Canada is one of the best wildlife destinations in the world. Be it a close encounter with a beluga whale or an epic polar bear adventure, the country is simply a paradise for nature lovers. Explore our collection of wildlife watching tours in Canada, hand-picked just for you. Whether you’re looking for a perfect nature getaway or planning a family vacation, you’re sure to find a trip tailored to your needs.
Spanning three oceans and covering everything from rugged mountaintops to boreal forests and Arctic tundra, Canada is home to the second-largest wild area on Earth. From whales and polar bears to caribou and wolverines (skunk bears), this country is truly the wonderland of unique species.
Find some of the best places to watch wildlife in Canada below.
If you’re looking for a polar bear watching holiday, there is no better place to be than Churchill, popularly known as the “Polar Bear Capital of the World.” Perched on the western shore of Hudson Bay, Churchill offers unparalleled opportunities to view these apex predators in the flesh.
In the summer season, you can hop on a special tundra vehicle and spot these wild animals roaming the tundra as they wait for sea ice to form. October and November are the prime polar bear viewing months, as this is when these wild animals start their annual migration back to Hudson Bay.
If you’re looking to tick the grizzly bear of your bucket list, British Columbia is a place to go. Canada’s westernmost province boasts a population of 15,000 grizzly bears and is renowned for grizzly bear sightings. From the town of Bella Coola to various provincial parks, you’ll find plenty of options to spot these remarkable wild animals.
British Columbia is also home to some of the largest whale populations in the world. Here you can spot four different whale species including humpbacks, minke whales, and Pacific grey whales.
Nature photographers and animal lovers flock to Canada's northernmost province, Nunavut, for rare and intimate encounters with Arctic wildlife. Depending on what time of year you visit, see beluga whales, bowhead whales, walruses, narwhals, arctic foxes, muskoxen, and polar bears, not to mention an extraordinary variety of seabirds.
It’s here that the great caribou migration—one of the largest animal migrations on Earth—takes place each spring and fall. To witness hundreds of thousands of caribou on the move is the kind of touching wildlife encounter high on every nature lover’s bucket list.
With over 18,019 mi (29,000 km) of coastline, Newfoundland is the prime seabird-watching destination in North America, boasting over 350 species of birds. Home to an enormous Atlantic puffin colony, it’s no wonder this fascinating orange-beaked bird is the official symbol of Canada’s easternmost province.
As if that were not enough, the world’s largest gathering of humpback whales returns annually (from April to October) to feed along the coast.
From May to September, the waters of Newfoundland and Labrador are abound with humpback whales. The coastline is also home to another 21 species of whales including orca (the killer whale), fin whale, minke whale, pilot whale, and the more elusive majestic blue whale.
The top place for beluga whale watching in Canada is Manitoba, Churchill. During the summer months of July and August, the Churchill River abounds with these curious marine mammals.
The rich waters of Foxe Basin north of Hudson Bay, in Nunavut, are perfect for bowhead whale watching. During summer, these mysterious whales—the longest-living mammals on Earth— emerge from deep waters to feed along the floe edge.
Wildlife viewing can be tricky. With different feeding, calving or migratory schedules, knowing where and when to go is crucial for any wildlife adventure. The good news is that our expert guides know all the best spots to get you up close and personal with your favorite animals!
Ready for close encounters with the world’s most stunning wildlife? All you need to do is pick the wildlife tour you prefer and veer off the beaten track. But with such a wide selection of wildlife watching tours, how do you choose the tour that’s right for you?
Here is a quick questionnaire to help you answer that question.
Watch the majesty of these marine mammals in Northern Manitoba, one of the most accessible polar bear areas in the world. These polar bear tours take place from August to November. They are all family-friendly and rated at an easy to moderate activity level.
Witness a fascinating array of whales and other amazing marine wildlife during the peak season for whale watching in Canada. These tours take place from June to September and have an easy to moderate activity level.
Visit some of Canada’s best birdwatching destinations with a chance to combine birding with beluga whale or humpback whale watching. These trips take place from June to August and have an easy to moderate activity level.
Go deeper into British Columbia’s rich wilderness for close encounters with grizzly bears and other awe-inspiring wild animals. These tours have an easy to moderate activity level.
Still got questions about wildlife watching? Find the answer here!
In the far north of Canada, you’ll likely see narwhals, polar bears, walruses, muskoxen, bowhead whales, caribou, and arctic foxes. Some regions are well-known for a specific species, as with polar bears and beluga whales in northern Manitoba. In more southern regions, like British Columbia, expect your wildlife-watching tour to track grizzly and black bears, moose, wolverines, and wolves.
In the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, bird lovers will find plenty of opportunities to feast their eyes on a remarkable variety of bird species, such as murres, puffins, razor-billed auks, gannets, eagles, ptarmigan, Ross’ and Bonaparte gulls, and jaegers. Canada’s easternmost province is also the prime location to watch humpback whales.
Temperatures might vary depending on the region and the time of year. However, you can expect something from -2°C (36 F°) to +20°C (68 F°). So, we highly recommend packing for four seasons in a day!
Most of our wildlife watching tours are family-friendly, meaning there are no age limits. However, due to the nature of supervision, some of our tours suggest that children should be a minimum of 8 years old.
You can always check the information regarding the age limit in the tour description or contact our office to investigate the suitability of younger kids participation.
Depending on the trip chosen, you should bring clothing suited for various weather conditions (we recommend clothing that can be layered - fleece or wool is best), sturdy shoes, rain gear, a camera, a good pair of binoculars, backpack, day pack, hat, gloves, personal toiletries.
If your tour includes a visit to a sauna, don’t forget to bring a bathing suit!
A full packing list will be provided upon booking.
All of our wildlife watching tours are rated as easy or moderate, meaning young children and older seniors won’t have any difficulty participating. However, be aware that some of the tours include walking on uneven terrain or muddy footing. We kindly ask you to review specifications in the tour description.
Mosquitos and other bug populations might vary depending on the location, weather, and season of the year. We try hard to find bug-free camping locations, but sometimes mosquitoes are unavoidable! We recommended bringing bug repellent and any other protection you find effective.
However, if you’ll be traveling in the Chilcotin Mountains of British Columbia, you can leave your bug repellent at home. The place is located in a “rain shadow,” meaning the area is dry and bug-free.
In order to ensure your safety, our expert guides use strict procedures to control wildlife interactions and eliminate any potential risk or conflict. They have extensive experience working with wild animals in their natural habitats and know how to assess each situation to determine a safe viewing distance. Guests will be provided with safety information and instructions that they will be required to follow during the tour.
