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Wildlife Viewing Trips

Great Bear Lodge

Introduction:

Great Bear Lodge offers the most unique and personal bear viewing experiences in Western Canada. Surrounded by the Great Bear Rainforest of western British Columbia, guests discover a quiet sanctuary to view, photograph and understand about bears. Within this sizeable and isolated region of BC live a significant grizzly bear population, here the animals breed and roam freely, feeding on coastal sedges and grasses.

The experience: With a limit of just 10 guests, the experience is highly personal and very informative. The ratio of guides to guests is one of the highest. Unlike other, busier, bear viewing lodges – guests gain a true sense of being one on one with nature. Guides are trained wildlife biologists and work hard to immerse guests into the world of Canada’s coastal grizzly bears. The incredible scenery of Nekite Valley surrounds the lodge, creating a silence and solitude from another era.

Bear viewing:
Two bear viewing sessions are scheduled daily and are tailored to the bear’s activities, observing them when they are most active. Viewing blinds (shelters) offer photographers optimal places to view and observe from. When the bears move from river to the estuary, viewing is from small boats. Grizzly bears are attracted down from the mountains primarily to feed while black bears, otters, pine martins, mink and bald eagles thrive here.

Location:

Situated in the Nekite Valley, 50 air miles NE of Port Hardy, British Columbia.

 

How to get there:
Your Great Bear trip starts from Port Hardy; easily reached aboard Pacific Coastal Airline’s daily flight service from Vancouver. Alternatively you may enjoy driving to Port Hardy through Vancouver Island. Round trip transportation from Port Hardy to Great Bear Lodge is included in the package and is either by sea plane or water taxi. Departures operate between 12:00H/noon and 15:00H daily. All trip times subject to weather.

Return Journey: From the lodge transportation arrives in Port Hardy late afternoon. It is important to note all departure times are subject to weather. You need to plan a final night in Port Hardy in case of weather delays or unforeseen circumstances. Good hotel accommodation is available and our recommended hotels are listed below.

Accommodation:

The two story, floating lodge has five bedrooms with private bathrooms. Hot showers are located on main floor. The sitting room is a congenial place to relax, read or socialize with fellow guests around the fireplace. The library carries a stock of natural history books. Guides and staff are always available and enjoy discussing the wildlife of British Columbia while evening presentations are made by resident wildlife biologists. The use of silent wind and solar power is in keeping with low-impact ecotourism. Outside, the wooded decks of the lodge are a perfect place to enjoy a glass of wine in the evening and savour this most idyllic setting.

 

Activities:

Optional activities from the lodge include: guided interpretive hikes with a staff naturalist, boat trips or sea kayaking.

 

Cuisine:

For hungry guests this is always an important part of wilderness living. Here the creative chef uses the freshest of local ingredients, and all organic food when available. Feature dishes include freshly caught salmon roasted on a cedar plank with delicious salads.

 

2008 Dates of operation: Great Bear Lodge is open from May 7 to October 16, 2008. Daily departures possible.
In Fall (Aug 20 - Oct 16) departures are:
2-night tours: Aug 20 & 29, Sept 10, Oct 4
3 night tours: Aug 26 & 31, Sept 7, 12, 15, 18, 21 & 24, Oct 1, 6, 13
4-night tours: Aug 22, Sept 3 & 27, Oct 9

Package includes: 

  • Two grizzly bear viewing sessions per day with wildlife biologist*

  • Accommodation in private double room with en suite washroom

  • Wilderness style gourmet meals and  complimentary wine and beer**

  • Slide shows and video presentations of local natural history

  • Round trip transportation from Port Hardy to Great Bear Lodge

  • First Nations land user fee

  • Binoculars, rain gear and rubber boots

  • Guided hiking, boat cruises or sea-kayaking

* On arrival and departure days guests participate in one bear viewing session.
** Special diets can arranged with advance notice.

Services not included:
Services other than mentioned and GST (currently 5%).

 

 

2008 Rates - Per Person

  Spring
(May 7 - Jun 30)
Summer
(Jul 1 - Aug 19)
Fall
(Aug 20 - Oct 16)
 2 Night Stay
 Single $1845 $1600 $3165
 Double $1430 $1225 $1925
 3 Night Stay
 Single $2565 $2155 $3955
 Double $1945 $1640 $2705
 4 Night Stay
 Single $3185 $2670 $4745
 Double $2460 $2050 $3280

Rates listed are in Canadian Dollars.
Rates are subject to GST (currently 5%)
.

Important Note: Minimum age of guests is 15 years.
Guests are recommended to book post nights accommodation in Port Hardy in case of weather delays from the lodge.

 

Deposit & Cancellation policy:
50% deposit due upon confirmation and rest payment due 60 days prior.

Cancellations (anytime after booking) are subject to a 100% cancellation fee.
This also applies if trip is cancelled due to weather. A booking credit is allowed for
a period of 2 years from the original trip date (price increase adjustments may apply).

 

 


CanadianPacificVacations.com

CanadianPacificVacations.com part of All Alaska Tours, Inc. | 413 G Street | Anchorage, Alaska USA 99501
Tel 907 375 6590 | Fax 907 272 2532 | E-mail: mytrip@canadianpacificvacations.com

 

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CanadianPacificVacations.com

CanadianPacificVacations.com part of All Alaska Tours, Inc. | 413 G Street | Anchorage, Alaska USA 99501
Tel 907 375 6590 | Fax 907 272 2532 | E-mail: mytrip@canadianpacificvacations.com