27 Jan The Best Way To See Polar Bears
Polar bears spend their lives in some of the world’s most out of the way corners, largely on ice flows, which means most humans don’t get a chance to see them in their lifetime.
Polar bears have been in the news a lot in the last few years. Our changing climate is having an enormous impact on polar bear biology, behavior, and long term survival. This has people calling us with an itch to see them before they’re gone. Sea ice conditions are changing swiftly (sea ice is shrinking 14% every decade due to climate change) and certain populations of polar bears are dwindling, but polar bears are not going to vanish overnight. That said, viewing and photographing polar bears in the wild is a compelling adventure and there are multiple locales in the Arctic where you can consistently eye them safely and without greatly discomfiting them. The best encounters hinge in part on your aims, but here are our picks for the best polar bear watching in the world.
Canada: Churchill, Manitoba
They don’t call Churchill the “polar bear capital of the world” for nothing. Every autumn hundreds of polar bears congregate on the shores of Hudson Bay near the town of Churchill to wait for the sea ice to refreeze so they can return to hunting seals. The world’s most approachable (and affordable) polar bear viewing destination, Churchill has a well-established tourism industry. Tours are typically conducted in custom-made tundra buggies with indoor/outdoor viewing areas. These vehicles can get close to the bears without endangering human or bear safety, though the elevation of the viewing platforms can present difficulties for photographers.
When to go: October and November is peak viewing season in Churchill, but there are some tours in March, when mother bears emerge from the dens with their cubs. Bear watching is combined with beluga whale watching in July and August.
While many polar bear populations around the Arctic sadly seem to be in decline due to climate change and intrusions on their environs, Churchill’s may be increasing. Thanks to the unspoiled scenery and isolation of the region. Canada’s immense Arctic landscape is the ideal place for polar bears to live in tranquility in the wild.
United States: Kaktovik, Alaska
While polar bear populations in the Bering Sea are thought to be decreasing, bears have become such a ubiquitous figure on Alaska’s Arctic Coast in summer that a tourism industry has evolved around their proximity to two Inupiat Eskimo villages: Barrow and Kaktovik. Located on Barter Island just off the coast, Kaktovik is the best place to spot them. As they are enticed by the opportunity to gorge on the carcasses of bowhead whales that the community are allowed to harvest, polar bears can be seen by the dozen assembling out on the sand islands that border the town.
While they spend most of their lives out in the sea ice hunting seals, many of the massive mammals spend the ice free months between August and October on or around the scenic and secluded Barter Island.
The predominant (and best) opportunities to watch bears are boat based. Local captains charter their small boats which provide a safe ground level and close platform for watching and photographing the bears. The bears are resting and milling on the barrier islands and a quick trip across the lagoons can get you within 50 meters of them. Polar bears are often seen sparring and wrestling in the water. And because there are bears of all age classes and genders in a fairly small area, there are numerous chances to watch social interchanges between bears not seen in other places.
Most visitors arrive via small plane from Fairbanks for viewing tours conducted in small boats equipped usually for six guests. From here you can also charter small planes to fly above the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and spot polar bears, brown and black bears, caribou, moose, wolves, and musk oxen.
When to go: Boat tours run from mid-August until late September/early October.
Norway: Spitsbergen, Svalbard
Famed for being home to more polar bears than people, the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard can be found between the northern coast of Norway and the North Pole. With most of its secluded and forbidding islands covered in glaciers and snow, it is no wonder that the archipelago is home to thousands of polar bears. As well as being Svalbard’s evocative icon, these captivating animals are also its main tourist attraction.
Viewing tours can take two forms. In winter, full-day snowmobile tours depart the capital Longyearbyen, on the main island of Spitsbergen, for polar bear territory in the island’s east, where bears can (sometimes) be viewed from a distance. It’s a long, cold day out, but it’s the less expensive option. In summertime, expedition cruises ply the west and north coasts of Spitsbergen. Cruises, however, offer a much higher probability of seeing bears. These cruises depart from Oslo to search for polar bears and other resident wildlife like walruses, seals, and reindeer.
Cruise tours are only available between May and September and this is an amazing time to view polar bears from the safety of your ship and take incredible photos of the stunning landscapes.
When to go: February to May for snowmobiling tours; June to August (for ideal conditions) for expedition cruises.
Greenland: Off the coast
The world’s largest island, Greenland lies between the Arctic and Atlantic oceans with almost all of its austere landscape burnished in a glimmering sheet of ice. Very sparsely populated, it glories in unspoiled snow scenery with glaciers and fjords found alongside endless tundra and ice floes.
Due to its wintry environment, Greenland is home to many of the world’s polar bears with most of them found in the northern most parts of the isle. This, however, is an inaccessible area with much of the region protected as part of Northeast Greenland National Park, the largest national park in the world.
The best chance of seeing these awesome creatures in the wild is to take an Arctic cruise along the east coast of the island. Although sightings can be sketchy due to the enormous size of the region where the bears hunt and roam, you’ll certainly pass mesmerizing scenery and transfixing views. The highlight, of course, is finally spotting one of them and their all white fur against the backdrop of snow and ice.
Some cruises operate out of the capital, Nuuk, while others travel up Greenland’s southwest or east coast en route from Canada or Iceland to Svalbard, Norway.
When to go: Cruises typically operate between July and September
Russia: Wrangel Island
With such a huge circumference of the country’s mammoth landmass lying in the icy Arctic Circle, it should come as no surprise that Russia is home to several substantial polar bear populations. Of these, the largest and most well known are found around the remote Wrangel Island in the Russian Far East and on the icy and isolated archipelago of Franz Josef Land.
Famous for having the highest density of dens in the world, Wrangel Island is often cited as the “polar bear maternity ward” with several hundred mothers known to land here in winter to deliver and raise their young. Most of the island is protected as part of a native reserve.
It’s possible for adventurous travelers to visit on expedition ship tours (departing from the Russian port of Anadyr) which offer opportunities to view bears, as well as walrus, gray whales, reindeer, and other Arctic animals from sea and on land.
When to go: Cruises run from early August until mid-September.
The Best Way to See Polar Bears
Polar Bears are beautiful creatures and live mostly in the Arctic regions of the world. They can be a challenge to spot, but not when you have a partner like Driftwood Travel. If getting to see polar bears in the wild is on your bucket list, then you’ve come to the right place.
PLANNING
How to get there?
Driftwood Travel can help you plan and execute this adventurous trip with experienced guides. Our partners are experts in polar bear trips. Tip: start planning 9 to 12 months in advance.
Who is it for?
This kind of trip is adventurous, but you don’t have to be an athlete to cross this bucket list item off your list. You will spend much of your time in polar rovers or ships looking for bears and limited time walking around. This makes it the ideal trip for travelers of all ages!
When’s the best time to see polar bears?
Depending on your goals this can vary, however during October and November the largest concentration of polar bears gather in the Arctic regions waiting for the ice to form so they can hunt seals.
PREPPING
Packing
He might be the King of the Arctic, but there’s no need for formal attire. In fact, the dress code is very casual during a polar bear trip, and you don’t really need much. Our partners provide boots and parkas, but you should pack your own gloves, hats, layers, and comfortable warm shoes. We highly recommend you invest in a great pair of binoculars too, reach out to us if you need a good binocular guide for wildlife viewing.
Of course, if you want to include some cosmopolitan stops on your trip then you will need to upgrade your wardrobe.
Know before you go
It will be cold! You are going to see polar bears – so it will be cold! Though cruise expeditions can be more comfortable, there will still be large chunks of time when you will be outside on deck waiting to see the bears. There is also limited cell reception and wifi once you’re out on the tundra. If you prepare yourself mentally for these two things you’ll be in great shape. Did I mention that it’s going to be cold??
Learning
This is a wonderful learning opportunity for travelers of all ages. In addition to seeing polar bears you’ll get to learn from expert naturalist guides about the ecosystem, environmental changes, other wildlife, and natural history.
As you start to plan your visit to the Arctic, please reach out to Driftwood Travel. We would love to help this dream come true for you! At Driftwood Travel we have you covered from A (accomodations) to Z (Zorbing). Don’t know what zorbing is? Give us a call.