Polar Bear Tundra Tour

Experience a once in a lifetime, one-day, all-inclusive excursion from either Edmonton, Calgary or Saskatoon to the remote northern seaport of Churchill, Manitoba to witness polar bears Polar Bear swimming in their natural environment.

Itinerary

We will depart Calgary, Edmonton and Saskatoon by chartered jet at approximately 6:30 a.m. to maximize our polar bear viewing time in Churchill.

Enroute to Churchill you will be served an in-flight breakfast while listening to a naturalist speaker entertain you with fascinating facts about the polar bears. Once we have descended upon Churchill our group will board buses and head directly for the Tundra Buggies for a 5  hour guided excursion.  A hearty lunch will be served on-board the Tundra Buggies.

While on the northern Tundra, we will find ourselves among the great white polar bears. The day will conclude with a stop in historic Churchill, leaving time for souvenir shopping.

We will then board our aircraft and be served an in-flight dinner. Our flight will arrive back to either Edmonton, Calgary or Saskatoon at approximately 8:00 p.m.

Price Per Person for Fall 2010

• $1,489, plus $204.91 tax and surcharge, per person
  
• A $30 discount will be applied for payment by cheque, rather than credit card
  

• 5 hour guided Tundra Buggy® tour for premium polar bear viewing in Churchill, Manitoba (includes lunch on the Tundra Buggy®)
• Round trip airfare to Churchill, Manitoba from Calgary or Edmonton, Alberta or Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
  
• Baggage handling
• Experienced and professional tour guides and in-flight crew
• In-flight food and beverage (breakfast and dinner)
• In-flight hospitality services such as pillows and blankets
• Ground transfers in Churchill, Manitoba

About Churchill, Manitoba

Churchill, a small town of just under 1,000 residents, is located on the western shore of Hudson Bay. Some of the town's most famous inhabitants are polar bears, this of course leading to its famous nickname, Polar Bear Capital of the World. Humans first arrived in Churchill around 1000 A.D. (the Thule Peoples) with the first Europeans arriving around the 1600's with promises of the fur trade. Churchill has now evolved from an industrial fur trading centre to a ecotourism driven community.


About the Tundra Buggy® Adventure

Since 1979 the Tundra Buggy® Adventure company has been providing memorable polar bear tours at their Churchill location. Guests are able to experience great white polar bears up close and personal. Cameras are a must for this thrilling experience.

www.TundraBuggy.com

Accomodation Info

We are pleased to have the following hotel partners in our 2007 Polar Bear Tour departure cities:

Edmonton, Alberta: Executive Royal Inn

If you require hotel nights at our departure cities, please contact us.

Our Tour Naturalist

Your Polar Bear Tour Naturalist - Les Stegenga

Les began his career in wildlife biology after graduating from Trent University with a BSc. in 1979.

His first job took him to Churchill, Manitoba where he studied polar bears.

From the Arctic he moved to western Canada and for 8 years, during the summer, researched grizzly and black bears along the eastern slopes of the Rockies.

In the winter months he studied moose, bighorn sheep and cougars.

In 1988 Les joined the Calgary Zoo and is now one of the senior keepers responsible for its gorilla troop.

His passion for wildlife and unique cultures has taken Les around the world. Through the Zoo's eco-safari education program he has lead ten trips to Africa and two to China and in the New Year is going to the Galapagos and the Amazon.

In 2005 and 2006, Les was thrilled to return to Churchill and the polar bears as a naturalist guide with Classic Canadian Tours.

Les will be joining us once again this year for all five polar bear departures.

Transportation Info

Aircraft

The aircraft chartered for the Polar Bear Tundra Tour is a 120 seat, Boeing 737-200 jet, owned and operated by Air North.  Please see Air North's web-site for more information regarding the aircraft type.

The Boeing 737 has a three seat aisle three seat configuration.  Guests traveling in pairs will be seated together in a window and centre seat, or aisle seats across from each other. As guests check-in, seats will be assigned on a first come, first serve basis. We will do our best to accommodate guest special requests wherever possible.

Tundra Buggy

Our Tundra Buggies are operated by Tundra Buggy Adventure Company based in Churchill, Manitoba.

We will be using three Tundra Buggy's per departure each having a seating capacity of 40 people.  Buggy assignment will be completed at the Buggy launch area prior to departing for the tundra.

Note: Unfortunately, in some instances we may not be able to seat guests as requested.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Classic Canadian Tours provide travel insurance?

Classic Canadian Tours provides travel insurance through our travel insurance partner - AIG Travel Guard. It is strongly recommended that travel insurance be purchased. To purchase travel insurance online please click here. Alternatively, we recommend you consult with your travel agent regarding travel insurance options.

Are meals included during flight and Tundra Buggy excursion?

Yes. You will be served breakfast during the flight to Churchill, a lunch will be served on the Tundra Buggy® and dinner will be served on the return flight home. If you have any food allergies and/or special dietary meal requirments, please be make sure to contact us at least one week prior to the flight, plus notify your flight attendant when meals are served during the flight. We also suggest bringing a snack.

Where do we check-in for the flights?

• Edmonton: Check-in will be at the Air North, Yukon's Airline counter in the Edmonton International Airport (YEG) Terminal - Domestic Departures level.
• Calgary: Check-in will be at the North Cariboo Private Departure Lounge, located at 600 Palmer Road NE, Calgary. A map will be provided prior to departure.
• Saskatoon: Check-in will be at the Air North, Yukon's Airline counter in the Saskatoon International Airport (YXE) Terminal - Domestic Departures level.

How are my tour payments protected?

Payments and deposits will be handled by Classic Canadian Tours or your selected travel professional. They/We are responsible under jurisdictional law to appropriately handle the payments.

What are some of the things I should pack for this trip?

To help ensure a more memorable journey, here are some suggested items to bring:

• Camera
• Sun glasses
• Binoculars
• Jacket, gloves, scarf, toque
• Walking shoes, winter boots or hiking boots with good traction
• Comfortable clothing for exploring and in-flight travel
• Backpack or light weight carry-on-bag with shoulder strap

What are the advantages of travel by jet?

The non-stop jet flight allows for a seamless travel experience without circuitous routings or connections.

What are the luggage allowances?

Guests are welcome to bring two carry-on bags (total of 22kgs).

What are the average temperatures in Churchill during October and November?

Temperature in Degrees Celsius:

• October: 0
• November: -9

What Time Zone is Churchill, Manitoba in?

Churchill is in the Central Standard Time Zone (CST). When times are referenced in any collateral it is referring to the local time of that particular destination.

Who are our in-flight crewmembers?

The in-flight crew will be a highly experienced team consisting of two pilots and three flight attendants. In addition, there will be one Classic Canadian Tours representative and a naturalist aboard the flight.

At check-in and boarding you will be greeted by Air North, Yukon's Airline staff and your Classic Canadian Tours representative.

Who owns and operates the exclusive jet?

The exclusive Boeing 737-200 jets chartered by Classic Canadian Tours for the Polar Bear Tundra Tour are owned and operated by Air North, Yukon's Airline.