British Columbia's Great Bear Rainforest - Fall - Fall 2018 Edition
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British Columbia’s
Great Bear Rainforest - Fall
9-days searching for salmon, bears, whales, and wolves in
the largest coastal temperate forest in the world
2018 Edition
Discover Encounter Learn
Abundant wildlife in the Iconic bears and coastal How wild Pacific salmon
largest coastal temperate temperate rainforests define the ecosystem
forest in the world
British Columbia’s
Great Bear Rainforest
Salmon, Bears, Whales, and Wolves
Canada’s Great Bear Rainforest is the largest
remaining intact coastal temperate forest in the world.
Extending from northern Vancouver Island to Alaska,
and covering more than 64,000 km2 (24,000 mi2),
this globally unique region is home to spectacular
wildlife including grizzly bears, coastal wolves,
whales, dolphins, seals, sea lions, sea otters, and the
iconic white Spirit bear. Our 9-day expedition aboard
the classic schooner, Passing Cloud, is dedicated
to exploring, experiencing, and learning about the
wildlife, ecosystems, old-growth forests, and ancient
indigenous cultures of the Great Bear.
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At a Glance
Our 9-day expedition through the Great Bear
Rainforest departs from and returns to the
Heiltsuk First Nation community of Bella Bella.
Our journey will cover approximately 300 nautical
miles (550 kilometers) as we circumnavigate
Princess Royal Island, home to the rare white
Kermode, or Spirit bear. As we travel through the
traditional territories of the Heiltsuk, Kitasoo/
Xai’xais, and Gitga’at First Nations, we’ll visit and
explore glacier-scoured inlets and fjords, coastal
estuaries, ancient rainforests, and remote outer
coast island ecosystems.
9-days / 8-nights
2018 departures: Sep 4, 13, 22, Oct 1
Price per person: $6,195 CAD
Departs from / Returns to: Bella Bella. B.C.
What’s Included?
All meals, accommodation, transportation, guided and
interpretive excursions, First Nation Conservation and
Stewardship fees, and use of all onboard gear and
resources.
What’s not included?
5% GST, travel and accommodation before and after
the expedition, gratuities, any personal expenses
incurred due to weather, logistical delays, delayed
departures of chartered aircraft, taxis, ferries.
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Sample Itinerary:
British Columbia’s
Great Bear Rainforest - Fall
A distinct and exciting feature of all our expeditions
is that we have no fixed itineraries. Instead, our days
are structured by the weather, tides, and wildlife we
encounter, and the interests and expertise of our guests
and crewmembers. As a result, each expedition is distinctly
unique. The following sample itinerary is simply intended to
describe the places, activities, wildlife, and adventures that
are typical of our Great Bear Rainforest expeditions.
Day
1
Our expedition begins in the Heiltsuk First Nation
community of Bella Bella, a short flight from Vancouver
International Airport. Upon boarding the schooner
Passing Cloud, meeting the crew, and settling into
accommodations, we’ll set sail and begin our journey
north into the heart of the largest intact coastal
temperate rainforest on earth. As we enter the Seaforth
Channel we’ll be on the lookout for our first wildlife
sightings - humpback whales, sea otters, elephant seals,
and even killer whales. Later in the afternoon, we’ll
anchor in a small coastal estuary and go ashore for
our taste of temperate rainforest ecosystems and wild
Pacific salmon returning to spawn.
Day
2
This morning our northward journey continues and
takes us into Fiordland Recreation Area, a spectacular
region of dramatic glacier-carved inlets and cascading
“It’s virtually impossible to find the waterfalls. We’ll anchor in Kynoch Inlet and spend the
adequate words to express my afternoon exploring Culpepper Lagoon aboard our
inflatable skiff in search of bears, wolves, and other
gratitude and wonder for such a wildlife. This evening our Expedition Specialist will tell
magical week. The fact that such us about how the Great Bear Rainforest came to be
natural beauty, such isolated protected and introduce us to the remarkable life cycles
and ecological importance of Pacific salmon.
wilderness, still exists gives me
hope for our world. “ Day
Megan McCaslin, Outer Shores Traveller 3
This morning we’re up early for an excursion into
Kynoch Inlet estuary. The abundant populations of
salmon here make it an excellent place to view bears,
wolves, eagles, and other predators and scavengers
that have come here to feast on salmon. After breakfast
we’ll travel west and north, always on the lookout for
marine wildlife, particularly the humpback whales
that are returning to this region in great numbers.
We’ll travel through Princess Royal Channel en route
to Khutze Inlet, renowned for its waterfalls, snow-
capped mountain peaks, and wildlife. We’ll use our
inflatable boat to explore this expansive coastal
estuary ecosystem which provides excellent habitat for
spawning salmon, black bears, grizzly bears, wolves,
and waterfowl.
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Day
4
Khutze Inlet supports excellent habitat for grizzly bears so
we’ll spend a large part of today viewing, photographing,
and learning about these iconic apex consumers. Most of
our viewing will be conducted from our inflatable skiff, or
we may find a high spot on shore to sit, wait, and watch
from a respectful distance. And don’t worry, your crew are
highly experienced and certified bear-viewing guides! Back
aboard the Passing Cloud we’ll have lunch underway as
we continue our journey north. We’re on high alert today
after receiving a report of humpback whales engaged
in “bubble-net” feeding in the area. After a make a short
visit at the historic community of Butedale we anchor for
the night in near-by Klekane Inlet. Warning, there are hot
springs here!
Day
5
We’re underway early this morning as we transit MacKay
Reach and round the northern end of Princess Royal Island.
The breeze is just right so we set all sail and savior the
peacefulness of travelling under sail-power alone. As we Day
enter Whale Channel, we begin to encounter the large 8
number of humpback whales, and increasingly fin whales, This morning we’ll round the southern end of Princess
that congregate in this region during the late summer and Royal Island via Myers Narrows and visit the Kitasoo/
fall. We’ll spend time viewing and photographing these Xai’xais First Nation community of Klemtu. We’ll be
exciting marine mammals, and our Expedition Specialist will welcomed to this remote community with a guided
help us to interpret the behaviours we are witnessing, and tour of their traditional Big House, and we’ll learn
use our underwater hydrophone to listen to their songs and learn about the deep history of this indigenous nation
feeding calls. Our overnight anchorage is in Cameron Cove, and their present-day initiatives to protect their
on Princess Royal Island. culture, community, environment, and economy. This
Day afternoon as our journey takes us south and east
6 towards Bella Bella, we’ll enjoy sailing and wildlife
viewing as we weave our way through the inlets,
Small coastal streams, spawning salmon, and old-growth
passages, and channels that characterize this region.
rainforests are an ideal conditions for encountering wolves,
Our final night about the Passing Cloud is spent
black bears, and the rare Spirit bear. We’ll offer an early
sharing our highlights and reflections of journey
morning excursion here during which we expect to simply
together.
sit at the edge of the rainforest listening and watching as
the sounds and sights of morning unfold before us. This
morning after breakfast we hope to visit a small nearby
field station where researchers are studying the incredible
abundance of whales in this region. Afterwards, we’re
now southbound on the west side of Princess Royal Island.
Weather and time permitting, we’ll visit the outer coast
island ecosystems this afternoon, stroll along a white-sand
beach, and learn about kelp forests and sea otters. Or, we
might spend the afternoon enjoying the excellent sailing
conditions often found there. Late afternoon we’ll make our
way to an overnight anchorage in remote protected inlet on
the west side of Princess Royal Island.
Day
7 Day
This morning we’ll visit a beautiful salmon-bearing river
and spend time exploring the ecological and cultural
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connections between salmon, bears, coastal rainforests, As we travel the remaining short distance to Bella
and indigenous cultures. This is an excellent morning for Bella this morning we hope for last minute wildlife
bear-viewing, sea kayaking, and photographing ancient sightings, and enjoy the vast pristine landscapes
forests. This afternoon we hope to show you examples of and seascapes of the Great Bear Rainforest. Upon
ancient stone fish traps that were built millennia ago by our arrival, we say our farewells to the Great Bear
the indigenous First Nations of this region to support their Rainforest before disembarking and making our way
once large populations and 14,000 year-old cultures. to the Bella Bella airport.
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If you have any questions about our 360 B Harbour Road
expeditions, or a specific detail about the Victoria, British Columbia
expedition you have booked, please let V9A 3S1, Canada
us know by phone or visit our website for
more information. info@outershores.ca
outershores.ca
Photo Credits: James Thompson, Ryan Flett,
Owen Perry, Tavish Campbell, and Russell
1-855-714-7233 (Toll Free in North America)
Markel. 1-250-220-2311 (Local and International)
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