British Columbia – The Great Bear Rainforest

We arrive in the town of Terrace, nestled in the scenic Skeena Valley. After a short city tour, we’ll gather with our guide and group. Terrace has a rich history as an industrial hub, with sites like the Heritage Park Museum, the “Old Bridge,” and the George Little House (built by the town’s founder). You can also explore local art at the Terrace Art Gallery and enjoy the friendly vibe at coffee shops, bars, and restaurants.

Overnight: Comfort Inn and Suites or similar.

After breakfast, we’ll board our ship and set out into the spectacular Great Bear Rainforest – the world’s largest temperate rainforest. Sailing through dramatic fjords and remote coves, we’ll be immersed in breathtaking scenery. During the voyage, our expert guide will share insights into the ecosystem, flora, birds, and marine wildlife that thrive in this pristine region.

We sail south along Douglas Channel in search of large groups of whales. Here we can witness extraordinary behaviors such as bubble-net feeding, as humpbacks cooperate to trap schools of fish. If we’re lucky, we might also spot them breaching out of the water. This region is also home to a wide variety of wildlife including orcas, sea lions, porpoises, Pacific white-sided dolphins, sea otters, and Steller sea lions.

As we navigate along Princess Royal Island, we enter the best region to look for the rare Spirit Bear. For two full days we’ll be guided by local experts, members of the Gitga’at Nation, who have unparalleled knowledge of these sacred bears. With patience and respect, we will wait in the rainforest and along salmon streams, hoping for unforgettable encounters with these extraordinary white bears—actually a genetic variation of black bears. This area also offers sightings of grizzlies, black bears, coastal wolves, and bald eagles, all in a stunning wilderness setting.

The next stage of our journey focuses on the mighty grizzly bears as they follow salmon runs along wild rivers and estuaries. The salmon spawning in these waters attract countless animals: bears, wolves, and eagles all gather here to feast. We’ll spend time observing the grizzlies fishing along riverbanks and tidal flats. Our small boats will allow us to get closer to this magnificent spectacle, creating powerful photo opportunities of grizzlies in their natural element.

We arrive at Milbanke Sound, a region famed for its remote beauty. Here we may spot sea otters floating on the kelp beds, sea lions hauled out on rocky islands, and orcas patrolling the channels. Our expedition concludes at Bella Bella, a small First Nations community of about 1,450 residents. The town is located on Campbell Island within the Great Bear Rainforest. From here, we’ll transfer to the local airport for a scheduled charter flight to Vancouver.

Important:
The itinerary and daily activities depend heavily on weather, sea conditions, and wildlife. Flexibility is key to ensuring the best possible encounters in this wild and untamed region.