British Columbia bear watching holiday
| country: | Canada |
| location: | British Columbia |
| departures: | 2009: 20 Sep |
| price: | From £1325 (6 days) excluding flights |
| vouchers: | Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday |
the amazing things you'll be doing
View grizzly bears as you travel through scenic British Columbia from Vancouver to Bella Coola. This trip is an interpretive wilderness tour into the heart of the central coast of British Columbia where there is a high density of grizzly and black bears. The focus of the trip is to see bears in a true wilderness setting. You will be taken into an off-the-beaten track area and immersed in a real wilderness setting to understand the ecology and culture of this fantastic wilderness frontier. Our local knowledge allows you access to some fantastic sights and fascinating characters that call this place home. In addition to the bear viewing, this tour includes a raft trip on the Bella Coola River, native cultural tours and historical tours along the route.
This trip is perfect for wildlife enthusiasts and budding wildlife photographers alike wanting quality wildlife (bear) viewing opportunities! This is a holiday with a difference for anyone with a love for nature. The trip heads away from the crowds into some of the most unspoilt areas where most tourists don't venture!
This trip is perfect for wildlife enthusiasts and budding wildlife photographers alike wanting quality wildlife (bear) viewing opportunities! This is a holiday with a difference for anyone with a love for nature. The trip heads away from the crowds into some of the most unspoilt areas where most tourists don't venture!
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | Arrival Day in Bella Coola - On arrival enjoy an orientation through the valley to the Bella Coola town site, learning about the native and European history of the valley before a tour to the estuary and docks. |
| Day 2: | In Search of the Atnarko Grizzlies - Home to an estimated 6,000 to 14,000 grizzlies, British Columbia has among the highest bear concentrations in North America. The summer and early-fall salmon runs attract dozens of bears to the Bella Coola area and though it we will likely see them during our other activities, we spend this entire day focused on grizzly bears. We take a river drift with a local expert, stopping along the riverbanks to watch for bears. The floor of the temperate rainforest is covered with giant sword ferns, devil’s club and tangles of huckleberries, blueberries, raspberries, salmonberries and thimbleberries. Bears love berries and so this vegetation is a draw for them. Of course, grizzlies are unpredictable and we can never guarantee their appearance, but the valley is so rich with their presence that we feel confident in our sightings. |
| Day 3: | Bella Coola River Float - An interpretive drift down Bella Coola River offers an ideal pace and proximity for wildlife viewing. At this time of year the rivers are full with spawning salmon that attract bald eagles and bears. The snow capped peaks of the Coast Mountain Range rise all around with waterfalls cascading from hanging glaciers. |
| Day 4: | Alpine Day - Waterfalls and GlaciersWe will travel high above the valley floor to appreciate this stunning wilderness area from a different perspective. Into the alpine we will get a chance to see fantastic views across the Coast Mountain Range, visiting waterfalls, alpine meadows and lakes. This mountain range is arguably the remotest and least explored in North America. |
| Day 5: | Native Cultural Tours / Rainforest Exploration / Bella Coola Estuary - You will be guided to Thorsen Creek and the Petroglyphs, a sacred site of ancient rock carvings. Then you will be taken to visit the Petroglyph Gallery for an excellent display of local carvings and artwork from the local native Nuxalk (noo-hawk) people. Depending on weather and tides this day should be a chance to explore the estuary further by boat. Enjoy the Historic Cannery Tour and fresh sea food dinner at the boat access site on the opposite side of the estuary. Enjoy a local history lesson and some tall stories from the owner! |
| Day 6: | Travel back to Vancouver - There are two options to return to Vancouver: · You can fly out of Bella Coola on a direct flight back to Vancouver (1 hour) or take a ferry along the Discovery Coast Passage to Vancouver Island (2 days) |
how this holiday makes a difference
 This trip is an interpretive wilderness and wildlife viewing trip. The small group size (4-10 people) means that you get an intimate experience with the natural environment. There is a strong element of education in this trip that comes through our immersion in the places we visit. The focus is on learning about the natural environment by getting up close and personal. The emphasis is on being low key and at remote cabins owned by locals. We do not use helicopters or large ‘sausage’ factory viewing lodges – quite the opposite. Our trips in this area were developed because we have a close connection to the local community. This relationship has enabled us to create unique adventures that give a real insight into the local people, using local resources that benefit the meager local economy. The remote Atnarko River cabin where we stay for two of the nights is a rustic cabin owned by locals and not used by any other commercial operation. The local guesthouse that is run by two working fisheries biologists that adhere to a strict environmental policy, including a very comprehensive recycling system. We also employ these biologists to provide an interpretive salmon river drift and a chance of seeing and learning about this fragile ecosystem. The continental breakfasts at the guesthouse are provided by a local small bakery business. We also take a tour to ancient indigenous rock carvings and learn about the culture and history of the First Nation people from a Native Indian teacher. We actively promote the indigenous artists visiting local carving workshops and galleries enabling our guests to support the artists by purchasing a carving or other souvenir which directly supports local families. By joining this trip you will not only learn about and enjoy exposure to a remote and pristine wilderness, you will also have the opportunity to meet and learn about the local people who are an integral part of this ecosystem. |
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