Polar Bears Holidays in Canada

Where to spot polar bears in Canada

Canada is one of the only places in the world where you can spot polar bears in their natural habitat. A trip to remote Northern Canada is not your typical holiday, but for those that wish to experience it, the journey will be the adventure of a lifetime! Our tours take you straight into the communities of Iqaluit, Nunavut and Churchill, Manitoba. Local guides help you find the bears and give an insight into the culture and customs of Canada's North.

Churchill, Manitoba

Known as the "Polar Bear Capital of the World", your best chance of seeing polar bears is in Churchill, Manitoba. Canada is home to 17,000 of the world's 25,000 polar bears and the biggest accessible concentration of them is in Churchill. Their presence of the edge of Hudson Bay is guaranteed every year as they wait for the sea ice to freeze. Our tours include internal flights from Winnipeg up to Churchill, with stays in the best bear lodges.

Akpatok Island, Nunavut

Akpatok is a very remote, isolated and uninhabited island in Ungava Bay, between Quebec and Nunavut. It is separated from Baffin Island by the Hudson Strait. While you can spot seals, walruses, arctic foxes and caribou, the main draw of visiting this stark landscape is the polar bears. They seek out the island to feast on bird eggs and seals around the jagged limestone cliffs.

Wilderness lodge retreats

Lazy Bear Lodge

Lazy Bear Lodge sits in Churchill, on the warmer south-eastern shore of Hudson Bay - known as the "accessible arctic". It's slightly easier to get to than a few other lodges but it doesn't compromise on wild authenticity. Churchill still inhabits a world barely touched by human hands. The lodge itself is rustic and homely, made from reclaimed wood with a history. With Lazy Bear, we can offer tours to view polar bears (and beluga whales) in their pristine environments.

Tundra Buggy Lodge

How would you like to sleep among the polar bears? With Frontiers North Adventures, we can offer you just that. The Tundra Buggy Lodge is an incredible mobile lodge, located in the heart of polar bear country. The lodge offers bunk-style accommodation, a dining cart, a lounge and a rooftop viewing platform. It's rustic, it's wild and it's unforgettable. You can view bears day and night and sleep beneath the aurora. Plus you'll get to spend time with like-minded adventurers.

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Need to know facts

When to see the bears

You might associate bears with cold weather but the summer is actually the best time to see them. Bears spend the winter out hunting on the sea ice. When the sea ice thaws in summer, the bears don't hunt and instead, indulge in a little vacation on the shores of Hudson Bay while they wait for the ice to return. They stroll, sleep, sun themselves and dip in the sea. July and August are the best times to visit Churchill.

Bear habits and behaviours

It's no wonder that the largest land carnivores in the world are so popular to see. Magnificent polar bears roam the Arctic hunting seals from the sea ice platforms of the frozen Arctic Ocean. During the summer, they can be spotted as they wait for the sea ice to return. Mother bears den in October or November and emerge with their cubs around April, so the summer is a great time to see young bears.

How to dress for the Arctic

The north may be warmer than you're expecting in the summertime, with temperatures between 11°C and 21°C in July and August. Layers are key, as it can sometimes be cool and windy. There can be lots of insects in the summer so insect repellent is essential. Long sleeves and trousers are better for staying protected. Remember, this is the wilderness where there are no billboards, no high street chains and few people in general! Nobody minds what you are wearing.

What to expect

What to expect from the Tundra Buggy Lodge

Think polar bears, think Tundra Buggies. These all-terrain vehicles have become iconic as the transport which lets you come face-to-face with polar bears. The sturdy trucks are specifically designed to handle the challenging terrain of the tundra, making it safe and easy to explore. Tundra Buggies are perfectly protected from polar bears and offer large windows and outdoor vestibules so you can take the perfect photos.

Sleeping in the Tundra Buggy Lodge

Taking a Tundra Buggy tour to watch bears is an unforgettable experience. But rather than going back to your lodge at the end of the day, why not sleep aboard the Tundra Buggy? Some tours let you sleep on the specially adapted Tundra Buggy Lodge. The Lodge consists of up to 6 Tundra Buggies linked together, providing bunk-style sleeping areas (with heating, curtains and charging points), bathrooms and showers, a dining car and even a lounge to relax and learn.

Beluga whales & more

You might think polar bears are special enough, but Churchill has even more wonders to offer. Visit in the summer and you can combine your polar bear watching holiday with beluga whale watching. These intelligent, curious and inquisitive white whales flock to Churchill every summer in their thousands. A boat tour will let you cruise alongside the whales and you can even listen to their "songs". Their repertoire of clicks and whistles earns them the nickname "canaries of the sea"!

Arctic foxes

Polar bears aren’t the only incredible animals here. Pure white Arctic foxes prowl the tundra, their fluffy white coats glistening in the low sun.

Bird watching

Churchill is a world-renowned hotspot for bird watching. There are 250+ species here, from snowy owls to tundra swans to peregrine falcons.

Grey wolves

This region is a hotspot for majestic grey wolves. If you’d like to expand your wildlife watching further, head out on a tour and join the pack.

Marine life

The Hudson Bay seas are fantastic for marine life. Otters, walruses, whales, ringed seals, bearded seals and harbour seals all live here.

Aurora Borealis

Thanks to its location so far north in Arctic Canada, Churchill is one of the best places to spot the Northern Lights. You can combine your polar bear watching holiday with an aurora tour too. As the polar bears gather in October and November, it’s the right time of year for those dark skies and the start of the Northern Lights season.

Speak with our experts

Thinking of booking a polar bear holiday in Canada? There is no greater thrill than seeing a majestic polar bear in the wild. Give our friendly team a call to talk through exactly what you are looking for from your wildlife holiday. Churchill is quite a remote location but we can help get you there easily. We can book your flights, transfers, polar bear lodge accommodation and excursions to make sure you have the best experience.

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