Wilderness Adventures

	Photo: Patrick DiFruscia

Join our ship, the Great Bear II, and her Crew as we explore some of the most remote, picturesque and unspoiled locations on the coast of British Columbia (and planet Earth) ! Choose from our scheduled departures or have us help design a Custom Trip that's just right for you.

In late spring of 2010 as we Explore B.C.'s Fiordland and travel to Magnificent Inlets of the Grizzly-North, we will exploring the ancient rain forests and awesome estuaries that are home to the magnificent Grizzly, Black and Spirit Bears. With your fully certified bear guide, watch for bears as they return to the ocean's edge to feast on the protein rich sedge grasses after their long hibernation. Teeming with life, these estuaries and surrounding old growth forests are also home to many varieties of birds as they come here to nest and raise their young, providing some of the best bird watching on the coast. Snow-capped mountains, towering granite walls laced with waterfalls, meadows carpeted in wildflowers and the luscious green of the Great Bear Rainforest are truly a sight to behold!

Join us in these landscapes of immeasurable beauty in June 2010 for Waterfalls and Wildflowers, a photographic tour co-led by well known landscape photographer Patrick DiFruscia.

Long summer days are spent in Haida Gwaii (the Queen Charlottes), enjoying the awesome biodiversity of the islands and speaking with the Haida Watchmen about their amazing culture. Walk through ancient Haida villages, some with mortuary poles still standing. On Hotspring Island, pick one of many natural pools to sit in while you enjoy sweeping ocean vistas, as the Haida have done for centuries.

As we Explore B.C.'s Fiordland in August, the wild Pacific salmon are returning to the rivers and creeks of this spectacular landscape. The salmon are the lifeblood of these coastal ecosystems and will provide important food for the Grizzly, Black and Spirit Bears to fatten for winter hibernation.

In September, Islands of the Spirit Bear, Waters of the Humpbacks offer Spirit Bear viewing as these elusive bears come to feed on wild crab-apples and the returning salmon. As we travel between bear viewing areas, witness the awesome displays of Humpback whale behaviour: full breaches, tail lobbing and bubblenet feeding.

We specialize in small group sizes of 2 to 6 guests on our trips. Our small groups make the least impact possible on the lands we visit and the wildlife we view, something that is extremely important to us. With our small group sizes, our guide(s) can provide unparalleled wildlife viewing and opportunities for photography, while still maintaining the safety of the group. With our small group sizes and the spacious layout of the ship, our guests enjoy privacy, comfort, and personalized service as they experience British Columbia's most remote and spectacular locations. Our guests enjoy the most intimate experiences with nature — they are never just part of a crowd.

New trips to new areas are being offered each year, some co-led by well-known experts in their fields. Due to the sensitivity of at least one of these trips in 2010, details of this trip will only be available by contacting us directly. We are pleased to offer Explore B.C.'s Fiordland in both spring and late summer in 2010... with landscapes of immeasurable beauty, unparalleled wildlife viewing and awe inspiring First Nations culture. Please contact our office for dates and details.

Whether you join us for one of our scheduled trips... or your own Custom (Private) Charter... or for a few hours or days closer to our home port of Vancouver, we would love to Welcome You Aboard!

"Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts." ~Rachel Carson

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