Cruising the Great Bear Rainforest
Dates: 7 September, 14 September, 2009
Duration: 7 nights / 8 days
Start: Bella Bella
Finish: Bella Bella
Cruise Highlights: Stunning scenery | Wildlife viewing including grizzlies, Kermode Bears, eagles, porpoises, Orcas, whales, and coastal wolves | Sea Kayaking and exploration of remote islands and coastal inlets | Guided hiking | Waterfalls | Fly Fishing | Historic Sites | Hot springs | Salmon runs | Cultural Tours | Salmon Fishing | Visiting local whale researchers for a workshop on whale behavior on board the Yellowfin | Hiking salmon streams and old growth forest | Gitgaat Culture and traditional dinner | Saltwater Fishing
| Itinerary | |
| Day 1 |
Fiordland ConservancyArrive in Bella Bella airport and transfer to the Pacific Yellowfin. The first destination, Fjord land Provincial Park, is a wonderful place to explore by boat and kayak with some of the most sensational scenery on the coast. Mussel Inlet is the major estuary here. It’s a 14 km fjord with stunning waterfalls and sheer granite cliffs, with huge numbers of spawning salmon and high concentrations of Grizzly and Black Bears. This area is also home to the Kitasoo First Nations. Choose a guided kayaking trip or an easy hike to introduce yourself to this magnificent part of the world. Welcome dinner onboard and overnight.
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| Day 2 |
Queen Charlotte SoundTravel through Queen Charlotte Sound to the river estuary, a major salmon river and estuary for grizzly and waterfowl. Explore this area and a nearby waterfall and undeveloped hot spring by kayak or zodiac. Across the sound is another river with an impressive waterfall that drops into the channel. The Kitasoo consider this river one of the most important fish habitats in the area. This is a great place to view bears and is one of the better spots to wait for the Spirit Bear to appear. Enjoy guided Bear viewing by boat and excellent seas kayaking in the Inlet. Dinner onboard and overnight.
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| Day 3 |
Bishop BayFrom Queen Charlotte Sound we will journey north to Bishop Bay. Bishop Bay in the fall is a congregating area for feeding humpback whales. Visit a well-developed hot spring set in spectacular scenery. At a nearby river there is some of the best Spirit Bear viewing in the area. A local Gitgaat Guide will take us into the river to search for these special mammals with thousands of spawning salmon running the river below. Other wildlife to be encountered are otters, wolf, dear and the ubiquitous Bald Eagles. Dinner onboard and overnight.
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| Day 4 - 5 |
Explore Princess Royal IslandExplore Princess Royal Island the fourth largest island on the BC Coast. From Bishop Bay travel west to begin your exploration of this incredible island rich in wildlife and adventure. Dinner onboard and overnight.
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| Day 6 |
Hartley Bay and Barnard HarbourFrom Hartley Bay travel south to Barnard Harbour, a beautiful protected anchorage which will be the base for a variety of adventures and tours. This area is also home to the Spirit Bear and a very rich marine environment. Dinner onboard and overnight.
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| Day 7 |
Hartley BayAdditional Spirit Bear viewing can be done here. Tour the village of Hartley Bay and experience the rich culture of this special community. We will have a traditional dinner, village tour and time spent with close friends.
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| Day 8 |
Hartley Bay – Bella Bella – VancouverSay farewell to the North Coast as the seaplane arrives to take you back to Bella Bella and Vancouver. (not included)
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| Included: | Not included: |
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| Prices | |
Owner's Stateroom |
$ 7,890.00 |
Captain's Stateroom |
$ 7,890.00 |
The Bears Cabin |
$ 7,150.00 |
The Orcas Cabin |
$ 6,650.00 |
The Full Boat Charter |
$ 53,300.00 |
| All prices per person in Canadian Dollars and based on double occupancy. * Children rate 50% (maximum 2) if sharing the cabin with their parents . |