Your crew aboard are expert, local guideswith ample knowledge of the area who will lead you throughout the Great Bear Rainforest on wildlife excursions and nature walks. Grizzly Bear Watching and Tours, BC. Marg Leehane, co-owner of Great Bear Lodge north of Port Hardy, B.C., decided it was worth waking up her guests at 6 a.m. PT Saturday when the whales approached the docks. Next, it is a drive, and float plane journey to access the pristine wilderness of Great Bear Lodge, used by the BBC while filming for their series Secrets of Our Living Planet. Fly-in fishing lodges, often right on the doorstep of prime fishing grounds, are found in Hakai Pass, Rivers Inlet, and Millbanke Sound. My wife and I had talked previously about seeing grizzly bears along the Central Coast of British Columbia. Visit our Grizzlies and Whales News and Blog. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. This time, the rain was coming hard. So, for our 35th wedding anniversary we decided to go on a 'domestic' safari. It is also difficult to carry your own winter gear to this lodge since the seaplanes severely limit the luggage you can take from Port Hardy to this lodge. So, for our 35th wedding anniversary we decided to go on a 'domestic' safari. I wonder if the concept of view points can be achieved by upgrading the school bus system and parking the buses along the appropriate points along the banks of the river to get a better view of the bears.All in all, Great Bear Lodge is a site one should visit to know more about bears and and salmon fish in this part of British Columbia. Stay: Farewell Harbour Lodge From this location we operate our Grizzly Bear viewing program. This was planned as part of a trip of a lifetime and although it was expensive it was worth every penny. This time, the rain was coming hard. My wife cried when we left, she didn't want to say good-bye. After a quick talk about the lodge and bear safety rules and a snack, we went off on our first viewing. We were fortunate to have blue skies for the journey in and the return back to Port Hardy so that was a great start. Prices are the average nightly price provided by our partners and may not include all taxes and fees. We were met by Tom Rivest, one of the owners and his able and friendly staff. There are no toilet facilities (this is the rain forest wilderness) but with breakfast at 7.15 a.m. and out at 8.00 a.m. this 3.5 hour excursion may prove testing for some. We offer grizzly bear watching, whale watching, grizzly bear tours and wildlife adventure tours. We were fortunate to see bears every time. Great Bear offers more than 220 acres of unlimited year-round fun and excitement just minutes away from downtown Sioux Falls, SD. Farewell Harbour Lodge is a land based lodge but with floating accommodation, situated in the pristine enviornment of the Broughton Archipelago and the Great Bear Rainforest, on the coast of British Columbia. If we have any concerns, it is regarding the winter gear--boots, jackets, hats etc--which the lodge was kind enough to provide but appears to have difficultly in upgrading the gear. The staff recommended we wear the provided coveralls and rain suits, which were very effective at keeping us warm and dry.This time of year is best for bear viewing as they are out feeding on spawning salmon on the gravel beds of the Nekite River which flows into Smith Inlet. ... Their food was great, the guide was great, we would have liked a little more advice on clothing for the boat. We were met by Tom Rivest, one of the owners and his able and friendly staff. If your looking for an opportunity to see Grizzly Bears in their natural habitat and at close range, but totally naturally and undisturbed then look no further. Great Bear Lodge is a charming, self-contained floating retreat dedicated to Grizzly Bear viewing programmes. Setting. I suppose, one has to pay the price of less than ideal winter gear provided by the lodge to enjoy the unique views of the Grizzly bears.The view points, called the "Blinds" by the lodge, are getting old and may need upgrading. A very bumpy and somewhat uncomfortable ride especially for those with back problems etc. Great Bear Lodge: Bears Galore with a Whale on the Side - See 160 traveler reviews, 216 candid photos, and great deals for Great Bear Lodge at Tripadvisor. After a quick talk about the lodge and bear safety rules and a snack, we went off on our first viewing. Welcome to Grizzly Bear Lodge! Travel with our guides in the most luxurious custom built Polar Rovers, where you will see arctic wildlife including arctic fox, caribou, snowy owls and of course the magnificent polar bear...all in their natural environment. Here, the waters teem with whales, dolphins, sea otters, porpoises, sea lions, salmon and other creatures. Stay at our custom built Tundra Lodge, sleeping with polar bears under the awe inspiring northern lights. We can offer you and your guests an equestrian experience like no other. A minimum of two guides accompanied us to a platform some 35 minutes from the lodge by old school bus, along an old logging trail. In September 3 of these sessions were until 8.00 p.m. With light fading from 7.30 p.m. photos were not possible. We live in Richmond, BC and had gone on safari in Africa. A camping style legless folding canvas seat/backrest is provided for each guest. The memories will live long. Great Bear Lodge. The staff recommended we wear the provided coveralls and rain suits, which were very effective at keeping us warm and dry. The rooms are not minuscule and given the remote location, acceptably well furnished.The staff could not be any nicer. Once we had our reservation confirmed with Great Bear, it took no time to book flights on Pacific Coastal Airways out of YVR's South Terminal and a hotel in Port Hardy, We stayed at the Glen Lyon Inn, right next to the Glen Lyon River and close to the Harbour Walk, where at low tide along the Quatse River estuary there are hundreds of birds, including eagles, herons, curlers, merganzers, etc. What can one say? Please see our partners for more details. Great Bear Nature Tours is rated by National Geographic Adventure as one of the Best Adventure Travel Companies on Earth. From the moment one steps into the float plane at Port Hardy everything is awe inspiring. On the first afternoon, we saw a cow and calf killer whale soon after we left our mooring. Here, the waters teem with whales, dolphins, sea otters, porpoises, sea lions, salmon and other creatures. From this location Great Bear Nature Tours operate their Grizzly Bear viewing programme. View the full gallery in its own page, or choose an image to view a larger version, then use your Back button to return. Up to 80% of the yearly nitrogen in the ancient trees that grow along salmon rivers is derived from salmon nutrients. After a quick talk about the lodge and bear safety rules and a snack, we went off on our first viewing. On a couple of occasions we have seen him excavate a hole in the sand so he has a comfortable bed in which to lie, with the excess sand making up a pillow for his head.We love to share this sublime ecosystem with people who have a passion for wildlife, and are so glad that you enjoyed your Canadian safari.Sincerely,Marg. More, Thank you so much for taking the time to write a review. Flights ... We were lucky to have a humpback whale visit by the lodge plus seals. Reached by floatplane, Great Bear Lodge offers thrilling wildlife adventures viewing grizzly bears in their natural habitat. This group enjoyed some great bear viewing, but one of the highlights was when they watched three yearling cubs play while their mother caught salmon. Accommodation & Facilities. When my wife and I visited Great Bear Lodge in June 2006 it was our first wildlife-based holiday and we were slightly unsure about what it would involve. more. This is a place of spectacular beauty where one can still find the silence and solitude of another era. From the platform of our expedition ships you will be able to access and explore this remote wilderness, while enjoying comfortable lodging and freshly prepared gourmet meals. Incredible Whale Watching & Bear Viewing in comfort of Farewell Harbour Wilderness Lodge! All the guides and support staff were knowledgeable and attentive. Then, enjoy fascinating presentations about the day's events, learning about the area's bears, the Great Bear Rainforest, whales and First Nations culture. What a great place to stay and enjoy the bears. This time of year is best for bear viewing as they are out feeding on spawning salmon on the...My wife and I had talked previously about seeing grizzly bears along the Central Coast of British Columbia. Floating Lodge Wildlife and Whale Watching Wilderness Retreat. A group of humpback whales came just metres from the dock of Great Bear Lodge in Port Hardy over the long weekend – Aug 8, 2018 comments Leave a … Nestled in a calm archipelago of islands, protected from the wild Pacific, Spirit Bear Lodge offers unrivalled access to a profusion of wildlife including grizzly bears, humpback whales, spawning salmon, wolves, cougars and the elusive spirit bear. Whale Watching. The Lodge is a community-based ecotourism venture owned … We had better views of the bears sitting in our school buses used for transporting the guests from the lodge to the view points, more so than the views of the bears from the 'Blinds". Gentle voices, no sudden moves, stand in place and do not give way. Great Bear Lodge Bear. Particularly for those who might like the experience of watching these magnificent bears up close but who might be a bit frightened to do so, this is an excellent choice. My wife and I had talked previously about seeing grizzly bears along the Central Coast of British Columbia. Grizzly bear viewing lodge and tours in British Columbia You need a long camera lens & tripod, and binoculars (provided) are essential for viewing detail. The afternoon of our seaplane flight was sunny with spectacular views of the Broughton Archipelago culminating in a smooth landing right near the lodge. The main lodge is only 2 years old, well appointed with lots of rooms (8) for 16 guests, a large commercial grade kitchen with excellent food, beer, wine, juice, soft drinks and chances to sit with Tom and quizz him about bears, fish, etc. The bears moved on and gave us some of our best photo opportunities.We had other activities in addition to 2 viewings per day. A beautiful bear viewing lodge with an incredibly homely atmosphere. Food was well cooked and presented, but with no choice at lunch or dinner except prearranged dietary needs. Great Bear Lodge Bald Eagle. Can't recommend it highly enough. Tours are 4 nights in length (3 nights at the lodge with a final night at the Kwa’lilas Hotel in Port Hardy), or two tours can be combined for a 7-night tour. Everything about the place is even better than what appears in the web-site. The viewing stands on Knight Inlet’s Glendale River are used after August 24th and provide great opportunities for interesting photos even if the interesting part is a result of chance. Located on the coast of British Columbia in the Great Bear Rainforest, access is via sea plane from Port Hardy. He was named Sleeping Bear when we first met him back in 2004, and he has definitely lived up to his name since then! Great Bear Lodge is located 50 air miles from Port Hardy, British Columbia. Make Memories At Great Bear Recreation Park. We specifically want to mention Marcus who was kind enough to help us in all our special needs and found answers to our questions re the local fauna.Tom, one of the owners, knows a lot about bears and eager to impart the guests with various aspects of bears in this area. The afternoon of our seaplane flight was sunny with spectacular views of the Broughton Archipelago culminating in a smooth landing right near the lodge. 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