Something else to see in Canada’s polar bear country: white whales

Every fall, the Canadian town of Churchill in Manitoba lures people to the shores of Hudson Bay to see hundreds of polar bears waiting for the bay to freeze so they can head out onto the ice to hunt for seals.

But summer is also a good time to visit. You still may see a bear or two, but in addition, you can see white beluga whales, which migrate into the warm, shallow waters of the Churchill River to give birth and feed on small fish.

Known as “canaries of the sea”, the whales can be seen up-close on tour boats. While on land, visitors see hillsides covered in wildflowers during forays into the Churchill Wildlife Management Area by tundra buggies, oversize vehicles that give participants a chance to see northern wildlife and polar bears as they migrate into the area.

The six-day Frontiers North Adventures itinerary begins and ends in the Canadian capital of Winnipeg and includes a tour there.

Dates: July 20 to 25 and Aug. 10 to 15

Price: $3,304, per person, double occupancy, including pre- and post-Churchill accommodations in Winnipeg, a Winnipeg city tour, round-trip flights from Winnipeg to Churchill, Churchill accommodations and meals, beluga boat tours and a guided Fort Prince of Wales tour, a full-day Tundra Buggy excursion in the Churchill Wildlife Management Area and other activities. International air fare is not included.

Info: Frontiers North Adventures, (800) 663-9832

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