Polar bears, the only mammal known for actively hunting humans, attract thousands of tourists to Canada every year. Despite being the largest predator on land, tourists are willing to pay top dollar to get up close to these creatures before they potentially go extinct by the year 2100 due to greenhouse gas emissions. With approximately 16,000 polar bears in Canada, Churchill, Manitoba is known as the polar bear capital of the world, offering sightings of bears both in town and in their natural habitat accessible by tundra buggies.
Tundra buggy tours in Churchill, Manitoba offer visitors the chance to see polar bears in their natural habitat using off-road vehicles with giant tires designed to navigate through snow and ice. These tours are typically part of multi-day itineraries that include accommodations and meals, with prices starting at around $1,000 per person per night. While the traditional polar bear season in Manitoba is in the fall and the aurora borealis season is in the winter, Lazy Bear Expeditions is offering a package that combines both bucket list experiences for a five-night itinerary starting at $4,500 per person.
Churchill Wild offers a unique experience with walking polar bear safaris, allowing guests to trek in the tundra while staying a safe distance away from the bears. Safety measures include bear spray, pistols with specialized ammo, and shotguns. Nights are spent at the fenced-in Nanuk Polar Bear Lodge, a luxury eco-lodge on Hudson Bay’s Kaska Coast. Prices for this experience start at $11,700 per person for six nights and offer an eye-level view of the bears, providing dynamic photography opportunities not available from a vehicle.
Canadian waters have become more accessible due to melting sea ice, making arctic cruises a popular option for polar bear viewing. While most cruises do not specialize in polar bear viewing, sightings are common. Guests aboard the National Geographic Resolution had sightings of seven bears, including a mother with cubs. Cruises often include stops in Nunavut and the Northwest Territories, where 90% of Canada’s polar bears reside. Lindblad Expeditions offers a 24-day High Arctic Archipelago voyage starting at $44,339 for those looking for a polar bear viewing experience in remote locations.
For a more relaxed experience, Natural Habitat Adventures offers the Tundra Lodge Trip, a custom-built hotel on monster truck-sized tires that moves to where the bears are located. The lodge includes a dining car, lounge, and outdoor viewing platforms for guests to capture content from the comfort of the lodge. This option is available in October and November and costs from $10,495 per person. Despite the lack of luxurious amenities, visitors have the opportunity to witness the Northern Lights and polar bear sightings 24 hours a day.
