Is there a polar bear in your future this fall?

I’ve always wanted to see the polar bear migration in Churchill, Manitoba, Canada. With regret, I’ll be off adventuring in Scotland in October when space is still available on The Great Canadian Travel Company’s fall migration tours. Perhaps you can make it. Hope so!

Better still, if you do go, I hope you’ll share your experiences and photographs in a guest blog. Read on for details…

Every autumn, polar bears gather along the water’s edge near the town of Churchill, Manitoba, Canada, on the western shore of the Hudson Bay, about 650 miles north of Winnipeg, anxiously waiting for sea ice to form. Once the bay freezes over, hungry bears move out onto the ice where they will spend the winter months hunting seal.

photo courtesy of Great Canadian Travel Company

The Great Canadian Travel Company, which has been operating polar-bear observation tours to this area since 1980, reports that there is still limited space left on its 2010 polar bear tours. 

The company offers four programs (with multiple departures) focused on the annual polar bear migration.

1. “The Polar Bear Experience” is a seven day/six-night program that includes round-trip airfare between Winnipeg and Churchill, six nights’ hotel (two nights in Winnipeg, four nights in Churchill), round-trip transfers hotel/airport in both Winnipeg and Churchill, plus services of a naturalist guide and various tours. It is priced at $3940 Canadian per person (approximately $3800 US) based on double occupancy.  Departures are October 10, 15, 25, 2010.
2. “The Polar Bear Adventure” is a similar program that is one night shorter. It is priced at $3690 Canadian (app. $3565 US) per person, based on double occupancy. Departures are October 19 and November 5, 8, 12, 2010.
3. For those short on time, “The Polar Bear Day Tripper” compresses the adventure into a three day-two night package. It includes round-trip airfare between Winnipeg and Churchill, two nights’ hotel, transfers, full-day tundra buggy tour and services of a naturalist guide. It is priced at $1740 Canadian (app. $1680 US) per person, double occupancy. Departures—October 22, 29, and November 5, 2010. Early reservations are advisable.
4. A similar short program but one day longer (four days/three nights) is offered by the “The Polar Bear Overnighter.” It is priced at $2580 Canadian (app. $2490 US) per person, double occupancy. One departure only - October 14, 2010.

Reservations and additional information available from The Great Canadian Travel Company, 800-661-3830, www.greatcanadiantravel.com. 

Source: The Great Canadian Travel Co.