Appreciate and immerse yourself in the tranquillity and natural grandeur of the Great Bear Rainforest and Johnstone Strait whilst encountering the region's wealth of wildlife including grizzly bear, humpback whale, bald eagle and orca.
In the heart of the Great Bear Rainforest at the mouth of Knight Inlet, the base for this itinerary is Berry Island Wilderness Lodge situated at the epicentre of one of the most biologically active regions on the west coast of Canada. With its wonderful wildlife, stunning landscape and sense of tranquillity, this is the perfect place to relax and disconnect from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.
Literally just a stone's throw from Berry Island Wilderness Lodge is the infamous Johnstone Strait which supports an astonishing array of marine wildlife including the mighty orca, Steller's sealion, Pacific white-sided dolphin, humpback whale and much more. Furthermore, right on the lodge's doorstep are the southern stretches of the Great Bear Rainforest, a huge swathe of temperate coastal rainforest covering almost 85,000 square kilometres set aside to protect the area's bear populations and rest of the abundant wildlife that relies on this ecosystem.
Suggested Itinerary
-
Day 1:
Depart UK & overnight in Vancouver
Depart the UK on a daytime flight to Vancouver, the largest city in British Columbia. On arrival, you make your way by free shuttle bus to your hotel for the night. Depending on your arrival time, there may be time to explore this vibrant, cosmopolitan city.
Accommodation: Sandman Hotel Vancouver Airport, 1-night
-
Day 2:
Fly to Port Hardy & transfer to Berry Island Wilderness Lodge
This morning, after breakfast, you return to the airport. This time you head to the domestic terminal to check-in for your flight to Port Hardy.
On arrival at Port Hardy, a small town on the north-east coast of Vancouver Island, you are collected from the airport and transferred along the coast to Alder Bay where you board a water taxi bound for Berry Island Wilderness Lodge where you spend the next six nights.
Upon arrival you’ll be warmly greeted by the lodge's staff and enjoy some lunch, a short orientation and then settle into your room before heading out onto the water for an afternoon marine mammal viewing excursion.
This will be your first opportunity to explore and experience this incredible region and the southern section of the Great Bear Rainforest. There is a wealth of wildlife that you could encounter whilst out on the water including orca, humpback whale, Steller's sealion, bald eagle, Pacific white-sided dolphin and even a possibility of sea otter.
Accommodation: Berry Island Wilderness Lodge, 7-nights
-
Days 3-7
:
Explore the Broughton Archipelago & Great Bear Rainforest
Over the course of the next five days you will head out on a combination of boat and land-based excursions to explore the Broughton Archipelago and the Great Bear Rainforest to observe the wonderful wildlife that Canada's west coast is home to. The excursions you do each day will depend on weather, tide times and recent sightings as well as your own personal preferences. However, you can expect to do some of the following outings during your stay at Farewell Harbour.
An essential part of your time at Farewell Harbour is the full-day bear viewing excursions which start with an early morning breakfast. The bear watching excursions can take you deep into one of several different river systems in search of wild bears and it is possible to see both black and grizzly bears on these outings. Typically, you will travel up to an hour and a half to a river system by a covered water taxi before disembarking onto one or two smaller zodiacs.
By zodiac, you will motor quietly or propel silently under oar with the guide placing you in the optimal position for viewing the bears foraging on the river or in the estuaries. In some systems, you will disembark the zodiacs and proceed on foot or by motorised vehicle and explore the lush rainforest in search of bears. The aim is to observe bears in their natural environment and watch from small zodiacs or from land on the same eye level as the wildlife. Bear sightings are by no means guaranteed but the lodge's expert guides benefit from many years of experience with bears in the wild.
Another regular feature of your time at Farewell Harbour are the boat-based marine excursions which take you into the famed Johnstone Strait. Literally at the front door of the lodge, Johnstone Strait is renowned for its northern resident orca population. The orca come into these waters mid to late July and stay into late September and early October although exact timings can change from year to year. Prior to July and continuing throughout the season, the marine excursions take you on whale watching trips to search for majestic humpback whales, thrilling Dall’s porpoises and Pacific white-sided dolphins, Steller sealions in addition to the many bald eagles and seabirds.
Alternatively, you can also choose to relax around the lodge and take some time to unwind in this serene and tranquil location or a guided walk in the surrounding area. Even from the lodge it is possible to watch wildlife with humpback whales, orca or Dall's porpoise passing by and bald eagles soaring overhead.
-
Day 8:
Return to Vancouver & departure
On arrival back in Vancouver, you walk over to the international terminal to check in for your return flights back to the UK or continue with any onward arrangements that you may have in Canada.
-
Day 9:
Arrive UK
Please note: Single supplement available on request.
