7 day safari

Prices from

£2750

Excluding international flights

Tour Highlights

  • Visit the iconic Great Bear Rainforest
  • Low impact river drifts bear viewing
  • Walk on the wild side with expert local guides
  • Bear safari can be tailored to your requirements

Grizzly Bear Safari in the Great Bear Rainforest

Our love affair with the Bella Coola valley located in the heart of the Great Bear Rainforest has lasted nearly 20 years and was always one of the best bear viewing places in Canada. due to its ethical and responsible approach to grizzly bear safaris in British Colombia. Bear viewing without the sound of engines or need to waste precious resources is both intimate and sustainable and can lead to some of the most spectacular bear encounters in Canada. Leave the big cities behind and enjoy a Canada wildlife road trip like no other when you drive from Vancouver to Bella Coola for this budget Canada wildlife holiday.

When to Go:
  • Jan
  • Feb
  • Mar
  • Apr
  • May
  • Jun
  • Jul
  • Aug
  • Sep
  • Oct
  • Nov
  • Dec

Best time to visit -

SEP

Safari Style -

Bespoke Wildlife

DAY 1

DRIVE FROM VANCOUVER TO RISKE CREEK

Pick up your hire car from Vancouver and drive 5-6 hours to Riske Creeke where you will overnight at the historic Chiltcotin Lodge. If time allows you can explore nearby Junction Sheep Range Provincial Park where it is possible to see Bighorn Sheep and possibly grizzly bears

Accommodation : Historic Chilcotin Lodge

DAY 2

DRIVE FROM RISKE CREEK TO BELLA COOLA

The drive from Riske Creek to the Bella Coola valley is a classic scenic drive with very little traffic. Just before you reach the small community of Hasbourg, you will face the ‘The Hill’, which connects the Chilcoltin Plateau to the Bella Coola Valley. The 43-kilometre road descends some 1,800 metres with grades as steep as 18 per cent in places. Overnight at Bella Coola Mountain Lodge

DAY 3

WALKING WITH THE BEARS OF THE BELLA COOLA VALLEY

After breakfast you will be taken for a half-day small group walk, guided by a local experienced Canadian guide and naturalist. During this walk we will be looking for all signs of wildlife and this informative walk is also good opportunity to learn more about bears and bear safety. You will follow old trails through the forest, observe animal prints and have a good chance to see Black and Brown Bears

Photo of a bear fishing on the Atnarko river during our Canada wildlife holiday

DAYS 4&5

DRIFTING WITH THE GRIZZLY BEARS OF THE ATNARKO RIVER

After breakfast you will be taken for a small group half-day river drift in a Zodiac down the beautiful Atnarko river. With a maximum of 6 guests, enjoy this quiet, informative boat journey in the company of a local guide or biologist, as you view Grizzly Bears and Bald Eagles.

DAY 6

DRIVE FROM BELLA COOLA TO WILLIAMS LAKE

After breakfast its time to leave the Bella Coola valley and retrace your tracks by driving the Hwy 20 back to Williams Lake where you will overnight at a beautifully located B&B just outside of the town. We could also look at other bear viewing tours near Williams Lake if you would like to extend your Canada bear safari?

Accommodation : Williams Lake B&B

DAY 7

WILLIAMS LAKE TO VANCOUVER

Sadly, this is the end of your Canada wildlife holiday and after your Bella Coola bear tour in the Great Bear Rainforest we hope that you will return home with unforgettable memories and a desire to return to Canada for more wildlife adventures

Pricing Info & Dates

Costs £2750 based on two people sharing and not including flights. Valid for travel from August to October 2024

Includes:

  • £100 donation to the Rainforest conservation foundation.
  • 7 day car rental in a mid-size car for 2 drivers
  • Breakfast at Riske Creek
  • All transfers and activities as indicated

Excludes:

  • Cost of international flights
  • Cost of applicable visas
  • Meals in Riske Creek and Bella Coola
  • Gratuities for lodge staff and guides

What

Our Clients Say About Us

★★★★★
Fantastic Canadian adventure

We had a two week holiday on Vancouver Island.. we went on a whale watching tour and saw Orcas, Humpbacks, Dahl porpoises, white striped Dolphins, seals and Sea lions. We then did a Grizzly bear r and saw lots of Grizzlies as well as loads of Black Bears. The highlight of the holiday was a three day kayaking trip which was fantastic. Kayaking with Orcas and Humpback whales was incredible Our holiday was completely organised by Wildlife Trails, and I can’t recommend them highly enough.. everything was planned to perfection and they made the entire holiday exactly what we asked for

ByChris and John
★★★★★
Fantastic tailored holiday to North America the itinerary and arrangements were first class

Our slightly unusual request was to cover certain National Parks in the US and then visit British Columbia with the focus on Whales and Bears all within a restricted time slot and to ensure both ents an teenage girls could be entertained on the way. Our experiences will give us life long memories we will treasure, we enjoyed every aspect o the trip and saw amazing wildlife, the experiences surpassed our expectations. Wildlife Trails were fantastic in ensuring our arrangements and itinerary fitted perfectly with our requirements and the logistic went completely smoothly. Allan was flexible with us changing our mind on a few major thing before we finalised the tour and helpful in ensuring we had everything we needed both before and during our trip. THe service was first class.

ByPaul and Sally
★★★★★
Fantastic Polar Bear trip

Allan Blanchard from Wildlife Trails organised a holiday for myself and a friend to Churchill, Manitoba, Canada to see Polars Bears. All the flights connections were spot on, arrived at Winnipeg per itinerary, had a night in the hotel there, all good, got to the railway station in good time to get the 2day trip to Churchill. The train was very comfortable, food fairly good, enjoyed the experience very much. Got a taxi to the blue sky B&B, where we had 7 nights, had been there before 3yrs ago, everything was excellent, food and accomodation very high standard, and Jennifor and Gerald really looked after us very well. Had 2 great day trips on the Tundra Buggy, where we saw 45 bears, mum and cubs, bears play fighting, some up really close to the buggy. Had a good tour with North star, managed to see polar bears up very close to the bus, and we also had 2 and half days with Nature 1st, who took us all around the churchill area to try and spot bears which we were very successful with about 8 bears in total. People/drivers all excellent, very knowledgeable, and we had a great time with all the people involved in our holiday. Everything went very well, Wildlife trails did a fanastic holiday for us, and we were lucky to see a total of 62 bears, including a bear lift from the polar bear jail of a mum and 2yrs old cub. it was great. thank you to all concerned for giving me and my friend such a fanastic time Have been with Allan and Kirsty Blanchard for many years, as they do all my wildlife holidays of which there as been many. Every time it is always great, arrangements as they should be, people who should be meeting me are always there so although I travel alone quite a bit, I feel very safe with Allan and Wildlife Trails organising the trip as things are all in place and I have no need to worry about anything First Class Tour Operator.

ByAnnie and Viv
★★★★★
Bear and whale watching in British Columbia

Fantastic bear and whale watching experience in the Great Best Rainforest and on Vancouver Island. Different locations, tour operators and accommodation types, all of them great in their own ht, the most impressive being the "Great Bear Chalet" in the BellaCoola valley. We saw plenty of grizzly and black bears, orcas and humpback whales Very pleasant experience, Allan did everything possible to make this combination of different tour components fit our limited timeframe - and our bucket of extra wishes! Very much looking forward to planning the next trip with "Wildlife Trails"

ByPatrick
★★★★★
Everything I could have hoped for

I specifically wanted to see Polar bears with plenty of photo opportunities. I had a 4 night stay in the Frontiers North Tundra Buggy Lodge, with 5 eight hour Tundra Buggy trips. I also stayed in nipeg for a couple of nights before and after. The Tundra Buggy people were first class, with driver and guide being very knowledgeable, food was good, both in the Lodge and on board the Buggy. I was a little apprehensive about the long bunk room with 20 people but the inner and outer curtains provided good privacy and also sound deadening. Highly recommended. You have much more time in the area where the bears congregate that if you have a day trip for Churchill (which takes 2 hours each way to get to the area). In Winnipeg I stayed at Inn at the Forks - a good hotel in a lovely area. Also highly recommended. Everything was arrange with detailed consultation and consideration of what I wanted. I had used Wildlife Trails twice before and have always found them excellent.

ByMeryl