The Kingdom of the Ice Bear! 2012 dates are now available - join us this year in the Polar Bear Capital of the World.
The Great Canadian Travel Company was the first tour business to offer tourists the opportunity to visit Churchill and see these magnificent animals in the natural habitat, and since 1980 we have hosted over 15,000 passengers!
Back in the late 1970s, Len Smith and Roy Bukowski operated the now famous Tundra Buggies, offering trips to photographers to get close up and personal with Polar Bears; in conjunction with Len and Roy we started to offer tours to more conventional travellers and from those days the destination has grown to become one of Canada's tourism icons.
Today we own our own hotel in Churchill, the Bear Country Inn, curiously the same hotel our founder stayed in on his first trip to Churchill in 1978! With this property, and the help of our friends in the local tourism business, we are pleased to offer an ever-growing selection of tours in both the fall polar bear season and the summer time.
The town of Churchill is nestled on the western shore of Hudson Bay about 600 miles north of Winnipeg. Every autumn polar bears gather along the water's edge, anxiously waiting for the sea ice to form. Once the bay freezes over, the hungry bears move out onto the ice where they will spend the winter hunting seal.
Each of our tour programs is designed not only to introduce you to the many fascinating features of the sub-arctic, but also to maximize the time you have to spend in the region. We look forward to welcoming you to the Polar Bear Capital of the World - the season is short and the bears are waiting!
And now, for those unable to join the annual migration in October and November, we are offering tours to see the bears in Spitsbergen in the High Arctic during our summer months. From expedition cruise vessels, we are able to explore the remote and daunting coastline of these remote islands in search of polar bears and other Arctic wildlife. For those who want to travel in the summer time, Spitsbergen Polar Bear tours may be the perfect answer.
Six-day escorted tour to Churchill
For thirty-two years we have offered our signature Polar Bear Experience tour; during this time, thousands of visitors from around the world have joined us in watching the magnificent Polar Bears in their natural habitat. And now, it's your turn!
10 Day Expedition Cruise
Sailing around this remote island group will astonish you. Spitsbergen's rugged mountains, ice caps, glaciers and periodic remains of trough mining and whaling settlements offer a unique arctic experience.
A wonderful way to come north and enjoy the polar bears!
Discover the Polar Bears of Churchill on this exclusive get-away! Witnessing the migration of the “King of the Arctic” is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and this special tour will allow you to immerse yourself in their sub-Arctic habitat.
Eight day Escorted Tour
This wonderful tour to Seal River Eco-Lodge will take you into the northern wilderness for exceptional wildlife viewing, ecological interpretation, fascinating day excursions and delectable food.
Seven Day Specialist-Guided Tour
An expert photographer naturalist leads this immersive journey into the realm of the polar bear, with outstanding guidance to help you capture world-class, close-up shots! Group size is limited to approximately 15 passengers, which allows for optimum photo opportunities.
Seven day Escorted Wildlife Tour
Your exclusive wildlife adventure will take place on the coast of Hudson Bay, within the Cape Tatnam Wildlife Management Area. What will make your adventure so unique is the high concentration of mother bears and cubs in this region.
9 Day Exploration Cruise
June 29, July 16, 2011: Embark on an exploration of the North and Northwest coasts of Spitsbergen, regions by their very nature rich in both wildlife and history. Journey commences and concludes in Longyearbyen, capital of the Norwegian Territory.
6 Day Escorted Tour
Fly to Churchill, Manitoba and enjoy two full days out on the tundra viewing the magnificent polar bears while learning about the fascinating culture and history of Manitoba's northern region. Nestled on the shores of Hudson Bay, Churchill is home to the "King of the Arctic" each fall.
8 Day Arctic Expedition Cruise
A fantastic alternative to Churchill for those wanting to see polar bears in the summer time! From closeup encounters with huge icebergs and glaciers, to the variety of unique wildlife that share this harsh land, this is a voyage of nonstop highlights.
7 Day Guided Tour
We are thrilled to offer travelers an extraordinary polar bear adventure – a stay at the Great White Bear Tundra Lodge, situated outside Churchill on the arctic tundra itself. On this one-of-a-kind polar bear tour, guests remain in the domain of the polar bear to experience sunset across the snow and ice.
Seven-day Guided Wildlife and Cultural Tour
Summer in Churchill is the perfect time to enjoy the roughly 60,000 beluga whales that descend on the Hudson Bay each year. In fact, summer is when the wildlife action is hottest with polar bears leaving the pan ice that covers most of the Hudson Bay during the winter and finding places to hunt along the shore.
