- ENTIRE Cooling-Off Period
- ENTIRE AUD Prices
- ENTIRE Change of Mind
- ENTIRE Industry Accredited
- ENTIRE On Ground Support
- ENTIRE Australian Owned
Itinerary
Day 1 Vancouver Port Hardy Great Bear Lodge
Late this morning depart from Vancouver International Airport (South Terminal) for a 70 minute flight to Port Hardy. Upon arrival transfer (included) to the town of Port Hardy for lunch (own cost) and to explore the town. Departing from Port Hardy in the afternoon, you will leave behind the noise of modern life for a remote wilderness. Transportation is by seaplane. Journeying to the site is a spectacular adventure in itself, traveling over the breathtaking scenery of the central coast and over the rich waters of Queen Charlotte Strait, the home of orca, gray and humpback whales.
Upon your arrival at the lodge, your hosts will be on the dock to welcome you to your wilderness retreat. Settle into your private room at the lodge, before joining the group for your first wildlife viewing session. The Lodge has a range of different viewing sites, and will choose one according to where the bears have been most active. Estuary sites are reached by boat, while river sites are reached by a wilderness track. The viewing blinds on the river have been constructed with the photographer in mind, and are optimal and comfortable places from which to view bears.There is nothing quite like seeing your first grizzly emerge from the forest.
Returning to the lodge that evening, you will be treated to a wilderness-gourmet meal. Our biologist will present slides and videos, explaining the interaction of the grizzly bear with this unique ecology.
Overnight stay at Great Bear Lodge.
Day 2-3 Great Bear Lodge
The Great Bear Lodge promotes low-impact ecotourism, using wind and solar power and taking special care not to disturb the bears or their environment. Scheduled morning and afternoon bear viewing sessions coincide with times when the bears are the most active. Accompanied by an experienced wildlife biologist you will observe the bears as they roam freely in their natural habitat as you float by boat through nearby estuaries or watch from specially-designed optimal viewing areas. Other possible wildlife sightings: wolves, otters, bald eagles, black bears, pine martins and mink.
Daily guided activities such as boat tours and an interpretative rainforest walk are offered between morning and afternoon viewing excursions, followed by a delicious lunch. Guests arriving in fall will also be able to witness thousands of migrating salmon from a series of enclosed blinds and open viewing stands along the river. Watch as the grizzlies hunt for fish in preparation for their coming hibernation.
Overnight stay at Great Bear Lodge.
Day 4 Great Bear Lodge Port Hardy
After breakfast, participate in a final bear watching session, followed by a farewell lunch and afternoon activity before taking a floatplane flight back to Port Hardy in the afternoon and a transfer to your post-night hotel.
Overnight stay in Port Hardy
Day 5 Port Hardy Vancouver
After check-out of your hotel in Port Hardy, you will be transferred mid-morning to Port Hardy Airport for your return flight to Vancouver International Airport (South Terminal).
Accommodation
Great Bear Lodge
Great Bear Lodge is located 50 air miles from Port Hardy, British Columbia. This is a place of spectacular beauty where one can still find the silence and solitude of another era. The charming floating lodge has eight bedrooms. The common area is a comfortable place for relaxing and listening to natural history presentations from our wildlife biologists. Completely upgraded in 2014, each bedroom now has an ensuite bathroom with a shower. The wind and solar powered lodge is in keeping with our commitment to low-impact ecotourism. Wilderness-gourmet meals await you at the lodge on your return from the wilderness.
.jpg?auto=format)
.jpg?auto=format)
.jpg?auto=format)
