Wildlife guide
This wildlife travel guide is meant to be like a trailer for the new Attenborough series. Because we also have individual travel guides for more specific wildlife holidays, such as our safaris, bear watching and whale watching.
Grizzly bear watching holidays
“Strangely, the grizzly bear is not the national animal of Canada. The beaver is. Beaver watching holidays are not exactly running up high on wildlife watchers’ wish lists though, it has to be said.”
The grizzly, however, garners wildlife watchers in their droves, eager to see the North American great one in action. The grizzly bear refers to any North American subspecies of brown bear, which includes the mainland grizzly, aka rather scarily, ursus arctos horribilis, the Kodiak bear (Alaskan) and the peninsular grizzly.
British Columbia and the Rocky Mountains are the places for grizzly bear watching, as well as black bears. Afeard by many, and rightly so because you don’t mess with bears, a grizzly bear watching holiday is led by expert guides who will take you to the likes of Tweedsmuir Provincial Park, Bella Coola or British Columbia’s snow-capped Coast Range mountains, which are also home to the Great Bear Rain Forest. Where it rains bears apparently. Or more aptly, perhaps, where bears reign.
The grizzly, however, garners wildlife watchers in their droves, eager to see the North American great one in action. The grizzly bear refers to any North American subspecies of brown bear, which includes the mainland grizzly, aka rather scarily, ursus arctos horribilis, the Kodiak bear (Alaskan) and the peninsular grizzly.
British Columbia and the Rocky Mountains are the places for grizzly bear watching, as well as black bears. Afeard by many, and rightly so because you don’t mess with bears, a grizzly bear watching holiday is led by expert guides who will take you to the likes of Tweedsmuir Provincial Park, Bella Coola or British Columbia’s snow-capped Coast Range mountains, which are also home to the Great Bear Rain Forest. Where it rains bears apparently. Or more aptly, perhaps, where bears reign.
Our Bear watching Holidays
Grizzly bear watching holidays in British Columbia
Spectacular viewing of British Columbia's grizzly bears
From
£3339
6 days
inc UK flights
Alaska adventure holiday, salmon run
Active small group adventures in a retrofitted school bus
From
US $4090 to US $4880
20 days
ex flights
Polar bear & beluga whale watching tours, Canada
See beluga whales with summer polar bears
From
£10760
8 days
inc UK flights
Canada polar bears and beluga whales tour
Swim with Beluga Whales and spot Polar Bears in the Arctic
From
£4535
9 days
ex flights
Kodiak bear tracking tour in Alaska
Alaskan adventure looking for the large grizzlies
From
£8200
8 days
ex flights
Best time to go grizzly bear watching in Canada
There are three seasons for seeing grizzly and other bears in Canada. In spring, late April or May, they come out of hibernation and down to lower ground, usually grasslands, to feed and mate. This makes for great viewing from, for example, a boat where you are safely but happily glued to your binoculars. Summer is also good, but sightings are fewer, as the bears head to the hills to cool down from around June, and in many cases, to avoid people. However, you can combine it with some whale watching in British Columbia from late July, through August and September.
The autumn months, which start around late August in Canada are one of the best times to go grizzly bear watching, however, as it is the beginning of the salmon migratory season as they head upstream from coastal estuaries to spawn. And, consequently, out come the bears in their droves, during September, October and sometimes as late as November to catch them and feast before they go into hibernation. This is one of nature’s most exciting sights to behold. And exhausting, because they then go into hibernation during December, January, February and March.
Brown or black bears?
Brown bears are world’s most common bear and can weigh in as much as a massive 318kg. They can stand on two legs, reach almost two and a half metres tall and they spend a lot of time being solitary. Except when the salmon migratory season begins, and then it’s all paws on deck. Although Canada is famous for its brown bears, they are also found in the USA, as well as various European countries such as Finland and Romania. Black bears, however, are only found in North America and, just to confuse things, their coats are not always black, but sometimes grey or cinnamon colour. It is actually North America’s most prolific bear and is more petite, if a bear can ever be petite, than its brown relations.Our top Bear watching Holiday
Grizzly bear watching holidays in British Columbia
Spectacular viewing of British Columbia's grizzly bears
From
£3339
6 days
inc UK flights
Tailor made:
This 6 day tour departs on various dates from May through to October. Other durations and tours are also available, including combining it with a tailor-made tour of British Columbia, the Rockies and Alberta.
This 6 day tour departs on various dates from May through to October. Other durations and tours are also available, including combining it with a tailor-made tour of British Columbia, the Rockies and Alberta.
Travel Team
If you'd like to chat about Bear watching or need help finding a holiday to suit you we're very happy to help.
01273 823 700
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Bear safety
On a grizzly bear watching holiday you will be well briefed about safety, and usually watching from the confines of a boat, floating lodge or hide. However, you will still be walking around in the wilderness at certain times and, although statistics show that you are more likely to be killed by a bee sting than a bear, you must always be bear aware. Watch out for fresh scat, and always travel in a group in bear country. This is the best deterrent, as bears get scared off by noise. Don’t carry food or heavily perfumed things in your daypack, even deodorants and such like. And your tour leader will carry pepper spray.
And the big question on most people’s lips – do you run away or keep still if you see a bear when you aren’t expecting it? There isn’t a strict rule of thumb but in general, with black bears you stand strong, wave your arms around, make noise and show them that you are bigger than them. With a grizzly you do the opposite, staying very still and calm, and backing away very slowly. Especially if you see they have a cub with them. So, don’t provoke and just retreat is the best advice with grizzlies. And worst case scenario, if they contact you, turn on your stomach, curl up and act dead. We left that happy note until the end. But remember, attacks are rare, and when you are on a guided wildlife watching holiday, you are with experts who really know their stuff.
More about Bear watching
The best time for bear watching is often...whenever you can get a place on the trip. They're very seasonal, so autumn and spring trips sell out fast.
If you go into the woods today, you’re in for a big surprise. And this is what we are hoping this bear watching travel guide will do. Give you a few surprises.
As well as Canada for polar bears and the USA for grizzlies, you can see bears in Finland, Romania and even Greece. See our map for the necessities of where to see bears.
Read about the best bear watching activities: like hiking in Alaska’s national parks, seeing the Northern Lights in Finland or Canada, or whale watching on your day off.
Read on for details on which bear species you can see on wildlife holidays, what time of year you are most likely to see them, and how prolific they are in each place.
Polar bear watching in Churchill is handled by experts in safety, weather and wildlife. These are once-in-a-lifetime experiences that usually run in autumn.
The Wild Taiga region of Finland is home to brown bears, plus a cast of other animals. Read on to find out what a bear watching holiday in Finland entails.
When you go down to the Greek woods today, you’re in for a big surprise. Discover why bear tracking holidays in Greece are the best way to see them.
If you don’t want to exit, pursued by a bear, then read our bear watching advice. As well as safety procedures, there are tips from our experts on where and when to go.
Local people have, in most cases, been both the stewards of bear habitats and bear hunting. Read our thoughts on responsible bear watching holidays.
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