fbpx

Peregrine Travel Centre

Great Bear Rainforest Canada Cruise

Great Bear Rainforest Canada Cruise

GRRBW
Call for Price

Book Now Request a callback
Email Us Print

Description

Experience the ‘Amazon of the North’
A jaw dropping display of rugged wilderness
As much of the Great Bear Rainforest is only accessible via floatplane, travelling by boat is the most in depth and extensive way to adventure this part of the coast. Wildlife and heart stopping landscapes abound, feeding bears is just the tip of the experiences iceberg.

Trip Name
Great Bear Rainforest Canada Cruise
Days
8
Overview
Vessel Type: Motor Sailer Length: 68f / 20.7m Passenger Capacity: 12 Island Odyssey is a 68-foot motor-sailer offering a warm and welcoming atmosphere for intimate coastal adventures. Originally built as a luxury yacht in 1984 and fully renovated for expedition cruising, she has been exploring the remote Pacific Northwest since 2003. With space for just 12 guests in six double-occupancy cabins and three shared bathrooms with hot showers, Island Odyssey combines comfort with the ability to reach places larger vessels cannot. Her open-concept, teak-finished salon and enclosed wheelhouse create a relaxed setting to share stories, watch for wildlife, or simply admire the passing scenery. Life on board blends adventure and homely comfort. Guests can enjoy wildlife viewing from the enclosed seating area, explore quiet coves by kayak, or access remote shores via the two expedition Zodiacs. A thoughtfully curated library below deck offers a peaceful retreat, while her small group size allows for flexible itineraries and a close connection with nature. Operating in Southeast Alaska and the Great Bear Rainforest during summer, Island Odyssey provides a truly personal way to experience the wild Pacific coast in safety, style, and sustainable harmony with the environment.

Itinerary



Day 1 - Trip Start – Day 1 Into the Heart of the Rainforest
Bluewater Adventures offers three different route options for this itinerary. Please check your trip’s dates to confirm your start/end location.Prior to your trip start, fly into Terrace. Pick up on the morning of Day 1 will be at select hotels (refer to your Itinerary Package for further details). The shuttle will transfer guests from Terrace to Kitimat where you will meet your Bluewater Adventures crew & vessel. Following boarding, we’ll depart into a land of dense forests reaching to the water’s edge, towering rocky fjords, and lush valley estuaries.
Day 2 - Days 2-4 Winding Waterways & Wonderful Wildlife
As we explore the waters of southern Douglas Channel and at various other places along our journey, we expect to encounter humpback whales. We’ll take the time to observe these 15-metre-long creatures whenever the opportunity arises and hope to witness spectacular behaviours like breaches, pectoral slaps, and possibly bubble-net feeding (an amazing cooperative foraging technique). We also hope to have luck in spotting other marine mammals like fin whales, orca, porpoise, and Steller sea lions. Time allowing, we may visit local whale researchers to learn about their fascinating work.There may be an opportunity to visit Bishop Bay hot springs for a soothing soak amidst an eclectic collection of fishing floats.
Day 3 - Days 5-7 The “Salmon Forest”
As we travel along Princess Royal Island, we keep a close watch on the shoreline, since this is the best-known area for seeing the elusive, all-white Spirit bear (also known as Kermode bear). These white bears are black bears expressing a genetic variation resulting in light coloured fur. We are fortunate to spend a day with local Gitga’at First Nation guides who will take us to their favourite bear viewing areas. With a little patience, we hope to be lucky enough to see black bears and the Spirit bear fishing for salmon at quiet spawning streams hidden in the thick of the forest. This unique coastal ecosystem supports impressive biodiversity – from salmon and marine mammals in the sea, to bears, coastal wolves, birds, and massive trees on land. We expect some good grizzly viewing at the water’s edge when visiting lush estuaries in the beautiful river valley of Khutze Inlet (K’ootz/Khutze Conservancy) and Fiordland Conservancy with its rocky cliff faces.
Day 4 - Trip Finish – Day 8 Heading Home
Our trip finishes in the small First Nations coastal town of Bella Bella – also known as Waglisla – which is the home of the Heiltsuk First Nation. We will arrive at the Bella Bella Municipal Dock just before noon in time to catch the afternoon flight back to Vancouver. Guests can also explore the area further on their own – nearby Shearwater is a short seabus ride away and offers the most amenities for visitors.Bluewater Adventures offers three different route options for this itinerary. Please check your trip’s dates to confirm your start/end location.
Day 5 - Please note:
We keep our itineraries purposefully flexible allowing our captains to cater to the needs and interests of their group as well as take into account weather, wildlife sightings, and more. 

Trip Dates

StartEndPrice FromRoom Type

Inclusions

    • Marine Mammal Encounters. Though bears may be the star of the show, encounters with hunting orcas or bubble-net feeding humpbacks is not out of the ordinary.
    • Unmatched Bear Viewing. With the chance to see grizzly bears, black bears, and spirit bears, this tour offers the opportunity for a bear viewing extravaganza.
    • Peaks & Valleys. Cruise between glacier-cut fjords whose granite faces spout down waterfalls from their sky-scraping mountain tops to the coastal waters below.
    • Call of the Wild. For some lucky guests, there is the chance to spot the elusive and rare coastal sea wolf, native to the British Columbia & Alaska coast.

Map

Related products

Related Blog Posts

Browse Trips in

Canada
More of activity:
North America Cruises