Location
canada
Magnificent Bear Viewing in The Great Bear Rainforest
Details
10 DAYS FROM 6500 PP
Best time to go
AUG - OCT
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Magnificent Bear Viewing in The Great Bear Rainforest
Explore the Great Bear Rainforest, the largest piece of intact temperate rainforest in the world, and come face to face with the magnificent grizzly bears on the annual Salmon run. Watch for Grizzly and Black Bears passing through the grounds at Tweedsmuir Park Lodge. Set out each day on a variety of excursions, from drifting down the river watching grizzly bears as they fish, taking scenic helicopter flights over glaciated valleys, embarking on nature walks through the forests or just soaking in the hot tub.
Arrive at Tweedsmuir Park Lodge and begin your safari with an slow drift down the meandering Atnarko River to look for Grizzly Bears between massive, snow-capped peaks. Relax and enjoy the scenery but keep your eyes open for wildlife; the Salmon are spawning and provide an easy meal for bald eagles and Grizzly Bears. The bears are most active in the morning and evening and it’s a great time to enjoy a quiet float.
Early morning is a great time to spot bears at the Wildlife Viewing Station, and the raised structure provides open lines of sight both up and down the river. Afterwards, you will enjoy another float down the river before it’s time to head out for a guided walk the old growth forests of Tweedsmuir Park, the largest provincial park in British Columbia. Your guide, a naturalist, will show you how to track the bears and will point out various bear signs, including rub trees with claw and bite marks, and places the bears dig out in the forest floor for their naps called day beds. Continue exploring the park with a drive on the Tote Road past old, abandoned homesteads brimming with character. At the end of the road there is a short, highly recommended hike to Stillwater Lake. This is a beautiful, pristine place that should not be missed.
The Spirit Bear Lodge is situated in the small, remote Kitasoo/Xai'xais fishing village of Klemtu. Located 150 nautical miles north of Port Hardy and the northern tip of Vancouver Island, Klemtu is truly in the heart of the rainforest and offers some of the best opportunities to view the majestic bears in the wild. Coastal wolves are known to wander the shoreline here, so as you explore by sea kayak, keep your eyes open for a glimpse of these elusive but beautiful creatures. By day, you will explore on included excursions out to the bear viewing areas. In the evenings, gaze out towards the grey blue waters of the Pacific Ocean and watch for passing orcas, white-sided dolphins and sea lions, or join an included evening presentations and slide shows.
Accommodation Highlights
Tweedsmuir Park Lodge
Hailed by CNN Travel as one of British Columbia's best luxury lodges, Tweedsmuir Park Lodge is a cosy destination located on the banks of the Atnarko River and surrounded by stunning mountain scenery. It's the perfect base from which to explore this beautiful wilderness area and one of the best places to spot grizzly bears fishing the rivers during salmon-spawning season.
Spirit Bear Lodge
Located to the north of Vancouver Island in Klemtu, accessible via seaplane and water taxi, Spirit Bear Lodge is a unique concept built and run by the local Kitasoo/Xaixai community - the lodge itself directly reflects their culture as it has been built in the style of their traditional long houses. Your main focus is on seeing spirit bears, grizzly bears and black bears in their natural habitat. Travelling via small motorboats, to ensure as little disruption to the area as possible, you will go in search of these majestic creatures within the Great Bear Rainforest. You will also have the opportunity to visit the Kitasoo Spirit Bear Conservancy, the only one in the world, where you can spot spirit bears, grizzly bears and sitka deer. Read more about Spirit Bear Lodge.