Location Highlights
- Great Bear Rainforest - a region of spectacular natural beauty and abundant wildlife where Black, Grizzly and Spirit Bears patrol the forests and beaches, Humpback Whales roam the seas and Bald Eagles soar high above
- Vancouver Island - one of the best places in the world to see both Orca and Grey Whale, alongside some 10,000 Black Bears
- Churchill - the Polar Bear capital of the world!
- Quebec & Bay of Fundy - towering mountain ranges, vast waterways, historic cities, boreal forests, a breathtaking coastline and a wonderful array of land-based and marine wildlife, alongside a rich culture and indigenous heritage
- Niagara Falls and South-east Ontario - witness the thundering natural spectacle of Niagara Falls and visit Point Pelee National Parl - probably the most famous bird migration hotspot in all of North America
Tailormade Holidays in Canada
Tailormade | Tour Code: TCANThe kaleidoscope of colour that encapsulates the Canadian ‘fall’ provides a spectacular backdrop to magnificent wildlife, which includes numerous bears and whales. In the cold tundra of the north, Polar Bears can be found alongside other impressive Arctic specialists. Create your own Tailormade holiday to Canada with dates and an itinerary to suit you.
When to Visit
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SAMPLE HOLIDAY: Spirit Bears, Grizzlies & Humpbacks - Cruising the Great Bear Rainforest
10 days from £8,295 (Flight Inclusive)
A 10-day holiday to coastal British Columbia including a 7-night wildlife cruise through the Great Bear Rainforest
Location Highlights
- Great Bear Rainforest - a region of spectacular natural beauty and abundant wildlife where Black, Grizzly and Spirit Bears patrol the forests and beaches, Humpback Whales roam the seas and Bald Eagles soar high above
- Vancouver Island - one of the best places in the world to see both Orca and Grey Whale, alongside some 10,000 Black Bears
- Churchill - the Polar Bear capital of the world!
- Quebec & Bay of Fundy - towering mountain ranges, vast waterways, historic cities, boreal forests, a breathtaking coastline and a wonderful array of land-based and marine wildlife, alongside a rich culture and indigenous heritage
- Niagara Falls and South-east Ontario - witness the thundering natural spectacle of Niagara Falls and visit Point Pelee National Parl - probably the most famous bird migration hotspot in all of North America
Quick Enquiry
Summary
Canada is the second largest country in the world and a truly outstanding wildlife destination. Covering almost nine million square kilometres, it is home to a wonderfully diverse range of habitats and landscapes, from the cold Arctic tundra of the north to the high rocky peaks and vivid turquoise lakes of the Rocky Mountains in the west. Moving east – beyond Canada’s wheat belt and flat central prairies – lie the Great Lakes, the St Lawrence River and the spectacular Niagara Falls. The land here is clothed in broadleaf forests that turn a kaleidoscope of reds, oranges and golds each ‘Fall’. Canada’s eastern seaboard has much to offer too, from the Bay of Fundy’s impressive tides (the highest in the world) to the architecture and history of Quebec City and iceberg-dotted coastline of Newfoundland.
Canada’s wildlife cannot fail to impress! Each spring, millions of songbirds fan out into its vast forests to breed, concentrating in May and September at a few key bottlenecks – especially around the Great Lakes – to offer some of the best, and most exciting, birding in all of North America! On a larger scale, Caribou, Wolves and Moose, plus Grizzly, Black and Polar Bears all inhabit Canada’s vast wilderness areas, whilst the surrounding seas are home to a wonderful variety of marine mammals including Orca, Blue, Fin and Humpback Whales, Beluga and the bizarre Narwhal. Wildlife and landscapes aside, the locals are warm and friendly, the food is delicious and there are some spectacular lodges in which to stay. With so much variety on offer and such a vast country to explore, Canada is a truly exciting option for a Tailormade wildlife holiday.
Our Destinations
Southern Ontario offers an interesting mix of exciting wildlife and spectacular scenery, and is an excellent option for self-drive exploration.
Between Lakes Erie and Ontario and straddling the United States and Canadian border lies Niagara Falls, one of the world’s great natural wonders. Niagara is actually a group of three waterfalls, with Horseshoe Falls the largest, and the only one to lie on Canadian soil. The combined flow rate of Niagara is the highest of any across North America and, with a drop exceeding 50 metres, this is an unmissable sight!
Lying at the southernmost extremity of mainland Canada, Point Pelee National Park is probably the most famous migration hotspot in all of North America! Jutting south into Lake Eire, the point is the first landfall for weary spring migrants crossing the lake on their way north and, as such, can experience huge falls of birds given the right weather conditions. In May the trees can be festooned with a kaleidoscope of colourful American warblers, plus numerous other vireos, thrushes, orioles, sparrows and buntings. During the summer months, you can wander the trails or take to the water by canoe as cicadas bring the forest alive around you. In autumn, thousands of vibrant Monarch Butterflies pass through as they make their incredible journey south to the mountains of central Mexico. For a few very special days, the butterflies rest here, before taking off across Lake Erie – a truly spectacular sight.
To the north of Toronto lies Algonquin Provincial Park, a vast area of mixed southern hardwood and northern coniferous forests dotted with a plethora of sparkling lakes. As well as offering numerous hiking trails, the park may be explored by canoe, drifting through the glassy water as it reflects the deep greens of the surrounding forest. Algonquin is home to some of the best of Canada’s wildlife, with highlights including Moose, White-tailed Deer, Beaver and Black Bear. Indeed, this is one of the best places in Ontario for Moose sightings! Over 270 bird species have been recorded within the park including Canada Jay, Spruce Grouse, Pine Grosbeak, Indigo Bunting and plenty of Common Loons (Great Northern Diver). This area is particularly picturesque in the ‘fall’, when the forests burst into intense reds, oranges and golds that simply take one’s breath away.
With these fantastic locations, and many, many others besides – all easily accessible by car – it will be difficult to leave!
The journey from Vancouver to Vancouver Island is breathtaking. The ferry offers exciting opportunities for a variety of cetaceans and seabirds, with each season bringing its own delights. Bald Eagles are common, and this is a key migratory route for waterbirds including Surf, White-winged and Black Scoter, Pacific Diver, Western and Red-necked Grebes and the beautiful Harlequin Duck. Both Dall’s and Harbour Porpoises patrol these waters, alongside playful pods of Pacific White-sided Dolphins, which move into the area each spring. The pods of salmon-eating 'Resident' Orcas for which this region is famous arrive in June, but the mammal-eating 'Transients’ live in these waters year-round, although their predatory lifestyle makes them a more secretive animal and less easy to view.
Vancouver Island offers some wonderfully varied scenery. The towering Mackenzie Range is breathtaking, and Kennedy Lake offers lush temperate rainforest wilderness. The spectacular Pacific Rim National Park, which spans more than 130 kilometres of west coast shoreline, is a dramatic area of rocky headlands and pristine sandy beaches pounded by the full force of the Pacific Ocean and backed by some of the region’s last remaining old-growth coastal rainforest. It lies on the main migratory route of the Grey Whale as the species moves between Mexico’s Baja Peninsula and its summer feeding haunt in the Bering Sea. Some, however, remain around Tofino and Ucluelet for the summer. The Pacific Rim is one of the best places in the world from which to observe these magnificent creatures and, whilst scanning for whales (either on land or by boat), plenty of other species may also be seen including Steller’s Sea Lion, Sea Otter, Humpback Whale, a transient pod of Orca, Pigeon Guillemot, Harlequin Duck or the beautiful Tufted Puffin. The mystical rainforests, with their towering Western Red Cedars and moss-covered Sitka Spruce, offer an intriguing avifauna, alongside noisy Red Squirrels and the enigmatic Banana Slug.
Zeballos, in the northwest of the Island, is home to the charismatic Sea Otter and, whilst there are no Grizzly Bears on Vancouver Island, Black Bears are commonly seen – some 10,000 live here! No stay on Vancouver Island is complete without a couple of nights in either Telegraph Cove or Port McNeil and a boat trip out onto Johnstone Strait, the summer and early autumn haunt of the island’s ‘Northern Resident’ Orcas. This is one of the best places to view this impressive cetacean anywhere in the world as the whales tend to favour the strait at this time of year and their movements are monitored by the local whale researchers and the whale-watching operators.
Accommodation
Wickaninnish Inn
The superb Wickaninnish Inn can be found just outside Tofino, world-renowned for its whale-watching opportunities. The inn sits atop a rocky peninsula overlooking Chesterman Beach with nothing but the Pacific Ocean in front and rainforest wilderness behind, offering guests total seclusion and exciting wildlife. Guest suites are located in the main lodge and a second beach-side building and are styled with a rustic, yet elegant and very comfortable, feel, in tune with the region’s natural surroundings and cultural heritage. All have en suite facilities, cosy fires and superb views of either the ocean or rainforest. The restaurant serves delicious meals prepared using fresh, local ingredients, which can be enjoyed with a glass of fine wine whilst watching the waves crashing against the rocky shoreline. It will certainly be difficult to leave this wilderness paradise!
The 'Great Bear Rainforest' protects one of the largest remaining tracts of temperate rainforest left in the world. Stretching along the intricate, island-dotted, coastline of British Columbia, from Vancouver Island north to the Alaskan border, this is a region of spectacular natural beauty and abundant wildlife. Ancient Western Red Cedars – some over 1,000 years old – grow alongside towering Western Hemlocks, Amabilis Fir and Sitka Spruce, each dripping with curtains of lichens and moss, and bisected by numerous glacier-fed streams which flow into the maze of narrow channels, fjords and wooded islands of the fabled ‘Inside Passage’. On land, the forests, estuaries and rocky beaches are patrolled by Black Bears (including the occasional ‘Spirit Bear’, a rare white genetic variant), Grey Wolves, Cougars and, of course, the ‘Great Bear’ itself, the Grizzly! Overhead soar Bald Eagles, whilst offshore Humpback Whales return every summer, joining pods of Orcas, Grey Whales, Pacific White-sided Dolphins, Steller’s Sea Lions and numerous seabirds including Rhinoceros Auklets, the diminutive Marbled Murrelet, Red-necked and Slavonian Grebes, Black and Surf Scoters and parties of twirling Red-necked Phalaropes.
Accommodation
Great Bear Lodge
The adventure begins even before you reach Great Bear Lodge with an exciting 30-minute float plane ride from Port Hardy on Vancouver Island. The views are truly breathtaking and as you cross Queen Charlotte Strait you may even spot a pod of Orca, Pacific White-sided Dolphins or Humpback Whales!
This wonderful small wilderness lodge is set deep within the Nekite Valley in the Great Bear Rainforest, and its river estuary is a magnet for hungry Grizzly Bears. The lodge sits on floating pontoons and accommodates a maximum of 16 guests in comfortable twin-bedded rooms each with a private bathroom. Delicious, fresh, home cooked gourmet meals are produced in the kitchen by endlessly cheerful staff. Dinner is the main social event of the day, where guests get a chance to mingle and discuss the day’s sightings.
In the autumn you will enjoy morning and afternoon bear-viewing sessions overlooking the Nekite River where the Grizzly Bears fish for salmon between August and October. Viewing is either by hide or from an open wooden platform and the photo opportunities are superb! In the spring bear-viewing mostly takes place by boat and focuses on the nearby Nekite Estuary where the bears feed on sedge after their long winter hibernation.
Nestling against a backdrop of snow-clad peaks, forested hillsides and spectacular waterfalls, this floating lodge is in a wonderfully peaceful location. To sit quietly in the early morning with only the sound of the birdsong breaking the silence, the cry of a Bald Eagle overhead or the splash of a playful River Otter nearby is something you will treasure for ever.
Knight Inlet Lodge
Knight Inlet Lodge floats on the calm waters of Glendale Cove halfway along Knight Inlet. It is perfectly situated for exploration of the Great Bear Rainforest, either by water or on land! The Grizzly Bear viewing from the lodge is some of the best in the world, with viewing platforms strategically located to allow for excellent photography of bears fishing for salmon. Guests might also enjoy bear-watching by kayak or taking an interpretive walk with a local indigenous guide. Knight Inlet is the longest fjord on British Colombia’s coast, and the lodge is backed by a wild and remote landscape of spectacular mountains and the vibrant greens of the temperate rainforest. The lodge has a west coast B.C. feel, with western cedar cladding and a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere. Each of the lodge’s 18 en suite rooms are very comfortable and homely, with views of either the sparkling Glendale Cove or the shoreline where bears are often spotted. The lodge serves delicious and sumptuous freshly caught seafood and other local fare, which can be enjoyed out on the waterside deck on warmer evenings.
Farewell Harbour Lodge
This historic oceanfront, west-coast inspired, retreat is located on Berry Island at the southern frontier of the Great Bear Rainforest and within the biodiverse Broughton Archipelago Marine Park. The lodge also boasts its own private 30-acre forest. Guests arrive at the lodge by high-speed water taxi from Vancouver Island and so you may spot Humpback Whales, Stellar Sea Lions or Pacific White-sided Dolphins before you even arrive! The lodge offers eight cosy ocean-side suites on land and a further four wonderful suites located on the floating portion of the lodge. Each section of this unique property is connected via a series of wooden boardwalks, allowing one to feel truly immersed in the surrounding landscape. One of the most special features of Farewell Harbour Lodge, however, are the owners and staff, and you will be made to feel like a member of the family in no time. This is a wonderful place to stay, offering easy access to some superb wildlife-watching opportunities.
Tweedsmuir Park Lodge
Located in the Bella Coola Valley, with magical views of Mounts Stupendous and Mellikan, a stay at Tweedsmuir Park Lodge is a very special experience. Accommodation is provided in 10 luxury, wooden chalets arranged around a central lawn, all complete with incredible views. There is a central bar, restaurant and socialising area, where sumptuous meals are served, and tales can be shared of the day’s sightings over a night cap. A spa is also available, including a large outdoor hot tub. The lodge offers some breathtaking experiences, from horse riding, wilderness river drifts and guided wildlife and cultural hikes to simply watching bears right from the property itself! The Atnarko River runs along the lodge’s boundary and guests can enjoy Grizzly Bears hunting for salmon from elevated viewing platforms – a truly unforgettable sight. Interestingly, Tweedsmuir Park Lodge sits in a rain shadow and receives 70% less rainfall than the surrounding areas.
Spirit Bear Lodge
Deep within untouched wilderness, the indigenous-owned Spirit Bear Lodge offers the opportunity to experience ancient culture alongside the spectacular wildlife of the breathtaking Kitasoo Xai’xais traditional territory. Grizzly, Black and Spirit Bears are all possible here, alongside Humpback Whales, Dall’s Porpoise and Steller’s Sea Lion in the ‘Great Bear Sea’. At the lodge itself, a genuinely warm welcome is guaranteed to all. Rooms are well appointed and comfortable, and all enjoy wonderful sea views. There is an ocean view deck where one can enjoy a glass of wine or craft beer, whilst looking out over the water, and delicious meals are served in the dining room, where guests come together to share stories of the day’s exciting wildlife sightings.
The small town of Churchill is located on the icy shores of Hudson Bay in the Canadian Arctic. It is an area as wild as it is remote and is only accessible only by rail or plane. It has also earnt the nickname of the ‘Polar Bear capital of the world’ and for good reason! These magnificent creatures – the largest of the bears – are forced onto land each summer when the Hudson Bay sea ice melts. The bears then return to the Churchill area during the autumn months to await the re-freeze (a route that sometimes sees animals wandering directly through the town itself!). October and November are amongst the best months to visit for Polar Bear sightings, when trips can be arranged onto the tundra in bespoke, and heated, bear-viewing vehicles called ‘Tundra Buggies’. Other species to look out for in the snowy autumn include Arctic Fox, Caribou, Snowy Owl and plenty of Snow Buntings.
During the summer months, walking safaris can also be arranged here, where sightings of Polar Bears ambling through a carpet of wildflowers can often be enjoyed. At this time of year thousands of ghostly-white Beluga Whales converge at the mouth of the Churchill River, creating one of the Arctic’s most impressive wildlife spectacles. The summer birdlife is also exciting and includes such species as Snow Goose, Hudsonian Godwit, Red-necked Phalarope and Lapland Bunting.
Those visiting the region in the autumn and winter may also be rewarded with the ethereal flickering of the Northern Lights dancing across the night-time skies, its vibrant colours lighting up this breathtaking landscape … perhaps with the sound of distant Wolves howling in the wind!
Churchill truly is a ‘bucket list’ destination, with some incredible, one-in-a-lifetime experiences to enjoy.
Accommodation
Polar Bear Tundra Lodge
Tundra Lodge is as unique as it is special. ‘Accommodation on wheels’, this train-style lodge is a rolling hotel. Located on the tundra outside Churchill, it is positioned each year close to the best Polar Bear activity and, as such, offers unrivalled opportunities for viewing these magnificent creatures. Guests are allocated one of 32 comfortable private cabins (shared bathrooms), each with a view out over the tundra – it is even possible to scan for Polar Bears and wonder at the majestic Northern Lights from the comfort of your bed! The lodge also offers large outdoor viewing platforms, a lounge and dining car with incredible views and sliding windows to aid photographers to achieve that perfect shot. Once positioned, the lodge remains in place 24-hours a day, allowing round-the-clock viewing out over this incredible landscape – truly an unforgettable experience!
There is much to explore across this superbly diverse and beautiful region of Canada, with its towering mountain ranges, spectacular waterways, historic cities, boreal forests, breathtaking coastline and a wonderful array of wildlife, alongside a rich culture and indigenous heritage.
Québec’s extensive boreal forests, some of which encompass part of the mighty Appalachian Range, are outstanding and harbour such delights as Spruce Grouse, Canada Jay, Boreal Chickadee and Black-backed Woodpecker. The region also offers the visitor some wonderful mammals. Highlights include Moose and Beaver in Fundy National Park, Black Bear and Woodland Caribou in the Parc de la Gaspésie and many more besides.
Spring and autumn see the mass migration of birds through eastern Canada and the many wetlands, forests, and coastal habitats offer wonderful opportunities to witness this natural spectacle. Highlights might include Snow Goose, Cape May, Northern Parula, Black-and-White and Blackburnian Warblers (amongst many others), Swainson’s Thrush, Rose-breasted Grosbeak and Northern Saw-whet Owl. The vast mudflats of the Bay of Fundy and the wetlands that edge the beautiful Ile Miscou to the north attract numerous waders and other waterbirds including White-rumped, Semi-palmated, Stilt, Baird’s and Least Sandpipers, Long-billed and Short-billed Dowitchers and Hudsonian Godwit.
In the ‘fall’, as the landscape becomes swathed in a spectacular reds, oranges and golds of autumn, an interesting variety of cetaceans and seabirds crowd into the Bay of Fundy. Fin and Humpback Whales, Atlantic White-sided Dolphin and even the rare Northern Right Whale, are all possible along with Great Shearwater and Wilson’s Petrel. Here, one can also stay on Grand Manan Island, a jewel in the Fundy Isle network, dotted with picturesque fishing villages and offering some of the most exciting migration birding in Canada. Québec’s St Lawrence Seaway, too, will feature as a highlight of any autumnal trip, when Blue, Humpback, Fin and Minke Whales can be viewed, alongside a small resident population of Beluga Whales.
Founded as a fur trading post in 1608, Québec City – the cradle of French civilisation in North America – must surely rank as one of the most beautiful cities in the world with its uninterrupted views of the St. Lawrence River (one of Canada’s most important migration ‘flyways’), its narrow streets rising steeply from the port to form a winding maze inside the city walls, bordered by brightly painted houses, museums and boutiques. Its beautiful old quarter is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site. The impressive waterfall at Parc de la Chute-Montmorency, is also found nearby. Higher than Niagara Falls, in winter it becomes a vertical wall of ice and offers a true challenge to climbers seeking thrill and adventure.
Sample Itineraries
A 10-day holiday to coastal British Columbia including a 7-night wildlife cruise through the Great Bear Rainforest
A self-drive exploration of breathtaking Vancouver Island in search of a plethora of wildlife, from Grey Whales and Orcas to Black Bears and birds!
The Essentials
- Wildlife Guides: Excellent local naturalist guides are available as well as specialist birding guides.
- When to Visit: Canada has much to offer the naturalist throughout the year, with each season bringing its own special highlights. Birders traditionally tend to favour the spring and autumn months, lured by spectacular migrations and the chance of some rarities, as well as the promise of sunny days and comfortable temperatures. Late summer/early autumn is a particularly good time to search for Grizzly, Black and Spirit Bears on the west coast, when bears are more active as they fatten-up prior to hibernation, and the Pacific salmon return to the rivers. The summer and autumn months are also excellent times for cetacean watching. Those keen to see Polar Bears in Churchill should consider travelling in October and November, when the bears are returning to the Hudson Bay sea ice from their summer residence further inland. Summer walking safaris here can also be productive for Polar Bears too, however, and this is also when thousands of Beluga Whales can be seen in the mouth of the Churchill River. Autumn and winter are the best times to visit for the Northern Lights. The ‘fall’ colours of eastern Canada are simply spectacular, and many choose to visit this region in September and October to view this natural wonder, taking advantage, too, of the autumn bird and Monarch migrations and the numerous cetaceans that linger along the coast.
J F M A M J J A S O N D - - Y YY YY YY YY YY YY YY YY - - Getting Around: Canada is served by an excellent road network so self-drive is an excellent option. Due to the wilderness nature of some of our favourite locations, sometimes internal flights are also needed. There are also a number of wonderful cruise options, such as those around the Great Bear Rainforest.
Accommodation
Wickaninnish Inn
The superb Wickaninnish Inn can be found just outside Tofino, world-renowned for its whale-watching opportunities. The inn sits atop a rocky peninsula overlooking Chesterman Beach with nothing but the Pacific Ocean in front and rainforest wilderness behind, offering guests total seclusion and exciting wildlife. Guest suites are located in the main lodge and a second beach-side building and are styled with a rustic, yet elegant and very comfortable, feel, in tune with the region’s natural surroundings and cultural heritage. All have en suite facilities, cosy fires and superb views of either the ocean or rainforest. The restaurant serves delicious meals prepared using fresh, local ingredients, which can be enjoyed with a glass of fine wine whilst watching the waves crashing against the rocky shoreline. It will certainly be difficult to leave this wilderness paradise!
Great Bear Lodge
The adventure begins even before you reach Great Bear Lodge with an exciting 30-minute float plane ride from Port Hardy on Vancouver Island. The views are truly breathtaking and as you cross Queen Charlotte Strait you may even spot a pod of Orca, Pacific White-sided Dolphins or Humpback Whales!
This wonderful small wilderness lodge is set deep within the Nekite Valley in the Great Bear Rainforest, and its river estuary is a magnet for hungry Grizzly Bears. The lodge sits on floating pontoons and accommodates a maximum of 16 guests in comfortable twin-bedded rooms each with a private bathroom. Delicious, fresh, home cooked gourmet meals are produced in the kitchen by endlessly cheerful staff. Dinner is the main social event of the day, where guests get a chance to mingle and discuss the day’s sightings.
In the autumn you will enjoy morning and afternoon bear-viewing sessions overlooking the Nekite River where the Grizzly Bears fish for salmon between August and October. Viewing is either by hide or from an open wooden platform and the photo opportunities are superb! In the spring bear-viewing mostly takes place by boat and focuses on the nearby Nekite Estuary where the bears feed on sedge after their long winter hibernation.
Nestling against a backdrop of snow-clad peaks, forested hillsides and spectacular waterfalls, this floating lodge is in a wonderfully peaceful location. To sit quietly in the early morning with only the sound of the birdsong breaking the silence, the cry of a Bald Eagle overhead or the splash of a playful River Otter nearby is something you will treasure for ever.
Knight Inlet Lodge
Knight Inlet Lodge floats on the calm waters of Glendale Cove halfway along Knight Inlet. It is perfectly situated for exploration of the Great Bear Rainforest, either by water or on land! The Grizzly Bear viewing from the lodge is some of the best in the world, with viewing platforms strategically located to allow for excellent photography of bears fishing for salmon. Guests might also enjoy bear-watching by kayak or taking an interpretive walk with a local indigenous guide. Knight Inlet is the longest fjord on British Colombia’s coast, and the lodge is backed by a wild and remote landscape of spectacular mountains and the vibrant greens of the temperate rainforest. The lodge has a west coast B.C. feel, with western cedar cladding and a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere. Each of the lodge’s 18 en suite rooms are very comfortable and homely, with views of either the sparkling Glendale Cove or the shoreline where bears are often spotted. The lodge serves delicious and sumptuous freshly caught seafood and other local fare, which can be enjoyed out on the waterside deck on warmer evenings.
Farewell Harbour Lodge
This historic oceanfront, west-coast inspired, retreat is located on Berry Island at the southern frontier of the Great Bear Rainforest and within the biodiverse Broughton Archipelago Marine Park. The lodge also boasts its own private 30-acre forest. Guests arrive at the lodge by high-speed water taxi from Vancouver Island and so you may spot Humpback Whales, Stellar Sea Lions or Pacific White-sided Dolphins before you even arrive! The lodge offers eight cosy ocean-side suites on land and a further four wonderful suites located on the floating portion of the lodge. Each section of this unique property is connected via a series of wooden boardwalks, allowing one to feel truly immersed in the surrounding landscape. One of the most special features of Farewell Harbour Lodge, however, are the owners and staff, and you will be made to feel like a member of the family in no time. This is a wonderful place to stay, offering easy access to some superb wildlife-watching opportunities.
Tweedsmuir Park Lodge
Located in the Bella Coola Valley, with magical views of Mounts Stupendous and Mellikan, a stay at Tweedsmuir Park Lodge is a very special experience. Accommodation is provided in 10 luxury, wooden chalets arranged around a central lawn, all complete with incredible views. There is a central bar, restaurant and socialising area, where sumptuous meals are served, and tales can be shared of the day’s sightings over a night cap. A spa is also available, including a large outdoor hot tub. The lodge offers some breathtaking experiences, from horse riding, wilderness river drifts and guided wildlife and cultural hikes to simply watching bears right from the property itself! The Atnarko River runs along the lodge’s boundary and guests can enjoy Grizzly Bears hunting for salmon from elevated viewing platforms – a truly unforgettable sight. Interestingly, Tweedsmuir Park Lodge sits in a rain shadow and receives 70% less rainfall than the surrounding areas.
Spirit Bear Lodge
Deep within untouched wilderness, the indigenous-owned Spirit Bear Lodge offers the opportunity to experience ancient culture alongside the spectacular wildlife of the breathtaking Kitasoo Xai’xais traditional territory. Grizzly, Black and Spirit Bears are all possible here, alongside Humpback Whales, Dall’s Porpoise and Steller’s Sea Lion in the ‘Great Bear Sea’. At the lodge itself, a genuinely warm welcome is guaranteed to all. Rooms are well appointed and comfortable, and all enjoy wonderful sea views. There is an ocean view deck where one can enjoy a glass of wine or craft beer, whilst looking out over the water, and delicious meals are served in the dining room, where guests come together to share stories of the day’s exciting wildlife sightings.
Polar Bear Tundra Lodge
Tundra Lodge is as unique as it is special. ‘Accommodation on wheels’, this train-style lodge is a rolling hotel. Located on the tundra outside Churchill, it is positioned each year close to the best Polar Bear activity and, as such, offers unrivalled opportunities for viewing these magnificent creatures. Guests are allocated one of 32 comfortable private cabins (shared bathrooms), each with a view out over the tundra – it is even possible to scan for Polar Bears and wonder at the majestic Northern Lights from the comfort of your bed! The lodge also offers large outdoor viewing platforms, a lounge and dining car with incredible views and sliding windows to aid photographers to achieve that perfect shot. Once positioned, the lodge remains in place 24-hours a day, allowing round-the-clock viewing out over this incredible landscape – truly an unforgettable experience!
Why Naturetrek Tailormade?
'A Naturetrek Tailormade holiday allows you, with the benefit of our wildlife travel expertise and destination experience, to enjoy the perfect private wildlife holiday – one that truly matches your requirements, expectations and ambitions. We will ensure the most competitive prices, superb naturalist guides and seamless ground services.
Some of the benefits of Naturetrek Tailormade travel include:
• A bespoke itinerary which is crafted by experts and designed specifically for you
• Private guiding by the very best local naturalists
• Travel with people you know, at your own pace
• Incorporate as much culture, history or relaxation time as you wish
• Choose dates to suit you
• Select your preferred style of accommodation
• Travel with families and children of any age
Furthermore, our Tailormade team are always on hand to help and guide you along the way, with friendly advice, first-hand knowledge and inside information specific to your destination of choice. So if you have any queries about your holiday, we will be delighted to answer them. Please just give us a call!'
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