Classic Canadian Tours

At Classic Canadian Tours we pride ourselves in our exceptional guest experience and we are proud to share the following testimonials that we have received from our customers:

Please pass on my gratitude for the great day in Churchill yesterday.  Two items are now off my bucket list - polar bears in nature and aurora from a plane.  The aurora shot is not great, but I’ve long wanted to see it while travelling in a plane.  Great information, great viewings, great day! Karen S, Polar Bear Safari,  October 29, 2023

Yesterday, we returned from our polar bear safari to Churchill. I have to say from beginning to end it was wonderful and so well organised. Your staff who were on the trip with us were so kind and helpful. Brian Keating was in our tundra buggy, and I found out about all the places he had been to in the Arctic north of Churchill. We saw quite a few polar bears, but only one came close to the tundra buggy, but it thrilled my two big grandchildren to seem them in the wild. Pat G, Polar Pear Safari, October 29, 2023

Terri and I would like to thank Classic Canadian Tours for an outstanding polar bear experience last Friday.  We gathered some life-long memories and made a few friends along the way. 2023

A big “Thank You” to Bill L, Brian K, and all the helpful guides, drivers, and staff.

I wrote a blog piece about the experience, “In Nanuk’s Hands.”  Please feel free to share the link with the other passengers and crew. https://wellwaterblog.ca/

Russ and Terri, Polar Pear Safari, October 27, 2023

Omg! The trip was amazing!! And the bears were magnificent!! We saw 7 beats and all kinds of birds! Spectacular trip! Loved every minute of it! Teresa V, Polar Pear Safari, October 29, 2023

WOW, we had an awesome adventure with the Polar Bears, and they put on quite a show. Lynne C, Polar Pear Safari, October 27, 2023

I wanted to reach and thank you and the team for a wonderful day in Churchill yesterday. Our family had a great time and really enjoyed the experience. The dinner was a very nice change from having dinner on the plane and let us experience the Churchill community in a different way. We were impressed by the food and the people serving us. Thanks again for a wonderful trip. Bob, Polar Pear Safari, October 29, 2023

Omg! The trip was amazing!! And the bears were magnificent!! We saw 7 beats and all kinds of birds! The buggy drivers were very knowledgeable of the area. Spectacular trip! Loved every minute of it! Teresa, Polar Pear Safari, October 29, 2023

THANK YOU for the amazing day I had on the Polar Bear Safari on October 29th. This tour was so well organized from day one, and I felt well taken care of. From the first contact with you to the naturalists to the tundra buggy driver to the staff who catered the dinner....everything was beyond perfect. So....THANK YOU!!!!! My photography heart is full, and I brought home some of the most amazing photos I would have never dreamed of. Susanne, Polar Pear Safari, October 29, 2023

Just wanted to thank you so much for a great polar bear tour from Edmonton on October 29th.  Everything was so well organized, and we could not have asked for a better experience. It’s been so nice corresponding with you during the planning of the tour. Lee and Robin, Polar Pear Safari, October 29, 2023

Thank you, Brenda, for organizing the tour. We had a fantastic time despite the flight delays.  I had hoped to see more bears, but we saw five and are grateful. Also, appreciate the educational talks from the naturalists.  They were eye-opening and an urgent challenge to do our small part in dealing with global warming. Vinnie, Polar Pear Safari, October 27, 2023

What a wonderful day with the bears! Can’t thank you enough - Brian Keating (as was on his tundra vehicle) & Les Stegenga for their valuable, fascinating knowledge!! Just spoke with Bill Lamberton re: Grizzly Tour next year.  Brenda has been most helpful in organizing our booking - many thanks to her also!! You run a ‘class operation INDEED’! Cheers Paulette, Polar Pear Safari, November 4, 2023

It was a wonderful trip arranged by Canadian Classic Tours. I had the opportunity to travel in the same buggy with Bill. He was very kind to me to clarify all my questions. Kindly convey my thanks to him as well. Gowri, Polar Pear Safari, November 4, 2023

Just wanted to compliment your company on the wonderful job in organizing our polar bear adventure. All logistics were perfect. The pickups and charter flight and wonderful evening meal, and all trip details worked like clockwork. Our buggy driver/guide Neil and our naturalist Brian were fantastic and insanely funny (they should take that act on the road). And the polar bears and weather even cooperated - how lucky for us! Our first encounter with a bear was about 5 minutes after we landed, we were still in the bus and hadn’t even gotten to the tundra buggy launch. A bear was running down the road directly toward us! Once on the tundra buggy, we followed a mother and cub for a while, and then when they laid down for a nap, we got out our packed lunch and sat in our tundra buggy and just “Seaton watched,” a term I had never heard before, but now understand since I have done it. The weather was perfect for those of us who love a good photo or two (or a few hundred or two). We saw quite a few other bears, but the highlight was a giant solo male whom we also followed for a while. He came right up to our buggy to check us out. So exciting! Thanks for covering every detail and making our trip perfect. I have already passed on your company info to several friends who are insanely jealous and will be doing your trip next year! Maureen, Polar Pear Safari, November 4, 2023

I just returned from the November 4 Polar Bear Safari with my three adult children.  What an experience of a lifetime!  From my first contact with Bill way back in April up to the last day communicating with Brenda, I have been most impressed. They were always quick to reply to any questions we had.  The tour itself was so well organized. With so many moving parts and different modes of transportation to get from one place to another, it was so efficient. We were also well-fed. Then, seeing and travelling over the tundra on the tundra buggies was an amazing experience. But the ultimate was seeing the polar bears.  JP, our driver, was so knowledgeable and showed such great respect to the animals. I am a cancer patient, and this trip was on my bucket list. It far exceeded my expectations.  I was so thrilled to see the mom and baby and the huge male so close to our tundra buggy.  It definitely was a trip I will always cherish, especially sharing it with my 3 adult children! Bill, thank you for having the insight to share this kind of experience with the public.  It was one of the best trips I have ever taken. Thank you so much. Roberta, Polar Pear Safari, November 4, 2023

Returned from a fabulous day in Prince Rupert with Bill and the Boys. What a wonderful day.  Flights, crews, guests, weather and animals of all kinds could not have been any better. Thanks for such a memorable experience., Grizzly Bear West Coast Tour, June 10, 2023

We had a marvelous day in Churchill and out on the tundra.  I know you don't arrange for the polar bears to arrive or the weather but it seems as if someone had!  We were out and about with no toques or gloves viewing bears left, right and centre.  They entertained us with wrestling, eating a seal, posing for beautiful pictures and relaxing in piles together.  What an experience for us as well as the three grandchildren who accompanied us.  We could not have ordered up a better time.  Thanks to you and the rest of your crew who organized the details for the trip right down to the special diets some of us needed.  The excitement for the kids and for the adults was palpable. Marion, Polar Bear Safari, Nov 5, 2022

That was a terrific polar bear day last Saturday!  We saw 31 polar bears and 2 Arctic fox.  Exceeded my expectation!  We really enjoyed that. Jennifer & Andre, Polar Bear Safari, Nov 5, 2022

Wow, that was incredible yesterday!  Thank yo so much to the whole team for an exemplary day seeing polar bears!  Sara, Polar Bear Safari, Nov 5, 2022

Thank you for all your help over the years booking 5 day trips with my grandchildren.  Each trip has been an amazing experience for both of us.  This was my last trip, as this was my youngest granddaughter.  Great memories and pictures.  The last polar trip November 5th was amazing, we saw so many bears, cubs and Arctic foxes.  The naturalist and drivers are amazing with keen eyes and vast knowledge.  I have seen grizzly bears, beluga whales and polar bears.  Thank you to Bill, Les, Brian, and the drivers for making these trips so special.  The community of Churchill were very welcoming and fed us well. Donna, Polar Bear Safari, Nov 5, 2022

We were very lucky to see 30 bears with moms & cubs, as well as, 2 Arctic fox at hunting mood.  Icing on the cake was to watch 3 bears have a seal fest.  The 4th bears, the main killers stomach was so full that he was having his afternoon siesta.  One of the bears with fresh blood stain on its face cam in front our buggy to greet us which was one of the rarest photos I ever captured.  Our Buggy #13 driver JP was very knowledgeable & was fun to learn exciting stories from him.  We were lucky to hear interesting fact from Naturalist, Brian Keating who was with us.  Nice lunch was provided in the buggy.  Enjoyed very much the gala dinner arranged at Churchill Community Centre.  Canadian North service was excellent with nice hot breakfast.  Thanks once again CCT members for meticulously organizing such a compact & memorable Polar Bear Safari.  Mitali & Ashok, Polar Bear Safari, Nov 5, 2022

Hi, it was an absolutely fabulous trip on Saturday.  Everything was so well organized and the whole day went smoothly.  Thanks so much for everything.  Wendy, Polar Bear Safari, Nov 5, 2022

The polar bear safari was truly fantastic!!! We saw 31 polar bears; mothers with cubs, 4 bears feasting on a seal, it was amazing!!! We had a number of polar bears right up close and personal beside our tundra buggy!!! In addition, we watched an arctic fox digging for a vole which it ultimately got!! The flight and service up and back by Canadian Northern Airlines was great and our buggy driver, Luke was excellent. Everything was extremely well planned and everyone with Frontiers North Adventures were very professional and fun to be with!! The evening meal in Churchill was delicious and a very nice touch. Actually, all the meals were great. In addition, we were very impressed with the community of Churchill; a very impressive town!!  This truly was a tour of a lifetime and you and everyone at Classic Canadian Tours are to be commended for the great job of planning and your attention to detail. Ray, Polar Bear Safari, Nov 5, 2022

I Just wanted to let you know we Loved our trip to see Polar Bears on Saturday Oct 29^th.  Everything was well organized and those Naturalists were soooo good and informative. We had Brian on our Tundra Buggy and he was amazing.  Marc our Tundra Buggy driver was also excellent and informative. The banquet dinner was a super nice ending to a great day. Much better than flying back right away. I hope it will be part of the itinerary next year. It gave us all a chance to wind down and get to know more people at dinner and to just talk about our outstanding day while enjoying a delicious meal. The prime rib was very good and all the food was delicious. The service was very friendly and smiles were all around by the staff.

Also we really enjoyed the Royal Hotel by Wyndam. Very nice rooms and comfortable beds and pillows. We highly recommend this 5 star top notch tour. The Polar Bears were Amazing and all our photos turned out great!!! Take care Brenda and Classic Canadian Tours is a top notch company. We loved our trip. Lisa and Wayne, Polar Bear Safari, Oct 29, 2022

The trip was fantastic!  Brian Keating was our guide in thee tundra buggy and Mark was the driver, they made the day great - it was better than I could have imagined.  Breakfast was good and the coffee and doughnuts before we left was a nice surprise and much appreciated.  Dinner was delicious, it was good to sit and visit after the day was done.  You have to be hardy to live in Churchill, it's pretty desolate but the people we talked to were so nice.  a number of people on our trip did a lot of shopping to support the local economy!  I will definitely keep my eye on other trips offered.  Patricia, Polar Bear Safari, Oct 29, 2022 

Big Thank you to CCT team for a fantastic trip this weekend.  Alan, Polar Bear Safari, Oct 29, 2022

Thank you had a fantastic time! The dinner was a wonderful way to end the day (loved the food, team serving & preparing + the community hall/gym).  2 thumbs up!  Bernadette, Polar Bear Safari, Oct 29, 2022

The Polar Bear Safari was fantastic and enjoyed by all!  Laurie, Polar Bear Safari, Oct 29, 2022

I want to thank all of those who were involved in our Polar Bear experience last weekend.  Everything was so well organized and enjoyable despite the snow.  Food was excellent and accommodation perfect.  I couldn't help but get excited with what we saw especially the enthusiasm of the operators.  Would have been happy to see more bears but that's  up to Mother Nature, the arctic and silver foxes were amazing, something I have never seen before.  Judith, Polar Bear Safari, Oct 22, 2022

We just wanted to say thank you for our wonderful Classic Bear tour on Saturday. Even though we only saw two polar bears they were great and we saw loads of other wildlife.  All the staff at Classic were fantastic with fantastic knowledge of the bears and other animals.  The food also was really good including the airplane food and Canadian North staff. Ray and Jean, Polar Bear Safari, Oct 22, 2022

How lucky were we? We couldn’t have asked for a more perfect day on Sunday, June 19th…the weather, grizzly sightings, whales, eagles and although I missed seeing the harbour seals, I did, in fact, see five dolphins from the starboard side of the catamaran. It really was a very special day and I thank you for such a wonderful tour! I look forward to joining you again on another CCT in the future. Peggy, Grizzly Bear West Coast, June 2022

Well I have to say that was the most amazing adventure I've ever had.  I have been so enthusiastic and positive in my comments and pictures to friends and family that I now know of 9 others who say they would like to go next year on the Polar Bear Tour.  Susan, Polar Bear Safari, Oct 29, 2021

I wanted to says thanks for helping coordinate one of the most beautiful days in my life.  The Polar Bear Tour was beyond amazing, no words to describe the feeling.  You and your team are like fairies making our dream come true, thanks for looking after us.  Hugo, Polar Bear Safari, Nov 6, 2021

Fantastic tour, well organized, knowledgeable staff and naturalist.  Loved it.  Bucket List Trip.  Rhonda, Polar Bear Safari, Oct 23, 2021

I just want to thank you, Classic Canadian Tours, Canadian North airlines, and Frontiers North for a stellar experience on November 7th, It is such a privilege to be able to see polar bears in their natural habitat near Churchill and experience a taste of the North.  Sally, Polar Bear Safari, Nov 7, 2021

I just got back from a fabulous and educational trip to Churchill to view the polar bears.  Top notch adventure, thanks very much!  Thanks so much and thanks again to the tour guides, and all of the wonderful people that make Classic Canadian tours so meaningful.  Carol, Polar Bear Safari, Nov 6, 2021

Yesterday was an amazing day, everything about it!  Many thanks to everyone that made it so, the organizers, the naturalists, the Captain and flight attendants of Canadian North, the bus drivers, Trevor our buggy drive, staff from Classic Canadian Tours and everyone else that helped "put the icing on the cake!"  The snacks and food were terrific as well.  The polar bear sighting exceeded our expectations, as died the wonderful scenery and terrain of our vase and beautiful Country!  Wow, what a memorable experience it was!!.  Dave and Loraine, Polar Bear Safari, Nov 7, 2021

Just a short follow-up from our wonderful trip to see the Polar Bears.  Our guide, Neil, kept us well entertained awe got to see between 20 and 30 bears plus a few other species native to the Churchill area.  The whole trip from our home on Vancouver Island to Calgary, Churchill and, Calgary and back home was fairly smooth save for a small glitch at the Canadian North hangar when we got back to find no shuttle service to our hotel.  The two gals who were there to help us tried their very bet to get it sorted out and we did finally arrive, tired but happy, at our hotel an hour later than expected.  Other than that, the experience was first class and we will certainly pass that message onto others we know who are interested in the trip. If I might make one suggestion, though, there needs to be a better selection of souvenir items depicting our Polar Bear experience made available, such as hats like the ones your employees wear, T-shirts or sweatshirts with your logo on them and pins with a bear theme.  i did purchase some jewellery from the local artist but his supply was quite limited.  Perhaps the Canadian Wildlife Federation could be a supplier to help raise money and awareness for our Canadian Polar Bears.  Truly beautiful and distinct creatures.  I'm glad that Covid didn't scuttle our plans completely and than you for following through on the trip this year.  Barb and Phil, Polar Bear Safari, Nov 6, 2021

Wanted to let you know what a wonderful time we had on our recent excursion with you. The whole trip was awesome!  The arrangement and food were fabulous - enjoyed the people - everyone was so knowledgeable, it was wonderful. And of course, the bears were the highlight.  Thanks for the great communication you provided ant eh attention to details!  Hope to make another trip with you guys!!! Chris, Polar Bear Safari, Oct 23, 2021

I want to than everyone at Classic Canadian Tours for a fantastic Polar Bear Safari.  My husband and I truly enjoyed our day with you, especially with Trevor our buggy driver.  In fact, everyone was friendly and helpful. We had a fabulous day on Saturday.  The weather was great and visibility and temperature wasn't an issue.  The knowledge we gained about Hudson Bay, Churchill, and polar bears made the trip extra special.  Our photos turned out great.  We were privileged to see over 20 bears, including cubs.  

We did have one mishap.  I forgot my purse on the plane on the ride home from Churchill.  This was totally my fault but everyone at Classic Canadian Tours was so helpful in returning the bag to me.  Bill in particular took the extra step of flying the bag back to us via Air Canada cargo the next day.  We couldn't ask for better customer service.  Than you again to all of you for an extraordinary bucket list experience.  Michelle, Polar Bear Safari, Nov 7, 2021

I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for the wonderful experience my two sisters and I had in Churchill, Manitoba on Friday, October 29/21 Polar Bear Safari.  We all enjoyed our time on this excursion.  What an outstanding opportunity.  We learned and saw so many impressive things.  The trip, from start to finish, was well organized.  We were kept informed about what, when, where, why and how the scheduled events of the day would unfold.  We even forgive you for your request that we be at the airport by 4:15 AM!  Were were on Tundra Buggy #14 with Trevor (driver/guide) and Les (Tour naturalist).  Both did an outstanding job!  They should be commended for providing such a rewarding experience for everyone.  they put extensive effort into sharing their knowledge and expertise.  How fortunate we were to be on the receiving end!  Trevor even managed to "arrange" our lunch near a polar bear that was munching Kelp/seaweed!  Now that was an exciting way for us "to do" lunch!  The lunch, I believe, was catered by a local establishment and was delicious.  Compliments on a job well done!  The one weak point of the day was the supper served on the return.  The choice I made was chicken and it was bad.  I understand that is the responsibility of the airline.  I suggest, since they are providing this service for you, they should "up their game" to equal/match your standards.  In closing, I would like to once again express our gratitude for this amazing day!  Odarka, Polar Bear Safari, Oct 23, 2021

I want to express our thanks to you for a wonderful "adventure".  While I am only a very amateur photographer, my photos are excellent and I will have an enlargement on my wall so that I never forget the majesty and grace of these wonderful animals.  Our thanks, also, to Trevor, for patiently opening and closing our stubborn window numerous times and for being a first class driver/guide.  Since I am not a very extravagant soul, I thought this one day trip was the fastest I have ever spent two thousand dollars but I can't think of anything else that could come close to giving me so much pleasure.  Lois, Polar Bear Safari, Nov 2, 2019

Thank you for a fabulous time on Saturday.  Couldn't ask for better weather.  The tour guides were awesome, the gals from the Adventure tour were so knowledgeable and friendly, everything was just amazing.  Totally enjoyed every minute of it. Bonnie, Grizzly Bear West Coast Tour,  May 25, 2019

I wanted to give some feedback about the Polar Bear Safari tour I took on Nov 11, 2018.  The tour was an amazing experience not just of the polar bears but of Churchill, Manitoba and seeing how our fellow Canadians live and survive in more remote locations. I am grateful for all who provided our transportation and made this trip an enjoyable and memorable event. Thank you! 

Special thank you to Kevin, our Tundra Buggy driver who helped us to witness 8 separate polar bear sightings and personally made each of his own "Tundrachino" hot chocolate/coffee beverage! Yum!...Monique, Polar Bear Safari, Nov 2018

I just wanted to let you know how amazing our day was in Churchill on October 28th.  Buggy 9 saw 25 bears on that day.  The experience you provided me was first class.  I loved how from parking in the parking lot at 5:30 am to getting in my car at 8:00 pm was seamless.  The whole time there was no pressure to keep moving along.  We just chilled and enjoyed every moment of our day.  The food was spectacular, everyone helping us was courteous, our driver Jim was knowledgeable and humorous and you throw in the bears…wow.  And finally Bill and Les were wonderful.  I was lucky to have Les on Buggy 9 as he offered so much information over the day.  He was just as excited as us regarding how many bears we saw.  Your tour company is first class……Terry, Polar Bear Safari, Oct 2018 

PS….this is a little video I put together of my day…...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lyxYeMozulo

Man, we LOVED the polar tour out of Edm last weekend. - Carmen, Polar Bear Safari October 2018

Thank you for a very special day.  The entire trip was well planned.  Everything exceeded our expectations from the naturalist to the Tundra Buggy drivers. We really lucked out with the weather and the stars of the show, the polar bears, were stunning!  Being able to watch the bears in their natural habitat in a safe and secure atmosphere for us and the bears was spectacular.  Thanks for the wonderful facilitation of an experience we will always cherish. - Rob, Polar Bear Safari Oct 2018

Just returned home from my tour on 10/26.  We had a great time and would like to extend our thanks to our driver Erick, our guides, and everyone else involved on the day. Great job! – Brandon, Polar Bear Safari Oct 2018

We just want to say that our trip of October 26, 2018 was fantastic.  Everyone was so informative and considerate.  Our tundra driver, Kevin stopped when we saw a polar bear and was so helpful when we couldn't see the bear he saw.  We think he should be commended for his superior work.- Kathleen & Linda, Polar Bear Safari Oct 2018

Loved, loved, loved our trip to Churchill yesterday!!  We spent a fair bit of time photographing the bears and landscape (and other flora & fauna we discovered), but also took time to just watch.  SO amazing!!!

Thank you for leading thoughtful, respectful & fun tours.  Good food, excellent guides, fabulously planned…can’t say enough good things!  -Andrea, Polar Bear Safari, Oct 2018

Thank you for organizing such a wonderful tour.  It turned out to be fantastic.  Every aspect of that  tour was picture  perfect, including hundreds of spectaculars pictures we able to take (attached one of them)

You took care of  the every detail ,and it showed.  I really appreciate it. Janusz, Polar Bear Safari, Oct 2018

We just went on the trip to Whitehorse and had a great time-thank you so much for ensuring our trip was successful.

Kelsey did a blog on the trip and I thought you might enjoy reading it – it is very well done.  http://canadiankelsey.ca/yukomming-to-the-northern-lights/

Carol, Northern Lights Tour September 2019

We had a WONDERFUL time and commend Classic Canadian Tours on a very well organized and delightful tour!  Wow, what a true Canadian outing.  A sincere thank you for being such a wonderful guide.  We are so impressed by our Churchill tours (previous polar bear one) we will definitely look for other destination you are offering.   

Brenda and Gerry, Beluga Whale Tour July 2018

I joined your Beluga Whale Tour last Friday and Saturday and it was an excursion of a lifetime.  It was totally incredible, enjoyable beyond words.  Lazy Bear Enterprises treated us like royalty, the ambiance of the lodge so comfortable and the tours spectacular. I had no idea how much culture and heritage there is in Churchill, along with the magnificence of the surrounding environment. Jason, our guide, brought the area to life for me. He was so much fun, so knowledgeable and conveyed his love for the area to us all. Canada is a wonderful country, full of diversity, and we Canadians sometime forget that we do live in the best country in the world. This trip was a firm reminder of this for me and I feel privileged that I could share in this experience, one that people come from around the world to enjoy in our backyard!

Thank you for everyone's efforts in making this trip truly a wonderful adventure. A big thank you to Les for taking me kayaking, something I didn't think I would be able to do, an amazing experience. Also, instead of just having us wait at the airport when our departure was delayed, your team arranged a visit to the Northern Science Center for us.

It was truly a five-star experience!

-          Elaine, Beluga Whale Tour, July 2018

Just came back from an amazing day  in Churchill. What a special day with the magnificent polar bears.  Thank you to all the wonderful staff at Classic Canadian Tours.  If you can pass on my special thank you to Les for being our guide and making our trip so memorable.  His wisdom and passion for polar bears and for the environment was inspiring. 

 - Glynis, Polar Bear Safari, Nov 2017

You took my breath away,  I thought it would be spectacular but it went over my expectations.  The whole trip, from booking it to arriving back in Calgary was incredible.  Your staff really knows what they are doing and how to please the customers.

My first contact was Brenda, she is amazing, Canadian North airlines phenomenal , the bus drivers that met us at the airport were humorous and full of local knowledge, the tundra tour guides were so incredible.  I will certainly book with you again for another one of your exciting tours.  I am also telling anyone wants to hear and even those that don't, this is definitely a bucket list travel spot.  Also I thought that taking us into town to the gift stores was a wonderful idea, it gave you a taste that maybe you would want to come back and explore the town.  Thank you to everyone that made this a very memorable day.  

- Barb, Polar Bear Safari, Nov 2017

Grizzly Bear West Coast Adventure.I just wanted to say that I was blown away by the way the trip was organized, all the way from the efficiency of the parking at Canadian North; their flights and their staff; the hi-speed catamaran and their well-informed staff; Les Stegenga’s passion and your’s; and of course, the Orca’s, Grizzlies, and Eagles.  Knowing that the majority of people involved were from different agencies you have contracted with, the feat of bringing it all together without a hitch for your customers was impressive.  On behalf of my wife and our son and daughter-in-law and family, thanks for a great day! 

- Jim, Grizzly Bear West Coast Tour, July 2, 2017

We were greeted warmly at the gates at 6:30 am. Arrived in terminal to find fresh coffee and doughnuts!  Information given on the plane by the naturalist was informative and interesting.  It was even ok to ride the yellow bus to the catamaran. It was only a five minute ride but it felt like elementary school all over again!  The staff on the well maintained catamaran shared interesting information along the boat trip, pointing out highlights. The catamaran had comfortable seats, both inside and out.  I liked that we got meal tickets for lunch so that we could eat at our leisure. 

Seeing the raw wilderness and the bears was spectacular. We had ample time to view and admire the beasts. We enjoyed sea lions and a variety of birds as well   Finally, The eagles were something special to finish off the tour.  Mother Nature was particularly cooperative on our trip!  Every step of the way, staff on the plane, bus and boat were courteous and helpful.   And to have the owner standing outside the plane shaking the hand of every customer as the deplaned was the icing on the cake. I felt valued as a client. I would not hesitate to recommend Classic Tours to anyone.  

-Ann, Grizzly Bear West Coast Tour, June 18, 2017

Congratulations on a very successful tour yesterday. You all made everything run so very smoothly, treated us well and provided better weather than we had prepared for. It was a wonderful, educational, totally enjoyable trip. Thank you. Hope to do another tour with you.

-Donna, Grizzly Bear West Coast Tour, June 3, 2017

My daughter and I have the privileged and the thrill of going on your Polar Bear tour/safari on Sunday, November 13.  It was an incredible experience that we will cherish forever!  I am still smiling about it and in awe when I go through my pictures. I hope my daughter and I, can participate in your other tours in the next few years, Canada is really an incredible country with so much to see. We were very impressed with our whole experience with your company, from the moment we were guided to park our vehicles, checking in at the airport, the meals on the plane and the guest speakers and the incredibly time on the tundra buggies, everyone was friendly, and knowledgeable.  We look forward to future trips with your company.  

- Patricia, Polar Bear Safari Nov 13, 2016

My daughter and I had such a wonderful time on your polar bear safari, and the two hour delay didn’t dampen our trip at all.  I thank you for the travel credit.  I will be looking into using it on a summer tour.  Again thank you for the wonderful polar bear safari. 

- Marilyn, Polar Bear Safari Nov 13, 2016

I've heard nothing but great things and seen some awesome pic's from my clients who participated in the November 13th tour out of Edmonton.  Thank you for everything!  

- Andrea, Polar Bear Safari Nov 13, 2016

Thank you for an amazing day! The experience was beyond anything I expected. I have already recommended this tour to many people.  

- Katelyn, Polar Bear Safari Nov 13, 2016

My wife and I have been fortunate enough to travel and see wildlife in Africa, Asia and Australia. We both agreed after our experience yesterday with you in Churchill that our tour was equal to if not better than any of the experiences we have had to date in those other locales. Congrats to you for establishing a company that not only provides employment, hopefully makes a profit but also truly does enrich the lives of those who purchase your product. A rare combination indeed!
Thanks again for an unbelievable day.  

- Nigel and Anita, Polar Bear Safari Nov 13, 2016

Our group had an amazing trip, loved it all, and we saw 18 or so polar bears, really great, our kids were thrilled as were all our invitees.  

- Ruth, Polar Bear Safari, Nov 5, 2016

I never got a chance to thank you for a wonderful trip this summer. We all enjoyed it immensely, and I thought the professionalism you and your company showed regarding the plane delay was exceptional.
I do have a complaint to pass on regarding the tundra tour.  At the time of year we were there was essentially no chance of seeing polar bears. This was verified by our tour guide. Had I known this I would not have spent to several hundred dollars for three of us to attend that tour. Without the chance of seeing the polar bears, this short tour was not a good value. Thanks again for what was otherwise a wonderful trip.  

- Martin, Beluga Whale Tour, August 2016

We want to thank-you for organizing a wonderful trip for us to the Yukon. We had a wonderful time. We were impressed with Air North,the Westmark Hotels in Whitehorse, Dawson City and Skagway. We were also impressed with the Edgewater Hotel in Whitehorse. The train/bus trip was a real highlight for my husband. We enjoyed the whole trip from start to finish. It was so nice to have everything booked in advance, that just made the journey so stress-free. I have made mention to others about Classic Canadian Tours and look forward to booking another adventure someday.  Sincerely, 

- Malcolm & Lori, Yukon Gold Rush, July 2016 

Just wanted to say how much I enjoyed yesterday. Came home feeling very peaceful and relaxed. Loved getting on and off the plane so easily without the security hassle. Like the “old days”.....

- Liz, Grizzly Bear Tour, July 25, 2016 

Thanks for hosting such an incredible tour to the Khutzeymateen on June 11th. This is the second tour that we have taken with you, the first to see the polar bears in Churchill in 2014. Both have been incredible once in a lifetime experiences, of which we will hold many great memories for years to come. Both you and Les are great hosts, providing a perfect mix of knowledge and information, flawless service, and care and attention to your guests. You and your team provide all of this in a seemingly effortless manner, but rest assured we fully understand and appreciate all that you do behind the scenes to make this happen. 

- Richard and Judy, Grizzly Bear Tour

We had a fantastic time on the grizzly bear tour this weekend. The tour was great. The tour guides and staff were accommodating, knowledgeable and very entertaining. Loved the wildlife especially the Bears. The Eagles were quite a treat too. Thank you for an amazing trip. 

- Shannon & Dan, Grizzly Bear Tour, June 11, 2016

Just wanted to thank you for such an incredible day on Saturday.  It truly was an awesome experience (in the true sense of the word!) and we feel so honoured and blessed to have been able to do the trip.  It was great to meet you too, and was wonderful to have your expertise and knowledge so readily available :o).  Best regards and thank you again for an excellent trip!  

- Aileen & Crae, Polar Bear Safari, November 14, 2015

Everyone had a great experience on the Polar Bear Safari, everyone has contacted me to say what an amazing time they had.   A few of these guests are now interested in the BELUGA WHALE TOUR for this coming Summer.  

- Ed, Co-op Travel Polar Bear Safari, November 14, 2015

The tour was an Awesome Experience and now is checked off of Bobbi's (my wife of 40 yrs) bucket list. The short trip from the airport to the Buggy was a lot of fun, very informative and we were fortunate enough to be on the bus with the boss of the bus line. As many people in Churchill...very colourful . Our Buggy driver Neil did an excellent job and kept everyone smiling throughout the afternoon. We met a lot of wonderful people throughout the day (including the staff and flight crew). We have travelled extensively and have made a lot of great memories.....our 1 day trip to Churchill to see the Polar Bears is definitely near the top of that list of memories.

- Craig & Bobbi, Polar Bear Safari, Calgary November 8

I thoroughly enjoyed the Polar Bear Safari Tour.  Everything was so well planned.  My friend came with me to keep me company and sure glad that she did.  She we totally impressed.  We saw at least 15 bears.  Ann, Polar Bear Safari, November 7, 2015

I just wanted to thank you for helping to make my birthday last Sunday an experience of a lifetime. It was everything I dreamed of and more. Thanks again and thanks to all of the people involved with Classic

- Shannon, Polar Bear Safari, November 1, 2015 

Want to tell you how much I enjoyed the trip to Churchill.  Saying it was awesome, would be an understatement!!  Everything was first class.  The flights, meals, the tundra buggies.....everything was great.  Of course, seeing so many polar bears was incredible!  Also wanted to say that, I was on the same buggy as Owen.  He was so good with answering questions, giving information about the area, the polar bears, and so much more.   Owen certainly made my tour so much more interesting.  Our driver, Neil, was also very good.....interesting stories, and he kept everyone comfortable.  Thanks again for an incredible day......I will be recommending your company to everyone I talk to! 

- Dorothy, Polar Bear Safari, November 1, 2015 

I was recently on your tour to Churchill and although we saw only 2 bears, I thought your entire operation was inspiring!   Thank you!! 

- Jane, Polar Bear Safari, October 25, 2015 

You probably have more than enough polar bear pictures; nevertheless I thought you might like to see these.  Great tour BTW; next time we hope to find some cubs! :-)  Thank you, 

- Michael, Polar Bear Safari, October 23, 2015

 WOW what an amazing trip to Churchill Manitoba! Thank you all so very much for the spectacular experience, organizing and getting us there & back safely.  We thank Les & Owen as well for all their enthusiasm & insightful information. This trip far exceeded our expectations – we will definitely sign up for another adventure with you.  

- Liz & Russ, Diane, Anika, Beluga Whale Tour August 22, 2015

 Just wanted to let you know how much Tristan and I enjoyed this Beluga Whale trip. I was a bit worried that Tristan was too young when we first arrived and there were no other children his age. Everyone was so nice to him from the guides to the other participants, and he was in his glory. He thinks he will go back when he is older. He wants to see the polar bears now. He told me more than once "this is amazing grandma, well worth it".  

- Glenys, Beluga Whale Tour August 22, 2015

I just want to say a huge thank you for that wonderful day; the staff, the flight, the tour, the food and the weather!  I appreciate all your fine work in making it run smoothly and enjoyably. 

- Glenice, Grizzly Bear Adventure July 4th, 2015

I would just like to thank you and everyone involved with Classic Canadian Tours for making our day trip to see the Polar Bears so simple and so wonderful. It was a magical day from start to finish. Everyone at Ptarmigan thanks you for a great experience.  We all are telling everyone and making so many people jealous. However we are nice and give them the opportunity to make others jealous as we all highly recommend Classic Canadian. I have no doubt that our paths will cross again. 

- Gary, October 24, Polar Bear Safari 2014

I was on the Polar Bear Tour out of Edmonton a week ago, Oct.26/14, I did not see anything on the trip to leave a comment on how and what we experienced. I want to say how impressed I was with how the whole trip turned out. Right from being picked up at the parking lot, checking at the terminal, the in-flight crew and our guides, to the people in Churchill. Your own people treated us exceptionally, the bus drive and Neil our Tundra Buggy operator were so knowledgeable, willing to give their thoughts, stories and experiences and answer any questions we had. Thank you for an experience of a lifetime and a new found respect for the Polar Bear. We did not have any snow on the ground and I guess it was something I had hoped for, to get those true polar bear photographs, to see the landscape as we did was amazing, a truly different type of conditions and how harsh that part of our country is. Another trip in November will have to be added to my bucket list. Thank you again to Bill our guide on our buggy and to the rest of you team, what a wonderful and memorable experience! 

- Rick, October 26, Polar Bear Safari 2014

Just wanted to thank you for such a wonderful adventure. I had a fabulous time and I can't seem to shut up about it. Everyone involved was great and there to answer any questions. I learnt so much about polar bears, the tundra and Churchill that day. I was so impressed that every detail was taken care of and the tour went so smoothly! The meals on the plane were great - I cannot remember the last time I was served a hot meal on a flight let alone everything else. I cannot thank you enough for making my day and everyone else's so special! Looking forward to doing this again sometime - hoping a tour to see grizzlies fishing during a salmon run in BC or Yukon may become available in the next few years. 

- Lisa, October 24, Polar Bear Safari 2014

Nigel and I really want to express our appreciation for the wonderful polar bear experience we enjoyed on Nov. 1st.  The day was very well planned and exceeded all our expectations.  Even the bears co-operated, it was particularly lovely watching the mothers and cubs.  We've captured it all on some great videos.  We have already recommended this trip to our friends for next year and we will keep in touch regarding future tours with you.  Thank you very much, 

- Marian and Nigel, November 1, Polar Bear Safari 2014

Wow !! What an absolutely amazing day we had... Now Linda & I know what it's like to travel with a rock star !

Our morning started early & we looked out to see a light sprinkling of snow falling....perfect for the start of our adventure.
Mum had celebrity status from the time she stepped out of my car with Linda @ the West Wind Terminal " oh she must be our celebrity" the gal standing outside yelled to us. Everyone were so wonderful the entire day, Bill,Les from Classic Canadian Tours had every detail organized  for us,seats reserved for us @ the front of the plane as well as the tundra buggy. There were shuttle arrangements for only her & her entourage ( daughters) so no long walks from the terminal to the plane etc
 We were greeted on arrival at Churchill by the Mayor & deputy mayor bearing gifts ( bunny hug,travel mug,journal all with the town of Churchill label on them )..flashes from cameras as many were taking pictures of the arriving Celebrity !  Oh my ! They were waiting for her.
The whole town of Churchill seemed to know she was coming. Jodi our school bus driver who transferred us from the air terminal to the tundra buggy launch & back was very excited to have her aboard & was anxious to show her off. At the end of our day when Jodi dropped the other bus passengers off to shop @ " 58 North" ,she thought Mum should go to " Gypsy's Bakery & Restaurant " where the bathroom facilities were more accessible & so we went ....,refreshments were enjoyed and we were greeted with " that's the lady from the paper" ,apparently there had been several stories in the Winnipeg paper all week .

Simon our tundra buggy driver was so great,a native of England, you could tell he loves his adopted home of Canada, specifically Churchill,Manitoba. He is so knowledgeable & shared his love of the polar bears & nature with us for 6 + hours.   We saw bears !!! Our 1st encounter was about 5 minutes into our tundra buggy experience. That was a mother & her two 11 month old Cubs....wonderful. That & each sighting after, Simon's enthusiasm & excitement was contagious. We saw 2 young bears standing on their hind legs sparring, a mother & her 2 year old cub jumping on the ice....learning for the future use when the seal hunting takes place. We saw bears scooching along the ice, another encounter was a large male intimidating a smaller female, chased her away as if to say "out of here ,these are my tourists !" We saw furry "rocks" as bears hunkered down on the snowy terrain. Bears feeding on kelp.All in all we saw 20-25 bears

We were told all day how fortunate we were to have such wonderful weather (-17 which was -25 on arrival) the light was spectacular.  We saw double sun dogs & a beautiful sunset at the end of the day. Simon pointed out the various vegetation,spruce,tamarack ,19 species of willow etc interesting to see the "flag" trees,spruce trees that only have branches on one side because of the winds that wear them down. I wish I could remember all his stories.
Just everyone made our day great; the staff @ Air North from check in to drop off, the other passengers, no one ever made us feel we were a inconvenience rather it was a privilege  to be travelling with us ! Simon the tundra driver presented mum with a Hudson’s Bay throw to keep her warm on the tundra buggy. She was served first and told she had brought good luck "my sun glasses had cobwebs on them until Pauline came " the sun shone & the light was amazing. Simon even wanted her to drive the buggy but only managed to get her into the drivers seat" I haven't had my driver’s license for year " she said. The huge machine lumbers along @ about 3 mph. It wasn't as rough as I expected & of course we stopped for watching those magnificent animals. To see them in their pristine habitat was a I Love Canada moment. The people of Churchill are so proud of their home town and so very friendly. We never met one sour mean spirited person all day from the start of our day to the end!
Thank you Classic Canadian Tours and especially Bill Lamberton who spent the day with us on Tundra buggy #14 & made sure we knew exactly what to expect next " you'll be off first" or " you'll be off last " etc they also presented her with a framed polar bear print ,that had been shot by Les Stegenga ,our naturalist with us. The Churchill Chamber of Commerce gave Mum a diploma declaring her to be an esteemed ,exalted ,historical & honourable chief inspector of Polar bears.....wow.  Mum ,Linda & I raised our wine glass to each other on the flight home & decided we had a most remarkable,wonderful day & Mother / daughters experience ! Loved it !!!  

- November 1, Polar Bear Safari 2014

We would like to take this opportunity to say we had an awesome time at Churchill and we have enjoyed watching the Beluga.  

- Eva & Terry, Calgary, Beluga Whale Tour 2014

Thank you for the most wonderful wknd!!  We enjoyed it thoroughly.  

- Gail & Don, Calgary. Beluga Whale Tour 2014 

Thank you for a wonderful weekend and experience.   You managed to pack so much into two days in a seamless manner (seamless to this participant anyway!).  The world of Churchill is exciting and beautiful and filled with friendly people.  I don’t know if you had a word with the head beluga, but they certainly put on a great show of numbers for visitors delight – awe inspiring.  Having such knowledgeable people there in Brian and Les was certainly a bonus.  Thank you again to you and your team.

- Irene, Calgary, Beluga Whale Tour 2014

What a great trip... another item off my bucket list... thanks!  Les and Brian are fantastic guides... very knowledge and also fun to be around.  Please pass along my thanks to them and everyone involved in organizing this trip.  I enjoyed all the tours.  The local guides were excellent and I really felt a sense of pride from them when they were talking about the area.  They are very knowledgeable about all facets of Churchill.  Gerald and Jennifer are fantastic people and their love for their home and animals is very apparent.  I was very impressed with their dog sledding operation and most importantly, how well they treat their animals.  Jennifer also went above and beyond when she offered to call us at the hotel if she saw any Northern lights later that night and then, to top it all off, she even volunteered to pick us up and take us out to the Boreal forest for a better view, at 1:30 in the morning!

The tour of the grain elevator was excellent and the guide was very information, not only about grain and the elevator but also about the shipping and the Churchill area. The lodge staff were fantastic, from the front desk to the dining room and the food was excellent.  The two days were so full that it felt like we had packed a 4-day trip instead of 2 (that is a good thing).

Also, the airplane food (if I should even use that term) was very good and I really like the added touch of wine on the way home.  This was my 2nd trip with you and I will definitely book other excursions with you in the future.  Thanks for all the personal touches.  

- Trixie, Calgary, Beluga Whale Tour 2014

Just wanted to say thank you and how highly impressed Justin and I were on the Grizzly Tour Saturday July 05. Everything was absolutely perfect, the flights, the meals, the vessel, the tours, the bus shuttle etc. very well organized! We really enjoyed ourselves.  Once again, thank you and Justin and I look forward to being able to participate in the polar bear tour this fall!  Thank You for a very well done/run tour, appreciated!  

- Jackie, Edmonton, Grizzly Bear West Coast Tour 2014

Hello, I just wanted to drop you a quick note regarding yesterday's tour. I am sure I don't have to tell you that the opportunity to see grizzlies, orcas and bald eagles was a magical and amazing experience and I hope you receive that kind of feedback regularly. As someone who had organized over 1000 events, large and small, I wanted to give you feedback on something that maybe you don't hear about often enough. Your organization did an amazing job of just logistically organizing the day. It is rare that a day with so many 'moving parts' goes so smoothly and I realized after the tour was over that I didn't even notice the logistics of the day because you just did such a thorough, professional and seamless job of everything. Kudos to you for that. Very very well done. 

- Rhonda, Calgary, Grizzly Bear West Coast Tour 2014

Hi...just wanted to drop a note and send you a big thank you to you and the crew for the trip to the Grizzly Sanctuary on Saturday....it was a really good trip and well organized!  Having the 2 naturalists on board is excellent...I liked the commentary and insights they both had and the captain did an awesome job manoeuvring the boat around! I had a great time and the wildlife viewing was excellent!  I am considering the Polar Bear trip...but the Grizzly trip for next year is a must again!  

- James Calgary, Grizzly Bear West Coast Tour 2014

  "Just a note to say thank you for a great Polar Bear Safari trip on October 20th.  The whole day was superbly well organized and I thoroughly enjoyed all parts of it.  Les and Bob (our driver) were very helpful and informative and although we didn't encounter many bears, I was fascinated by the ones we did have the opportunity to observe.  But what really captured my imagination was the grandeur of the territory.  Bleak though it may be, it was an incredible beauty all its own with its rich tapestry of colours.  Thank you for a memorable day." 

- Sheila, Calgary, Polar Bear Safari Tour 2013

  "We were on your Edmonton Polar bear excursion last Saturday the 9th. It was wonderful, the guide, Simon, and also Brian, were wonderful. My husband and I had a wonderful time, your suggestions for clothing worked perfectly. Everything worked smoothly, I really enjoyed it. Right up there with my 2001 trip to the Galapagos." 

- Lyn, Edmonton, Polar Bear Safari Tour 2013