5 or 7 day adventure cruises aboard the 54 foot motor yacht Great Bear II
Ocean Adventures on BC's West Coast. Bear Viewing, Bird Watching, Whale Watching, Landscape photography in the Great Bear Rainforest in June
Our 5 day and 7 day cruises to Magnificent Inlets of the Grizzly - North, begin and end in Prince Rupert, British Columbia. Included in our trips are the return seaplane flights, over the picturesque northern reaches of the Inside Passage to the First Nations village of Hartley Bay, where guests join us aboard our ship, Great Bear II. Our new ship is equipped with all the latest navigation equipment as well as our 16-foot Zodiac for excursions and tours ashore, and kayaks to explore and enjoy the serenity of our coastal anchorages.
Our small group sizes, (of 2-6 guests), are perfect for photographers and those guests preferring a more intimate experience, while providing the highest level of safety. With our small group sizes our guests enjoy more personalized service... they are never just part of a crowd.
THE FOCUS OF MAGNIFICENT INLETS OF THE GRIZZLY — NORTH
Your Captain and Wildlife Guide Eric Boyum will be keeping a close eye on the tides. When the tides are high it is the perfect time to travel the gentle, meandering rivers of these inlets into the heart of their estuaries in search of wildlife and to enjoy the spectacular beauty of their powerful landscapes.
WITNESS SPECTACULAR SCENERY & ABUNDANT WILDLIFE
June is spring in the Great Bear Rainforest. The mountain peaks of the coastal range are still blanketed in snow. Waterfalls fed by spring's melt, seem to fall from the sky over thousands of feet of polished granite and into the sea or into streams on the estuaries. The new lush, protein rich sedge grasses of the estuaries draw the bears here, just out of hibernation. The estuaries are carpeted in wildflowers and teeming with life. Many species of birds, some of which come here only at this time of year, to nest and raise their young. Although wolves will rarely let us see them at this time of year when their pups are still so young, they do leave plenty of signs that they too are enjoying spring on the estuaries.
As we float back down the river we slowly drift by riverbanks lined with bright purple lupines and along meadows carpeted in bright pink shooting stars and chocolate lilies. You will be treated to the symphony of songbirds, the call of eagles, the scolding of kingfishers and woodpeckers and perhaps even the mournful howl of a wolf as he communicates with his pack.
LED BY OUR PROFESSIONAL, FULLY QUALIFIED BEAR GUIDE(S)
Led by our professional, fully qualified bear guide(s), guests will travel in our 16-foot hard bottomed zodiac, up rivers and along shorelines looking for Grizzly Bears, Black Bears, Coastal Wolves and perhaps even the elusive Spirit Bear.
In the spring, you can sit on the riverbank with your guide and watch the bears as they feast on the protein rich sedge grasses amidst meadows carpeted in wildflowers. As you slowly float back down the river, past riverbanks lined with wild lupines, you may even witness the tenderness of a mother Grizzly with her new cubs.
Whether on board our ship Great Bear II, or traveling with our guide(s), these inlets are also a birdwatchers dream. In June, many birds come to the estuaries and surrounding old growth forests to nest and raise their young... brightly coloured Harlequin Ducks, Golden Eyes, Marbled Murrelets, Red Throated Loons, Bald Eagles and Ravens. At the river's edge you may even witness the dance of the little Dippers or the symphony of songbirds.
OUR SMALL GROUP SIZES ARE BEST FOR WILDLIFE VIEWING
Our small groups sizes of 2 to 6 guests provide our guests with the best wildlife viewing and safety, while making the least impact on the lands we visit and the wildlife we view, 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.
AS WE TRAVEL
As we travel between these magnificent inlets we watch for Orcas, Humpback Whales, Porpoises, Dolphins, Sea Lions, and Elephant Seals. Ledges on the sheer granite walls that edge these waterways may even provide you with a glimpse of Mountain Goats and their newborn kids.
TAKE A KAYAK FOR A PADDLE OR SIMPLY SIT AND RELAX
On board our ship, the Great Bear II, sit on deck and enjoy the majesty of some of BC's most remote wilderness and tranquil inlets while you enjoy your chef's latest creations. If you'd like to, you can take one of our kayaks and explore the shoreline for a closer look at our coastal anchorage. You may even be joined by inquisitive seals or river otters or be watched closely by nesting songbirds, kingfishers or eagles.
THE BEST OF BC'S WILD PLACES KEEP OUR GUESTS RETURNING
Deep in the heart of the Great Bear Rainforest in these Magnificent Inlets of the Grizzly, our guests experience the very best of British Columbia's wild places.
On board our ship Great Bear II, you will marvel at the breathtaking views of our changing surroundings from the comfort of the ship's spacious salon. Sit at our dining table with 360-degree views to the outside as you enjoy the latest delicacies prepared and served to you by your chef.
At night, as you fall asleep in the comfort of your private stateroom, nestled under your cozy duvet and with the distant sound of a waterfall or the mournful song of a wolf, you will understand why our guests keep coming back to these magnificent inlets.
"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 ·
THE FOCUS OF MAGNIFICENT INLETS OF THE GRIZZLY — NORTH
OUR SMALL GROUP SIZES ARE BEST FOR WILDLIFE VIEWING
TAKE A KAYAK FOR A PADDLE OR SIMPLY SIT AND RELAX
