Beluga Encounters Photography Tour I

2027 Beluga Encounters Photography Tour I Travel Plans

Sunday, July 25 (D)

Arrive in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, at any time of the day. Take the complimentary airport shuttle to the Courtyard by Marriott Winnipeg Airport (or similar). Tonight we’ll gather for a group welcome dinner.

Monday, July 26 (B)

This morning, we’ll meet in the lobby and head to the airport for an early morning flight to Churchill.

Upon arrival, we’ll get settled into our hotel. Our adventure begins with a tour that will introduce us to the small town of Churchill. We’ll visit local and historical points of interest such as Cape Merry, the Port of Churchill, and Manitoba Conservation’s Polar Bear Holding Facility. We’ll also visit Polar Bears International’s Interpretive Center, a dedicated hub for critical conservation efforts to save polar bears and the sea ice they call home.

Overnight in Churchill

Tuesday, July 27 – Thursday, July 29 (3B)

We’ll have three full days to explore Churchill and the surrounding area on the western shores of Hudson Bay.

Summer is a time of rejuvenation, when the plants and animals of the tundra and taiga (boreal forest) come alive. As the snow melts, a vibrant spectrum emerges on the seemingly endless Arctic landscape. Wildflowers explode. Pinks and purples flourish amid a thick mat of lichens, miniature shrubs, glacier-sculpted boulders, and patches of spruce boreal forest. We’ll photograph the eye-catching landscape from afar and up close. Fireweed, cloudberry, cotton grass, red bearberry, and orchid are just a few species we will closely examine with our macro lenses. We will be ready as night encroaches, too, since Churchill is one of the best places in the world to view Northern Lights!

Few animals on the planet can survive the unforgiving conditions of a subarctic winter. For those that can, summer is a time to replenish fat stores in preparation for the coming winter. As we explore the area, keep an eye open for small creatures gathering food. Arctic foxes are on the hunt for lemmings, seabirds, and the small marine life of Hudson Bay. Arctic ground squirrels, opportunistic feeders, collect vegetation and eggs and build winter stockpiles. Arctic and snowshoe hares feed on plentiful willow twigs, sedges, mosses, and berries.

Moose and caribou are among the larger mammals we may encounter, but are more rare to see. The Cape Churchill caribou herd winters in nearby Wapusk National Park. Small groups or lone members often wander the tundra to graze on the abundant willow trees, ferns, grasses, shrubs, and lichen.

Unlike their cohabitants, polar bears that remain on land spend the summer months resting and conserving energy. They work hard during the winter months, hunting seals on the ice of Hudson Bay. Though fairly inactive this time of year, we hope to come across the great white bear. Perhaps it will be ambling along the rocky coastline, sunning on a lichen-covered rock, or rolling around in a patch of radiant pink fireweed. Mothers with cubs often move inland to seek protection from aggressive males.

Surprisingly, Churchill is also a birder’s paradise, known for hundreds of species! Some nest, and others pass through during their annual migrations. Be on the lookout for snowy owl, willow ptarmigan, Ross’s gull, northern hawk owl, parasitic jaeger, pine grosbeak, and many more!

Most notably, it’s “beluga” season! While Churchill is well known for polar bears, the white, wondrous beluga whale may be its star. An intimate experience with these docile mammals will be the highlight of our trip. In July and August, nearly 60,000 migrate into Hudson Bay, and thousands venture inland through the Churchill River. They come to the river each year to give birth to calves and feed on capelin and cisco fish.

Like dolphins, belugas are highly curious, playful, friendly, and social. As we cruise the river and Hudson Bay shoreline in our zodiacs, small pods will swim alongside us. Listen for their vocalizations. Belugas are nicknamed “canaries of the sea” because of their incredible array of clicks, squeals, mews, squeaks, chirps, and twitters, which can be heard above and below the surface. This is almost unbelievable considering they have no vocal cords! And keep your camera on the ready. Their bulbous head is flexible and can change shape, which creates an entertaining medley of facial expressions. If you’re feeling adventurous, kayaking with the belugas is an option!

Overnight in Churchill

Friday, July 30 (B)

Since our charter flight departs Churchill a little later, you’ll have some free time to explore Churchill on your own.

Visit one of Churchill’s many shops to pick up a souvenir or two. Handmade moccasins, Inuit carvings, and sculptures are a specialty here. Delve deeper into Churchill’s culture and history with a visit to The Itsanitaq Museum, which offers a fascinating lesson in the indigenous peoples of the area. Stop by Wapusk Adventures to meet Dave Daley and his working sled dogs. Try the “Ididamile” if you want to be part of the action 🙂

We’ll meet up in the late afternoon or early evening for our transfer to the airport and flight back to Winnipeg. Arrive in Winnipeg, and transfer to the Courtyard by Marriott Winnipeg Airport (or similar) to prepare for our flights home tomorrow.

Saturday, July 31 (B)

Fly home from Winnipeg today. Take the complimentary airport shuttle provided by the hotel. Check-out time from the hotel is at noon.

• Guest Limits

  11 Guests Maximum

• Trip Cost

  EXPLORER RATE: 8,990 pp, DBL occupancy (+ Air)

  NON-EXPLORER RATE: ADD 400 pp

  Single Supplement: 1,100

  Pricing in US Dollars includes 17% tax

• Deposit

  $2000 Per person due at time of booking
  Visa, MasterCard, AmEx, Discover, or check accepted

  Deposits are non-refundable. If cancellations are necessary, we require this request in writing. We will do our best to resell your space. Only if we can resell your space, we will refund (minus the deposit and discounts given to sell your space). No partial refunds are possible for unused services.

• Installments

  August 1, 2026: $4,500 pp first installment
  February 1, 2027: Final installment

  Installments are payable by check or Zelle only. Please make checks payable to Natural Exposures and mail to:

  Natural Exposures
  810 N. Wallace, Suite E
  Bozeman, MT 59715

• Included

  • Accommodations for two nights in Winnipeg
  • Accommodations for four nights in Churchill
  • Airport transfers on scheduled itinerary days
  • Meals (with beverages) where indicated in itinerary (B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner)
  • Churchill area tour
  • Zodiac (or kayak) and van sightseeing tours around the area
  • Visit to Polar Bears International Interpretive Center
  • 17% tax

• Not Included

  • Flights to and from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, or Winnipeg – Churchill – Winnipeg (TBA)
  • Travel/emergency medical evacuation insurance
  • Pre-/post-trip hotel nights
  • Attractions/activities not listed in the itinerary
  • Meals not listed in the itinerary
  • Miscellaneous personal expenses, such as laundry, Internet, etc.
  • Gratuities
  • Any unforeseen expenses due to weather or mechanical issues

• Flights to Book

  July 25, 2027
  Arrive in Winnipeg (airport code YWG), Manitoba, Canada. Group welcome dinner tonight at the hotel

  July 31, 2027
  Depart from Winnipeg at any time of the day.

  Note: The 2027 Calm Air flight schedule has not been finalized, so the trip dates could change slightly. More information will be available at the end of 2026.

• Travel Insurance

  Travel/emergency medical evacuation insurance is not required for this photo tour, but we always recommend purchasing it for any trip. Emergency medical evacuation insurance is affordable and can be purchased for each trip or an entire year, and can even be bundled with your regular travel insurance! We recommend one or more of the following, depending on your needs:

  Global Rescue
  (use code natexp)

  Allianz Global Assistance 
  (use Travel Agent ACCAM F203564)

  Insure My Trip

• Terms & Conditions

  Natural Exposures cannot control nor is responsible for abnormal weather, natural disasters, or any other disaster that might affect the trip. Travel insurance should be purchased to cover any missed flights or medical problems that may affect/delay your travel. National Parks have the right to change our itinerary.

  By booking a trip with Natural Exposures, you agree to the following CANCELLATION AND LIABILITY POLICY