Churchill Polar Bears 2026
Arctic Wildlife Photography Expedition
Experience Highlights
5 days of Dawn to Dusk, up-close, ground-level polar bear and arctic wildlife photography in the “Polar Bear Capital of the World”
Possible Northern Lights Photography – we will be on “Aurora Alert” for the duration of our time in Churchill.
Learn wildlife photography fundamentals and advanced techniques in classroom and in-the-field. Nightly Lightroom post processing/workflow demonstrations, discussions & image reviews
Experience the quirky character of this unique frontier town and its hardy inhabitants.
At A Glance
Dates:
Session 1: Oct 26 - Nov 1, 2026
Session 2: Nov 2 - 8, 2026
Starts/Ends:
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
$8,950 USD Double Occupancy,
+ $750 Single Lodging
(2 available per session)
Deposit: $2,000
Instructor: Ken Lee
What's Included: Lodging, Breakfasts Transportation & Guides in Churchill; Winnipeg – Churchill roundtrip flights; Photography Instruction
What's Not Included: Airfare to/from Winnipeg, Lodging & Meals in Winnipeg, Meals other than Breakfasts in Churchill, Travel Insurance (required), Personal Expenses, Gratuities. Anything not specifically listed as included
Past Participants Say:
“As I would expect on a trip with Ken, every detail seemed planned out with perfection…the guides got us to the bears daily, and best of all, the bears were willing participants. Ken was always available in the field and at the end of the day to give advice on photographing the bears and post-processing in the evenings”
Polar Bear Capital of the World
Every autumn, hungry polar bears gather along the western shores of the Hudson Bay anticipating the annual freeze-up that provides access to their favorite prey, seals. The Churchill region is one of the first places where the Hudson freezes solid – that’s why Churchill is known as the Polar Bear Capital of the World and the premier place to capture portfolio-worthy images of polar bears and other arctic wildlife in their natural habitat.
Dawn to Dusk Shooting
Field time is everything in wildlife photography and we’ve designed this workshop to maximize your shooting time. Within hours of touchdown in Churchill, we’ll be in the field ‘hunting’ polar bears with our cameras. Everyday afterwards, we’ll start pre-dawn and finish after sunset with just a few breaks for a hearty lunch and to heed the calls of nature.
Eye Level Photography
Tundra buggies are fine for wildlife viewing but make poor platforms for photography. We travel in a private 4X4 vehicle piloted by a highly experienced bear guide who thoroughly understands photographer’s needs. Whenever we aren’t actually shooting, we’ll be patrolling the backroads of Churchill and shoreline of Hudson Bay in search of polar bears and other arctic wildlife.
Aurora Borealis – the Icy Sky at Night
We need Mother Nature’s cooperation, but if clear skies and the northern lights coincide, we will be on ‘Aurora Alert’ throughout our time in Churchill to capture this amazing spectacle.
Grow Your Photography Skills & Vision
Ken will be by your side throughout the expedition to help you make the most of every opportunity and to offer tips, critiques and coaching.
We’ll use our day in Winnipeg to review wildlife photography fundamentals – everything from proper tripod technique to exposure settings and focus modes. Ken will also cover more advanced tips specific to the conditions we will encounter in Churchill. We’ll also spend lots of time talking about practical ways to develop your Photographer’s Eye and expand your creative vision.
In Churchill, expect (optional) nightly sessions covering workflow and processing using Adobe Lightroom as well as image critiques.
Alumni Discounts
If you’ve traveled with us before, we want to thank you with discounts of future trips View details of our Alumni Rewards program
Ready to Join the Adventure?
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Ken Lee, the founder Art of Seeing Photography Adventures is as passionate about helping others grow as photographers as he is about creating his own images. Ken’s Whole Brain approach to teaching photography addresses both the Craft (gear, technique, post-processing) and Creative (Composition & the Photographer’s Eye) aspects of image-making – and the completely different approaches needed to master both. Click the links to read more about Ken Lee and The Art of Seeing, what you can expect from an Art of Seeing workshop, or to see examples of Ken’s photography.
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We understand life happens and plans may change. If you need to cancel your reservation, the following policies apply to this workshop:
Deposits are NOT refundable but may be transferrable to another Art of Seeing workshop for up to 24 months from date of cancellation in accordance with the following schedule:
Regardless of when you cancel, if we fill your spot*, you will receive a refund of all fees paid less your deposit and $150 processing fee. If we cannot fill your spot, the amount of your refund is based upon the cancellation date:
Cancellation 120 days or more from workshop start date: 100% refund of fees paid less deposit and $150 processing fee. Deposit transferrable up to 24 mos.
Cancellation 90 – 120 days from workshop start date: 50% refund of fees paid less deposit and $150 processing fee. Deposit forfeit.
Cancellation less than 90 days from workshop start date: No refunds.
*canceled spots are filled after the workshop reaches full capacity
Click here to read our complete Terms & Conditions
Travel Insurance
A travel insurance policy which covers medical evacuation is a requirement for participation in this workshop. Such policies typically cover many other things like lost luggage or non-refundable payments if you need to cancel your trip.
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Q: How is this trip different than other polar bear tours?
A: Every aspect of this workshop is specifically designed for passionate (but not necessarily expert) photographers who are looking for the best opportunities to bring home wall-worthy images of polar bears and other arctic wildlife and landscapes. We are not confined to a tundra buggy or attached to a large group of non-photographers. Finally, this trip is designed to be a learning experience about the art and craft of wildlife photography as much as an opportunity to photograph polar bears.
Q: How should I book my travel?
A: You should arrive in Winnipeg (YWG) no later than ~1 pm on Day 1 of your Session. Our return flight to Winnipeg on Day 7 should arrive in Winnipeg in the late afternoon, but this flight is often delayed by weather. We suggest planning an overnight stay in Winnipeg (NOT included in workshop fee) and flying home the following day.
Note: Our Winnipeg-Churchill flights won’t be finalized until Calm Air publishes their 2026 schedule in January. Depending on flight times available, there is a small chance we may have to change the workshop dates. Therefore, we suggest waiting until after we confirm the Calm Air flights before booking your travel to Winnipeg
Q: Can you guarantee we will see polar bears or northern lights?
A: No. When it comes to nature, there are never any guarantees. The workshop is timed specifically to maximize our chances of encountering large numbers of polar bears based on historical freeze-up dates but climate change and other factors are making things less predictable these days.
We need clear, dark skies and the right type of solar activity for the northern lights (aurora borealis) to appear. In 2022, the night sky will be relatively dark (no moon) for most of Session 1 and part of Session 2 but we still need the other factors to coincide to have any chance at photographing the aurora – again, no guarantees.
Q: Is it safe?
A: Polar bear viewing and photography can be done safely if everyone follows instructions and acts appropriately. Our guides are experienced professionals who are knowledgeable about bear behavior. They also carry deterrents including firearms which are only deployed as a last resort. However, these bears are wild animals and individuals may not behave as expected. Intentionally approaching large predators for viewing or photography is an inherently dangerous activity. Per our Terms & Conditions, by registering for this workshop, you explicitly acknowledge and accept this risk.
Q: What else is there to photograph?
A: Beside polar bears, we may also encounter other arctic species. Arctic fox, Red fox, Arctic hares & Ptarmigan are common. Other species such as gyrfalcon, rough-legged hawks, caribou, wolves and wolverines live here as well but are much more rarely seen. Landscapes are also an option and can be quite dramatic with the right light and weather, especially after freeze-up begins. Finally, we will be on Aurora (northern lights) alert the whole time we are in Churchill – if conditions look promising, we’ll head out after dark to hopefully capture some images of the Northern Lights. However, this trip is not specifically focused on Aurora photography.
Q: What will the weather be like and how should I prepare for it?
A: Layers upon layers - a detailed packing list including specific clothing recommendations will be provided to participants after registration.
Q: What kind of photo equipment should I bring?
A: Specific recommendations will be provided to participants after registration but a telephoto lens of at least 400mm is strongly suggested as a starting point.
Q: Where will we stay in Churchill?
A: We’ve reserved two private residences (think Air BnB’s) for our group. It’s a bit unusual, but the best choice among limited options in Churchill.
Day | Dates | Itinerary | Meals Included |
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1 | Oct 26 or Nov 2 |
Winnipeg – our adventure begins at 3pm with an Introductions and Workshop Overview meeting followed by a session on Wildlife Photography Fundamentals & Advanced Techniques. We want to hit the ground running in Churchill, so we use this day to make sure everyone’s camera settings are dialed in, answer questions and let you know what to expect for the coming week. Note: Hotel accommodations & meals in Winnipeg for this evening are not included in the workshop price. |
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2 | Oct 27 or Nov 3 | Winnipeg – Churchill – we board our morning flight to Churchill after an early breakfast. Upon arrival, we drop off bags at our accommodations and head out into the field after lunch to begin wildlife tracking along the shores of Hudson Bay. Evening includes a session on image management and best practices. | Breakfast |
3–6 | Oct 28–31 or Nov 4–7 | Churchill – Daily pre-sunrise departures along 15 miles of coastline in private vehicles guided by professional bear guides. We’ll photograph polar bears, foxes, hares, owls, and potentially caribou, wolves, or wolverines. Midday break at Lazy Bear Lodge before heading out again. Evening sessions depend on weather—Northern Lights shooting if favorable, otherwise post-processing instruction and image reviews. | Breakfast |
7 | – | Churchill – Winnipeg – Final day of photography (duration depends on flight schedule). Return flight to Winnipeg. Workshop ends upon arrival at Winnipeg airport. | Breakfast |
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Is your passion wildlife, landscape or cultural photography? All of the above? We’ve got you covered. Click here to view all of Art of Seeing’s Photography Adventures!