Churchill, world capital of polar bears

Bus and special vehicle

• The most amazing concentration of polar bears in the world.
• The land of the northern lights.
• The history of the Hudson’s Bay Company and Inuit civilizations.
• The best place in the world for photography.

Grands Espaces

• An expedition cruise on one of the smallest expedition boats.
• 25 years of Polar expertise, a route completely oriented towards wildlife observation and the discovery of the polar environment
• A 100% French-speaking cruise (passengers and team)
• Outings and conferences supervised by our team of naturalist guides

Your program

DAY 1 | October 17: Flights from Paris to Toronto-Winnipeg

Departure in the morning, and arrival in Winnipeg in the late afternoon. Dining in this sprawling city, the capital of Canada’s great cereal plains, halfway between the great lakes and the great boreal forest. Night at the hotel.

DAY 2 | October 18: Winnipeg, capital of the Great Plains

The capital of the great plains will be revealed notably by its large French quarter (and the Saint Boniface cathedral, the oldest in Western Canada), and its superb museum of Manitoba, and Indian culture, the Assiniboine Park, Dinner in town, night at the hotel.

DAY 3 | October 19: Winnipeg – Churchill

Early departure for Churchill, at the edge of Hudson Bay. Flight to the far north with a small plane, over the endless stretches of boreal forest just interrupted by immense lakes that cover the Canadian shield. Tour of the city, which has been proclaimed for 40 years, Polar Bear Capital of the World. We will see the history of the city of Fort Churchill, its port, and Cape Merry.

DAY 4 and 5 | October 20 and 21: Churchill, towards the bears

Two exceptional days with polar bears in the protected bear management territory that runs in vast tundras along Hudson Bay. We will leave in a ‘toundra buggy’. It is the best way to observe bears in their natural environment. Each vehicle is a 30-seat bus equipped with oversized wheels in order not to damage the tundra, an indoor heating, partially defrosted windows opening. On the back, an open platform welcomes photographers.

Our goal will obviously be the observation and photography of bears, but also of tundra wildlife: owls, foxes… Lunch with picnics and drinks, while outside the bears prowl… Many explanations will obviously be given according to the routes that will take us far from the city. In the evening and if the sky permits, bus tour for observation of the northern lights.

DAY 6 | October 22: Churchill

For those who wish, we will leave under the guidance of a musher for a sled excursion pulled by dogs: the opportunity to familiarize yourself with these extraordinary crews of the Great North; if the snow was not at the rendezvous, the dogs will then take you in wheeled karts. The mushers will also share their polar stories between two hot chocolates and the local bannock. A morning that better than many conferences, will make you feel and experience the Canadian North of explorers and trappers. Visit to the Parks Canada information center, where we will see a film about Indian history and the fur trade of the Hudson’s Bay Company (founded by 2 French people!). Late afternoon lectures and free time for local “shopping”: this bear capital has many shops full of distinctive souvenirs. Passage at the hotel, then board the evening flight to Winnipeg.

DAY 7 | 23 and 24 October: return flight

Arrival in the morning. Morning in Winnipeg and transfer to the airport for the flight to Montreal then Paris.

©Photos-Grands Espaces

Accommodation hotels Churchill and Winnipeg– Price

Double room