Join Wildlife Worldwide founder Chris Breen and Helen Bryon for our Festival of Bears at Knight Inlet Lodge to see the grizzly bears of the Great Bear Rainforest at prime time.
British Columbia’s Great Bear Rainforest is a convoluted maze of fjords and estuaries dotted with islands covered with lush, temperate coastal forest of western hemlock and red cedar, overlooked by towering mountains. This vast wilderness is home to 10,000-year-old native cultures, and is alive with bears, wolves, eagles, ravens and salmon. Within this forest significant populations of brown (or grizzly) and black bears are supported by the abundant food provided by the annual salmon run.
You will be accompanied by our team on an exclusive experience for which we take over the entire lodge. In addition to twice daily bear-watching activities, there are opportunities to see humpback whales, orca, bald eagles, and even - with luck - coastal wolves in this enchanting wilderness setting.
Optional extensions are available for whale watching in the Salish Sea or to look for spirit bears in the heart of the Great Bear Rainforest - please contact us for full details.
Typical Itinerary
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Day 1:
Fly to Vancouver
Fly to Vancouver, arriving the same evening, and transfer on foot to our overnight accommodation at the airport.
Accommodation: Fairmont Hotel Vancouver Airport, 1-night
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Day 2:
Fly to Campbell River; free to explore
This morning we make our way to Vancouver Airport South Terminal by airport shuttle bus to take a flight to Campbell River on Vancouver Island, just north of the entrance to Desolation Sound. On arrival at Campbell River airport, after collecting our baggage we transfer to a hotel in the centre of town. The rest of the day is free to relax and explore the surroundings.
Accommodation: Comfort Inn & Suites, 1-night
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Days 3-7
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Floatplane to Knight Inlet Lodge; five days of bear watching
After breakfast we make our way to Campbell River’s floatplane dock for the 80-kilometre hop north across the Johnstone Strait to Glendale Cove, where we put down beside Knight Inlet Lodge. On arrival we are met by lodge staff and have plenty of time to settle in before lunch and an introductory briefing. We spend five nights at Knight Inlet Lodge during which time we enjoy the hospitality, friendliness and local knowledge of the staff – all of whom know the area intimately.
The programme includes daily bear-watching trips in the Great Bear Rainforest plus a variety of other excursions designed to show off the wildlife and natural beauty of the surrounding area. There will, of course, be ample opportunity to develop our wildlife photography skills.
Accommodation: Knight Inlet Lodge, 5-nights
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Day 8:
Floatplane to Campbell River, then fly to Vancouver & depart
After a final breakfast at the lodge we take a floatplane back to Campbell River in time to connect with a flight Vancouver and an onward overnight flight to the UK.
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Day 9:
Arrive UK