Inlets Of The Grizzly — the Inside Passage in June
9 or 8 day adventure cruises to Inlets of the Grizzly ~ the Inside Passage in June
aboard our 54 foot ship Great Bear II
Watching Grizzly Bears and Spirit Bears in B.C.'s Great Bear Rainforest. Whale watching, First Nations Aboriginal Culture with Ocean Adventures on B.C.'s west coast
Our 9 day adventure cruise to Inlets of the Grizzly will begin in the First Nations village of Bella Bella, on British Columbia's central coast.
Our 8 day adventure cruise to Inlets of the Grizzly will begin in Prince Rupert with a seaplane flight (included in the price of this trip) to Hartley Bay to our ship Great Bear II.
Our ship Great Bear II is equipped with all the latest navigation and safety equipment, a 16-foot hard bottomed zodiac for guided trips ashore and shoreline exploration, and kayaks for enjoying the serenity of our spectacular coastal anchorages.
Please see our SCHEDULE PAGE for the most up-to-date
departure points, dates, and durations, or email us at info@oceanadventures.bc.ca.
OUR SMALL GROUP SIZES ARE BEST FOR WILDLIFE VIEWING
Ocean Adventures' small group sizes (of 2 to 6 guests) provide our guests with the best wildlife viewing and safety. Our small group sizes mean we are making the least possible impact on the lands we visit, the wildlife we view and the First Nations Peoples who inspire us, something that is extremely important to us. Our small group sizes ensure our guests the most intimate experiences with nature and our photographers the best opportunities... our guests are never just part of a crowd.
FOCUS OF "INLETS OF THE GRIZZLY ~ the INSIDE PASSAGE in June
As we explore the magnificent inlets off the Inside Passage in June, we will be traveling through the heart of the Great Bear Rainforest. Powerful landscapes, spectacular wildlife viewing, whale watching, and the unique cultures of the Kitasoo/Xai'xais and Gitga'at Aboriginal Peoples, will be the focus of these cruises in June.
POWERFUL LANDSCAPES OF IMMEASURABLE BEAUTY
Whether you start the 9 day cruise in the village of Bella Bella or join us in Hartley Bay for the 8 day cruise, you will be treated to some of the most awe inspiring and powerful landscapes on our coast!
This is spring on our central and north coasts and the rugged mountain peaks of the coastal range are stilled draped in snow. The long, narrow inlets are defined by the polished granite walls that rise thousands of feet out of the sea, walls of granite that are laced with waterfalls that seem to fall from the sky. As we approach the end of each inlet we have our first glimpse of the velvety green estuaries that at this time of year, are teeming with life. These powerful landscapes of immeasurable beauty are in part, the focus of these trips, and also provide the backdrops for some of the best wildlife viewing and bird watching in Canada!
LED BY OUR FULLY QUALIFIED & EXPERIENCED BEAR GUIDE(S)
Bears just out of hibernation, some with cubs in tow, come to these lush estuaries to feast primarily on the protein rich sedge grasses, the roots of plants such as skunk cabbage, and the earlier Salmon berries.
After a long morning of feasting, the bears are sometimes so tired that we see them sitting to eat. (A bear sitting at the edge of the river amidst the grasses and wildflowers, is a moment you will never forget!)
As our guests travel the rivers deep into these prolific estuaries there will be plenty of opportunities to enjoy other wildlife and some amazing bird watching.
Sitting by the rivers edge with our guide(s), guests will enjoy all the sights and sounds of the many kinds of birds that have come here to nest and raise their young. Floating back down the river our guests may enjoy the calls of bald eagles or ravens, the symphony of songbirds or the scolding of a king fisher or wood pecker as they pass. Along the river's edge they may see the brightly coloured Harlequin Ducks, Golden Eyes, or little Dippers performing their dances. Getting a photo of a Marbled Murrelet before it dives is always a challenge!
 FIRST NATIONS (ABORIGINAL CULTURE)
On our 9 day cruise, beginning in Bella Bella, we will travel through the traditional territories of three First Nations People... first the Heltsiuk, then the Kitasoo/Xai'xais, and finally the Gitga'at People of Hartley Bay. As we meet some of these people, you will be meeting our friends and our teachers.. and you will have opportunities of learn why these lands are so important to their futures.
On our 9 day cruise you will have a tour of the Bighouse in Klemtu, the cultural focal point of the Kitasoo/Xai'xais People.
On our 8 day cruise you will meet artist Justin Clifton who designed the bear tracks that are part of our logo. If time permits, we will visit the Cultural Centre of the Gitga'at People in Hartley Bay.
WHALE WATCHING & OTHER MARINE LIFE
Guests will have many opportunities to enjoy the biodiversity of marine life along the waterways that we will travel. At this time of year Humpback whales are returning from Hawaii, some with new calves in tow, and can be seen feeding in almost all the channels and inlets we will visit. As we travel, it is not uncommon to have Dall's porpoises and/or Pacific Whitesided Dolphins come to play on the ship's wake.
THE BEST OF B.C.'S WILD PLACES KEEP OUR GUESTS RETURNING
At night as you fall asleep beneath your cozy duvet in the comfort of your private stateroom, with the distant sounds of a waterfall or the song of a wolf, you will remember your day and understand why our guests keep coming back to these Inlets of the Grizzly in the heart of the Great Bear Rainforest!
Little Grizzly Cub peeking out of the grass. |
Same Grizzly Cub, now grown. (2 years old in 2012) |
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Experience the Wild in Wilderness !
Testimonials
"The magnificent landscape: fiords, forests and granite cliffs are all apart of our heritage. But the bears... ahhhh...the bears! You could not have planned it any better!" ~ John and Marnie, Victoria, B.C.
"Passionate, enthusiastic, welcoming... plus we saw SO much wildlife! Thank you very much!" ~ Julie, U.K.
"It has been an unforgettable experience and I really hope I can persuade Dad to bring us back . (I don't think much persuading will be necessary!)" ~ Bella, U.K.
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