Polar Bear Photo Safari at Seal River
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Polar Bear Photo Safari at Seal River
6 nights
From £8183 per person

Price includes: 2 nights in Winnipeg on room only, return domestic flights to Churchill and onto the lodge, 4 nights at Seal River Heritage Lodge on full board. All excursions and activities. 
Not Included: International flights, items of a personal nature, excess baggage and gratuities, and meals not listed.
This Polar Bear Photo Safari takes place at Seal River Heritage Lodge during prime polar bear season in October and November. It is considered a “must-do” photography adventure for both professional and aspiring photographers.
 
A proud member of the prestigious National Geographic Unique Lodges of the World collection, Seal River Heritage Lodge is located 60 km and 30 minutes north of Churchill by plane, deep in the heart of polar bear territory. Set on the shoreline of Hudson Bay it provides discerning photographers with the opportunity to experience rare ground-level polar bear photography in a pristine, untouched wilderness environment. Polar bears gravitate towards the Hudson Bay coast as they wait for the Bay to freeze so that they can begin their annual seal hunt, and our Lodges are ideally located on the “polar bear highway” where the bears travel.
 
You will explore the Arctic landscape daily on foot with professional guides, in search of polar bears, although you may not have to go far! The large picture windows showcase panoramic views of Hudson Bay, and polar bears do venture right up to both the windows and the Lodge fences. Seal River Heritage Lodge is ideally situated for photographing polar bears on breathtaking backdrops of ice and snow. They get an exceptional number of clear nights for northern lights photography, and they also have the highest number of sunshine days on the Hudson Bay coast, which provides incredible morning and evening light opportunities. Wildly rugged and remote, the Lodge allows photographers the opportunity to dedicate long days in the field getting up close and personal with Arctic wildlife in search of the perfect shot. The ground-level photo opportunities for polar bears are further enhanced by the possibility of caribou, moose, Arctic fox, ptarmigan, gyrfalcon, snowy owl and more.
Dates 2023: October 21-27, October 25-31, October 29-November 4, November 2-8, November 10-16, November 14-20
2024: October 21-27, October 25– 31 – Photo leader ~ Robert Postma, October 29–November 4, November 2– 8, November 11-17, November 15-21

Day 1 - Winnipeg
Arrive in Winnipeg where you will enjoy a relaxing stay at our choice hotel, The Grand by Lakeview at the Winnipeg Airport. Meet the rest of your group at an orientation dinner. This is the day that you will pick up winter gear if you have opted to rent items.
Includes: dinner
 
Day 2 - Churchill
Arrive in Churchill by air where you will then be transferred by fixed wing aircraft to Seal River Heritage Lodge. This exciting flight takes you out over the historic Churchill River, and then northwest up the rugged Hudson Bay coast. Keep a sharp eye en-route for wildlife including the ‘Great Ice Bears’.
Upon arrival, your hosts will provide a tour of the Lodge and get you settled into your room. A thorough orientation on travelling in polar bear country will be provided prior to your first outings.
Includes: breakfast, lunch, dinner
 
Days 3-5 - Nature Trekking, Polar Bears and Magnificent Photography                                          
Each morning your guides will outline a plan for the day’s excursion, and after a hearty breakfast, you’ll head out, cameras in hand, in search of wildlife. This safari caters to the wildlife photographer dedicated to documenting Arctic wildlife, up-close-and-personal, so mealtimes will often be adjusted to take advantage of the encounter taking place. Your photos will have stunning backdrops with the sea and/or snowy landscapes surrounding the Lodge. 
Scroll through the day’s photos during appetiser hour before enjoying a signature dinner. Then, top up your wine glass and head to the lounge, cosy up in front of the fireplace and enjoy a presentation by one of the team members.
Bedtime is at your leisure and you can rest easy knowing you won’t miss out on anything. Staff monitor the compound and skies and will rouse you if the aurora or a nocturnal polar bear make an appearance.
Includes: breakfast, lunch, dinner
 
Day 6 - Last Minute Wildlife Viewing
After another hearty Lodge breakfast, you will take the air transfers back to Churchill. Have your camera ready for the return flight as it affords excellent opportunities for great aerial shots.
Back in Churchill, you’ll spend the day with a guide exploring the town and surrounding, learning about its rich history as a seaport and ex-military base. Your tour will include stops such as the Parks Canada exhibit, the Itsanitaq Museum, and the Polar Bear Jail. Along the way, your guide will point out murals that were commissioned in 2016 as part of the SeaWalls mural festival. Before a group dinner, your guide will give you free time to shop for last-minute souvenirs at the unique gift stores in Churchill. Your flight south to Winnipeg will take place this evening. Upon arrival, collect your bags, head out of the arrivals doors and back to The Grand Hotel.
Includes: breakfast, lunch, dinner
 
Day 7 - Depart
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