Polar Bear Tours Churchill Wild
We thought we were the cool people taking our third trip to see the polar bears with Churchill Wild. That is until we met another couple from Switzerland who had been nine times a man from China who was visiting for the sixth time. Polar Bear tours are addictive. Once you’ve seen a polar bear in the wild, the experience stays with you and you want to go back again and again.
We have visited Churchill once in the summer and another time in the winter. Churchill Wild has added many polar bear tours to their arsenal with polar bear safaris such as their Den Emergence Tour to see female polar bears and their newborn cubs, the Cloud Wolves of Katai, and the summertime trips to see Birds, Bears, and Belugas. See all of Churchill Wild’s Polar Bear Tours
Polar Bears in Summer
Arctic Gear Provided
Everyone who books a polar bear tour with Churchill Wild is given a parka, snow pants, and winter boots to help brave the Northern Canadian cold. Weather can be unpredictable and it can easily go down to minus 40 Celcius with the windchill. When visiting Churchill for polar bear safaris, it’s important to layer and be prepared for anything.
Make sure to pack, mittens, balaclava, hats, warm socks, and thermal layers of merino wool. We also packed hand warmers and toe warmers which are a lifesaver. We have an entire post about layering for cold weather and you can watch our video from the last time we were in Churchill with -45 degree weather. Read our full article: 5 Winter Layering Tips to Dress for Extreme Cold Weather
Orientation in Winnipeg
After a quick orientation about what to expect on a polar bear trip to Seal River Lodge, our group of 9 people enjoyed a meal together while getting to know one another. It was a short meal though, as flights to Churchill with Calm Air leave early in the morning. Our wake-up call was for 4 am.
Flights to Churchill, Manitoba
Calm Air is the airline that is the gateway to the North. The flight to Churchill from Winnipeg is 2 1/2 hours and it is the coolest experience. Everyone walks out onto the runway where our flight attendants greet us while wearing Canada Goose parkas. No photographs are allowed on the runway, but that’s okay, this is the perfect time to just enjoy the experience. We are heading to the Great White North.
Arrival in Churchill
The travel day isn’t over once you land in Churchill, there is still one more flight to go. We gathered our luggage from the belt and put on our snow pants and warm weather gear to get into a small twin-engine plane that took each Churchill Wild group to their respective lodges.
We took a short tour while we waited for our flight to the polar bear holding facility nearby. This is where polar bears who have wandered too close to town and won’t leave are put in holding while waiting to be relocated far away from the city. You can read all about it here: Best Things to Do in Churchill Manitoba
Churchill Wild Eco Lodges – Sustainability & Responsibility
The flight is about 20 minutes to cover the 60 km journey north from Churchill. It was a beautiful scenic flight where we saw the icy shores of Hudson Bay and some moose running on the land below.
Seal River Heritage Lodge
Seal River Lodge has its own airstrip, and as the lodge came into view through our window, I could feel the anticipation pick up. Will we come face to face with a polar bear soon?
Our hosts and guides were waiting by the airstrip with the last group of polar bear watchers, and as we disembarked, they bid farewell. It was then on to the ATVs to make our way to the cozy lodge for an introduction, some hot coffee, and low and behold our first polar bear sighting!
Once the polar bears take notice of us, they decide if they will allow our group to stay or not. If they are okay, we get to stand and watch them for a little bit before moving on. Our guides never overstayed their welcome, no matter how good the photo opportunities were.
The Reverse Zoo – Polar Bears Watching Humans
Its prime location makes it the perfect spot to watch polar bears. If you didn’t want to leave the compound, you didn’t have to. One woman skipped the morning walks to simply enjoy the views by herself from the warm fire inside. She saw polar bears galore from the windows.
Walking with Polar Bears
Safety Training for Guests Walking with Polar Bears
The walking polar bear tours are conducted in small groups to ensure that the guides can monitor the safety of all guests and minimize the impact on the bears and their natural habitat. We had a group of nine guests with three guides (Boomer, Jess, and Dave) ensuring our safety. Before embarking on any walks, guests receive thorough briefings on safety procedures and we were all educated about how to behave when in the vicinity of polar bears.
Before leaving the compound, our guides Boomer and Jess showed us how to walk in a single file, how to move in a pinwheel, and how to stand once we stopped and they deemed it safe. Each person had to line up in a “V” shoulder behind shoulder so we could spy on the bears while spanning the shortest distance possible. If bears see a long line, they could look at that as a threat. When we walk single file they are not concerned.
We spent 5 days walking with polar bears twice a day. And each encounter was more magical than the last.
Boomer made sure that everyone had good views and always made sure that everyone could see. They were very conscious about making sure that everyone could photograph and see the bears when we stopped, while making sure the group and the bears were safe.
The Polar Bear Safari
After gearing up in our thermal layers, parkas, and hand, and foot warmers, we went into the breezeway to put on our parkas and boots and then met outside in the fenced-in yard to either look at polar bears from the observation platforms or to open the gates and head outside.
There is also a chance to observe other Arctic wildlife, such as Arctic foxes, red foxes, arctic hares, and ptarmigan.
Is walking with Polar Bears Safe?
I would never go out in the wild in search of polar bears alone. It’s important to hire expert guides that understand polar bears and know their behavior. Churchill Wild has established a set of safety protocols and procedures to ensure the well-being of both the guests and the polar bears. We have always felt safe and comfortable on our polar bear safaris and believe me, we have been just mere feet away from polar bears in the wild without a barrier.
Experienced Guides at Churchill Wild
Churchill Wild employs highly experienced and trained guides who understand polar bear behavior and are equipped to handle close encounters with wildlife. Our guides are also trained in emergency response and carry safety equipment at all times.
We had the utmost confidence in our guides. They carry rifles but have never used them. As Boomer said, “It would be irresponsible for us to go out into the wilderness without a rifle.” But a rifle is the last resort. The deterrents that guides use first are voice and sound like banging rocks together and then body language like stepping toward the bear. It is amazing to see how a little sound or movement can make a bear stop in its tracks.
Guides also carry noise makers, but they rarely (if ever) use them as well.
Churchill Wild guides are skilled at interpreting polar bear behavior and maintaining a respectful distance from the animals. Should a bear approach, the guides know how to cautiously manage the situation and use their training to keep everyone safe.
A Day in the Life at Seal River Lodge with Churchill Wild Polar Bear Safaris
At 8 a.m., it was time to go through the breezeway to the breakfast room where we were fed a hearty meal each morning. The chef can accommodate all dietary needs from vegetarian to gluten-free.
After breakfast, our guides Boomer or Jess tell us the plan for the day. While we’ve been eating and enjoying coffee, the staff have been outside on the crow’s nest or looking through the scopes to see where the polar bears are. From their they make a plan on what direction we will walk that morning.
It’s then back to our rooms to get suited up, pick up our camera gear, and put on our coats and boots in the cool breezeway. Once outside, we all leave the gates together in a single file in search of polar bears.
Polar Bears Sightings
During other polar bear tours, we spent a lot of time walking and searching for polar bears, but on this last visit to Seal River Lodge, we barely had to leave the compound. We lost count of how many polar bear encounters we had. But I do know that we saw at least half a dozen different polar bears during our safari.
Seal River Lodge is situated on Hudson Bay directly on the path that polar bears take to go out onto the ice flow. In the months of October and November, bears are patiently waiting for the ice to freeze, while conserving their energy. There isn’t a lot to eat besides seaweed and grass at this point, so they are trying to keep as much fat on their bodies so that they can get out on the ice to start hunting seals.
Polar Bear Encounters Canada’s Best Adventure
We never spent too long with one bear. We always spent just long enough that they were okay with us watching, but we never wore out our welcome. The number one concern for the Churchill Wild guides is to make sure that the bears are comfortable and stress-free. Once they started walking toward us for a closer look or if they showed any signs of interest in what we were doing, our group moved on and left the bear to go about its business rummaging for seaweed or grass to graze upon.
The cub was thrilled to see us and it seemed as though it wanted to play. It kept picking up a rock and dropping it like it wanted us to play fetch. The mom seemed happy to be able to rest while the cub was preoccupied with us. Mom kept one eye on her precious cub while laying down for a rest as the cub chewed on branches, played with rocks, and kept looking at us.
Polar bears live in silence with very little noise except for wind. So the best deterrent for polar bears is sound. When they hear a voice, it startles them and they back away. As Boomer and Jess explained to us, our voices and movements are our best deterrents.
We watched some polar bears try to take a stand and approach the larger male while others cowered away. We saw some have a standoff slowly chasing one and then switching positions while the other chased them back. We saw mom and cub crossing the ice and we saw a young bear trying to figure out how it was possibly going to survive the winter.
The Lodge Experience
FAQs about Polar Bear Tours
Are there Polar Bears in Canada?
Yes, Canada has many polar bears. In fact, Canada is home to two-thirds of the estimated polar bear population which is around 23,000 polar bears.
Is it dangerous to walk with Polar Bears?
As participants on these safaris, we followed all guidelines provided by guides and remained aware of our surroundings. We were part of the safari. The priority of operators like Churchill Wild is to ensure the safety of their guests while preserving the natural behavior and habitat of the polar bears. And as people who have walked with polar bears three times, we can attest, they do care deeply about the well-being of polar bears.
Polar Bear Tours in A Nutshell
Wrapping up your days at Seal River Lodge feels like leaving behind a piece of your wild heart. This isn’t your average trip; it’s a polar bear tour walking safari that invites you into the world of these noble giants at a pace that lets you soak it all in. Churchill Wild has this whole adventure down to a fine art, balancing thrill with care for our furry friends’ home turf. Ready for an escape that’s a tad out of the ordinary? This is your cue to join in and tread softly into the polar bears’ backyard.
Book your next polar bear safari with Churchill Wild. Choose from one of their many wildlife tours here. Polar Bear tours start at $13,295 CAD per person. Approximately $9,600 USD or €9,000.
