Description
Travel deep into the Great Bear Rainforest, the largest intact temperate rainforest in the world, home to an abundance of grizzlies, black bears and the elusive spirit bears. Snow-capped peaks overlook spectacular fjords and ancient forests with 1000 year old cedars teeming with wildlife. Bears forage for roots and berries or gorge on salmon, wolves hide between trees, eagles wait patiently ready to swoop and the Pacific coastal waters welcome orca, grey and humpback whales.
Overview
Travel deep into the Great Bear Rainforest, the largest intact temperate rainforest in the world, home to an abundance of grizzlies, black bears and the elusive spirit bears. Snow-capped peaks overlook spectacular fjords and ancient forests with 1000 year old cedars teeming with wildlife. Bears forage for roots and berries or gorge on salmon, wolves hide between trees, eagles wait patiently ready to swoop and the Pacific coastal waters welcome orca, grey and humpback whales. This tailor-made itinerary offers unrivalled bear viewing opportunities and the chance to visit the only place in the world to see the white coated Kermode (spirit) bear in its natural environment. Enjoy walking safaris, boat safaris and explore fjords by kayak in this extraordinary journey.
WHAT MAKES THIS TRIP EXTRAORDINARY
- Walk through the Great Bear Rainforest on foot for unrivalled eye level encounters with grizzly bears, black bears and the elusive spirit bear.
- Discover First Nation culture.
- See wonderful marine-life, including humpback whales and Steller sea lions.
- Marvel at the stunning scenery of remote British Columbia.
Itinerary
On arrival in Vancouver you will be met and transferred to your hotel, located in the heart of downtown Vancouver. The rest of the day is free for you to explore this enchanting city.
Your journey to the lodge is a spectacular adventure in itself, travelling past the breathtaking scenery of the central coast and over the rich waters of Queen Charlotte Strait, the home of orca, grey and humpback whales. Upon your arrival at the lodge, your hosts will be on the dock to welcome you to your wilderness retreat. In the afternoon, your grizzly bear experience begins. There are a number of different viewing areas, and your guide will choose the best one according to where the bears have been most active. Estuary sites are reached by boat, while river sites are reached by bus. In the evening you will return to the lodge to relax and enjoy a delicious dinner.
Overnight: Great Bear Lodge(B, L, D)
Over the course of your stay you will visit a number of different areas, depending on recent bear activity. Other excursions include an interpretive rainforest walk, examining bear signs and the general ecology of the area; guided sea-kayaking tours of the estuary, or boat cruises to explore the glacier-carved inlet. You may even prefer to simply relax and enjoy the view from the lodge. The Great Bear Rainforest is also home to a wide range of animals, including grey wolves, otters, black bears, mink and bald eagles.
Overnight: Great Bear Lodge(B, L, D)
After another day of bear viewing , you will return to Port Hardy in the late afternoon. Upon arrival you will be met and transferred to your hotel for the evening.
Overnight: Quarterdeck Inn and Marina(B)
Today you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Bella Bella. Here you will be met upon arrival and then you will embark upon a short boat transfer to Shearwater where you will spend the night. The rest of the day is free to explore this charming little village.
This morning you will be transferred by water taxi to Spirit Bear Lodge in Klemtu. Welcomed upon arrival, you will be shown to your room before lunch is served. Your bear activities begin this afternoon as you head out by boat in search of the bears. The Great Bear Rainforest is the largest, intact, temperate rainforest in the world and bears roam free leading to intimate and unique eye-level viewing and photographic opportunities. Watch as the bears forage for roots, berries or gorge on salmon. You will then return to the lodge to relax before dinner.
Overnight: Spirit Bear Lodge(B, L, D)
You will spend the next 2 days searching for grizzly, black and spirit bears. Your local guides are experts in the behaviour and movement patterns of the bear ensuring you are in the right place at the right time for up close encounters with these majestic creatures. Trek through the Great Bear Rainforest and head out on small boats into the braided channels of the estuary in search of wildlife. Seeing the white coat of a spirit bear for the first time is a truly unforgettable experience. You will also have the opportunity to enjoy an interpretive walking tour visiting cultural and natural history sites. Your evenings are often filled with presentations and slideshows by your knowledgeable guides.
Overnight: Spirit Bear Lodge(B, L, D)
After your final morning tracking the grizzlies or exploring the estuary by kayak you will be transferred back to Bella Bella by water taxi in time for your flight back to Vancouver. You will have one final night to reminisce over the last few days of bear viewing before your flight home tomorrow.
Today you will be transferred to Vancouver airport in time for your onward flight.
Accommodation
- THE GREAT BEAR LODGE
- THE QUARTERDECK INN AND MARINA
- THE SPIRIT BEAR LODGE
Cancellation Policy
Life is unpredictable and we understand that sometimes you have to cancel or change your trip dates and it is our endeavor to make it as easy as possible for you. However, please understand that we plan everything including guide fees, permits, accommodation and ration in advance. Therefore, any cancellation means inconvenience and certain losses to the people involved in various stages of the program. Keeping that in mind, our cancellation charges are as below,
- Cancellations prior to 30 days from the start of the event: Full refund as cash.
- Cancellations between 30 days and 15 days to the start of the event: 50 % refund as cash.
- Cancellations less than 15 days to the start of the event: No refund.
- Cancellations will be accepted only by email.
Note: We reserve the right to cancel a program before departure in the event of logistical problems arising due to natural calamities, strikes, wars or any other circumstances that make the event inadvisable. In this case, we will refund 50% of the event fees.
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