Great Bear Rainforest
8 Days
Holiday Highlights
- Cruising the intricate coastal waterways in a comfortable sailing vessel
- Learning about First nations culture with a native guide
- Spotting the elusive all-white Spirit Bear on Princess Royal Island
- Coming across humpback whales in Campania Sound or Whale Channel
- Seeing magnificent grizzly bears amidst the wilderness
British Columbia's Great Bear Rainforest is complex maze of forested islands and waterways overlooked by towering mountains - a wilderness alive with wildlife. This small ship adventure visits the largest remaining area of coastal rainforest on the Pacific coast - the domain of ten thousand year old native cultures.
The dense forests are inhabited by black bears, grizzlies, and all-white Kermode, or Spirit Bears, which live from the salmon that fill the rivers each summer to spawn. Deep in the coastal mountains, in the marine park of Fiordland Conservancy, you'll see spectacular rock faces and impressive waterfalls, find bears and visit native village to see a longhouse.
While you sail you can expect to see humpback whales on their long migration, and have time to watch these amazing, 15 metre-long giants of the deep. Each day there will be shore excursions with the on board naturalist guide, plus time to enjoy the sheltered waters in the stable sea-kayaks that are carried.
- Itinerary
- Day 1
- Board Island Roamer/Island Odyssey in Bella Bella and sail.
- Days 2-7
- Sail the Central Coast to spot humpback whales and Steller sea lions. Shore excursion at Gitga'at (Princess Royal Island) Conservancy. Sail to Bishop Bay to enjoy a relaxing dip in the hot springs. Spend a day bear viewing with a Gitga'at native guide - with patience and luck see black bears and the elusive, white Spirit Bear! Visit a First Nations village to see a ceremonial Big Houses. Sail deep into the coastal mountains to see grizzly bears feeding on spawning salmon in Fiordland Conservancy.
- Day 8
- Disembark in Bella Bella. Tour ends.
- Tour Code: BGBR
- WDCS DONATION INCLUDED: Trip cost includes a donation to the Whale & Dolphin Conservation Society (WDCS)
- SINGLE SUPPLEMENT: On request
- WHAT'S INCLUDED: 7 nights shared cabin on Island Odyssey / Island Roamer; all meals on board; use of the boat's sea kayaks.
- FLIGHT INCLUSIVE PACKAGE INCLUDES: International and domestic flights; 1 night hotel in Vancouver before and after cruise; 1 night guesthouse in Bella Bella before cruise; most transfers.
- GUIDE: On board naturalist and crew.
- GROUP SIZE: 16 maximum