“POP IN ON A POLAR BEAR” THIS FALL

Dates Added for Short Tour to Churchill, Manitoba During Bear Migration: From $1795 Including Air From U.S. 

CHURCHILL, MANITOBA, CANADA –The most famous polar bears in the world are the ones who live on the Manitoba coast of Hudson Bay, and come into the little town of Churchill every fall on their annual trek out onto the sea ice.

Because the bears are so popular, bear-viewing tours tend to sell out quickly.  To accommodate polar bear enthusiasts, for 2009 The Great Canadian Travel Company has added two departures of its “Day Tripper” program, which compresses the adventure into a three-day package.

“The Daytripper,” three days/two nights, is priced at US$1,795 including air from Chicago, US$1,895 from New York or Los Angeles.  If you want to see the bears but are short of time, this package is ideal. Enjoy a full day with the bears on the tundra, with two nights in Winnipeg.  The package also includes round-trip airfare between the U.S. and Churchill, two breakfasts, one lunch, one dinner and services of a naturalist guide.  Departure dates are October 23 or 24.  Comparably-priced packages with air from other U.S. cities also available.  Early reservations are advisable, since the programs tend to sell out quickly.

The action takes place near Churchill, nestled at the edge of Canada’s arctic

tundra along the shore of vast Hudson Bay in northern Manitoba, about 650 miles north of Winnipeg. Every autumn, polar bears gather along the water’s edge near town, anxiously waiting for sea ice to form. Once the bay freezes over, the bears move out to spend winter on the ice.  This annual ritual provides a unique opportunity to observe polar bears close-up in their natural habitat.

Reservations and additional information available from The Great Canadian Travel Company Ltd., 333 North Michigan Avenue, Suite 712, Chicago, Illinois 60601, 800-661-3830 or 312-263-0333, www.greatcanadiantravel.com.

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