11 day safari

Prices from

£4700

Excluding international flights

Tour Highlights

  • Enjoy marine, river and mountain habitats
  • Chance to see whales and dolphins at Bella Coola
  • Walking bear safaris near the Atnarko river
  • Scenic flight from Nimpo Lake to Nuk Tessli

Unique Canadian Habitats

A lot of what we design here at Wildlife Trails is unique, wildlife focused and tailored around our travellers aspirations. However, this wilderness journey which takes you from marine, to river and finally mountains habitat is right up there with the most diverse and compelling offers for our Canada wildlife holidays. We kick off the tour with a bang, as as well as the scenic flight into Bella Coola and the incredible surrounding mountains, you then have the sea air in your lungs as you take a boat transfer from the harbour across to the historic Tallheo Cannery. A semi-private marine wildlife tour here is followed by some incredible brown bear encounters at the Great Bear Chaket, before you drive up to Nimpo Lake and fly into Nuk Tessli lodge. A superb Canada wildlife tour for those interested in wilderness and the path less travelled.

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

Best time to visit -

SEP

Safari Style -

Wildlife Adventurer

DAY 1

ARRIVE INTO VANCOUVER AND OVERNIGHT AT AN AIRPORT HOTEL

On arrival at Vancouver international airport simply walk across to arrivals and take the free shuttle bus to the perfectly located Pacific Gateway Hotel

Accommodation : Pacific Gateway Hotel

DAY 2

FLY FROM VANCOUVER TO BELLA COOLA

Take the free shuttle to the Vancouver South Terminal and connect with a morning flight to Bella Coola, departs 09:00 and arrives at 10:15; marvelling at the impressive Coast Range mountains and expansive fjord system as you fly overhead. On arrival you will be met by someone from Tallheo and transferred to Bella Coola harbour, where you will enjoy a scenic boat transfer to Tallheo Cannery

Accommodation : Tallheo Cannery

DAY 3

SMALL GROUP OR PRIVATE BOAT SAFARI AT TALLHEO

Today we focus on the water. Depart from the Bella Coola harbour, skirting along the edge of the Bella Coola river estuary, looking for harbour seals and eagles. During salmon season, eagles congregate along the North Bentinck Arm to feed on the salmon returning to the spawning grounds of their birth. Guests can expect to see multiple eagles and their giant nests along the tree tops. Then we cruise past the historic Tallheo Cannery; looking for wildlife and enjoying beautiful scenery

Accommodation : Tallheo Cannery

Best places tp see Wild Orcas in Canada. Photo of an Orca in Johnstone Strait

DAY 4

DRIVE EAST TO NIMPO LAKE AND TAKE A SCENIC FLIGHT TO NUK TESSLI

After breakfast you will pick up your hire car and drive 4 hours to Nimpo Lake; where your spectacular journey to the High Alpine mountains and lakes will start. You will enjoy a scenic 20 minute floatplane flight from Nimpo Lake to Nuk Tessli. After you get organized in your cabin, you’ll make some sandwiches and go on a half day hike to the Look Out Point that will give you a great scenic view of the area you’re going to explore on this trip

Accommodation : Nuk Tessli lodge

DAY 5

MODERATE HIKING ACTIVITIES TO ENJOY THE ALPINE SCENARY

After a good breakfast, we’ll be going on a full day hike to Angealheart Lake. The hike starts with a short boat ride to the Sandy Beach, where the trail head is. After an hour of hiking up the forest we’ll get above tree line and the beautiful view of Wilderness Mountain will be in our back, making us turn around quite often. Then, the hike will take us to Angelheart Lake, going through North Pass Lake. From Angealheart Lake we’ll get a great view of the mountains to the South. After a short break we’ll start out decent to Nuk Tessli where a warm hot tub will wait for you

Accommodation : Nuk Tessli lodge

DAY 6

TODAY WE SWITCH TO GENTLE CANOE PADDLING ACROSS STUNNING LAKES

Today we’ll take a break from hiking and try some canoeing. Our objective – Boundary Lake that is just on the Tweedsmuir Park boundaries. We’ll start the day with a short ride the motor boat to the end of Nuk Tessli lake where we’ll hike for about 150 m to Cohen Lake. On the way we might see some Bald Eagles and their nests. Then, we’ll paddle Cohen Lake to it’s end; enjoying the amazing feeling of true wilderness. At the end of Cohen Lake, we’ll leave the canoes and hike 2 km to Boundary Lake through some beautiful meadows. At Boundary Lake we’ll paddle to one of the islands and have lunch. To get back to Nuk Tessli, we’ll go back the same way

Accommodation : Nuk Tessli lodge

DAY 7

FLY BACK TO NIMPO LAKE AND DRIVE WEST TO GREAT BEAR CHALET

If you didn’t get the chance to go to Sunrise Point this is the time to wake up early and enjoy unforgettable moments. After breakfast you’ll get the chance to sit down, relax and enjoy Nuk Tessli before the float plane comes to take you back to Nimpo Lake at 10:00am. You will then drive back west 3 hours to the ‘Great Bear Chalet’; where a beautifulyl prepared lunch will be waiting for you. Afternoon free to relax with the chance to see bears from the properties beautiful deck overlooking the meadows.

Accommodation : Great Bear Chalet

DAY 8

FIRST WALKING SAFARI LOOKING FOR BEARS

After breakfast you will be taken by Jeff for a half-day guided small group (maximum 4 clients) walk looking for signs of wildlife. You will follow old trails through the forest, observe animal prints and have a good chance to see Black and Brown Bears

Accommodation : Great Bear Chalet

DAY 9

BEAUTIFUL RIVER DRIFT LOOKING FOR BROWN BEARS CATCHING SALMON

After breakfast you will be taken for a half-day river drift in a Zodiac down the beautiful Atnarko river. Enjoy this quiet, informative non-polluting boat journey in the company of a local guide or biologist, as you view Grizzly Bears and Bald Eagles old trails through the forest, observe animal prints and have a chance to see Black and Brown Bears. The order or type of wildlife activities may change during your stay; depending on where Jeff thinks is the best chance to see wildlife

DAY 10

REPEAT YOUR FAVOURITE BEAR VIEWING ACTIVITY FROM THE LODGE

The activities will rotate around what is shown above; but changes can be made depending on where the bears can actually be seen. It is not uncommon to see brown bears from the property itself and since there are only two rooms at the chalet, you would always feel like you are enjoying an intimate wildlife encounter as part of a small group.

Accommodation : Great Bear Chalet

DAY 11

FLY BACK FROM BELLA COOLA TO VANCOUVER

It will be a real wrench to leave the beauty of the valley, but after a final relaxed morning at the lodge, Jeff will drop you off at Bella Coola airport to connect with your return flight to Vancouver.

Pricing Info & Dates

Costs £4700 based on two people sharing and not including flights. Valid for travel from May to September 2024

Includes:

  • £100 donation to the Rainforest conservation foundation.
  • Return flights between Vancouver and Bella Coola
  • Flights from Nimpo Lake to Nuk Tessli
  • All meals at Great Bear Chalet and Nuk Tessli
  • All transfers and activities as indicated

Excludes:

  • Cost of international flights
  • Cost of applicable visas
  • Meals in Vancouver and at Tallheo Cannery
  • Gratuities for lodge 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