Polar Bears - Eye to Eye
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Overview
TESTIMONIALS FROM OUR PRIOR POLAR BEAR GUESTS:
I have to say that was the best trip ever!!!!! So many great photos and a really great group. I would love to go back, but I think the mark that was set would be hard to beat. –J. Furber
Loved our polar bear trip. Many thanks for putting together such a great trip. Am very pleased with my pictures and still trying to decide which ones to cull out. –J. Allen
Back from the shores of Hudson Bay on a polar bear photo safari with lots of images. Great adventure with expert assistance from Visionary Wild. The experience of a lifetime! –K. Cochran
Picture yourself standing on arctic tundra at the edge of Hudson Bay, photographing a pair of polar bears wrestling in the glow of sunset as they wait for the bay to freeze over so they can begin their annual hunting season on the ice. An arctic fox watches the action from the sidelines. The only sounds are the bears, the breeze, and waves lapping at the ice forming on the shoreline. Then imagine, as the light fades and temperatures drop, you walk just a few feet away to sit beside the fire in a cozy wilderness lodge, joining your fellow photographers for a glass of wine while reviewing the day’s photographs, in anticipation of a gourmet dinner and excited conversation about the opportunities that await tomorrow. Keep your camera ready, though… the aurora borealis may fill the night sky.
Join award-winning photographer and Arctic specialist Chris Linder at Seal River Heritage Lodge, a remote wilderness lodge positioned in prime polar bear territory on the shores of Hudson Bay about 40 miles north of Churchill, Manitoba. This is a very special opportunity to intensively photograph polar bear behavior close-up in the wild – in our experience, it is the single most reliable and productive location on Earth for polar bear photography. Forget the loud, diesel-belching tundra buggies at Churchill; our small group will photograph the bears in the peaceful serenity of their native habitat, from eye level, on foot, via short excursions onto the tundra and from the grounds of the lodge, where polar bears walk within inches of the fence line.
Seal River Heritage Lodge is a very comfortable fly-in wilderness lodge that offers unique access to a high density of polar bears with a lovely landscape backdrop. To ensure you make the most of your visit, Chris will provide highly attentive, thoughtful, and generous instruction throughout the trip, offering feedback and useful guidance drawn from his decades of experience as a professional nature photographer. He will provide recommendations on camera setup optimized for wildlife photography, teach strategies and techniques to empower you to anticipate and capture fleeting wildlife behaviors, offer advice on composition and working the available light and weather conditions for best effect, and more. In the evening, Chris will provide feedback and constructive critique of your images to ensure that the quality of your work improves significantly over the course of the trip.
Itinerary
November 10 – Arrival day in Winnipeg: Fly into Winnipeg International Airport (YWG) (See “Scheduling Travel below). After collecting your luggage at baggage claim, exit the airport through the arrivals exit and to your right across Wellington Avenue is The Grand Hotel, where we will gather in the restaurant for an introductory dinner at 7:00 pm.
November 11 – Fly to Churchill and Seal River Heritage Lodge: We depart for the airport to catch an early morning Calm Air Airlines flight to Churchill, Manitoba. After arrival in Churchill, we will be transferred by aircraft to the Arctic’s most exclusive fly-in only eco-lodge, Seal River Heritage Lodge. Upon your arrival, our hosts will provide a tour of the lodge and get you settled into your room. A thorough orientation on traveling in polar bear country will be provided prior to any outings. Then it’s time to grab our gear and head out for our first excursion!
November 12 – November 14 – Seal River Heritage Lodge: We will be in the heart of polar bear country, with stunning snow and ice backdrops of the sea and landscapes surrounding the lodge, spending significant time in the field getting up close and personal to the Arctic wildlife. The location also enjoys an exceptional number of clear nights for Aurora Borealis photography.
Our meal times will be adjusted to accommodate photo opportunities which are the priority, so meals may be interrupted at times in response to what’s going on outside. Breakfast is generally served at 8:00 am, lunch as required; with appetizers at 6:00 pm followed by dinner at 7:00 pm. Evenings will be spent near the fireplace downloading images, sharing the day’s adventures, or taking in an informative lecture or slide show. Bedtime is at your leisure. If the night watchman spots a dazzling display of northern lights, be prepared for a wakeup call (optional).
November 15 – Back to Churchill and Winnipeg: After another hearty breakfast it’s time to pack up for the flight back to Churchill, say good-byes and make a few more pictures. After another exciting aerial tour, we arrive in Churchill where your bags will be stored for you until our flight back to Winnipeg later in the day. We are then free to explore this frontier community. Points of interest include Cape Merry, the Port of Churchill, the Eskimo Museum, as well as the Parks Canada exhibit. After flying to Winnipeg in the afternoon, we will transfer to The Grand Hotel for our final group dinner and overnight.
November 16 – Catch flights for home: Breakfast, and then we say farewell and safe travels.
Scheduling Travel
As it will not be possible to catch up with the group after our flight departs for Churchill and Seal River Heritage Lodge on the morning of November 11, we recommend that guests arrive in Winnipeg by late morning on November 10, or consider arriving on November 9, to allow additional time in case of inbound flight or baggage delays. We will be happy to assist in making hotel reservations for extra nights, although guests are responsible for any additional expenses.
TRAVEL INSURANCE
It is also important to be aware that weather conditions do from time to time delay the flights to and from Churchill and Seal River Heritage Lodge. Though delays are usually brief (and in some cases a few hours, or a day), it is possible that delays could delay arrival into Churchill or departure from the Lodge by a day or more. As a result, we strongly recommend obtaining of travel insurance that provides full coverage for the cost of your trip in the event of trip cancellation, as well as travel interruption or delays that may impact your arrival or departure from this expedition. We also strong recommend the purchase of emergency medical and evacuation insurance.
Instructors
Chris Linder
- Chris Linder is an award-winning professional photographer, filmmaker, workshop leader, and lecturer. Chris earned a master’s degree in oceanography from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the Woods ...
Gallery
Pricing
Double Occupancy $14,495
Single Occupancy $26,995
PRICING AND OCCUPANCY
Due to the limited number of guest rooms and beds at Seal River Heritage Lodge, and the fact that their operating season is relatively short, they aim to fill every available bed, so the single supplement is about 88% of the double-occupancy price. We will be happy to help pair up individual participants who wish to share a room. We will do our best to pair roommates of the same sex, but due to the limited number of rooms we cannot guarantee this.
Payment Schedule
- 50% due at time of booking to confirm reservation
- Balance due July 31, 2022 (as of that date, full payment will be due upon registration)
Click here to view our payment, cancellation, and refund policies.
INCLUDED
- Round-trip flights (Winnipeg – Churchill – Seal River Heritage Lodge)
- 2 nights’ lodging in Winnipeg (Nov 10 and 15) and 4 nights at Seal River Heritage Lodge (Nov 11,12, 13, & 14)
- All meals and beverages from dinner on November 10 to breakfast on November 16
- Extra luggage capacity on flights: Total baggage allowance of 70-pounds, split between photo bag and luggage.
- Cold weather gear loan: Arctic parka, insulated bibs, insulated boots.
- Photographic instruction and bear guiding
- Partial gratuities for lodge staff (we recommend bringing about CAN$250 for tips to your bear guides and lodge staff)
- Canadian tax
Highlights
- Polar bears in their native habitat, easily approached on foot in a pristine and untrammeled wilderness setting perfect for first-rate photography.
- Chris Linder will draw upon his decades of experience as a professional nature photographer and Arctic specialist to provide insightful instruction, recommendations, and feedback.
- Constructive critique of your images to ensure that the quality of your work improves significantly over the course of the trip.
- Wildly rugged and remote – the conditions in November at this coastal tundra location enable us to dedicate full days in the field getting up close and eye-to-eye with polar bears and other Arctic wildlife.
- Excellent photo opportunities for other Arctic wildlife, including ptarmigan and arctic fox.
- Seal River Heritage Lodge, positioned on Hudson Bay, experiences a surprising number of clear days and nights, delivering great light by day, and unobstructed views of the night sky for photography of the Aurora Borealis.
- Excellent dining, featuring the finest food and wine in the Canadian Arctic. Mealtimes will be adjusted or delayed as required to ensure maximum photo opportunities.
Accommodations
Seal River Heritage Lodge
- Authentic wilderness lodge style with all the comforts of home
- Expansive picture windows to maximize ground level viewing
- Spectacular coastal view of Hudson Bay while hiking, dining or relaxing.
- A viewing tower to take in the expansive tundra landscape and its wild inhabitants
- Steel-cable-fenced outdoor yard with large raised viewing platforms
- Cozy common area with fireplace for evening wind down
- Guest rooms all have ensuite washrooms
- Full service meals
- Electricity 24 hours a day, every day
- Natural gas and wood heat
- Library with maps
- Gift Shop
- Radio/Telephone
Inbound and outbound accommodations are provided at The Grand Hotel at Winnipeg International Airport
Travel
Expectations
COVID PROTOCOLS
Vaccination: Required. Flights from Winnipeg to Churchill require that passengers have had a full course of vaccination against COVID-19. We also recommend having a booster shot if it has been more than six months after completion of your original course of vaccination.
Testing: Required. All participants will be required to test negative using an antigen or PCR test for COVID-19, within three days of the workshop start date.
Other Protocols: Recommended. Anti-COVID measures such as mask wearing indoors, regular use of hand sanitizer, social distancing, etc. are at the discretion of the individual. Masks may still be required in airports and aboard flights. We will provide updated recommendations shortly before the start date.
LUGGAGE LIMITS
Your total luggage limit will be 70lbs. Valet service will be available for camera gear, meaning that if your camera bag weighs more than the normally allowed 20lbs of carry-on, you can deduct the difference from your checked bag, which can be up to 50lbs. You will bring your photo bag with you to the plane, and load it onto a luggage cart immediately before boarding, after which the bag will be loaded in a secure luggage space under the plane. It will not go on the luggage belt at the airport. We’ve had many photographers use this service and it works well.
Polar Bears - Eye to Eye
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