Classic Canadian Tours

Does Classic Canadian Tours provide travel insurance?

Classic Canadian Tours does not provide travel insurance. If you would like to purchase travel insurance we suggest that you first check with your credit card company, as it may be offered on purchases made with your credit card. Travel insurance may also be purchased through your car or home insurance provider or through a travel insurance company, such as Travel Guard. Trip cancellation and interruption insurance will ensure that you are covered in the event that you are not able to make the trip for a personal reason, such as illness or if your trip is interrupted for an unforeseen reason, such as weather. Travel medical insurance, will pay the upfront costs not covered by Provincial Healthcare, such as evacuation, if you do not have extended health benefits. Only your insurance provider will be able to let you know your exact coverage.

Are meals included during flight and Tundra Buggy excursion?

Yes. You will be served breakfast during the flight to Churchill, a lunch will be served on the Tundra Buggy® and dinner will be served during the return flight or in Churchill, at a private venue. If you have any food allergies and/or special dietary meal requirements, please be make sure to contact us at least one week prior to the flight, plus notify your flight attendant when meals are served during the flight. We also suggest bringing a snack.

Where do we check-in for the flights?

• Polar Bear Safaris depart from a private departure lounge. If you are booked on the tour, the location and a map will be provided at least 30 days prior to the departure date. In the case that you do not receive the document, please contact our office; Calgary (403)295-1415 or toll free 1-866-460-1415.

How are my tour payments protected?

Payments and deposits will be handled by Classic Canadian Tours or your selected travel professional. They/We are responsible under jurisdictional law to appropriately handle the payments.

What are some of the things I should pack for this trip?

To help ensure a more memorable journey, here are some suggested items to bring:

• Camera
• Sun glasses
• Binoculars
• Jacket, gloves, scarf, toque
• Walking shoes, winter boots or hiking boots with good traction
• Comfortable clothing for exploring and in-flight travel
• Backpack or light weight carry-on-bag with shoulder strap

What are the advantages of travel by jet?

The non-stop jet flight allows for a seamless travel experience without circuitous routings or connections.

What are the luggage allowances?

Each passenger is allowed to bring up to one (1) piece of carry-on baggage on board

• The maximum dimensions must not exceed 23 cm x 41 cm x 57 cm (9" x 16" x 22.5"),
• The maximum weight must not exceed 10 kg (22lbs)

One (1) of the following small personal items will be accepted in addition to the above carry-on baggage allowance, provided the depth does not exceed 12 cm/5 in:

• One briefcase
• One laptop type computer
• One purse

For more details, please visit: <https://www.canadiannorth.com/info/carry-on-luggage>

What weather conditions should I prepare for?

Temperature in Degrees Celsius:

• October: 0
• November: -9

Weather conditions at this time of year can vary significantly. Freeze-up has not yet occurred, and with the maritime influence of Hudson Bay, days are often overcast with a possibility of precipitation. It's best to be prepared for anything. Checking the weather forecast the day before traveling to Churchill is highly recommended. There’s little concern about extreme temperature differences between the inside and outside of the vehicle affecting your camera equipment.

What Time Zone is Churchill, Manitoba in?

Churchill is in the Central Standard Time Zone (CST). When times are referenced in any collateral it is referring to the local time of that particular destination.

Who are our in-flight crewmembers and hosts?

The in-flight crew will be a highly experienced team consisting of two pilots and three flight attendants. In addition, there will be one Classic Canadian Tours representative and a naturalist aboard the flight.

At check-in and boarding you will be greeted by Canadian North staff and your Classic Canadian Tours representative.

Who owns and operates the exclusive jet?

The exclusive Boeing 737 jets chartered by Classic Canadian Tours for the Polar Bear Tundra Tour from Alberta are owned and operated by Canadian North with a passenger capacity starting at 136. In 2024 from Saskatoon we will be chartering North Cariboo Air, which will be operating its 100 passenger capacity Avro RJ100 jet.

What lens should I bring for photographing wildlife? Answered by Les, our in-house Naturalist.

For photographing wildlife, a longer lens with more powerful magnification is always beneficial. I’ve had great success with a 100-400mm lens, but like many photography enthusiasts, I always wish for more lens power while balancing cost and weight. Recently, I’ve also had excellent results with a bridge camera featuring a built-in 28-600mm zoom lens. The sharpness of the images was surprising. We don’t allow tripods on board due to space constraints, and monopods are generally unnecessary unless you have a particularly heavy lens. There is ample space for photography, as all windows along the length of the vehicle can be lowered, and there is also a viewing platform at the back. Lenses can be handheld or rested on your forearm when shooting out the windows.

What kind of vehicle will we use to view polar bears and wildlife?

In Churchill, Manitoba, we use a wheeled tundra buggy to view polar bears and other native wildlife. The buggy travels along old gravel roads, built by the military in the 1960s-1970s, which can be quite rocky. Our ground operator is restricted to staying on these existing roads.

What can I expect in terms of polar bear sightings?

At this time of year, polar bears congregate along the Hudson Bay coastline, waiting for the sea ice to form. The distance at which you can see bears ranges from several kilometers away to just a few meters. Polar bears often approach the tundra buggies out of curiosity. While close encounters are possible, they are not guaranteed, as the bears are in their natural environment. On average, sightings are at a distance of 100-200 meters.

Assigned seating

Seating on the aircraft is assigned at check-in. For the tundra buggies, there is no assignment—guests select which buggy they'd like to board when they arrive at the tundra buggy rendezvous point from the airport via school buses. Guests travelling with others stay together and board whichever buggy they wish. There is no assigned seating for the banquet - guests select their seats on arrival to the community hall.