Polar bear watching in Churchill
It’s not a fair weather activity, watching polar bears. So get your layers ready and think ‘Brrr’ rather than ‘bear’ in most cases. It is, however, totally brrrrrrilliant.
![]()
Best time to go polar bear watching in Churchill
As the song goes, it’s not every day you can get to see the bears having a picnic. October to November is, however, the best time to see polar bears in the totally way-out-there wilds of Churchill, Manitoba, as they cross this vast open tundra where they have spent the summer en route to catch seals. This is because Hudson Bay starts to freeze over, providing perfect perches for seal hunting and winter feeding fests. However, they must go somewhere in summer, right?
The Seal and Churchill Rivers are the summer hangout of polar bears making for a very different bear viewing experience, but combined with beluga whales and extraordinary birdlife, is a wildlife winner. You can see polar bears in the Arctic regions of Svalbard/Spitsbergen and Greenland but these are trips that take place on the water, and you don’t get a chance to be as up close and personal there. On Churchill trips you feel as if you are part of the picnic. Albeit safely tucked inside bear proof tundra buggies, otherwise you would be.
The Seal and Churchill Rivers are the summer hangout of polar bears making for a very different bear viewing experience, but combined with beluga whales and extraordinary birdlife, is a wildlife winner. You can see polar bears in the Arctic regions of Svalbard/Spitsbergen and Greenland but these are trips that take place on the water, and you don’t get a chance to be as up close and personal there. On Churchill trips you feel as if you are part of the picnic. Albeit safely tucked inside bear proof tundra buggies, otherwise you would be.
Our Canada wildlife Vacations
Western Canada highlights tour
Ten days exploring natural highlights of West Canada
From
£1695
10 days
ex flights
Churchill polar bear tour in Canada
A unique opportunity to encounter polar bears
From
£6595
7 days
ex flights
Kayaking with Orcas in British Columbia
Kayak with orcas and humpacks in beautiful British Columbia
From
US $1235 to US $1545
4 days
ex flights
West Canada vacation
Two week wildlife adventure through Western Canada
From
£2675
15 days
ex flights
Arctic cruise vacations
Explore the Arctic: Greenland, Spitsbergen and Iceland
From
US $5050 to US $37995
10 days
ex flights
Baffin Island cruising expedition, Canada
Expert Led, Polar Bears Belugas, Narwhals, Inuit Culture
From
£10850
17 days
ex flights
Canada wilderness vacation, Rockies & Vancouver Island
Experience the Canadian wilderness and wildlife
From
US $6049 to US $6379
15 days
ex flights
Arctic Canada wildlife vacation, birds, bears & belugas
Specialist led set-departure in the heart of Arctic Canada
From
£7995
8 days
ex flights
British Columbia Fall wildlife tour
Combine Orca watching and Grizzly Bears in Western Canada
From
£4895
10 days
ex flights
Johnstone Strait kayaking tour in Canada
Unique Kayaking from our Orca Camp in a Wilderness Paradise.
From
CA $1399
4 days
ex flights
Canada vacation, national parks and wildlife
Beautiful Canada, Mountains to Oceans!
From
£1795
8 days
ex flights
West Canada 17 day tour
Three weeks exploring West Canada from mountains to coast.
From
£3135
17 days
ex flights
Canada polar bears and beluga whales tour
Swim with Beluga Whales and spot Polar Bears in the Arctic
From
£4535
9 days
ex flights
Canadian Rockies small group vacation
Explore the stunning scenery of the Canadian Rockies
From
US $3800
12 days
ex flights
Grizzly bear tour in British Columbia
Drift down rivers watching grizzly bears catching salmon
From
£3065
6 days
ex flights
Canada Arctic wilderness safari, Polar bears & Narwhals
Spot polar bears and swim with narwhals in Arctic Canada
From
US $15775
8 days
ex flights
British Columbia wildlife vacation, whales and bears
Rugged scenery and wildlife of Western Canada
From
US $5149 to US $5449
10 days
ex flights
Arctic wildlife cruise vacation, heart of the Arctic
Immerse yourself in Arctic culture and landscape
From
US $4995 to US $16495
13 days
ex flights
Canadian rockies & Vancouver Island vacation
Explore the National Parks and wildlife of Canada
From
US $3130
16 days
ex flights
Orca family kayaking tour, Vancouver Island
4-day sea kayak & whale watching camp designed for families
From
CA $1125
4 days
ex flights
Polar Bear watching in Canada
Live on the Arctic Tundra among polar bears
From
£8595
7 days
ex flights
Arctic polar bear fly in safari, Canada
Thrilling safari in the middle of Polar Bear Alley, Canada
From
£6545
8 days
ex flights
Mothers & cubs
It is possible to witness one of nature’s most beautiful sights, and that is the emergence of polar bear cubs from their dens, where they have been hibernating for several months since birth, with their mothers. Also known as COY’s (cubs of the year), this is their first step into the outside world, and they will stay close by their mothers’ sides for up to two years as they learn to survive alone. This spring awakening takes place in March, and a handful of specialist wildlife operators do organise trips during this time, staying in remote lodges near Churchill that are close to denning sites. However, these trips only accommodate a few people, and often book up a few years in advance as they are so spectacular. Don’t let that put you off though. It is worth the wait.
Beluga & birdlife beauties
If you go to Churchill to see polar bears in July and August, you will be able to combine it with some beluga whale watching and also some binocular at the ready bird watching frenzies too. Because there are at least a hundred species of birds to be seen here in summer, such as ptarmigan, Smith's longspur, and jaegers.Beluga whales are also a sight to behold at this time, as they gather in Hudson Bay with not only tourists ready to pounce with their cameras, but polar bears sometimes perched on rocks ready to take a shot at supper too. And whatever your mission, it certainly is something to feast your eyes on, with over 57,000 belugas basking and brooding in the Arctic waters at this time. Brave tourists can even don dry suits and go swimming with them, when supervised by responsible whale watching experts, of course. But although summer day are long, don’t assume they are warm; temperatures only stop being sub-zero between late May and early September – with the warmest months of June and July scraping (barely) into double figures.
Our top Canada wildlife Vacation
Western Canada highlights tour
Ten days exploring natural highlights of West Canada
From
£1695
10 days
ex flights
Tailor made:
Everything is tweak-able, giving you the freedom to build a unique and personal trip for your chosen date. Upgrade your accommodation for all - or just part - of your trip, slow down the pace with few extra nights here and there or add a few more active adventures along the way.
Everything is tweak-able, giving you the freedom to build a unique and personal trip for your chosen date. Upgrade your accommodation for all - or just part - of your trip, slow down the pace with few extra nights here and there or add a few more active adventures along the way.
Travel Team
If you'd like to chat about Canada wildlife or need help finding a vacation to suit you we're very happy to help.
The Northern Lights
Churchill is also one of the best places in the world to see the Northern Lights and they are doing their Borealis best during December, January, February and March, into early April. However, you might also be lucky enough to catch them during the summer months, although the nights are much shorter during this time. And also if you are polar bear watching in October and November, as they may start to shimmer around this time.
More about Canada wildlife
Got your heart set on glimpsing bear cubs? Want to see humpbacks hunting for herring? Would you rather be tracking polar bears with the Northern Lights overhead or go swimming in narwhal waters?
Wildlife vacations to Canada explore a part of the world where a cast of storybook creatures rule the roost.
We know that President Trump would agree that Canada is surely the Prince of Whales.
You really do want to be with expert guides when you first see a grizzly.
Vancouver Island might be 500km long, but it has the population of a small city.
Wildlife vacations to Canada explore a part of the world where a cast of storybook creatures rule the roost.
protection
Photo credits: [Page banner: Se Mo] [Best time to go polar bear watching in Churchill: Ian Stewart]
[Mothers & cubs: Mbz1]
[The Northern Lights: Alex Slaven Photography]
Back to the top
- Recently viewed
