Beluga Whales & Polar Bears Photo Expedition

Experience Beluga Whales & Polar Bears

Photo Gallery

Why Choose Us?

The Heart of an Unforgettable Arctic Summer Photo Expedition

Churchill may be best known for its autumn polar bear tours. But summer here is a whole different discovery, filled with vibrant wildlife, colorful wildflowers, thousands of beluga whales, and often sightings of polar bears and caribou roaming the tundra. More than one operator offers summer trips in the Churchill area — here is what sets ours apart for nature photographers:

1. 1

   Small Groups for Better Wildlife Photography

   With no more than 12 guests, you can expect low-impact wildlife encounters and plenty of personal interaction with our photographer-naturalist Expedition Leader. And we split our small group in half when we travel by Zodiac to see the belugas, for the most intimate encounters.

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   Two Private Zodiac Excursions Among the Whales

   We use our own private motorized rafts, chartered from Churchill's highest-quality and most reliable boat company, to visit belugas in the mouth of the Churchill River — with no more than seven passengers per boat. This ensures clear viewing, easy photography access, and a flexible timetable.

3. 3

   Opportunity to Paddle with the Pod

   When the tides are right, we offer you a chance to kayak among the belugas — an up-close encounter in silence broken only by the splash of your paddle and the whales' inquisitive interactions as they approach your boat.

4. 4

   Get Underwater Whale Shots from Floating Mats

   An exclusive Nat Hab opportunity! Gear up with a mask, snorkel and your GoPro (or other underwater camera), then float on our flexible, buoyant mats on the Churchill River for true eye-level encounters with belugas, and incredible photo opportunities under the surface!

5. 5

   Listen to Belugas by Hydrophone

   Belugas are delightfully vocal whales. And while it is thrilling to see them up close, our experience is enhanced by the chance to hear them as well. Most boat excursions don't offer the opportunity to listen in with hydrophones — but we do!

6. 6

   Take a Ride Behind Local Sled Dogs

   Just because it's not winter doesn't mean you can't have an authentic sled dog encounter! We meet a local musher to learn all about this historic form of northern transportation and recreation, then take a ride behind his enthusiastic team as they pull us in a wheeled cart.

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   Aurora Photography? The Odds Could Be Good!

   Located directly beneath the Van Allen Belt, a band of energy-charged particles that wraps the earth's polar regions, Churchill is one of the best places on Earth to see the northern lights. As days get shorter toward summer's end, our chances increase to witness the aurora in a darkening night sky.

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   Cultural Interactions with Local Residents

   Through years of developing close relationships with local people, we are able to offer our guests the exclusive opportunity to meet revered elders of the First Nations, Inuit and Metis cultures in Churchill. These Indigenous storytellers are some of the last of their generation in their communities, sharing their knowledge of past and present with our travelers.

9. 9

   The Finest Naturalist-Photographer Guides

   Our Churchill Expedition Leaders have been guiding tours in this region for an average of more than 10 years, honing their skills as wildlife photography pros and instructors. They receive additional training and resources from WWF's top scientists, ensuring the best interpretive experience available, and travel with the group the entire way from Winnipeg.

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    Our Quality-Value Guarantee Ensures Your Superior Arctic Photo Safari

    We offer an exclusive guarantee, clearly stating that we will meet the lofty expectations we set in our promotional materials. To our knowledge, this is the most ambitious guarantee made by any adventure travel company.

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    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. We have been the world's first carbon-neutral travel company since 2007.