Great Bear Rainforest Sailing
- Upcoming Departures:
- Sep 2 - 9, 2026
- Sep 20 - 27, 2026
Highlights
Highlights
- Spend a day with local Gitga’at First Nation guides who will take us to their favourite bear viewing areas. With a little patience, we hope to be lucky enough to see black bears and the Spirit bear.
- Great opportunities for grizzly viewing from the ship
- Look for Fin and Humpback Whales and watch their fascinating behaviours
- Visit Bishop Bay Hot Springs
Map
Map
Overview
Tour Overview
Cruise the Great Bear Rainforest in search of bears, whales and wolves. The remote central coast of British Columbia holds a spectacularly scenic wilderness. Every fall Grizzly and Black Bears come down from the towering peaks and lush rainforests to feed on spawning salmon.
On this adventure we search for these bears, including the all white race of Black Bear called a Kermode or Spirit Bear. We also have a good chance of finding wolves, humpback whales and numerous migrating and resident birds, including large numbers of Bald Eagles.
Join us to experience nature as you have never seen it alongside ten-thousand-year-old native cultures and learn why the Great Bear Rainforest is one of the last gems on the Pacific Coast.
Departures & Cabins
DEPARTURES & CABINS
More dates may be available than those listed - contact us for more information.
Deck Plan
Deck Plan
What's Included
What's Included
Tour Price Includes
- All meals from lunch on Day 1 to breakfast on the last day
- All accommodation onboard ship; skipper, cook, naturalist;
- Full use of all onboard facilities, including kayaks.
Tour Price Does Not Include
- Transportation to the start point and from the finish point of the trip
- Accommodation and meals prior to or after the trip
- Travel or cancellation insurance
- Airport transfers
- $200 CAD Sustainability Fee
- Taxes (5% GST)
- The only money participants require during the trip is for optional purchases and gratuities for the crew.
Itinerary
Itinerary
Day 0: Arrival in Terrace
You should schedule your flight to arrive in Terrace today. Accommodations and meals are not included today.
Day 1: Embarkation, Kitimat
Pick up on the morning of Day 1 will be at select hotels in Terrace (refer to your Itinerary Package for further details). The shuttle will transfer guests from Terrace to Kitimat where you will meet your crew & vessel. Following boarding, we’ll depart into a land of dense forests reaching to the water’s edge, towering rocky fjords, and lush valley estuaries.
Days 2-4: Douglas Channel
As we explore the waters of southern Douglas Channel and at various other places along our journey, we expect to encounter humpback whales. We’ll take the time to observe these 15-metre-long creatures whenever the opportunity arises and hope to witness spectacular behaviours like breaches, pectoral slaps, and possibly bubble-net feeding (an amazing cooperative foraging technique). We also hope to have luck in spotting other marine mammals like fin whales, orca, porpoise, and Steller sea lions. Time allowing, we may visit local whale researchers to learn about their fascinating work.
There may be an opportunity to visit Bishop Bay hot springs for a soothing soak amidst an eclectic collection of fishing floats.
Days 5 – 7: The “Salmon Forest”
As we travel along Princess Royal Island, we keep a close watch on the shoreline, since this is the best-known area for seeing the elusive, all-white Spirit bear (also known as Kermode bear). These white bears are black bears expressing a genetic variation resulting in light coloured fur. We are fortunate to spend a day with local Gitga’at First Nation guides who will take us to their favourite bear viewing areas. With a little patience, we hope to be lucky enough to see black bears and the Spirit bear fishing for salmon at quiet spawning streams hidden in the thick of the forest.
This unique coastal ecosystem supports impressive biodiversity – from salmon and marine mammals in the sea, to bears, coastal wolves, birds, and massive trees on land. We expect some good grizzly viewing at the water’s edge when visiting lush estuaries in the beautiful river valley of Khutze Inlet (K’ootz/Khutze Conservancy) and Fiordland Conservancy with its rocky cliff faces.
Day 8: Departure - Bella Bella
Our trip finishes in the small First Nations coastal town of Bella Bella – also known as Waglisla – which is the home of the Heiltsuk First Nation. We will arrive at the Bella Bella Municipal Dock just before noon in time to catch the afternoon flight back to Vancouver. Guests can also explore the area further on their own – nearby Shearwater is a short seabus ride away and offers the most amenities for visitors.
What to Expect
What to Expect
On our Great Bear Rainforest tour, as in all of our destinations, our itineraries remain flexible. This allows the crew to take time to enjoy wildlife sightings, spend more time at an ancient village site, or simply cater to the interests of the group.
Usually on the Pacific Coast we have a good variety of constantly changing weather. Expect a mixture of sunshine, rain and wind on most trips. You will require waterproof rain gear and rubberboots as most of our landings will be wet, where you will be stepping into the water and onto the beach.
We travel in protected areas most of the time. On many days of the summer this coast is like sailing on a lake – flat and calm. Sometimes we cross into open water for short periods of time where we may experience greater motion. If you are prone to motion sickness it is a good idea to bring sea sickness medication. Check with your doctor.
All of our meals are served buffet style. We can usually accommodate most special dietary concerns if we are given sufficient advance notice.
Ship & Deck Plan
Ship & Deck Plan: Island Solitude
Island Solitude
The newly built, SV Island Solitude is 82′ long and accommodates twelve guests in six cabins. Each is furnished with two lower berths and a private ensuite bathroom, complete with a hot shower. The spacious wheelhouse, located on the main deck, accommodates the entire group during meal time where guests will enjoy healthy and deliciously prepared food surrounded by 360-degree views.
Built on the British Columbia coast with the environment in mind, the engines exceed EPA emission standards. Designed specifically for expedition travel, Island Solitude provides elegance and comfort in while exploring some of the most remote and beautiful coastal areas.
There is plenty of space on deck for wildlife watching with 2 zodiacs for daily shore excursions and 5 stable sea kayaks for guests to use whenever the vessel is at anchor.
Learn MoreDeck Plan
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Featured Wildlife
Featured Wildlife
While we cannot guarantee sightings of the birds or mammals listed below, we believe that encountering these species is quite likely during this tour.
- Black Bear, Grizzly Bear, Kermode (Spirit) Bear
- Bald Eagle
- Black Oystercatcher
- American Dipper
- Chestnut-backed Chickadee
- Humpback Whale
- Orca (Killer Whale)
