7 day safari

Prices from

£5500

Excluding international flights

Tour Highlights

  • Highest success rate in Canada for viewing Spirit Bears
  • Stunning location of the Spirit Bear Lodge
  • Incredible marine and terrestrial wildlife encounters
  • Tailor the tour to your requirements with bear and whale watching extensions.

Beauty and Wildlife at Spirit Bear Lodge

Wildlife Trails have teamed up with an excellent First Nations community venture on one of these islands to offer the unique opportunity during the autumn salmon run to go in search on this rare and elusive spirit of the Great Bear Rainforest in the company of expert local guides. All bear viewing is conducted on foot, often involving patient vigils in natural hides. A boat is used to access remote locations on the surrounding islands and adjacent mainland where Spirit Bears are known to fish for salmon, or have been regularly seen in recent weeks, and the group (maximum 10 people) led by a local First Nations guide then hikes a short distance to a position offering the best view. Depending on the level of success with Spirit Bear sightings, there are also several locations in the area that the group can elect to visit in order to also observe Grizzly Bears in a similar fashion. The guides accumulate a great deal of knowledge about the whereabouts, habits and movements of Spirit Bears in the area from members of the community who come into contact with bears while working out in the field (e.g. forestry & fishery workers) in their traditional tribal territory, and from scouting locations themselves, prior to, and during the salmon season.

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

ARRIVE IN VANCOUVER AND OVERNIGHT

Arrive into Vancouver international airport and take the free shuttle bus to the beautifully located Pacific Gateway Hotel

Accommodation : Pacific Gateway Hotel

DAY 2

FLY FROM VANCOUVER TO BELLA BELLA, BOAT TRANSFER TO LODGE

Take a flight from Vancouver South Terminal to Bella Bella. You will be met on arrival on transferred a short distance by minibus to a nearby jetty where you will take a scenic boat journey to the Spirit Bear Lodge. You will be met by your First Nations guides, who after lunch will take you on a guided interpretive walking tour of this fascinating native village and the surrounding area. They will take time to introduce you to various traditional medicine plants and food sources and talk about their peoples’ culture and traditional way of life.

Accommodation : Spirit Bear Lodge

DAY 3

FIRST DAY IN THE GREAT BEAR RAINFOREST

Everyday at Spirit Bear Lodge is unique, we visit many diverse and awe-inspiring locations in search of wildlife. Tours vary depending on recent wildlife sightings, guest interests, and weather. Some days could be spent waiting patiently in one river system for wildlife to appear, while others could involve visiting several locations. The lodge has hundreds of remote cameras set up throughout the rainforest, so although all wildlife encounters involve an element of luck, they use science, data and planning to maximise your chances.

Accommodation : Spirit Bear Lodge

DAYS 4-6

THE QUEST FOR THE SPIRIT BEAR

We can spot this amazing animal at any time during our season, however, the most reliable viewing is linked to the salmon run. The salmon run varies year to year because of rainfall and other mysterious factors, we generally see the first salmon enter rivers between mid-August and the beginning of September. Sightings of the spirit bear in this wild landscape vary, but the search is as much a part of the experience as a sighting.

Accommodation : Spirit Bear Lodge

DAY 7

FINAL MORNING AT THE LODGE BEFORE YOUR RETURN TO VANCOUVER

Pricing Info & Dates

Costs £5500 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
  • one night in Vancouver
  • return flights between Vancouver and Bella Bella
  • boat transfers to and from Spirit Bear Lodge
  • All meals and activities while staying at the lodge

Excludes:

  • international air fares
  • cost of applicable visas
  • gratuaties at the lodge for staff and guides

Tour Route Map

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