Search for the legendary all-white spirit bear, and humpback whales deep in the Fiordland Conservancy in British Columbia. Travelling on a small yacht, explore the vast wilderness of the Great Bear Rainforest and its maze of fjords, estuaries and islands.
Surrounded by spectacular rock faces and waterfalls, this small ship adventure visits the largest remaining area of coastal rainforest on the Pacific coast; a complex maze of forested islands and waterways overlooked by towering mountains. Black, grizzly and honey-coloured Kermode, or spirit bears, feed on the salmon each summer and you may also see humpback whales. Daily shore excursions are lead by the onboard naturalist guide, using the vessel’s sea-kayaks and visiting traditional communities.
Read more about this rainforest wilderness from award-winning journalist Brian Jackman, or read about Sales Consultant Helen Cox's trip on board Island Roamer.
Typical Itinerary
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Day 1:
Board your vessel in Bella Bella
Make your way to the Municipal Dock on the Bella Bella waterfront to meet your boat crew. Upon boarding the vessel, your cabin will be assigned and following a brief orientation you’ll set sail for the Great Bear Rainforest, where each night you’ll anchor in a different, secluded anchorage.
As you depart Bella Bella and approach the waters of Milbanke Sound, keep watch for sea otters, which are occasionally spotted wrapped in the fronds of the kelp beds to anchor themselves against the currents.
Accommodation: Island yacht, 7-nights
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Days 2-4
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Khutze Inlet
Over the next couple of days, you voyage deep into the coastal mountains to explore a large marine park called the Fiordland Conservancy. Beneath towering granite cliff faces and impressive waterfalls, you search remote estuaries in the hope of seeing grizzly bears attracted by the spawning salmon, some may even have cubs with them.
You spend each evening in a different anchorage, often in a secluded bay with wonderful views. During your daily shore excursions or small boat trips, the onboard naturalist will help identify different coastal plants, animals, birds and marine life. There will also be time to explore the protected waters using stable seakayaks.
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Days 5-6
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Sail the Central Coast
As you explore the waters of southern Douglas Channel, Squally Channel and Whale Channel, you can expect to see humpback whales. Keep an eye out for large spouts and if you're lucky, you may even witness interesting behaviours such as breaches, pectoral slaps, spy-hopping and possibly bubble-net feeding. Fin whales have also been spotted more often in recent years and your guides will also look out for other marine mammals such as orca, porpoise and Steller sea lions, an inquisitive species that are expert, deep-water predators who dine a variety of fish, octopus and halibut.
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Day 7:
Princess Royal Island
Travel along Princess Royal Island and keep a close watch on the shoreline, as this is the best-known area for seeing the rare spirit (also known as Kermode) bear. You spend a day with local Gitga’at First Nation guides, who will take you to their favourite bear watching areas. With a little patience, you can hopefully see black bears and the elusive, all-white spirit bear fishing for salmon at a quiet spawning stream hidden in the forest. These white bears are actually black bears expressing a genetic variation, resulting in about ten per cent of the area’s population being all white.
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Day 8:
Disembark in Kitimat and transfer to Terrace airport
Enjoy a leisurely morning and bid farewell to new friends and tour guides. You arrive in Kitimat around noon and transfer (approximately one hour) to the airport.
Accommodation: Hotel in Vancouver, 1-night
Please note: The locations for embarkation and disembarkation vary according to departure date and vessel. Itineraries included: Bella Bella/Terrace or vice versa or Terrace/Terrace.
EXPEDITION VESSEL
EXPEDITION VESSEL
EXPEDITION VESSEL
