchill Northern Studies Center, a highly regarded field station founded in 1976 to sustain research and education regarding the subarctic. This morning’s presentation will focus on both individual bears as well as some of the family groups that come to here to the western shores of Hudson Bay. Delving into the lives of these animals and the mounting challenges they face, you will come away with an even deeper appreciation of the magnificent creatures that you have come to know over the past few days. Then we’ll take you on a tour of the CNSC’s “Green Building” to learn about the Center’s history and its environmentally friendly 27,000 sq. ft. LEED-certified research station. Enjoy exclusive views on the elevated outdoor platform and the indoor Aurora dome, all while discovering the innovative features that permit unprecedented self-sustainability in Canada’s subarctic.
Then transfer to the airport for our flight back to Winnipeg. On arrival, you’ll be met and escorted once again to General Tours deluxe boutique hotel in the historic Forks district of the city. Your evening is free to enjoy downtown Winnipeg as you wish. Meals B+L -
Day 7
Day 7 - Homeward BoundYou’ll be chauffeured to the airport today for your homeward flight. Meals B
[Please Note that all activities in Churchill are dependent upon local weather and water conditions. These included excursions may need to be rescheduled during your stay, but every effort will be made to ensure a complete program as per General Tours itinerary. Local staff, crew and naturalists have the final authority to make decisions to ensure the safety and comfort of General Tours guests. A more final itinerary will be given to you when you arrive at the Lazy Bear Lodge.]
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Health and Safety Protocols for Alexander Roberts Tours
Alexander+Roberts Tours is committed to your well-being and safety while you travel.
- All Alexander+Roberts staff will maintain appropriate physical distancing at all times.
- All high-touch surfaces in coaches and private cars – like door handles, railings, armrests, and window controls – will be sanitized each morning and regularly throughout the day.
- Alexander+Roberts expert guides and drivers will wear face masks whenever in proximity to guests.
- Alexander+Roberts staff have been trained on Extra Care procedures – and how to respond to issues that may arise as you travel.
- Complimentary face masks and hand sanitizer will be available in all vehicles while touring.
- Larger luxury motorcoaches so each traveler will have two seats to themselves while touring.
- Private airport transfers with a spacious luxury vehicle when you come and go for every tour.
- Regular and frequent sanitizing of all high-touch vehicle surfaces.
- Prearranged entry for all sightseeing minimizes standing in line with other travelers.
- Whisper Headsets for groups of 5 or more allow for proper physical distancing while sightseeing, except for certain nature activities in remote areas like the Amazon.
- Alexander+Roberts carefully selects restaurants to avoid crowded high-capacity venues; Alexander+Roberts emphasizes fine farm-to-table dining with attentive and efficient service – and the choice to dine al fresco whenever available.
- No large-group dining; enjoy more spacious dining settings and smaller, well-spaced tables for included meals.
- Restaurant staff will follow the guidance of local health authorities and WHO protocols which may include facial coverings.
- Alexander+Roberts hotels are always selected for their outstanding locations, evocative ambiance, impeccable service – and cleanliness.
- Alexander+Roberts partners include the most respected luxury brands – like Belmond, Four Seasons, Park Hyatt, Kempinski and JW Marriott; they are now leading the industry with their sophisticated hygiene standards and protocols to ensure the well-being of all their guests.
- Hotels will be continuously and rigorously vetted to ensure that they are following established WHO guidelines including social distancing and sanitizing procedures of guestrooms and public spaces.
- Hotel breakfasts will usually feature à la carte service and group seating will be replaced by smaller, appropriately distanced tables.
In a Small Group of Never More than 16 Guests or on a Privately Guided Tour for just your traveling party, their experienced guides have the flexibility to adjust your sightseeing based upon local conditions – to avoid times of heaviest traffic and crowding, for example. Alexander+Roberts can dine in smaller authentic restaurants, minimize the time waiting in lines, and leave a lighter footprint. You'll learn the history and stories behind the world's most iconic landmarks, immerse more deeply in the wonders of the natural world, and delight in genuine cultural engagement not possible in a larger group. It's travel without a crowd.
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Lazy Bear Lodge - Churchill, Canada
General Tours base for exploring the western shores of Hudson Bay is the Lazy Bear Lodge in the town of Churchill. Built with hand tools and hardwood timber salvaged from a forest fire, this inviting log cabin resort has windows that were recycled from an old 1800’s Hudson Bay Trading Post. Everything about the lodge, from its massive stone fireplace to beam-vaulted restaurant, speaks to the history and beauty of this remote wilderness area. Spacious guestrooms have all the modern amenities from free Wi-Fi to cable television.
The Inn at the Forks - Winnipeg, Canada
General Tours luxury boutique hotel is a contemporary oasis located in the heart of The Forks, a National Historic District situated at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers. Here in downtown Winnipeg, you’ll find shops, restaurants and tree-shaded riverside promenades all within walking distance. General Tours hotel offers 117 spacious rooms, all generously appointed with luxury pillow-top mattresses, luxury bathrobes, locally made Riverstone Spa bath amenities, Keurig coffee makers with coffee and tea, and a 55-inch HDTV wit expanded channel selection.
OR Call Us For a Free Quote 1-800-935-2620
Question: How many suitcases can I take with me on my trip?
Question: Is Airfare Included in the Price?
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