Witness the Majestic Polar Bears: Top Destinations to See These Arctic Icons

Thrust into the spotlight as the poster children of the effects of climate change, polar bears have become the endangered celebrities of the animal world. However, despite the high cost and relative difficulty involved in viewing these kings of the Arctic in their natural habitat, an increasing number of travellers are eager to see them while they still can.

Listed as a vulnerable species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), polar bears face an uncertain future. Nonetheless, in September 2015, the five states whose territories cover this spectacular animal’s range – Canada, Kingdom of Denmark (Greenland), Norway, Russia, and the US – signed the Circumpolar Action Plan, a 10-year global conservation strategy aimed at securing the long-term survival of polar bears. According to the World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF), polar bears are estimated to number between 22,000 and 31,000 in the wild. Although it is too soon to measure the success of this initiative, such joint commitments offer reassurance that these nations are devoted to the preservation of this iconic species.

Many fortunate individuals who have been able to observe a wild polar bear would agree that it is one of the most exhilarating wildlife-viewing experiences on Earth. Despite its relatively young standing, polar bear tourism does face challenges. An increase in human-polar bear contact in Norway, for example, has prompted authorities to take action, resulting in more bears being shot.

Consequently, it can be argued that the carbon emissions produced by tourists traveling to the Arctic to spot bears are counterproductive to the survival of these marine mammals. Nonetheless, well-managed polar bear tourism has inspired visitors to recognize the importance of safeguarding the fragile Arctic environment. If you dream of taking such a trip someday, read on for the best locations to observe these majestic bears in their vulnerable Arctic habitats.

Canada: Churchill, Manitoba

They don’t call Churchill the ‘polar bear capital of the world’ for nothing. Every autumn, hundreds of polar bears gather 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. This designated destination offers some of the most accessible and affordable polar bear viewing opportunities. The tourism industry in Churchill is well-established, with tours typically conducted in custom-made tundra buggies that offer both indoor and outdoor viewing areas. These vehicles allow for close encounters with the bears while ensuring the safety of both humans and bears, although the elevation of the viewing platforms can be challenging for photographers.

When to go: October and November mark the peak viewing season in Churchill, but some operators provide packages at their remote lodges during March, when mother bears emerge from their dens with their cubs. Bear watching can also be combined with beluga whale excursions in July and August.

Operators: Tour options range from half-day viewing experiences to multi-day adventures that include overnight stays in tundra lodges. Operators such as Great White Bear Tours (greatwhitebeartours.com), Frontiers North (frontiersnorth.com), and Natural Habitat Adventures (nathab.com) have exceptional access to the Churchill Wildlife Management Area, which is the main viewing area.

Cost: Expect to pay around CAD$470 for a full-day tour.

United States: Kaktovik, Alaska

While polar bear populations in the Bering Sea are thought to be declining, these magnificent animals have become a common presence along Alaska’s Arctic coast in the summer months, leading to the emergence of a tourism industry in two Inupiat Eskimo villages: Barrow and Kaktovik. Situated on Barter Island, just off the coast, Kaktovik is the prime location for spotting polar bears. Drawn by the chance to feast on the carcasses of bowhead whales that the community is permitted to harvest, polar bears can often be observed by the dozen on the sand islands surrounding the town. Visitors arrive via small planes from Fairbanks for three- to four-hour viewing tours conducted in small boats equipped for six guests.

When to go: Boat tours operate from mid-August until late September or early October.

Operators: The Northern Alaska Tour Company (northernalaska.com) offers day trips from Fairbanks, while smaller operators, including Akook Arctic Adventures (akookarcticadventures.com), provide multi-day photography-driven tours with lodging in Kaktovik.

Cost: Northern Alaska Tour Company’s day trip is priced at $1799, making it the least expensive option. Additionally, booking flights directly through Ravn Alaska (flyravn.com) and coordinating a viewing session with Kaktovik Tours (US$720; kaktoviktours.com) may yield better deals.

Norway: Spitsbergen, Svalbard

Located halfway between mainland Norway and the North Pole, the Svalbard archipelago is home to a diverse range of wildlife, including thousands of polar bears, amidst its breathtaking glaciers and fjords. Viewing tours in Svalbard come in two forms: winter snowmobile tours and summer expedition cruises. During the winter months, full-day snowmobile tours depart from Longyearbyen, the primary settlement, and venture into polar bear territory on the east of the island, where bears can sometimes be observed from a distance. Although it’s a long and cold day, these tours are more affordable than summertime expedition cruises that navigate the west and north coasts of Spitsbergen. However, during summer, cruises present a higher likelihood of observing polar bears.

When to go: February to May is ideal for snowmobiling tours, while June to August is best for expedition cruises.

Operators: Check out Better Moments (bettermoments.no) for snowmobiling tours, and companies such as Intrepid (intrepidtravel.com), G Adventures (gadventures.com), and Explore! (explore.co.uk) for more budget-friendly cruises. For comprehensive options, Natural World Safaris (naturalworldsafaris.com) offers both cruises and multi-day snowmobiling tours.

Cost: Prices for snowmobile day trips are around €356, while seven-night cruises typically start at around €2900.

Greenland: Off the Coast

The southern Greenland village of Nanortalik translates to ‘place of polar bears’, yet the true habitat of Greenland’s polar bears is primarily in the far northern reaches of the country’s icy wilderness. Since these bears are seldom seen on land, the optimal chance of spotting one is through an expedition cruise along the coast; there are several options that operate out of Nuuk, the capital, and others that journey up Greenland’s southwest or east coast, often in transit from Canada or Iceland to Svalbard, Norway.

When to go: These cruises typically run between July and September.

Operators: Expedition cruise operators including Aurora Expeditions (auroraexpeditions.com.au), Expedition Trips (expeditiontrips.com), Discover The World (discover-the-world.co.uk), and Quark Expeditions (quarkexpeditions.com) provide various multi-day cruise itineraries that explore the Greenland coast.

Cost: Prices for ten- to fourteen-day cruises range from approximately €6000 and upwards.

Russia: Wrangel Island

Considered one of the world’s least visited and most restricted nature reserves, Wrangel Island is located 140km off the northeast coast of Siberia. This Arctic wildlife haven is renowned as the world’s polar bear maternity ward, with several hundred mothers known to land here in winter to rear their young. Intrepid travellers can join expedition ship tours (departing from the Russian port of Anadyr) for opportunities to view polar bears, along with walruses, gray whales, reindeer, and other Arctic wildlife from both sea and land.

When to go: Cruises operate from early August until mid-September.

Operators: Expedition cruise operators such as 56th Parallel (56thparallel.com), Heritage Expeditions (heritage-expeditions.com), Steppes Travel (steppestravel.co.uk), and World Expeditions (worldexpeditions.com) provide cruise options to Wrangel Island.

Cost: 56th Parallel currently offers the most affordable Wrangel Island cruises, starting at US$11,200 for a 14-night journey.