Alaska Polar Bear & Northern Lights Tour
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- Testimonials
Polar Bear Tours — Alaska Polar Bear & Northern Lights Tour
Discover Alaska Like Never Before
Our polar bear tours provide unmatched opportunities to see and photograph Polar Bears in the best Polar Bear viewing area in Alaska as well as experience Northern Lights in one of the best aurora viewing locations in North America.
Experience Alaska like few visitors ever will
You will also travel the world famous Dalton Highway of ‘Ice Road Truckers’ fame, cross the Arctic Circle, stay in heart of the Brooks Range in a quaint Alaskan Bush village, see arctic wildlife such as muskoxen and caribou, explore one of Alaska’s most captivating landscapes, visit an Eskimo village, relax in natural hot springs, go dog mushing and much more.
#1 Polar Bears Tour in Alaska
For other Polar Bear tours, please consider our Alaska Polar Bear Viewing & Photo Tour.
‘My husband and I had the joy of traveling with Laurent in mid-September on his “Polar Bears and Northern Lights” tour. Our journey was amazing! Alaska is an incredibly beautiful and vast place, wild and open. Words, photos and video can’t come close to the experience of the reality. If you love the outdoors, adventure and want to visit authentic places, experience firsthand the real Alaska, this may be the trip for you. If you are open and accepting, respectful of others, flexible and adaptable, this may be the trip for you. If you love quiet, solitude, remote locations and the unexpected, this may be the trip for you. We were well-fed and had warm and comfortable beds, knowledgeable and interesting guides, excellent companions and safe transport. If you are not self-sufficient, desire to be pampered, prefer not to share, don’t care for diverse viewpoints or have restrictive dietary requirements then this is not the trip for you. If you can’t cope with weather, insects and the realities of wild, remote places (including lack of or primitive sanitary facilities) then this is not the trip for you. For us, what a trip! What a place! Truly, the adventure of a lifetime!’
Sue Coleman, North Carolina
We ask that you consider the following before requesting to be part of our polar bears tours:
- The itinerary stated is only a sample itinerary that highlights each trip. Each trip’s itinerary is fluid to adapt for changes in weather, wildlife and/or partnering subcontractor’s schedule changes. For instance, be flexible with possible flight delays due to poor aviation weather or mechanical issues that are out of our control.
- Don’t expect five star accommodations in northern Alaska because they don’t exist.
- Be prepared to use outhouses along the Dalton Highway.
If you are serious about joining this adventure, we will ask you to be available for a Zoom call. The purpose of this call is to ensure that everyone understands the nature of, and will be prepared for, this unique trip, and neither party should be surprised by what it entails.
If the above made you pause for thought, this perhaps isn’t the trip for you—we do have other tours that might be a better fit for you, and we’d be happy to help you choose. However, if the above caveats made you more excited, then we encourage you to contact us.
- See polar bears in the best polar bear viewing area in Alaska
- Experience the Northern Lights from one of the best viewing locations in North America
- Travel along the Dalton Highway, an almost mythic road that runs for over 400 miles through Arctic wilderness, and follow the famous Ice Road Truckers
- Discover some of the most dramatic scenery in Alaska
- Cross the Arctic Circle
- Stay with local Alaskans in the Brooks Range wilderness
- Visit one of the most remote native communities in Alaska
- See Arctic Wildlife
- Dip your toes in amazing hot springs
- Visit an ice museum
- Small group of maximum six guests provides for highly personalized experience
- 10 days (9 nights) of lodging
- All meals (breakfast, lunch & dinner)
- All transportation during the tour incl. return flight from Deadhorse to Kaktovik
- One full day and half a day of boat excursions with native guide to view polar bears
- All activities (ice museum, hot springs)
- Professional guide
- Permit fees
Day 1 – Fairbanks
Day 2– Fairbanks – Wiseman
Day 3 – Wiseman – Deadhorse
Day 4 – Deadhorse – Kaktovik
Day 5 – Kaktovik
Day 6 – Kaktovik – Deadhorse – Wiseman
Day 7 – Wiseman
Day 8 – Wiseman – A Taste of Alaska Lodge
Day 9 – A Taste of Alaska Lodge – Chena Hot Springs – Fairbanks
Day 10 – Fairbanks
We ask that you consider the following before requesting to be part of this adventure:
- In Alaska, travel plans and especially flights can change in the blink of an eye, mostly due to poor aviation weather. Weather delays and/or cancellations account for about one in four scheduled flights. When wind, rain, snow or fog delays flights, there is nothing to do except sit back and enjoy your stay. You need to be flexible with such flight delays due to poor aviation weather or mechanical issues that are out of our control.
- You must understand and be willing to accept that weather can and does affect our planned itinerary. The itinerary stated is only a sample itinerary that highlights each trip. Each trip’s itinerary is fluid to adapt for changes in weather, wildlife and/or partnering subcontractor’s schedule changes.
- You should also plan to have some “buffer” days in your itinerary. We will not be responsible for any missed flights or connections. For this reason, we strongly recommend that you purchase trip insurance.
If you are serious about joining this adventure, we will ask you to be available for a Skype call. The purpose of this call is to ensure that everyone understands the nature of, and will be prepared for, this unique trip, and neither party should be surprised by what it entails.
Avishek Ayar, New York
Judith Kirk, Connecticut
Natalie Palmer, Australia
Steve Ihlenburg, New York
“This tour was way above my expectations in every way. If you want an awesome tour of northern Alaska, Polar Bears and the Northern Lights, do not hesitate to book with Wild Alaska Travel. Thanks Laurent for the best travel experience ever, I loved every minute of it. ”
Shirley Scully, Rhode Island
Jeff & Sue Ginsberg, Colorado
Mandy Chan, Hong Kong
Erika Osteraas, California
Julie Williams, New Zeland
Anna Waller, New York
Judy deZabala, New York
Vikki Schou, New Zealand
Vaibhav Joshi, Georgia
Nancy Milner, Arizona
Erina Weissman, California
Xóchitl Patron Hernandez, Mexico
David Waldman & Jantina Tuthill, Wyoming
Tim & Sue Coleman, North Carolina
Urs & Edith, Switzerland
Joyce Crozier, Alaska
Somia Bhattacharya, Arkansas
Viv & Paul Dullforce, United Kingdom
**We only require a $500 deposit per person to hold your space.
WATCH WITH SOUND
Walk with Polar Bears at the edge of the Arctic
The world's first and still only true polar bear walking safaris on Canada's Hudson Bay coast.
Ground-level Polar Bear Encounters
Meet polar bears face-to-face, sing with beluga whales, howl with wolves.
Remote Luxury Ecolodges
Sleep in Arctic luxury beneath a blanket of northern lights at our remote fly-in ecolodges.
- Tundra-inspired Cuisine
Indulge in our legendary cuisine, infused with fresh and local ingredients.
THE WORLD'S GREATEST ARCTIC SAFARI
Small Groups, Big Adventure
Inspired experiences in the heart of polar bear country..
- Nanuk Polar Bear Lodge
- Seal River Heritage Lodge
- Dymond Lake Ecolodge
Testimonials
“ Thank you for a multitude of amazing experiences! The location is magical. It is mind blowing to fall out of bed to see wild wolves and polar bears at the window! The staff at the lodge made us feel like family! And the food…top notch. ” Brenda and Marsha N.
“ Magic is Churchill Wild’s Nanuk lodge! This is our second time with this beautiful family run company. From magnificent food to fantastically educated guides and beautifully maintained rooms, it does not get better than this! Service is perfection, every guest is made to feel special. I’m going home with a soaring spirit! Wolves, polar bears, snowy owls, lemmings, moose – until next time. ” Denae D. and James K.
“ Churchill Wild Seal River Heritage Team, All of you are truly amazing and you and the wildlife have made this the trip of a lifetime! We had big hopes and dreams for this trip that we planned for over a year and you exceeded every single one!! ” Melanie and Susann I.
“ Exceptional experience! Thank you for the amazing tours and terrific food. Thank you especially for the warm and genuine care from the staff and guides. This trip was everything we had hoped for and more! ” Jocelyn and Norm B.
“ Superb experience provided by an exceptional staff and management. It’s hard to imagine a more perfect experience or better-quality service in such a remote lodge. I don’t praise often or easily but you deserve every word. Much love and endless appreciation for everything! ” Kevin M.
“ Words cannot express how grateful that we were able to experience this once in a lifetime trip! To be so close to a mama bear and her cubs brought tears to my eyes! The home-made meals were delicious, and the knowledgeable guides were amazing interacting with the bears! The small group was great company—an unforgettable trip!! Thank you. ” Philip and Christina B.
“ Wow! This experience you have given me has been one I’ll never forget. The sightings and encounters have surpassed my expectations which are high but more over, the hospitality, the guides and staff have provided have been stellar! Five stars! Thank you! Hope to be back real soon. ” Scott D.
“ Thank you for making a dream come true. I have looked into a polar bear’s eyes. Magical and moving. ” Daniela K.
“ Exceptional experience from top to bottom. Thank you for your warmth in this beautiful place – I have loved every minute. ” Caroline C.
“ Churchill Wild fulfilled a bucket list trip and long-time dream of spending time with the polar bears. The wolves were definitely an unexpected bonus! This trip was everything we wanted and more! The staff made the experience even more special! Everyone was so friendly, helpful, and knowledgeable. We felt as though we were in someone’s home. ” Mitch C. and Don S.
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Tundra Lodge Adventure
Trip Highlights
Be with Polar Bears Around the Clock
Scout for Bears from Custom Polar Rovers
Search for Arctic Wildlife on a Tundra Safari
Photo Departures Available
What Makes Our Tundra Lodge Adventure SO Special?
- The Best Polar Bear Viewing Spot on the Planet Each September, our Tundra Lodge is strategically placed on a small spit of land that juts into Hudson Bay. This isolated spot is where the sea ice first begins to form, attracting polar bears at the beginning of the bear-viewing season. Tundra Lodge guests stay right in the midst of the most concentrated polar bear activity in the world!
- Close-Up Bear Viewing from Private Cabins & Shared Observation Areas At the Tundra Lodge, just 29 guests spend leisurely time observing polar bears. Aboard this unique hotel fashioned like a train with sleeper cars, each guest has a compact private cabin with individual sleeping berth and window through which to watch bears (and, if we're lucky, the northern lights!). Large elevated outdoor viewing platforms with steel-grate decking further enhance polar bear observation. At the Tundra Lodge, you won't miss a thing, since you're in polar bear terrain 24/7.
- Exclusive Permits Access the Best Bear-Viewing Area Just two companies possess permits to access the entire Churchill Wildlife Management Area (WMA) where the best, and sometimes only, polar bear viewing occurs. Nat Hab, in tandem with our partner Great White Bear Tours, holds one of those permits. Other operators use school-bus-type vehicles that are confined to the paved and gravel road to Halfway Point—which, as the name suggests, is only halfway to the prime polar bear area. If you're coming to Churchill to get close to polar bears, be sure you get full access.
- Travel with Two Naturalist Expedition Leaders With two guides, our 29 guests get the richest interpretive experience and exceptional personal attention. Our Expedition Leaders' in-depth knowledge and experience mean better, closer and more inspiring encounters with polar bears, the northern landscape and other Arctic wildlife.
- Our Polar Rovers Are the Most Impressive Vehicles in Churchill Our custom-built Polar Rovers have an advanced drive train that lets us safely cruise over the tundra with virtually no chance of breakdown, plus a custom-designed heavy-duty suspension system that steadies the ride over the uneven terrain. With huge picture windows, an angled front windshield (to look down on bears in front below), and onboard flush toilets, our guests enjoy a superior experience.
- Steel Mesh Decking Enhances Close-Up Bear Viewing Built into the rear observation platform of every Polar Rover—and into the platforms that separate the "cars" of our Tundra Lodge—is an exclusive feature that greatly enhances polar bear viewing: grated steel mesh decks that we can see through, enabling us to come within mere inches of curious bears that sometimes wander beneath the platforms!
- The Smallest Groups for Superior Nature Adventures Natural Habitat Adventures is known for its small groups, including the smallest polar bear tours in Churchill. While it may cost us more, the benefits are worth it. Inside the Tundra Lodge, which accommodates just 29 guests, you'll have plenty of room to view bears through sliding windows and ample deck space. Our Polar Rovers hold 30 or more passengers, but we generally travel with no more than 16 per vehicle when we head out on excursions from the Tundra Lodge. Every guest has plenty of space to spread out, angle for photos, and enjoy watching wildlife without being bumped by other travelers.
- Private Chartered Flights Maximize Time with Polar Bears To achieve the most time on the tundra viewing polar bears, rather than waiting around airports and enduring the hassle of security screenings, we charter our own private aircraft to take us directly from Winnipeg to Churchill at a time most convenient for us. We know you'd rather spend your time with polar bears, rather than waiting in airports.
- We Provide Heavy Parkas & Winter Boots for Your Use No need to go spend a lot of money buying heavy outdoor gear you may use just once—we provide Arctic-style parkas and heavy-duty winter boots for your use in Churchill, at no cost.
- The Finest Naturalist Guides on the Planet Natural Habitat Adventures is known worldwide for employing the highest-quality guides in the industry. Our Churchill Expedition Leaders have been guiding polar bear trips for an average of 10 years each. They also receive additional training from WWF scientists. You won't find more knowledgeable guides! These congenial professionals meet you in Winnipeg and travel with the group the whole way. Our photo tour leaders are also professional photographers, with a passion and talent for sharing their knowledge. Our philosophy is simple: a nature adventure is only as good as the guide who leads it, so we provide the best. See Expedition Leader bios and traveler comments regarding the quality of our leaders.
- Our Quality-Value Guarantee Ensures Your Outstanding Polar Bear Adventure With Natural Habitat Adventures, you receive our exclusive guarantee that clearly states that we will meet the high expectations we set forth in our promotional materials. To our knowledge, this is the most ambitious guarantee made by any adventure travel company. Read our important promise.
- Feel Good About Your Carbon-Neutral Journey We care deeply about our planet, as we know you do. When you travel with us, the carbon emissions from your trip are 100% offset—including your round-trip flights from home. Natural Habitat Adventures has been the world’s first carbon-neutral travel company since 2007.
Read what travelers are saying about our Tundra Lodge Adventure:
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Kaktovik is the best place for viewing the polar bears, this fascination King of the Arctic. Viewing polar bears from a boat is your best opportunity to see and photograph the polar bears in their environment in a safe and responsible way. - WE HAVE TWO TOUR OPTIONS, 5 OR 7 DAYS - 5-DAY KAKTOVIK POLAR BEAR TOUR ITINERARY.
Our polar bear tours provide unmatched opportunities to see and photograph Polar Bears in the best Polar Bear viewing area in Alaska as well as experience Northern Lights in one of the best aurora viewing locations in North America. Experience Alaska like few visitors ever will.
The world's first and still only true polar bear walking safaris on Canada's Hudson Bay coast. Ground-level Polar Bear Encounters Meet polar bears face-to-face, sing with beluga whales, howl with wolves.
Arctic Tours. Things to Do. Polar Bear Spotting. Polar Bear Tours. The world’s largest land carnivore, these majestic nomads are The Arctic’s ‘poster boy’ and so often the catalyst for many travellers to head north.
This isolated spot is where the sea ice first begins to form, attracting polar bears at the beginning of the bear-viewing season. Tundra Lodge guests stay right in the midst of the most concentrated polar bear activity in the world! Close-Up Bear Viewing from Private Cabins & Shared Observation Areas.