POLAR BEARS OF CHURCHILL PHOTO TOUR
November 8 - 15, 2023
Join award-winning, professional wildlife and nature photographer, Dawn Wilson, on a trip of a lifetime to photograph polar bears and other arctic wildlife in their natural habitat along the coast of Hudson Bay in Manitoba, Canada.
Churchill is known for its great photo opportunities with polar bears. Join me in this beautiful arctic destination for up-close and personal experiences on the ground with polar bears and other arctic wildlife led by our knowledgable and experienced local guides. We will also have potential opportunities to photograph red fox, arctic fox, snowy owls, willow ptarmigan, arctic ducks and snowy landscapes at the edge of Hudson Bay.
Photo tour information:
- Dates: November 8 - 15, 2023; in Churchill, Manitoba, Canada November 9 - 14
- Price: $7,495 per person (double occupancy; inquire about single supplement)
- Deposit: $3,500 (non-refundable deposit due at registration; non-refundable balance due by August 1, 2023)
(I recommend purchasing trip insurance. Be sure to know what the policy covers before purchasing, including coverage outside of the U.S.)
- Participants: 8
We will travel to scenic Churchill, Manitoba along the southern coast of Hudson Bay to be in the bear's world where we will watch and photograph them as they wait for the water to freeze before they spend the winter on the ice hunting for their favorite meal, seals.
The landscape is stunning with rocky coasts, snow-covered tundra, and boat ruins to frame your shots.
In addition to polar bears, we also anticipate having opportunities to photograph red fox, arctic fox, willow ptarmigan, snowy owls and other arctic wildlife.
This trip is conducted by SUVs and vans on the ground — no looking down on bears from high above or being in noisy vehicles.
We will meet in Winnipeg, Manitoba on the evening of November 8 for a meet and greet before we fly to Churchill the next morning. We will fly Calm Air midday on Thursday, November 9, and arrive in Churchill in time for lunch. Once in Churchill, we will stay at a comfortable bed and breakfast near the coast of Hudson Bay. This location is in the center of bear activity with bears sometimes even walking near town.
The field adventure begins after settling into our rooms on Thursday, November 9 before a warm, home cooked meal. Field outings to find bears will be done from the comfort of SUVs and vans. Each vehicle will hold three to six guests for comfort and space for gear. We fly back to Winnipeg on the afternoon of Tuesday, November 14, with a short photo outing in the morning prior to our flight if time allows. We recommend booking your flight home on November 15 out of Winnipeg in case of any weather-related delays. Prior to the trip, I will send you information about gear, preparing for cold weather, and suggestions on clothing, as well as any Covid requirements (if still applicable).
Read more about a visit to Churchill in the blog post from the 2021 trip.
Why go with Dawn? Participating in a photo tour with Dawn, recognized as a top-ten female nature photographer by Wild Planet Photo Magazine, provides the opportunity to get more personal attention from an experienced and passionate nature and wildlife photographer. Her goals for your photography include helping all participants with composition, teaching about animal behavior for better photos, instruction on how to create visual and emotional impact, and understanding camera techniques. Your photo tour leader has a varied skill set and can provide a wide variety of photography instruction, including guidance for camera equipment, Photoshop and Lightroom, and how to get the best photos of birds, bears and landscapes.
Cost for Churchill includes:
- all transportation and lodging (double occupancy) in Churchill
- all transportation and lodging (double occupancy) in Winnipeg on November 8 and 14
- round-trip airfare to and from Winnipeg to Churchill
- all meals in Churchill
- field instruction and guide services
- permits, fees and all applicable taxes
Cost DOES NOT include:
- airfare to and from home to Winnipeg
- meals in Winnipeg
- tips for lodge staff and bear guide
- alcoholic beverages or personal items
- travel insurance (recommended)
- camera gear
I look forward to having you join the group in Churchill!
As a professional wildlife photographer, writer and Master Naturalist, Dawn travels extensively throughout the Rocky Mountains and Alaska photographing the animals of high latitudes and high altitudes. These animals love the cold and remote regions as much as she does, and she enjoys sharing her stories and photos to encourage others to see and conserve these beautiful regions.
Her work has appeared in numerous publications, calendars and photo exhibits, including Outdoor Photographer, Colorado Outdoors, Wyoming Wildlife, Defenders of Wildlife, National Geographic Digital, MotorHome and Colorado Life. She was also recognized as a Top Ten Female Nature Photographer to Watch by Wild Planet Photo Magazine.
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