10-12 Hour Wildlife Tour
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$450 per person
- Daily, July 1st 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 six 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). 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 along the X̱a̱ḵwika̱n river to discover the home of the grizzly bears in BC’s backcountry. We respectfully place ourselves at a quiet and safe sitting area and listen to traditional stories as we wait for bears to feast on wild salmon. After witnessing the memorable sight of grizzlies fishing in the river, we’ll find a nice place to sit for lunch.
Back on the boat, 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!
"Inspired by Wildlife & Culture"
"The Great Bear Rainforest has always been high on our list to experience. Not only did we have intimate encounters with a young grizzly bear looking for shellfish, a pod of curious dolphins playing almost at arm’s length, and a humpback whale who fully breached yards away from us; we were guided to these animals by Mike, a man who was born and raised in a small community of The Great Bear Rainforest.
Mike taught us about his language, Kwak’wala and some of the customs, stories and history of the Kwakwaka’wakw people. He was so generous with his knowledge we left wondering if we had asked too many questions! We arrived home completely inspired and grateful.
We would highly recommend this tour to anyone wanting to experience nature in it’s pure form and to learn about a rich culture extending back thousands of years in one of the most beautiful parts of the world."
Steph1Sarah - TripAdvisor
Safety and reliability is high priority for you and your family, click here to learn about our vessels.
2 people minimum. 6 people maximum.
Departing Port McNeill 7am daily (July 1 to October 10th) from North Island Marina. Meet at 6:45am at 1514 Broughton Blvd.
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 instruction here!
