Sea Wolf Adventures - Grizzly Bear Viewing
Sea Wolf Adventures - Grizzly Bear Viewing

Grizzly Bears of the Wild

Journey into the Great Bear Rainforest to meet its iconic grizzly inhabitants

Experience an up-close interaction with the grizzly bears of British Columbia when you spend the full day with us in the heart of the Great Bear Rainforest on a truly immersive wildlife-watching journey. Venturing into our traditional territories inMusgamakw Dzawada’enuxw Territory (Northern Vancouver Island), our Indigenous-run adventures offer unrivalled opportunities to see grizzly bears in their natural habitat, while supporting our communities and learning more about our history and culture.

What will we see?

Travelling to our bear viewing areas is an important part of the day’s adventure, as we enjoy unparalleled access to our traditional territories and the communities where our owners and guides are honoured members. Pacific white-sided dolphins often dance alongside the bow of our boat, eagles soar overhead, and animals roam the shell-strewn beaches where ancient villages were once occupied by our people.

Sharing the cultural significance and stories behind the scenery, we make our way through waters favoured by migrating orcas and other awe-inspiring wildlife. Staying a safe and respectful distance from these majestic creatures, we’ll then visit grizzly bears in their home, where we also give the bears space to roam as nature intended.

Where do we go?

Join us on a unique journey into the Great Bear Rainforest, guided by our team of Indigenous Knowledge Keepers. Every season and each day is different, so our route will change based on giving you the very best grizzly bear viewing experience. We’ll be travelling in comfort through places of extreme natural beauty and cultural significance, such as Knight Inlet, Bond Sound, Thompson Sound.

Start your adventure with a two-hour boat journey from Port McNeill, or the First Nations’ village of Alert Bay, into the beautiful territory of the Kwakwaka‘wakw peoples. If time permits and guests are keen, we may visit the fascinating U’Mista Museum in Alert Bay, which is home to recovered artifacts and cultural history.

Listen to your guide’s Indigenous interpretation of local landscapes, and learn more about the birthplace of our ancestors and the history of our people, from ancient traditions to contemporary culture.

Refuel with a locally made lunch before we make our way back through the Broughton Archipelago and Blackfish Sound, where we often encounter the gentle giants of the Pacific: migrating humpback whales.

Grizzly Bear Viewing

Tour Info

  • Grizzly Bears of the Wild tours last eight to nine hours and depart from our office at 1514 Broughton Blvd., Port McNeill on Northern Vancouver Island
  • Breakfast, lunch, snacks, and drinks are provided
  • Tours have a minimum age of 10 years old. All passengers aged 18 and under must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
  • Please arrive 30 minutes before the tour’s 7:00 am departure time to sign a waiver. At the office, your guide will provide a safety briefing and an overview of the tour and area we will be exploring. The boat is docked a short (one-minute) walk from our office.
  • Please dress warmly and wear sturdy footwear
  • Plenty of wildlife photography opportunities are available but please do not bring tripods on board

Searching Availability...

Tour Length: 8 to 9 hours
Group size: Three people minimum. Twelve people maximum
Minimum age: 10 years old.
Departs: Meet at our office 30 minutes before your tour’s departure time, 1514 Broughton Blvd, Port McNeill. Click here for directions.
May 31 through Sepember 24 – daily departures at 7:00 am
September 25 to October 13 – daily departeres at 7:30 am

What’s included:

  • Boat transportation
  • Naturalist Aboriginal guides
  • Breakfast, lunch, snacks, and drinks
  • Binoculars
  • Rain ponchos

What should you bring?

Guests joining our grizzly tours must come prepared with proper footwear and clothing (darker clothing preferred).
We provide everything you need to enjoy the day, but here are some extras you may want to consider bringing:

  • Sunscreen
  • Insect repellant
  • Medication (if needed)
  • Hats (toques or beanies) and sun hats
  • Sunglasses
  • Camera
  • Breathable, non-cotton clothing is recommended, but not essential
  • Good, sturdy footwear
The calm waters reflect the boat, creating a serene and contemplative atmosphere, and the mountainous background fades into mist, adding to the mystery and beauty of the scene. This image embodies the essence of our tours — connecting with the natural world in a respectful, peaceful manner, while learning and appreciating the significance of these lands and waters to the Musgamakw Dzawada’enuxw people. #seawolfadventures #swa #traveltruthbeauty #gonorthisland #indigenousbc #musgamakwdzawadaenuxw

The calm waters reflect the boat, creating a serene and contemplative atmosphere, and the mountainous background fades into mist, adding to the mystery and beauty of the scene. This image embodies the essence of our tours — connecting with the natural world in a respectful, peaceful manner, while learning and appreciating the significance of these lands and waters to the Musgamakw Dzawada’enuxw people. #seawolfadventures #swa #traveltruthbeauty #gonorthisland #indigenousbc #musgamakwdzawadaenuxw ...

We want to extend our heartfelt thanks to all our friends and guests, both from around the world and locally, for supporting our Indigenous-owned company throughout the 2024 season. It has been our honor and privilege to share the beauty of our territories and waters with you. We are deeply grateful for the return of the wild salmon this year, which holds special significance for us, our culture, and the health of our ecosystems! #seawolfadventures #traveltruthbeauty #swa #seasonwrap #gonorthisland #indigenousbc 📸 @dolfvermeulen

We want to extend our heartfelt thanks to all our friends and guests, both from around the world and locally, for supporting our Indigenous-owned company throughout the 2024 season. It has been our honor and privilege to share the beauty of our territories and waters with you. We are deeply grateful for the return of the wild salmon this year, which holds special significance for us, our culture, and the health of our ecosystems! #seawolfadventures #traveltruthbeauty #swa #seasonwrap #gonorthisland #indigenousbc 📸 @dolfvermeulen ...

📸 @gatu04

📸 @gatu04 ...

Can language revitalization be incorporated on boats? Yes it can! Language revitalization is essential for First Nations as it connects people to their culture, heritage, and identity. In today’s world, it serves as a powerful act of reclaiming history, restoring cultural pride, and strengthening communities. Revitalizing Indigenous languages is not just about preserving words; it’s about preserving knowledge, values, and worldviews that have shaped these communities for generations. As languages come back to life, they foster resilience, healing, and a deeper connection to the land, offering a path forward in a world that urgently needs diverse voices and perspectives. Take a look at our leading language revitalization organization @nawalakwhealingsociety! #seawolfadventures #swa #traveltruthbeauty #language #languagerevitalization #paradigms #nawalakwhealingsociety 📸-@dolfvermeulen

Can language revitalization be incorporated on boats? Yes it can! Language revitalization is essential for First Nations as it connects people to their culture, heritage, and identity. In today’s world, it serves as a powerful act of reclaiming history, restoring cultural pride, and strengthening communities. Revitalizing Indigenous languages is not just about preserving words; it’s about preserving knowledge, values, and worldviews that have shaped these communities for generations. As languages come back to life, they foster resilience, healing, and a deeper connection to the land, offering a path forward in a world that urgently needs diverse voices and perspectives. Take a look at our leading language revitalization organization @nawalakwhealingsociety! #seawolfadventures #swa #traveltruthbeauty #language #languagerevitalization #paradigms #nawalakwhealingsociety 📸-@dolfvermeulen ...

We can learn a lot from our furry friends in knowing what they have to go through. #seawolfadventures #swa #grizzlybear #gonorthisland #patience

We can learn a lot from our furry friends in knowing what they have to go through. #seawolfadventures #swa #grizzlybear #gonorthisland #patience ...

He’s back! #seawolfadventures #swa #traveltruthbeauty #gonorthisland

He’s back! #seawolfadventures #swa #traveltruthbeauty #gonorthisland ...

A fine reel from one of our guests!

A fine reel from one of our guests! ...

The Great Bear Rainforest Photography Tour is coming up! Here’s a little reminder of what’s out here!

The Great Bear Rainforest Photography Tour is coming up! Here’s a little reminder of what’s out here! ...

Many many people have connected to this mountain, in the recent years, and it really is a special place in many hearts. But we’d like to share just the titbit of information on what this mountain means to us as the four tribes of the Dzawada̱'enux̱w. The Musg̱a̱makw Dzawada̱'enux̱w is: Kingcome, Gilford, Hopetown, and Wakeman. For millennia, we’ve paid respect to this mountain and what it represents. It is rich with Gwawa̱'enux̱w history which we uphold tremendously. Many non-Musg̱a̱makw, in recent times, have flown there, landed on there, got married on there, and therefore hold this mountain in high regard; it’s a special place that you can see from the Broughton Archipelago. This mountain is known to our people as K̕we and has a deep beautiful history! #seawolfadventures #swa #traveltruthbeauty #musgamakwdzawadaenuxw #kwe

Many many people have connected to this mountain, in the recent years, and it really is a special place in many hearts. But we’d like to share just the titbit of information on what this mountain means to us as the four tribes of the Dzawada̱`enux̱w. The Musg̱a̱makw Dzawada̱`enux̱w is: Kingcome, Gilford, Hopetown, and Wakeman. For millennia, we’ve paid respect to this mountain and what it represents. It is rich with Gwawa̱`enux̱w history which we uphold tremendously. Many non-Musg̱a̱makw, in recent times, have flown there, landed on there, got married on there, and therefore hold this mountain in high regard; it’s a special place that you can see from the Broughton Archipelago. This mountain is known to our people as K̕we and has a deep beautiful history! #seawolfadventures #swa #traveltruthbeauty #musgamakwdzawadaenuxw #kwe ...

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