8 day adventure cruises to Explore B.C.'s Fiordland 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 8-day adventure cruises to Explore B.C.'s Fiordland in June begin and end in the First Nations village of Bella Bella on British Columbia, Canada's central coast.
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.
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 "EXPLORE B.C.'S FIORDLAND" In June
As we explore B.C.'s Fiordland 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 Haisla and Kitasoo/Xai'xais Peoples are the focus of our trips here.
POWERFUL LANDSCAPES OF IMMEASURABLE BEAUTY
As our cruise departs the First Nations village of Bella Bella on B.C.'s central coast our guests are treated to a few of the most spectacular seascapes on our coast. Heading further north and into Fiordland we are entering some of the most powerful landscapes on earth. This is spring on our central coast and the rugged mountain peaks of the coastal range are still 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 river estuaries that at this time year are teeming with life. These powerful landscapes of immeasurable beauty are in part the focus of these trips, and also provide the most spectacular 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 and roots of plants such as skunk cabbage. After a long morning of feasting the bears are sometimes so tired we see them sitting to eat. (A bear sitting in a meadow of wildflowers with grass spilling out of their mouth is a moment you will never forget.)
Fiordland and nearby inlets are home to Grizzly Bears, Black Bears, and Spirit Bears with the whereabouts of the latter being a closely guarded secret. With the lead bear guide from Klemtu, Doug Neasloss traveling with us for 3 days, perhaps these rare and elusive little white bears will reveal themselves.
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 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 kingfishers or woodpeckers 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!
Having learned a lot about the traditional uses of the plants in his traditional lands from his village Elders, Doug Neasloss from Klemtu will be happy to share some of this knowledge with our guests. These were the traditional homelands of the Xai'xais People who shared these lands with the bears... an inspiration to all of us who would like to see better conservation strategies for bears.
KITASOO/XAI'XAIS FIRST NATIONS CULTURE
In addition to having the privilege of having Doug Neasloss on board with us for 3 days, he will as well give us a guided tour through his village of Klemtu including a visit to Klemtu's awe inspiring Big House. As our guests Explore B.C.'s Fiordland in June they will hear and see why these traditional lands of the Kitasoo/Xai'xais People are so important to their future.
WHALE WATCHING & OTHER MARINE LIFE
Guests will have many opportunities to enjoy the biodiversity of marine life in the areas that we will travel. Especially during the first and last days of this adventure cruise we may see sea otters, dolphins and porpoises and the prolific intertidal life that our central coast is known for. At this time of year Humpback Whales have returned from Hawaii, some with their new calves, and can be seen feeding in almost all the waters through which we will travel.
THE BEST OF B.C.'S WILD PLACES KEEP OUR GUESTS RETURNING
At night as you fall asleep in the comfort of your private stateroom, nestled under your cozy duvet and the distant sound of a waterfall or the song of a wolf, you will remember your day and understand why our guests keep coming back to Explore B.C.'s Fiordland.
"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.
First class BC wilderness cruises, coastal tours and charters on the West Coast of British Columbia aboard the 54 ft. Great Bear II, out of Vancouver, BC.
· Queen Charlotte Islands · Haida Gwaii · Great Bear Rainforest · Gulf Islands · Princess Louisa Inlet ·
· Desolation Sound · Howe Sound · Indian Arm · Whale Watching · Bear Viewing · Wilderness Adventures ·
OUR SMALL GROUP SIZES ARE BEST FOR WILDLIFE VIEWING
POWERFUL LANDSCAPES OF IMMEASURABLE BEAUTY
LED BY OUR FULLY QUALIFIED & EXPERIENCED BEAR GUIDE(S)
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 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 kingfishers or woodpeckers 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!
Having learned a lot about the traditional uses of the plants in his traditional lands from his village Elders, Doug Neasloss from Klemtu will be happy to share some of this knowledge with our guests. These were the traditional homelands of the Xai'xais People who shared these lands with the bears... an inspiration to all of us who would like to see better conservation strategies for bears.
THE BEST OF B.C.'S WILD PLACES KEEP OUR GUESTS RETURNING