Churchill Polar Bears with Ottawa and Toronto

Day 1 - Ottawa

Fly from the UK to Ottawa, where you'll be met and transferred to the Lord Elgin Hotel. The rest of the day is yours to settle in. The hotel faces Confederation Park, so a short evening stroll is an easy way to get your bearings. Overnight in Ottawa.

Day 2 - Ottawa

With no set plans today, you're free to explore Ottawa at your own pace. The city centre is compact and easy to cover on foot, and most of the main sights are within walking distance of your hotel. You might walk up to Parliament Hill, follow the Rideau Canal, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, or browse the stalls of ByWard Market.

Ottawa is also home to several national museums, including the National Gallery of Canada, the Canadian War Museum and the Canadian Museum of Nature, with the Canadian Museum of History just across the river. If you'd like a guided tour or excursion, our specialists can add one to your itinerary. Overnight in Ottawa.

Day 3 - Winnipeg

After a transfer to Ottawa Airport, fly west to Winnipeg, where you'll be met and taken to Inn at the Forks. The hotel sits where the Red and Assiniboine Rivers meet, so the riverside walkways are right on your doorstep. Overnight in Winnipeg.

Day 4 - Churchill

A group transfer takes you to the airport for your flight north to Churchill, a remote town on the edge of Hudson Bay that can only be reached by air or rail. Your Lazy Bear Lodge guide will meet you on arrival, and we've included a cultural and heritage tour straight away so you get to know the town before the wildlife tours begin.

You'll visit Cape Merry, see the outside of the polar bear holding facility, often called the Polar Bear Jail, and stop at the wreck of the "Miss Piggy" cargo plane, among other historic sites. After checking in at the lodge, there's a little free time to explore town on foot or book an optional tour. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included. Overnight at Lazy Bear Lodge.

Day 5 - Hudson Bay

A full day on the water lies ahead, with a boat tour of 6 to 8 hours following the Hudson Bay coast and its river estuaries. In summer, with the sea ice gone, polar bears spend their time along this shoreline, and you may spot them swimming or resting on the rocks to keep cool. Lunch is served on board. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included. Overnight at Lazy Bear Lodge.

Day 6 - Beluga Whales and Prince of Wales Fort

Each summer thousands of beluga whales gather in the Churchill River estuary, and this 3-hour boat tour takes you out among them. Look out for their ivory-coloured backs breaking the surface, sometimes close to the boat. The tour also includes a walking tour of Prince of Wales Fort, the 18th-century stone fortress built by the Hudson's Bay Company across the river from town. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included. Overnight at Lazy Bear Lodge.

Day 7 - Churchill at Leisure

We've deliberately kept today free. Weather on Hudson Bay can change quickly, so this spare day allows any postponed tours to go ahead. If everything has run to plan, you can add an optional tour or explore independently, perhaps visiting the Itsanitaq Museum and its collection of Inuit carvings, stopping at the Parks Canada visitor centre or browsing local shops for Native art. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included. Overnight at Lazy Bear Lodge.

Day 8 - Arctic Crawler™ Tundra Tour and Winnipeg

Your final morning in Churchill is spent on the tundra aboard the Arctic Crawler™, a purpose-built vehicle designed for this terrain. The tour lasts 3 to 4 hours and gives you a close look at the tundra's summer plants and flowers, with the chance of seeing wildlife along the way. Afterwards the lodge shuttle takes you to Churchill Airport for your flight back to Winnipeg, where you'll be transferred to your hotel. Breakfast included. Overnight in Winnipeg.

Day 9 - Winnipeg to Toronto

Transfer to Winnipeg Airport by locally sourced taxi for your flight east to Toronto. On arrival you'll be taken to Le Germain Hotel Maple Leaf Square, next to Union Station in the heart of downtown, with the waterfront a short walk away. The rest of the day is at leisure. Overnight in Toronto.

Day 10 - Toronto by Hop-On Hop-Off Bus

Your hop-on hop-off bus pass is a relaxed way to see Toronto, linking the main sights so you can stop wherever you like. You could ride up the CN Tower for views over Lake Ontario, wander along the Harbourfront, stop at St Lawrence Market or explore the Victorian brick buildings of the Distillery District. Overnight in Toronto.

Day 11 - Niagara Falls Tour

We've saved one of Canada's best-known sights for your final full day. This full-day tour from Toronto takes you to Niagara Falls, where fast-track tickets take you straight aboard the famous Hornblower cruise to the foot of the Falls. Lunch is à la carte, overlooking the Falls, before the tour follows the Niagara Parkway, stopping at attractions along the way, and finishes with a winery tour and wine tasting. You'll return to Toronto in the evening. Overnight in Toronto.

Day 12 - Fly Home

Check out and transfer to Toronto Pearson Airport for your flight back to the UK.