Churchill Polar Bear & Northern Lights Photography Tour
Churchill Polar Bear & Northern Lights Photography Tour
October 15-21, 2027 - 4 spots available
October 21-27, 2027 - 6 spots available
Small groups. Ground-level perspectives. A tundra lodge in polar bear country. And a full day of bear photography from the day you arrive.
Join professional wildlife photographer Ken Anderson in Churchill, Manitoba, Canada, for an intimate photography adventure in the heart of polar bear country.
Every fall, polar bears gather along the shores of Hudson Bay, waiting for sea ice to form and their winter hunting season to begin. For photographers, this creates an extraordinary opportunity to capture these remarkable animals against the vast landscapes of the Canadian subarctic.
Fly In Early. Start Photographing on Day One.
Your adventure begins with a very early charter flight from Winnipeg to Churchill on the first day of the tour.
Our dedicated charter takes the hassle out of navigating scheduled airline services and helps us avoid the delays and disruptions that can come with them. That early departure gets us into bear country with time for a full day of polar bear photography on the day you arrive.
Less time in transit. More time behind the camera.
A Ground-Level Perspective
This is not a traditional Churchill tundra buggy tour.
Our workshop is built around small groups, mobility and ground-level photography. We travel in 4×4 vehicles, giving us the flexibility to respond to changing light, weather and bear activity throughout the day.
When conditions allow and our experienced local bear guides determine it is appropriate, we photograph from the ground. This lower perspective opens up opportunities for intimate portraits, eye-level encounters and images that place the bears within their environment.
Stay Right in Polar Bear Country
Instead of commuting back and forth from Churchill each day, we stay at a comfortable tundra-based lodge outside town, directly in polar bear habitat.
The property is fully fenced, and bears can sometimes wander past the lodge. Your first sighting of the day might happen before you have even finished your morning coffee.
Staying on the tundra also puts us closer to productive photography areas, meaning less time commuting and more time behind the camera.
From First Light to the Northern Lights
Our days are built around photography.
We spend long days exploring the tundra, following the best available conditions and looking for opportunities to photograph individual bears, interactions, behaviour and environmental portraits.
Throughout the tour, Ken provides hands-on photographic instruction, helping you work with the light, refine your compositions and make the most of each encounter.
And when the sun goes down, the cameras do not necessarily get packed away.
On clear nights, there may be opportunities to photograph the Northern Lights from the lodge deck. With dark skies away from town, an aurora display can provide an unforgettable ending to a day in bear country.
More Than a Polar Bear Tour
This workshop is for photographers who want more than a sighting. They want the time, access and guidance to create exceptional images.
An early charter flight from Winnipeg. A full first day in the field. Small groups. Ground-level opportunities. Long days of photography. A tundra lodge in bear country. And the possibility of Northern Lights overhead.
Join Ken Anderson in Churchill in 2027 for a polar bear photography experience that makes every day count—from the day you arrive.
Whats Included
6 nights accommodation (double occupancy) at a comfortable, fenced tundra-based lodge in the heart of polar bear country (Limited single supplement: $1,500 CAD)
Wake up surrounded by the tundra with direct access to aurora photography right from the lodge deck on clear nights
6 days of ground-level polar bear photography.
Round-trip flights between Winnipeg and Churchill (approx. value $2,800 CAD)
Continental breakfast served daily at the lodge
All transfers in Churchill, including airport pickup/drop-off and daily shuttles for excursions
Travel in 4x4 vehicles to reach prime locations for photographing polar bears and other tundra wildlife such as Arctic and Red Foxes, Snowy Owls, and Arctic Hares
Photography instruction and field guidance from Ken Anderson including camera setup, composition, and field techniques for both stills and video
All permits, logistics, and local coordination handled for you in Churchill
Not Included
Flights from your home city to Winnipeg, Canada.
Accommodation and meals in Winnipeg before and after the workshop.
Lunches and dinners in Churchill.
Alcoholic beverages.
Gratuities for guides and staff.
Travel and medical insurance (strongly recommended).
***Accommodations are based on double occupancy. Each room has its own private bathroom, and guests have access to shared common areas and a fully equipped kitchen for preparing lunches or light meals. Lodge has hi-speed Starlink Wifi.
A single room supplement may be available on request but limited. Single supplement $1000 USD.(inquire for availability).
Payment & Booking Details
Price: $8700 USD + 5% GST tax
Deposits & Booking
A 50% deposit is required at the time of booking to reserve your spot on this tour.
Deposits are non-refundable (see Cancellation Policy below)
Invoices are issued electronically
Canadian Clients
Canadian clients may pay in CAD using:
Interac e-Transfer (no processing fee)
Credit card (a 2.4% processing fee applies)
U.S. Clients
U.S. clients may pay in USD using:
ACH bank transfer (USD) – preferred, lowest-fee option
Credit card (a 2.4% processing fee applies)
USD pricing is converted from Canadian pricing using a fixed exchange rate of 1.38
ACH payment instructions are provided directly on the invoice.
Final Payment
The remaining balance is due June 1, 2027.
Automatic email reminders are sent in advance of the final payment deadline.
Non-Photographer Companions
The same daily rates apply for non-photographer companions.
Cancellation Policy
This tour involves accommodations, transportation, and other arrangements that require non-refundable advance commitments.
The deposit is non-refundable
If you cancel before final payment is due, we will attempt to fill your spot
If successful, all payments will be refunded minus a $500 administration fee
If you cancel after final payment, no refund will be issued unless your spot can be filled
If successful, all payments will be refunded minus a $500 administration fee
We strongly recommend purchasing trip cancellation and travel insurance to protect your investment.
Waiver & Non-Disclosure Notice
All participants are required to sign a Liability Waiver prior to joining any Ken Anderson Photography workshop or tour. This agreement outlines the inherent risks associated with wildlife photography in remote environments, affirms that you are responsible for your own personal safety at all times, and includes a commitment to protecting sensitive wildlife locations.
Itinerary (October Tour 1)
Day 1 – Oct 14
Fly to Winnipeg, Manitoba. Check into the airport hotel. Meet and greet dinner at the hotel that night (not included).
Day 2 – Oct 15
Early morning flight to Churchill - 6:15am. Pickup and transfer to the lodge. Bear safety session. Full day photographing bears. Dinner in town. Evening aurora photography (weather permitting).
Days 3–7 – Oct 16–20
Early breakfast at the lodge. Bears are often visible from the property (fenced for safety). 5 more full days photographing polar bears. Dinner in town. Evening aurora sessions.
Day 8 – Oct 21
Breakfast then transfer to the airport for flight to Winnipeg. We will be back in Winnipeg at approx 1pm. Overnight at Winnipeg airport hotel if no evening connection to home available.
Day 9 – Oct 22
Fly home from Winnipeg.
Itinerary (October Tour 2)
Day 1 – Oct 20
Fly to Winnipeg, Manitoba. Check into the airport hotel. Meet and greet dinner at the hotel that night (not included).
Day 2 – Oct 21
Early morning flight to Churchill - 6:15am. Pickup and transfer to the lodge. Bear safety session. Full day photographing bears. Dinner in town. Evening aurora photography (weather permitting).
Days 3–7 – Oct 22-26
Early breakfast at the lodge. Bears are often visible from the property (fenced for safety). 5 more full days photographing polar bears. Dinner in town. Evening aurora sessions.
Day 8 – Oct 27
Breakfast then transfer to the airport for flight to Winnipeg. We will be back in Winnipeg at approx 1pm. Overnight at Winnipeg airport hotel if no evening connection to home available.
Day 9 – Oct 27
Fly home from Winnipeg.
Register Below for Polar Bear Photo Tour, Churchill Workshop
Testimonials
I recently returned from Ken’s Churchill polar bear workshop (October 2026). It was an exceptional experience. On this tour lead by Ken we saw and photographed bears each and every day, and over the course of the week had ample opportunity to experience the various temperaments and “personalities” of different bears. Over the course of the workshop we estimate that we encountered more than 30 individuals. Ken had done a great job researching guides and accommodation in Churchill and we stayed at a comfortable lodge (on the tundra) and were driven by a very skilled and personable guide. The group of photographers on this tour was very compatible, courteous, ethical and serious about nature photography. An added bonus was the presence of Harry Collins who shared his experiences of nature photography and provided great practical training related to videography. I have previously travelled with Ken on owl photography outings and appreciate his ethics, patience and knowledge of wildlife behaviour and photography. His easy going manner and patience sets a very pleasant pace for the workshops. I look forward to future outings.
— Dick Lee (Abbotsford BC)
Simply put, Ken’s photography workshop, in Churchill, was amazing. We had multiple, extended encounters with polar bears and their cubs in stunning natural settings. Unlike standard tours where you look down from a massive Arctic buggy, shooting at ground level allowed us to capture incredibly intimate, eye-level perspectives. Ken is a fantastic leader—knowledgeable about bear behavior and always anticipating the best angles and light for our shots. A fantastic trip for any wildlife photographer – highly recommended.
— Marc, New Hampshire