Spirit Bears, Grizzlies & Humpbacks - Cruising Canada's Great Bear Rainforest

Tour Code: CAN05

A 10-day holiday to coastal British Columbia including a 7-night wildlife cruise through the Great Bear Rainforest.

10 days from
£7,995 (Inc flights)

Land only price from
£7,195

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Highlights

The 'Great Bear Rainforest' protects one of the largest remaining tracts of temperate rainforest left in the world. The best way to explore this spectacular and remote region of towering moss-draped forests and dramatic fjords is by water so for this exciting holiday we have chartered the 16-berth sailing ketch the 'Island Roamer'. Our tour is timed to coincide with the annual migration of millions of Pacific salmon as they return to the streams of British Columbia to spawn, attracting Grizzly and Black Bears, Wolves, Bald Eagles and the fabled white Kermode Bear, the 'Spirit of the Rainforest'. Huge Humpback Whales and speedy Pacific White-sided Dolphins are among the other wildlife we will be keeping a close look-out for as we cruise the coastal waterways of the 'Inside Passage' and explore the region's remote fjords, estuaries and bays.

7-night cruise aboard exclusively chartered 21-metre sailing ketch, 'Island Roamer'
Look for the rare Spirit (or 'Kermode') Bear, a white genetic variant of the Black Bear
Watch Black & Grizzly Bears fishing for salmon
Remote and breathtaking scenery of coastal British Columbia
Explore the fjords and estuaries of the 'Great Bear Rainforest'
Humpback Whales and Dall's Porpoise
Witness the annual salmon run, one of the world's natural wonders!
Numerous birds including Bald Eagle, Rhinoceros Auklet and Harlequin Duck
Wolf, American Marten and Sea Otter sighted on past cruises
Led by expert naturalist guides

Grading

Grade A. Optional day walks only.

The ‘Great Bear Rainforest’ protects one of the largest remaining tracts of temperate rainforest left in the world. Stretching along the intricate, island-dotted coastline of British Columbia, from Vancouver Island to the Alaskan border, this is a region of spectacular natural beauty and abundant wildlife. Ancient Western Red Cedars – some over 1,000 years old – grow alongside towering Western Hemlocks, Amabilis Fir and Sitka Spruce, each dripping with curtains of lichens and moss. This forest of towering giants forms a magnificent natural cathedral, bisected by numerous glacier-fed streams which flow into the maze of narrow channels, fjords and wooded islands of the fabled ‘Inside Passage’. On land, the forests, estuaries and rocky beaches are patrolled by Black Bears (including the occasional ‘Spirit Bear’, a rare white genetic variant), Grey Wolves, Cougars and, of course, the ‘Great Bear’ itself, the Grizzly! Overhead soar Bald Eagles, whilst offshore Humpback Whales return every summer, joining pods of Orcas, Grey Whales, Pacific White-sided Dolphins, Steller’s Sea Lions and numerous seabirds.

Since much of the Great Bear Rainforest is remote and inaccessible, the best way to explore this spectacular region is from the water. For this reason, Naturetrek has chartered the 16-berth sailing vessel, Island Roamer, to operate a 7-night dedicated wildlife cruise. Our holiday begins, however, with a flight to Vancouver in western Canada, where we spend one night before flying north over the mountains, fjords and islands of coastal ‘BC’ to the small community of Bella Bella. On arrival we drive the short distance to the small harbour, where we board the Island Roamer and begin our cruise.

We spend the first part of our cruise exploring the coastal waterways of the Fjordland Provincial Protected Area. This is a breathtakingly beautiful stretch of coastline and home to an abundance of wildlife both above and below the waves. Waterbirds should include Rhinoceros Auklets, plus the diminutive Marbled Murrelet; the latter is a flagship species for the conservation movement, for it nests only in old growth forest! Great Northern Divers are common, together with Red-necked and Slavonian Grebes, Black and Surf Scoters and parties of twirling Red-necked Phalaropes. Whenever we are on the water we must always keep our eyes open for the distinctive triangular fins of a pod of patrolling Orcas, or perhaps a speedy group of Pacific White-sided Dolphins, or the ‘rooster tail’ shaped splash of a Dall’s Porpoise. We will also explore remote estuaries to look for Grizzly Bears attracted by spawning salmon, and keep a sharp look out at all times along the forest edge for one of the Great Bear Rainforest’s elusive Grey Wolves. A healthy population of Cougars also lives here, but this secretive cat is only seen by the very fortunate few!

Each summer, millions of Pacific salmon return to the streams of British Columbia to spawn. Our cruise has been timed to take full advantage of this annual natural feast for, once the salmon start running up the rivers in the early autumn, the bears, Wolves, eagles and other wildlife move in. Continuing north we next explore the forests and maze of waterways in the vicinity of Princess Royal Island, one of the largest islands in the Great Bear Rainforest. Here we hope to see the rare ‘Spirit’ or Kermode Bear, an attractive ‘all white’ genetic variant of the Black Bear that only occurs in this small area. We will also explore the beautiful Khutze Inlet, a great area to look for Grizzly Bears fishing for salmon, along with Black-tailed Deer, River Otter, American Mink and American Marten. The aptly named ‘Whale Channel’ is a reliable area for Humpback Whales and, if fortunate, we may come across a Grey Whale or two, passing south on their epic journey to Mexico, or even a huge Northern Elephant Seal. Birds to look out for include Fork-tailed Storm Petrel, Harlequin Duck, Pacific and Red-throated Divers, Pigeon Guillemot and perhaps the beautiful Tufted Puffin. We will also try to make daily shore excursions by Zodiac and take time to explore the forests, estuaries and coastlines on foot. This will give us the opportunity to enjoy the abundant and colourful intertidal life, plus a few lingering woodland birds such as Varied Thrush, Pacific Slope Flycatcher and Townsend’s Warbler.

Our cruise ends in the small coastal community of Kitimat. Here we must disembark from the Island Roamer and leave the moss-draped forests of coastal BC for Vancouver, and ultimately, home.

NB - Please note that some cruises start in Kitimat and end in Bella Bella. The wildlife on offer and sites visited will be the same whether the cruise heads north or south, but please call the Naturetrek office on 01962 733051 should you have any questions.

DETAILED INFORMATION

Itinerary

Outline Itinerary

Day 1

Fly Vancouver and overnight.

Day 2

Fly Bella Bella; embark 'Island Roamer' and begin cruise.

Day 3/8

Great Bear Rainforest cruise.

Day 9

Disembark 'Island Roamer' and fly London.

Day 10

Arrive London.

Download Full Itinerary

What's Included

What's Included?

Flights
Accommodation:
For this cruise we have exclusively chartered the 16-berth 'Island Roamer', a 21-metre sailing ketch launched in 1983. She features 8 small twin/double cabins with shared toilet and shower facilities, a large comfortable lounge and plenty of deck space for wildlife-viewing. For additional information please refer to the detailed tour itinerary. In Vancouver we use a comfortable airport hotel.
Food:
All meals are included in the price except for lunches and dinners in Vancouver. Allow £30.

Reviews

Flew from Heathrow to Vancouver; thence to Bella Bella where we joined the Island Roamer for a 7 day trip. Cabin for 2; shared toilets; good food; knowledgeable captain who knew where the bears and whales were hiding. Got us into great positions for photographs whilst not alarming the wildlife. Shore excursions every day to see the salmon run and bears fishing for salmon. Highlight of the trip was seeing a spirit bear. The trip had an expert chef who provided excellent food for everyone's tastes. Weather was lovely for the first two days, but then reverted to typical rainforest weather - low cloud, drizzle and cold. But hey, we can't blame Naturetrek for that and it didn't stop us doing everything we had planned - more like authentic Canadian weather! We have been with Naturetrek many times and have never been disappointed with the quality of the itinerary, wildlife or ambience. The guides are always highly knowledgeable and often nationally and internationally known experts. One of the good things is that we know every person on the trip will have an interest in wildlife, be considerate, helpful and good company. Naturetrek are reliable in terms of arranging flights and providing information on transits, even when they do not have a representative accompanying the trip.
P.S. Surrey, Sept 23
We were on a small boat, 14 passengers maximum, in the Great Bear Rainforest in British Columbia. We had a fantastic time with the best whale encounters I’ve ever seen. This was a well organised trip with a brilliant crew who made the trip even more memorable. Truly one of the best tours I’ve ever done. Naturetrek have been my main tour operator since I commenced travelling. They organise the trips to a very high standard and their pre and post holiday service is first class.
K.G. Merseyside, Sept 23
Real feeling of adventure on a 9 day Cruise along the Great Bear rain forest, aboard a very comfortable small boat , giving amazing access to, and views of, wildlife encountered. Amazing knowledgeable, enthusiastic and caring Crew, who helped us have the best experience possible, always without compromising wildlife welfare. Our cook dished up the most amazing food, probably the best Vegan food we have had on such a Trip and we were given so much thought and consideration. Could not recommend the whole experience enough. Just ‘wow’! Very personal, but professional, service all the way through. All the detail is taken care of, so you just get on with enjoying the holiday. Tour Leaders always incredibly knowledgeable, helpful and patient. Their itineraries reflect a deep understanding of the areas visited and how to get the best wildlife experiences from them and have a real feel of adventure.
C.S. Herefordshire, Sept 22

My 'icing on the cake' request was Humpbacks bubble netting - I didn't expect them to come up virtually touching the boat - stunning! Eight hours continuous Black Bears and a Kermode at the stand- so relaxed, wolf howling in the early morning mist - spine tingling! Jonas whirling the zodiac round the Roamer to show us the phosphorescence in the water - fluorescent green. Ed's ability to hear a tiny call and identify and locate the bird. The food!!! Group dynamics were good and everyone had travelled quite a bit so lots of conversations about places to go. Lots of local information from Jonas who clearly cares passionately for the area. Anne and Ed made a formidable team with their shared knowledge and willingness to share with us and with each other. Mark quietly kept the whole boat running smoothly and Joshua's cooking was exceptional. Ed's enthusiasm is infectious and he had clearly done his homework before the trip. He is great to travel with and a mine of information. His wildlife knowledge is great and he's a great spotter. He made sure we were all kept informed and shepherded us around shuttle buses etc most efficiently before and after the boat.
J.B. Northumberland, Sept 19

I wanted to see whales, black bears, grizzlies and with with any luck, a spirit bear. We were rewarded with all this plus. I cannot praise Naturetrek enough for providing me with such a fantastic time. The boat crew of captain, mate, chef and naturalist expert were worth their weight in gold and our Naturetrek guide was a wealth of knowledge. What more can I say than well done Naturetrek.
U.S.D. Kent, Sept 19

The mix of like minded people, with common interests. The fact we were put in situations where we could observe/watch animals (& Scenery) with out ever feeling we were chasing it/them. The captain putting wet gear in the engine room to dry over night, and at other times. And the food was between excellent and outstanding, the quality/variety/freshness of the ingredients and meals was a credit to Joshua's skills, he even kept a Vegan happy for the week (although he thought they were Veggie before they arrived).
C.H. Oxfordshire, Sept 19

Holiday exceeded all expectations in amount of wildlife seen in a short and in the efforts of crew and leader to give us optimum opportunities to see the fantastic quantity and variety of wildlife. I particularly wanted to see the bears and I was not disappointed. They were magnificent.
M.T. Kent, Sept 19

I was more than satisfied with everything about this holiday. It more than met my expectations on the amount of wildlife we saw especially the bears and whales including the Spirit Bear. All the crew and Naturetrek guide were fantastic and the food exceptional. Very pleasant fellow travellers. I would say that this has been one of the most memorable holidays I have be fortunate to take and the lasting memories will forever stay with me.
U.S. Kent, Sept 19

After booking a nature trip to Vancouver Island with a Dutch company, we looked for an extra tour in Canada and soon found that cruising the Great Bear Rainforest on a small boat would be just the right thing. Naturetrek's itinerary looked very promising, especially because there was a real chance to see whales, orcas, sealions, grizzly bears, brown bears and the very rare Spirit Bear. You always hope to see some of these animals, but we didn't expect to see them for a long time or very close. It turned out that we had set our expectations too low. To mention some of the highlights: we've seen an incredibly number of whales: blowing, sleeping, bubble-netting, passing under our ship, etc.; bears fishing for salmon; a bald eagle sitting right in front of us, calmly eating some salmon; hundreds of sealions playing, showing off and making terrible noises; a full day near a stream where some Spirit Bears came real close to us while we were just sitting on the riverbank. For seeing this amount of wildlife of course a certain amount of luck is involved, but the chances were certainly much improved by the very knowledgeable skipper and his crew. This kind of trip we normally judge mainly by the nature experience, but during this tour the excellent catering was not a minor point to the success of the trip. We've done quite a lot of travelling, but this trip -although reasonably short- stands out as a major highlight.
R.G. Netherlands, Sept 18

It was a nine day Naturetrek visit to British Columbia, for a week's cruising the islands, channels and inlets of the Great Bear Rainforest, to watch for whales, grizzly bears, black bears, the rare white Spirit bears, bald eagles and other wildlife. We saw everything we could possibly have hoped to see – including two spirit bears and a humpback whale bubble-netting. The boat was comfortable and beautiful, the crew were great, and the small group (11, plus the Naturetrek tour leader) got on well. From the start, the information provided was always clear, informative and interesting. We were given advice on everything from the necessary wet weather gear (very necessary!) through to what to tip the crew. The information about the trip and particularly the wildlife was great. The tour leader was a birder and very knowledgeable about the many seabirds we saw. He also worked well with the boat's crew (which we understand is not always the case).
F.C. Somerset, Sept 18

What an experience to go on a tour and see more animals than expected. Staying on a small boat with a small group of participants and a fantastic hard working, helpful, enthusiastic and knowledgeable crew was a great way to come close to the animals and share experiences with others. We saw multitudes of whales, sea otters, sea lions, seals, birds, grizzlies, black bears and to our surprise a fantastic (two and a half hour long) viewing of three spirit bears. Beside all the viewings, time spend on board was great to learn a lot about the animals from the on board naturalist. Not forgetting the fantastic food which was cooked by Carmen, our cook on board.
A.J. Norfolk

We wanted to explore the Great Bear Rainforest in British Columbia, Canada, hoping to see the unique white 'Spirit Bears' that live only in this area of BC. They are a rare genetic variation of the Black Bear and we were fortunate to see not only 'Spirit Bears', but Black Bears and Grizzly Bears, as well as Humpback Whales, Sea Otters, and so much more. Thanks to our expert boat crew and naturalist guides we had the privilege of being very close indeed when watching them, and we learnt so much more about their lives. Fantastic wildlife, amazing scenery, excellent food and good company - what more could we want? Well, OK, the clue is in the name of the Great Bear Rainforest - it did rain a lot, but the sun did shine as well! Rain or shine, it was a truly magical and memorable holiday.
L.K. Leicestershire

Watching the Spirit Bear was fabulous. The food on board the Island Roamer was something really extra special – the chef Carmen does amazing food.
Mr & Mrs H. Sweden

Having such an enthusiastic naturalist on board really added to the experience – we learnt so much about the animals and the conservation issues in the area.
K.W. Berkshire

This holiday was one of the best due to the crew, leader and cook team. Their leadership qualities, knowledge, ability and sense of humour to cope with all of us individuals was perfect. It allowed me -and the lovely group - to enjoy the bears and the incredible variety of wildlife, and experience the silence of the wilderness from the water with just the sounds of sea eagles and ravens at dusk.
A.F. Cambridgeshire

We had the most amazing trip with everything exceeding our expectations.
B.T. Nottinghamshire

The office was very helpful in arranging flights on different days. Nick was very organised, calm and hugely knowledgeable. I have some mobility problems but the crew were brilliant in getting me on and off ship, zodiac and kayak!
M.T. Middlesex

One of the most memorable of trips we have made with Naturetrek in terms of wildlife sightings and overall experience. The organisation, planning and conduct of the cruise on Island Roamer was second to none. We felt complete trust in the skipper and first mate crew - such pleasant and helpful people. The cook was outstanding too and worked miracles with delicious meals. The wildlife was spectacular - from regular humpback whale sightings, including one individual breaching repeatedly alongside the boat, the grizzly, black and spirit bears, fabulous birdlife and a pod of killer whales around us within the last 20 min of the voyage ! Lee and Lindsay also took trouble to introduce us to the invertebrate marine life and salmon and forest ecology of the area, adding an important dimension to the whole trip.
V.P. & A.F. Cambridgeshire

Wonderful and we felt it a real privilege to be seeing all the wildlife in such (relatively) untouched habitats. The crew were all very enthusiastic and knowledgeable and determined that we should get the chance to see as much as possible (or eat as much as possible!). We've never been on a tour where the local guides/operators have been so good. The wildlife was fantastic - humpbacks breaching, lunging, pectoral fin slapping, sideways spins; evening and morning sightings of family of grizzlies (mother and three cubs) plus mother and 2 year old grizzly playing together; black bears fishing; and a spirit bear waiting our arrival on Swindle Island whilst eating a salmon - he later ambled upriver, came back and was with us for about an hour! Sighting of a fin whale; sea otters and rounded off with orcas.
E.S. Aberdeenshire

First class! Could not have been better. We saw all we expected and more. The whole trip was great from start to finish. The group gelled well, the crew were incredible, the food was first class and the wildlife spectacular.
M.E. Aberdeenshire

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Dates & Prices

2025

Departures Availability Cost

Fri 12th Sep – Sun 21st Sep 4 £7,995

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Flights:

Most Naturetrek tours include flight costs ex-UK. If flights are not included, we indicate that here.

Flights are included in the tour cost

Regional Departures:

On certain tours it is possible to depart from a regional airport (rather than London). If a regional departure is possible, we indicate that here.

Regional Departures are available. Call 01962733051

Land only cost:

The "Land Only" cost is the tour price you will pay if you choose to arrange your own flights/transport.

£7,195

Room sharing options:

If a customer on this departure has already expressed an interest in sharing a room it will be flagged here. We will identify if there are sharing options for male, female or both.

Female sharing available

Single Room Supplement:

Single Room Supplement.

£1,995

Tour Leader:

Please note that, whilst we assign leaders to particular tours well in advance, we reserve the right to make changes if necessary

Sara Frost

Tour Leader: Sara Frost

Sara works full time in Naturetrek's busy office as the Website and Marketing Manager. However, by training, she is a Zoologist, graduating from Newcastle University where she was also the president of the university's Zoological Society. Prior to working at Naturetrek she lived and worked in British Columbia, Canada, as a wildlife rehabilitator caring for Black Bears, Coyotes, River Otters and Raccoons on a daily basis. When she wasn't providing medical care to injured wildlife she could be found hiking in the mountains, photographing wildlife, howling with wolves and avoiding bears (usually successfully). On her return to the UK she moved to the Scottish Hebrides, where she spent three years working at sea as a wildlife guide, finding Minke Whales, Otters, dolphins and eagles for her guests on a daily basis! She also spent her summers as the Senior Wildlife Officer on a ship in the North Sea, collecting sightings data on whales and dolphins, and delivering marine biology lectures to guests.

Always keen to be involved with media, Sara has presented on both live radio and TV, has had her writing and photos published in multiple wildlife and travel magazines and has worked as a guide for Ray Mears and TV film crews for several natural history documentaries. A keen cetacean spotter, Sara specialises in leading Naturetrek's cruises in the Hebrides, Indonesia, the Maldives, Baja California and Arctic, as well as our holidays in the Azores.

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Prefer to Travel in a Private Group?

For any interested natural history club or society, we can arrange for a private departure of this tour.

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Tour Reports

Tour report - September 2017

Tour report - September 2016

Tour report - September 2015

Tour report - September 2014

Tour report - September 2013

Tour report - September 2012

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Why Naturetrek?

At Naturetrek we craft expertly-guided group and tailor-made wildlife holidays and cruises to all seven continents. On one of our holidays, you can be assured that our passionate team will enable you to experience and enjoy the best of the world's wildlife and natural spectacles in as comfortable and rewarding a manner as possible, caring as best we can for the environment in the process. We are proud to provide:

The widest choice of wildlife holidays worldwide
Tours managed and led by naturalists, for naturalists
Outstanding value and exceptional customer service

Furthermore, as a Naturetrek client, our office team are always to on hand to help you – so if you have any queries about your holiday, whether before or after you have booked, we will be delighted to answer them on the phone. Please just give our team a call!