Lazy Bear Lodge | Credit: Travel Manitoba
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Polar Bear Expedition
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Lazy Bear Lodge | Credit: Travel Manitoba
Churchill | Credit: Travel Manitoba
Polar Bear | Credit: Churchill Wild
Hudson Bay | Credit: Travel Manitoba
Churchill Polar Bear | Credit: Travel Manitoba
Winnipeg | Credit: Travel Manitoba
Winnipeg | Credit: Travel Manitoba
Canada

Polar Bear Expedition (Tour code: 11861)

Starts and Ends
in Winnipeg
Travel Periods
08 Oct 24 - 11 Nov 24
Experience
Travel Style
Independent Holiday Packages
Experience Arctic Wildlife up close, whilst staying in the only authentic northern wilderness lodge in Churchill.

Highlights

Round-trip scenic airfare between Winnipeg and Churchill

Enjoy a custom-built Arctic Crawler™ tundra vehicle to spot Wildlife

Learn about the local heritage of this remote community

Dog Mushing experience including an approximate 1 mile experiential ride

6 days
From
AUD 11,525
per person, twin share
Travelling with kids? Read more 
All services are subject to availability.

Overview

Prepare to be Wowed! You will spend two days on the tundra. With equal access in the Churchill Wildlife Management Area and the opportunity to explore various areas, Lazy Bear Expeditions provides you with the best viewing experience.

Each day you’ll explore the Churchill Wildlife Management Area and other viewing areas as opportunities arise, observing the Polar Bear up close and personal. Along the way, look for Arctic Fox, Arctic Hare, Camouflaged Ptarmigan and other wildlife. You’ll also have a Dog Mushing experience and a Cultural and Heritage Tour of historic Churchill, Manitoba. After your day’s adventures, you’ll return home to our cozy wood-fire heated log lodge, sumptuous local cuisine at our Lazy Bear Café, and your warm room with comfy beds and all the modern amenities.

You will head out on the tundra in our brand new custom built, state of the art Arctic Crawler™ tundra vehicle, with all the modern amenities including USB ports, to where the Polar Bears gather in anticipation of the winter ice pack forming on the Hudson Bay.

During your stay at the Lodge, the Churchill Heritage Tour takes you to Churchill and the surrounding area. You will explore the various historic sites including Cape Merry, the Polar Bear Holding Facility, the famous plane crash site of “Miss Piggy”, and many other historic spots that make Churchill the town it is today.

Your Dog Mushing experience includes an approximate 1 mile experiential ride. The ride will be on sleds if there is snow, and on wheels if there is none. Since the dogs love to run, either ride will be exhilarating! Learn about how the dogs are trained plus hear many entertaining stories. In a warm cabin, enjoy a hot beverage and bannock while waiting for your ride.
 

Inclusions

2 nights in Winnipeg at the Grand Winnipeg Airport Hotel
3 nights in Churchill at Lazy Bear Lodge
Round-trip air between Winnipeg and Churchill
Transfers on arrival and departure in Churchill
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner included at the Lazy Bear Café
Churchill Heritage Tour
2 Arctic Crawler™ Excursions
Dog Mushing Experience
Naturalist Tour Guide in Churchill
Luggage handling in Churchill

Day 1 Winnipeg Airport Winnipeg

Transfer from Winnipeg Airport to Grand Winnipeg Airport hotel on arrival. The afternoon is at your leisure.

Overnight in Winnipeg at the Grand Winnipeg Airport Hotel.

Winnipeg Airport → Winnipeg
Winnipeg | Credit: Travel Manitoba

Day 2 Winnipeg Churchill

After breakfast, a group transfer will take you to the airport for your flight to Churchill. A Lazy Bear Lodge guide will meet you upon arrival at Churchill Airport and escort you to the lodge. Check in and meet your hosts before resting up for your days of adventure ahead. 

Overnight stay at Lazy Bear Lodge.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Winnipeg → Churchill
Lazy Bear Lodge

Day 3 Churchill

After breakfast, board the custom-built Arctic Crawler™ tundra vehicle, taking you into the Churchill Wildlife Management Area. You will head to the tundra where the bears wait for the winter icepack to freeze on the Hudson Bay. Curious and far from shy, the bears will sometimes come right alongside the vehicles to sneak a peek at their visitors. 

Overnight stay at Lazy Bear Lodge.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Churchill
Credit: Travel Manitoba

Day 4 Churchill

Today, embark on a Churchill Heritage Tour and the surrounding area where you will be exploring various historic sites. These include Cape Merry, an outside tour of the polar bear holding facility and many other points of interest. In the evening, a dog mushing experience takes you on an a 1.6 km / 1 mile sled ride behind a team of dogs – on snow, or by wheeled cart if the ground is bare. Since the dogs love to run, either ride will be exhilarating! You will be treated to local stories and learn how the dogs are trained.

Overnight stay at Lazy Bear Lodge.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Churchill
Credit: Travel Manitoba

Day 5 Churchill Winnipeg

After breakfast, begin the day with a fascinating Parks Canada Interpretative Presentation, vividly describing the history and geography of the area. Following the presentation, board the Arctic Crawler™ for a final visit to the kings of the north! Afterwards, the lodge shuttle takes you to Churchill Airport for your return flight to Winnipeg. Upon arrival in Winnipeg, Lazy Bear Expeditions will provide a charter bus to the Grand Winnipeg Airport Hotel (located across the street and to the right of the airport).

Overnight in Winnipeg at the Grand Winnipeg Airport Hotel.

Breakfast, Lunch
Churchill → Winnipeg
Churchill | Credit: Travel Manitoba

Day 6 Winnipeg Winnipeg Airport

After breakfast, check out from your hotel and transfer independently to the Winnipeg International airport for your return flight. 

Breakfast
Winnipeg → Winnipeg Airport
Winnipeg | Credit: Travel Manitoba

Accommodation

The Grand Winnipeg Airport Hotel

Winnipeg
Just steps away, we’re across the street and to the right of the airport terminal James A. Richardson International Airport – YWG.
Every room features a Keurig coffee machine with complimentary Starbucks coffee pods, a 46 inch LED Samsung Smart TV with 20 HD Channels, mini-fridge, complimentary Vivreau water in a designer glass bottle, and washrooms designed with a day at the spa in mind. The Blue Marble is the in-house restaurant and it is opened for lunch and dinner. 

Lazy Bear Lodge

Churchill
At Lazy Bear Lodge, the thrill of the arctic doesn't end when you return to the Lodge. That's because the Lodge itself is an authentic northern wonder! This is no regular log cabin. The timber was reclaimed from a fire in the boreal forest. Using hand tools, the logs fit together so well as to appear as if they were melted into each other. The windows were recycled from an 1800's Hudson Bay Trading Post, and if you look closely, you'll see the characteristic wave of the old glass.Come inside and feel the warmth of the massive stone fireplace, crafted from a 20,000 pound block of stone and mortar

Additional information

Official language
French & English
Local currency
Canadian Dollars

2024 Departures

October - 8, 15, 18, 21, 24, 30
November - 2, 5, 8, 11

  • Please note that this product is not part of our flexible booking policy as the supplier terms and conditions apply. Our team will advise of the exact booking conditions at the time of booking.
  • Please note that the tour schedule is subject to change based on weather or other circumstances beyond the supplier’s control.
  • It is important to bring warm layered clothing such as snug but comfortable fitting windproof outerwear with an attached hood or very warm hat, a pair of ski or wind pants, long underwear, as well as a fleece jacket and/or sweater.

Excluded

  • International airfares and taxes
  • Domestic airfares and taxes, unless otherwise specified in our holiday package
  • Visa expenses, processing and issuance fees
  • Meals other than as specified in our holiday package
  • Travel Insurance or expenses of a personal nature (mini-bar, phone call, laundry, etc.),
  • Tips or gratuities to guides, drivers, porters, hotel, restaurant or boat staff, etc.
  • Or any other travel expense that has not been included in our holiday package

FAQs

Who are Entire Travel Group?

Welcome to Entire Travel Group. We offer exceptional travel experiences across our extensive range of Entire Holiday Packages, Entire Group Journeys, Entire Rail Journeys, and Entire Cruise Journeys. With our industry-leading Peace of Mind Booking Plan, you can Book Now with flexibility and confidence.

Entire Travel Group is celebrating over 50 years of passionately delivering unique and memorable travel experiences. We are an Australian, family-owned, award-winning business with a friendly team ready to match your expectations to the perfect holiday experience.

Entire Travel Group used to be known by the individual brands shown in the footer of the website. The company has not changed, but we have amalgamated under one brand - Entire Travel Group.

For more details please visit - About Us | Entire Travel Group

Is Entire Travel Group Australian owned and operated?

Entire Travel Group is proudly Australian family owned and operated and as it stands today represents 50 years of experience, progress, and evolution. We proudly support the community with our long-term commitment to many important charity organisations. We were awarded the best operator in our class at the most recent National Travel Industry Awards.

Is Entire Travel Group industry accredited?

Entire Travel Group is both ATAS and CATO Accredited. ATAS is actively administered by the Australian Travel Industry Association (ATIA). The Council of Australian Tour Operators (CATO) is the trade association representing the land supply sector of the Australian Travel Industry.

Does Entire Travel Group have industry awards?

Entire Travel Group was honoured at the 2023 National Travel Industry Awards with Most Oustanding Wholesaler - Product / Service.

As our team works tirelessly to deliver exceptional holiday experiences, it was exciting to have this acknowledged with the highest recognition. The award is also a testament to the quality of our partners around the globe, and we take this opportunity to thank them for their tremendous support of our customers.

Are the Entire Travel Group holiday packages exclusive?

In some cases, we are the sole representative in Australia for the overseas travel operator. In other circumstances the product developed has been exclusively built for Entire Travel Group and can’t be found elsewhere.

What’s unique about Entire Travel Group Holiday Packages?

  • They are not group tours with set departures - they are pre-designed, purpose built, independent holiday packages full of unique and memorable experiences.
  • Our holiday packages have been exclusively built for us in collaboration with our handpicked suppliers, who also offer full on-ground support for the clients.
  • We are offering unique travel experiences which cannot be found elsewhere.
  • Many packages include our “Freedom of Choice” options which allow you to tailor the holiday experience. Like a sommelier matching wine to a meal, we have used our experience to carefully select and offer the right experiences in each location.
  • They include our Peace of Mind Booking Plan.
  • A wide selection of our packages are compliant with the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) Covid Safe Travels.

Our motto for Independent Holiday Packages is start your holiday when and with who you want!

Our Independent Holiday Packages are NOT group tours with set departure dates. Group Tours have specific set departure dates, and of course, you are travelling with unknown passengers in a coach. These tours are great for certain travellers and there are many reputable tour operators providing a wide range of options around the world.

At Entire Travel Group, our focus is Independent Holiday Packages. Available daily, they are pre-designed, purpose built, packaged itineraries full of memorable experiences delivered by our hand-picked local partners.

Our holidays suit every demographic, from couples to singles, to retirees to families and everyone else in between.

Why travel with Entire Travel Group?

Of Entire Travel Group's attributes, we have settled on "When Experience Matters" as the quality we believe adds the most value to our customers. We have the experience to ensure your itinerary makes the dream holiday possible. Our continually enhanced technology allows our team to provide a quality customer service experience, and our partnerships with outstanding operators ensure we are confident of the on-ground experience for our customers.

For more details please visit - About Us | Entire Travel Group

How does the Peace of Mind Booking Plan work?

Our Peace of Mind Booking Plan allows you to book with confidence in the new international travel environment. With low deposits, a cooling off period and a flexibility period where you can cancel and rebook later, we really do have you covered.

For more details please visit - Peace of Mind Booking Plan | Entire Travel Group

Is there a cooling-off period?

Look for packages with our Peace of Mind Booking Plan logo on the website.

  • We understand that occasionally plans may change, so we give you the confidence to proceed with a cooling off period.
  • You may cancel for any reason within 7 days, where you will receive a 100% refund of your $100 per person deposit.

For more details please visit - Peace of Mind Booking Plan | Entire Travel Group

What is Freedom of Choice?

At Entire Travel Group we understand that our customers have their own personal tastes and interests - so throughout our packages look for “Freedom of Choice” which gives you the ability to tailor your holiday from the various experiences offered on selected days. Like a sommelier matching wine to a meal, we have used our experience to carefully select and offer the right experiences in each location.

The Freedom of Choice options are included in the package price, and the price remains the same regardless of the choice you make on each day.

Our Freedom of Choice program offers flexibility, by allowing you to choose from different options on pre-selected days in the itinerary.

  • Our per person price includes one tour on each Freedom of Choice day in the itinerary.
  • The price of the package remains the same regardless of the choice you make on each day.

For more details please visit - Freedom of Choice | Entire Travel Group

What is Book Now?

Book Now offers you the ability to make a reservation on our website for Holiday Packages that include our Peace of Mind Booking Plan. But it’s not just a static offer – you have complete flexibility from travel dates, passenger numbers, single supplements, room upgrades, optional extras, flexible booking terms and more.

  • Our team will contact our overseas suppliers and confirm all arrangements.
  • A Confirmation from our reservation system will be sent in the coming days.
  • The Booking Number on this confirmation supersedes the website reference.

What forms of payment can be used at Entire Travel Group?

  • To confirm a booking using our on-line Book Now process, a credit card must be used to pay the refundable deposit.
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  • For further details please visit our Payments page.

How secure is the Entire Travel Group's on-line payment portal?

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For more details please visit - Security and Compliance - TravelPay

Can you book my international airfares?

On some Islands Holiday Packages (e.g. Fiji), it is practical to include flights, so where we have done this it is indicated by the plane icon.

However, on the majority of our Holiday Packages, we do not include international flights.

We found that many customers may prefer to:

  • Travel on a specific airline of their choice
  • Have the flexibility to book flights with Frequent Flyer points
  • Select flight dates that may be different to our Holiday Package start/end dates
  • Use a Travel Credit already held with the airline
  • Use their travel agent for this service

We are able to assist with flights on any Holiday Package, so please just notify us during the Book Now process or contact our team.

Should I take travel insurance?

Travel insurance is strongly recommended. During the Book Now process please confirm you require assistance, and our team will be in contact with you.

What should I do before travelling?

Before you travel it is your responsibility to ensure you have the appropriate documentation including visas. If you are travelling on a passport other than Australian or New Zealand, you will require a permit to re-enter Australia. It is your responsibility as the traveller and/or travel booker to meet all government entry requirements.

For more information please visit - Before you travel | Entire Travel Group

How does a Travel Agent make a booking?

Please visit the Entire Travel Group's Agent Portal. We are here to support our industry partners with a range of informative updates, marketing collateral for campaigns and a reward & recognition program.

How do I start a Booking?

  • On any page that has Book Now simply follow the booking process.
  • You must select the Travel Agent tick box and provide correct details.
  • To confirm a booking only the refundable deposit is required.
  • An agency credit card must be used for this initial payment.

How do I contact Entire Travel Group?

For more information please visit - Contact us | Entire Travel Group

When experience matters
INDUSTRY ACCREDITED
AWARD WINNING
TRAVEL SUPPORT
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