10-12 Hour Wildlife Tour
$460 per person
Now Booking for 2018!
Get up close and personal with Musgamakw Dzawada‘enuxw’s grizzly bears on an immersive and intimate wildlife viewing experience!
- Daily, June 15th to October 10th
- Exclusive and private tours available
Get up close and personal with British Columbia’s grizzly bears on an intimate and immersive wildlife watching experience. Join First Nation guides on a tour through the awe-inspiring waterways of their people’s traditional territories.
Reconnect with nature and learn about First Nations culture in an all-in-one experience that combines respectful wildlife viewing with a sustainable tour through the super natural scenery of northern Vancouver Island and coastal mainland BC.
Low volume tours take a maximum of twelve guests on authentic adventures through the natural habitat of Western Canada’s grizzly bears. Pacific white-sided dolphins dance alongside the bow of our boat, Sea Wolf, as we make the one hour and 45 minute journey from Port McNeill or the First Nations’ village of Alert Bay into the beautiful X̱a̱ḵwika̱n (Thompson Sound) or Hada (Bond Sound). Eagles soar overhead and wolves roam the shell-strewn beaches where ancient villages were once occupied by the Musg̱a̱makw Dzawada̱’enux̱w people. Enjoy a continental breakfast as we navigate waters favoured by migrating orcas, and listen to your guide’s indigenous interpretation of local landscapes.
Our adventure continues to wherever the best bear viewing opportunities are. Depending on the time of the year, the grizzlies will either be up the river fishing for salmon or along the coast foraging for other foods. If we head up the X̱a̱ḵwika̱n or Hada river to discover the backcountry home of the grizzly bears we will leave the boat and respectfully place ourselves at a quiet and safe sitting area. There we will listen to traditional stories as we wait for bears to feast on wild salmon.
Our other option is to remain on the boat and explore BC’s beautiful coastline and view the bears from just offshore. Either way, after witnessing the memorable sight of grizzlies, we’ll find a nice place to sit for lunch.
After lunch, our traditionally trained guides chart us past Gwayasda̱ms, the birthplace of our ancestors, on Gilford Island. There we share stories about the historic and cultural significance of the oldest standing Big House in Canada. This truly unforgettable wildlife experience ends in the Broughton Archipelago and Queen Charlotte Strait, where we often encounter the gentle giants of the Pacific: migrating humpback whales. We have two other beautiful places within our territory to view grizzlies, ask us about them!
"Amazing Grizzly Tour!"
"This tour exceeded our expectations! We were looking for a smaller, up close and personal, less touristy type of Grizzly bear tour and that is exactly what we received. We saw Grizzly bears swimming, playing and feeding on salmon, all from a very close vantage point. Our friendly tour guide, Mike, did an excellent job of teaching us about the bears and helped us feel comfortable in their habitat. He seemed just as excited as we were to see all the wild life and happily answered all of our questions. It made us feel like we were witnessing something very special.
We also got to see humpbacks, sea lions and dolphins as well. We were also interested in the cultural aspect of the tour so we could learn about the area. Mike did a wonderful job of teaching us about the area and the history of his people. For lunch, he took us to a postcard, picture perfect beach for a delicious lunch. Thank you for the excellent adventure Sea Wolf. It made us definitely want to come back and see some more one day!"
Rocky_Al - TripAdvisor
Safety and reliability is high priority for you and your family, click here to learn about our vessels.
2 people minimum. 12 people maximum.
Minimum age for the Grizzly Tour is 8 years old. If you are interested in touring with children under the age of 8, check out our Family Tours.
Departing Port McNeill 7am daily (June 15 to October 10th) from North Island Marina. Meet at MacKay Whale Watching at 6:45am, 1514 Broughton Blvd. Click here for directions.
Included in the trip:
- boat transportation
- breakfast, lunch, snacks, and drinks
- binoculars
- cultural sustainability fee
Important message for Grizzly Tour! This is a wilderness trip that requires participants to be able to walk through the forest on uneven ground. Come prepared with proper footwear and clothing for moderate hiking in the forest and on rocky terrain. Bear viewing areas are subject to change without warning due to weather. If you like to adventure off the beaten path then you’ll like this experience!
Click here to view our Booking and Cancellation policies.
Please download your trip details and joining instructions here!
