Canada: The West

Tour Code: CAN01

A 14-day wildlife and whale-watching holiday, including a unique opportunity to view Grizzly Bears catching salmon.

14 days from
£9,295 (Inc flights)

Land only price from
£8,495

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Highlights

We begin our holiday in Ucluelet on Vancouver Island, where we’ll hope to see migrating Grey Whales offshore, while inland Black Bears forage for food in intertidal zones and birds such as American Dipper can be found near streams. Next we head to the north-west of the island through spectacular scenery and take boat trips to look for Sea Otters, other marine-life and seabirds such as Marbled Murrelet. Our next base is Great Bear Lodge, which we’ll reach by float-plane. Surrounded by forested hills, waterfalls and enveloped in peace and tranquillity, our only neighbours here will be wildlife. And it’s here we’ll experience an undoubted highlight of this tour – a chance to watch and photograph Grizzly Bears fishing for salmon.

Watch Grizzly Bears catching salmon
Great opportunities for photography
Chance of Grey Whale, Orca, Pacific dolphins & Dall’s Porpoise
Bald Eagles congregating waiting for scraps of salmon
Steller’s Sea Lion & Black Bear possible
Stay in the floating Great Bear Lodge amongst stunning scenery
Rhinoceros Auklet, Surfbird & Double-crested Cormorant
Led by an expert naturalist guide

Grading

Grade A. Day walks only.

The province of British Columbia in the west of Canada embraces vast areas of wilderness and spectacular scenery and plays host to a large and diverse range of wildlife. On this tour we will travel through a variety of different habitats, giving us an outstanding chance of seeing Orca, Humpback and Grey Whales as well as some excellent birdwatching. From Vancouver Island we will travel to Nekite Valley on the mainland. Our destination is the Great Bear Rainforest, a remote and temperate coastal rainforest which is home to several threatened species and one of the last strongholds of the Grizzly Bear. Here, in a true wilderness environment, we will stay on a floating lodge from which we will be able to travel a short distance to witness one of the most exciting wildlife spectacles in the world – Grizzly Bears congregating to fish for salmon, together with their retinue of attendant Bald Eagles.

We begin our tour with a flight to the cosmopolitan city of Vancouver on the west coast. Crossing the Strait of Georgia by ferry the following morning through magnificent coastal scenery, our destination is Vancouver Island and the picturesque district of Ucluelet, located within the spectacular Pacific Rim National Park. The park has outstanding examples of coastal rainforest, sandy beaches and coastal marine-life and we will take a couple of days to fully explore this wonderful region. The cold, nutrient-rich seas off the Pacific Rim National Park are a particularly reliable area in which to see the Grey Whales, a population of which stops off here for the summer months instead of heading further north to the Bering Strait. Birdlife is also plentiful in the area and we will be on the look-out for Chestnut-backed Chickadee, American Dipper, Steller’s Jay, several species of warbler and Varied Thrush. The Black Bear is still flourishing in British Columbia and we have an excellent chance of observing them from the water, as they forage for food in the intertidal zones.

Leaving Ucluelet, we will drive to Zeballos situated in the north-west of Vancouver Island. The drive is a long one but it will take us through a diverse range of spectacular scenery, from rainforests and mountains to beautiful beaches. From Zeballos we will take a boat trip in search of the charismatic Sea Otters often found in this area before moving to Port McNeill on the Johnstone Strait, an area which is known to be one of the most accessible and predictable places to view Orcas. In addition, we will have excellent opportunities of seeing Harbour and Dall’s Porpoises, Pacific White-sided Dolphin, Harbour Seal, Steller’s Sea Lion and possibly, if we are fortunate, Minke and Humpback Whales. Birdlife in the area is plentiful and should produce such species as Rhinoceros Auklet, Marbled Murrelet, Red-necked Phalarope, Pelagic, Brandt’s and Double-crested Cormorants, Surfbird, Black Turnstone and Black Oystercatcher amongst others.

From Port McNeill we will travel the short distance to Port Hardy, from where we will board a float-plane, travelling over breathtaking scenery to Great Bear Lodge, our base for the next part of our holiday. Here we will find ourselves in true wilderness, on a floating lodge nestling against a backdrop of snow-capped peaks, forested hills and waterfalls. Enveloped in silence and tranquillity, our only neighbours are the birds and mammals which inhabit the area. One of the definite highlights of our tour will be the unique chance to observe the magnificent Grizzly Bear from the safety of viewing stands situated along the river.

Outstanding photographic opportunities will present themselves as we watch the bears fishing for salmon in the waters nearby. Our concentration on this incredible spectacle will be matched by the Bald Eagles congregating in the nearby trees, intently watching for any scraps of fish the bears may leave. In the evenings we will have ample opportunity to discuss the day’s events over an excellent home-cooked evening meal, before talking with the local guides or just relaxing and watching the moon rising over the mountains. Birdlife will not be ignored and we will hope to see Marbled Murrelet, Pigeon Guillemot, Western Grebe and numerous Bald Eagles, which often fly very close to the lodge itself. Whilst out in the boats, we will also be watching the shore for sightings of Black Bear. The Great Bear Rainforest, where our lodge is situated, is also home to an exciting range of other animals and we might catch sight of River Otters or even a Grey Wolf if we are very fortunate.

Leaving this wilderness paradise to return to civilisation will be extremely hard but we will carry lasting memories with us. Our return float-plane will give us another chance to enjoy the spectacular views before we land back in Port Hardy. The following day we will make our way down the east coast from Port McNeill and back to Vancouver on the mainland, where we will have a last chance for some sightseeing, shopping or some final birdwatching in the area, visiting the nearby Boundary Bay or Reifel Bird Sanctuary. Here we should get farewell sightings of the more common bird species of the region such as American Robin, Steller’s Jay and Red-winged Blackbirds and perhaps some of the more unusual species such as Barrow’s Goldeneye, Hooded Merganser and Harlequin Duck.

DETAILED INFORMATION

Itinerary

Outline Itinerary

Day 1

Fly Vancouver; overnight Tsawwassen

Day 2/4

Ucluelet

Day 5/6

Zeballos

Day 7

Port McNeill

Day 8/10

Great Bear Lodge

Day 11

Port McNeill

Day 12

Tsawwassen

Day 13

Depart Vancouver

Day 14

Arrive London

Download Full Itinerary

What's Included

What's Included?

Flights
Accommodation:
We stay in comfortable hotels, motels and a floating wilderness lodge, all with private facilities.
Food:
All meals are included except for dinners in Tsawwassen/Vancouver. Allow £40-£50.

Reviews

From start to finish the trip was meticulously planned and executed by Naturetrek. Excellent accommodation and food. Their naturalist was extremely knowledgeable and helpful, and had an infectious/enthusiastic personality. I cannot thank Naturetrek enough for such a wonderful trip, the highlight of which was watching a female Grizzly bear and her three cubs along a river full of spawning salmon. This is the second Naturetrek tour we have been on and I can highly recommend them to anyone who is thinking of booking a tour with them. When you phone their office to enquire about aspects of a particular tour their staff are really helpful and have a real warmth. It is rare to find such a customer-orientated company who give honest and insightful advice.
H.V. Merseyside, Sept 22
A big thank you to Ben who helped organise a private kayaking trip for myself and Alison prior to our trip. We had an amazing time and this was definitely another highlight. Would very much recommend this and the company we went with were great with a wonderful guide loved every second, especially our cheeky Harbour Seal who insisted on following us around! Thank you so much to Ken and Matt. Both guides were amazing. Ken was fantastic at his organisation and instruction and everything was catered for. On a bad weather day Ken managed to re arrange our trips in a tight schedule to allow us better opportunities- going that one step beyond!! The group was fantastic and shared wonderful experiences with the leaders and other members of the tour. The variety of animals and marine life covered in a relatively short period of time was wonderful and really close encounters as well. Thank you.
E.C. West Midlands, Sept 19
Everything worked out so well, and the weather was kind to us, especially at key times. Matt Collis, the trip leader, was brilliant. Very efficient, always helpful and great fun. Very well-informed about the wildlife, and his exceptional eyesight was a key element in his being able to point out such splendid birds, wild animals and sea creatures to us. Ken, the local guide, was excellent, too. Nothing was too much for him to do for us. He got us to visit some really interesting locations and reserves, he knew his birds, he was well-informed about the local cultures, and his personally-prepared lunches were phenomenal! I really enjoyed seeing the interesting behaviours of both the grizzlies and the black bears at such close quarters. It was lovely to see the sea otters and the river otters, and I really enjoyed the bird-watching: the greater white-fronted geese in migration, the various birds of prey, the stunning harlequin and wood ducks, the hooded mergansers, the divers/loons, the phalaropes, the kingfishers, Anna's hummingbird and the rare sharp-tailed sandpiper. We had close views of the grey whale and several humpbacks, but the highlight of the trip for me was the family of orcas that we spent most of the afternoon with in Queen Charlotte Sound. That has to be one of the most memorable and spectacular days of my life, and the weather was perfect.
I.B. Gwynedd, Sept 19

Two exceptional leaders - would be hard to find a better ground agent than Ken, he thought of everything. We were very lucky in seeing all the wildlife that we wanted. The Great Bear Lodge was a superb place to stay, everything was catered for. The Reifel Reserve was a tremendous place to end a holiday.
R. D. Cumbria, Sept 19

The highlight was undoubtedly the experience at the Bear Lodge, although the trips viewing whales and otters were also exciting and highly rated. Doubtless there are reams of praise for him, but that should be complemented to endorse the encyclopaedic knowledge of the Tour Leader, Tim.
D.R. Hertfordshire, Sept 19

The Great Bear Lodge was something special. Enjoyed the boat trips. Availability of wet weather gear. Good selection of restaurants. If there was a category above excellent (for tour leaders), Tim and Ken would qualify!
M.M. Cambridgeshire, Sept 19

Tim Melling has a tremendous breadth and depth of knowledge and it was a delight to travel with him. His enthusiasm was contagious and he took great pains to ensure that all members of the group saw everything and got as much as possible out of the trip. You couldn't wish for a better tour leader. I loved the whole trip, but particularly the Great Bear Lodge, which is in a superb location for wildlife viewing and is very comfortable, with excellent staff and great food. There were lots of activities and we were kept busy for most of the time, which meant we were always seeing new things and made the holiday seem longer than it was - in a good way!
V.K. Nottinghamshire, Sept 19

We had three fantastic whale watching trips, and the highlight was going on a sea plane to Great Bear Lodge for three luxurious nights. We were spoilt with wonderful meals all beautifully prepared by enthusiastic staff. We had six incredible sessions of watching for the Grizzly Bears from the comforts of a hide and were well rewarded to see these huge bears catching the salmon right in front of us!!
A.W. Hertfordshire, Sept 18

Our trip with Naturetrek was for us all about seeing Whales and Bears. Ok wildlife can be a bit shy, but not on our trip with lots of opportunities we saw more than we could have dreamed of. Humpbacks, Orca, Grey Whales, Dolphins, the list goes on, and the finale were the Bears at the Great Bear Lodge. The trip was full on from day one hardly time to breath - problems, even out of their control were dealt with. I would not hesitate to travel with them again.
C.W. Northumberland, Sept 18

A fantastic trip. I felt at the end of each day that that day was the best, but the next day was even better.
S.F. Hertfordshire

...the Western Canada trip was just perfect! the organization was exemplary both from this side of the pond and on the Canadian side. The two Canadian guides were fantastic ... They kept smiling and drove long distances providing lots of sustenance and information along the way. Paul Stanbury was also superb. I am not a birder but his knowledge was infectious and well presented.
G.P. London

Tour leader, Paul Stanbury, was excellent - knowledgeable, dedicated, always ensuring all was running smoothly ... on a very positive note, Knight Inlet was outstanding ... vast quantities of excellent food and wonderfully helpful and knowledgeable staff.
P.B. & B.H. Hampshire

I expected this trip to be very good and my expectations were surpassed ... My thanks to Naturetrek, in particular Paul and Chris for a trip of a lifetime.
B.M. Tyne & Wear

I would rate the trip as a memorable lifetime experience and would like to thank everyone who contributed to its organisation and planning.
T.C. Hampshire

I enjoyed this trip enormously and the itinerary meant we saw and experienced many different sights and wildlife. The local guides were good, Paul Marshall's birding expertise was much appreciated and he was great to have with us.
G.H. London

We crisscrossed Vancouver Island on our way to Port Hardy where we caught a float plane to Great Bear Lodge. The stops on the way to Port Hardy allowed us to see some of the magnificent beauty of Canada along with brilliant sightings of Humpbacks, Orcas, Sea Otters and Black Bears. These were all a prelude to 3 wonderful days at Great Bear Lodge where we enjoyed hours of bear viewing close up, delicious food and wonderful scenery full of amazing reflections. Sadly the float plane came and collected us and took us back to Port Hardy but gave us terrific views of the wilderness below. The journey back down Vancouver Island was more straightforward with stops at bird sanctuaries and wetlands .Even the ferry crossing back to mainland gave a sighting of humpbacks!
J.W.P. Hampshire

It was our first ever wildlife holiday and in all honesty the trip surpassed all our expectations!
D.A. Oxfordshire

We were blessed with great weather and saw a great diversity of wildlife.
T.I. & V.I. Cornwall

The knowledge of Tim Melling and organisation by Diane were outstanding. The willingness of both to share their knowledge way beyond what was required, the general kindness and consideration for individuals could not be bettered.
M.H. Somerset

The set up at Great Bear Lodge was excellent. The new lodge accommodation is very luxurious and I loved the friendliness and helpfulness of all the staff there. The needs of clients had been considered and the little touches such as cushions for hard seats was lovely. The guides were always smiling and I can't thank them enough for the brilliant bear viewing. Overall an excellent trip, with excellent guides.
Mr & Mrs B. Essex

I was particularly impressed with our Naturetrek leader, Tim Melling. Tim has encyclopaedic knowledge and great enthusiasm, as well as a kind and inclusive manner which added enormously to the whole experience. I was also very pleased with our local guide, Duane. He and Tim worked beautifully together, and Duane kept us regaled with local stories and information, lots of laughter and wonderful lunches in beautiful surroundings. Of course, the wildlife was most obliging as well, and the real highlight for me was the three nights at Great Bear Lodge where we were treated to magnificent sightings of many grizzlies, including a number of mother bears with cubs.
J.T. Australia

The itinerary was well put together and ran smoothly. We had various wildlife sighting that exceeded our expectations. A superb holiday - thank you! And our thanks to Alan and Ken.
Mr & Mrs W. Hertfordshire

Ken really did go the extra mile. His organisation and choice of restaurants was perfect. I enjoyed everything. Maybe the grizzlies, Seal, Otter, whales and Orca were my favourites. My room-mate and members of the group were great. We got on really well and had so much fun. Ken was part of this fun, his sense of humour matched ours.
J.C. Warwickshire

Accommodation was excellent throughout as were the restaurants chosen for evening meals. Great Bear Lodge was extremely comfortable and the food delicious. We saw an amazing amount of wildlife. Our tour leader and Canadian guide were most helpful.
M.G. Gloucestershire

Felt the two leaders worked well together. Terry was excellent. The Bears were excellent, had good views most times. Great Bear Lodge was fantastic, the whole experience- not forgetting the food. Loved Zeballos too.
P.G. Cheshire

The variety of areas visited meant everyone had something of interest to them. The routes taken also allowed visits and stops to take in the beauty and variety of the areas. The Great Bear Lodge was the ultimate – wonderful food, beautiful surroundings and lots of bears every day. The whale watching at Port McNeill was breath-taking and we saw so many Humpbacks and Orcas! The boat trip from Zeballoss was also amazing – we saw a huge raft of Sea Otters who allowed us to sit and watch for ages – they were so cute!
V.G. Surrey

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Dates & Prices

2025

Departures Availability Cost

Sat 6th Sep – Fri 19th Sep 3 £9,295

Book Tour Show Details

Flights:

Most Naturetrek tours include flight costs ex-UK. If flights are not included, we indicate that here.

Flights are included in the tour cost

Regional Departures:

On certain tours it is possible to depart from a regional airport (rather than London). If a regional departure is possible, we indicate that here.

Regional Departures are available. Call 01962733051

Land only cost:

The "Land Only" cost is the tour price you will pay if you choose to arrange your own flights/transport.

£8,495

Single Room Supplement:

Single Room Supplement.

£895

Fri 12th Sep – Thu 25th Sep 5 £9,295

Book Tour Show Details

Flights:

Most Naturetrek tours include flight costs ex-UK. If flights are not included, we indicate that here.

Flights are included in the tour cost

Regional Departures:

On certain tours it is possible to depart from a regional airport (rather than London). If a regional departure is possible, we indicate that here.

Regional Departures are available. Call 01962733051

Land only cost:

The "Land Only" cost is the tour price you will pay if you choose to arrange your own flights/transport.

£8,495

Single Room Supplement:

Single Room Supplement.

£895

Mon 15th Sep – Sun 28th Sep SPACES £9,295

Book Tour Show Details

Flights:

Most Naturetrek tours include flight costs ex-UK. If flights are not included, we indicate that here.

Flights are included in the tour cost

Regional Departures:

On certain tours it is possible to depart from a regional airport (rather than London). If a regional departure is possible, we indicate that here.

Regional Departures are available. Call 01962733051

Land only cost:

The "Land Only" cost is the tour price you will pay if you choose to arrange your own flights/transport.

£8,495

Single Room Supplement:

Single Room Supplement.

£895

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            [description] => Bear Watching Holidays – See Bears in their Wild Habitat
Bears are many people’s favourite mammal. They are immensely strong and have unpredictable temperaments, yet inspire great affection in most of us.
The Naturetrek programme includes a number of specially designed bear-watching holidays which employ local expertise to provide clients with wonderful opportunities to see their favourite mammals.
Naturetrek Bear-watching tours
Most species of bear are retiring in habit and rarely seen during the day. However, a prodigious appetite leads many species to gather seasonally in big numbers, which makes them far easier to watch!
Our bear tour groups are limited in size and accompanied by Naturetrek naturalist leaders, and also usually assisted by resident experts. Although focused on bear-watching, all Naturetrek bear tours offer many opportunities to observe the other wildlife of the area.
We also see bears on other Naturetrek tours such as Sloth Bears on Indian and Sri Lankan tours, and Brown Bears on many European tours.
Where can I see bears?

Slovenia - Bears, Birds & Caves – a 6-day holiday to Slovenia, focusing on its Brown Bears, birdlife and other natural history highlights
Canada: The West – stay on a floating wilderness lodge and explore Vancouver Island in search of Grizzly Bears
Spitsbergen – Realm of the Polar Bear – a voyage into the high Arctic in search of Polar Bears and other wildlife (exclusive charter cruise)
Brown Bears in Finland – photograph bears from a hide on the Russian border
Romania – The Wildlife of Transylvania – go in search of foraging bears in Romania’s Carpathian Mountains

Is it possible to see bears on other Naturetrek tours?
Yes. While not specifically searching for bears, we regularly have sightings of Sloth Bears on Indian and Sri Lankan tours, and Brown Bears on our Kamchatka cruise and many European tours.

Our specialist recommends...




"In Europe one of the most reliable places to see the European Brown Bear is northern Finland, where it is possible to get very close views from hides. Watching Grizzly Bears catching Salmon in western Canada is undoubtedly one of the greatest of natural history thrills. But for the ultimate bear-watching experience, and my personal favourite, it has to be a trip to the Arctic to see Polar Bears." 

Paul Stanbury - Operations Manager

 
All Bear Watching Tours
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            [description] => Mammal Watching Holidays
Many of the world’s mammals are instantly recognisable to us. Animals such as Lions, Tigers, elephants and bears capture our imaginations from an early age. At Naturetrek, we take great pleasure and pride in helping people to fulfil their lifelong dreams of seeing these iconic species in the wild. We also enjoy introducing our clients to some of the world’s more unusual mammals, many of which are just as fascinating.
Naturetrek Mammal Watching Tours
Many of our tours have a primary focus on mammals and we offer the widest choices of mammal-watching holidays across the globe, from the poles to the tropics. Our holidays are guided by at least one professional naturalist tour leader and usually benefit from additional guiding by expert local naturalist guides. We have holidays to see an incredible range of the world’s most sought-after mammals, such as orangutans, lemurs, bats, polar mammals, big cats, and mammals of the African savannah. A significant number of tours also targets some of the planet’s more unusual and elusive species, from pottos and pangolins to slender lorises and obscure cetaceans.
Here’s a selection of our mammal tours:

India’s Kanha and Pench Tiger Reserves
A cruise to Spitsbergen in search of Polar Bears 
A chance to see the ‘Big Five’ and much more in South Africa’s Kruger National Park
Search for Blue, Fin and Sperm Whales in the Azores
Close-up views of Brown Bear and Wolverine in Finland
Enjoy the mammals of Kenya’s Masai Mara, while staying in luxury camps
Search for elusive nocturnal mammals, such as Aardvark, Black-footed Cat and Aardwolf, in the Kalahari Desert

Bargain mammal selection
We offer a range of action-packed bargain holidays for the dedicated mammal enthusiast, which are exceptional value for money, from Belize to Zambia.

Our specialist recommends...




"Africa is perhaps the greatest continent for mammal-watching. I would recommend 'Botswana’s Desert & Delta (Mammals)' for combining stunning scenery and wildlife. We also offer a tour to Uganda which includes a chance to see Mountain Gorillas. And India, along with Tigers, has a superb variety of mammals. Closer to home, short breaks to Spain in search of Wolves and Iberian Lynx are hard to beat.”

Paul Stanbury - Operations Manager

  
All Mammal Watching Tours
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Tour Dates or Itinerary Don't Suit?

Allow our experts to create a private, customised itinerary with dates and prices to suit you.

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Prefer to Travel in a Private Group?

For any interested natural history club or society, we can arrange for a private departure of this tour.

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Tour Reports

Tour report - September 2022

Tour report - September 2019

Tour report - September 2018

Tour report - September 2017

Tour report - September 2016

Tour report - September 2015

Tour report - September 2014

Tour report - September 2013

Tour report - September 2012

Tour report - September 2011

Tour report - September 2010

Tour report - September 2009

Tour report - September 2008

Tour report - September 2007

Tour report - September 2006

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Why Naturetrek?

At Naturetrek we craft expertly-guided group and tailor-made wildlife holidays and cruises to all seven continents. On one of our holidays, you can be assured that our passionate team will enable you to experience and enjoy the best of the world's wildlife and natural spectacles in as comfortable and rewarding a manner as possible, caring as best we can for the environment in the process. We are proud to provide:

The widest choice of wildlife holidays worldwide
Tours managed and led by naturalists, for naturalists
Outstanding value and exceptional customer service

Furthermore, as a Naturetrek client, our office team are always to on hand to help you – so if you have any queries about your holiday, whether before or after you have booked, we will be delighted to answer them on the phone. Please just give our team a call!

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