Experience an epic wildlife & wilderness holiday in British Columbia

British Columbia is one of Canada’s most beautiful provinces, with stunning landscapes and glorious coastal regions. One of the most alluring experiences you can have in Canada is bear and wildlife watching the British Columbia wilderness. It’s true, you can enjoy an amazing whale-watching and sealife-spotting cruise from Victoria on Vancouver Island, but to enjoy a truly immersive experience with the best chance of spotting myriad wildlife and a once-in-a-lifetime bear viewing, then you can’t beat a couple of nights stay in a wilderness lodge. Our chosen lodges are dotted throughout the province and offer a variety of experiences, so here is our guide to help you find the best location for your adventure. We’ve noted below the level of fitness you will need to stay at each of the lodges, and with most of the itineraries you will be out all day after breakfast experiencing the best of the wildlife, with a packed lunch at midday, returning for a family-style dinner around 6pm. With all of these lodges you can either visit them as part of a self-drive round-trip from Vancouver or you can fly from Vancouver to the nearest local airport, either Campbell River, Williams Lake, Powell River or Port Hardy.



Knight Inlet

Three nights from £2,250 (Season runs from May to October)

Where: Southern Great Bear Rainforest, on the coast of British Columbia, nestled in Glendale Cove (see the map below)

How to get there: 30 minute floatplane ride from Campbell River

Style: A large floating lodge with a separate wing for the guestrooms, all with private en-suite bathroom. A simple lodge experience, there is no WiFi, public internet or TV. The maximum number of guests is 36 guests.

Wildlife: Bear viewing tours by boat in the spring and summer and at viewing platforms in the autumn. The four night package also includes a whale & marine viewing boat tour around Johnstone Strait.

Other activities: Kayak tour of Glendale Cove, Scenic boat tour of Knight Inlet. If staying three or more nights, then you have extra bear viewing trips, a hike through the lush Kwalate River Valley and a wildlife tracking tour, if you’re staying four or more nights you also will enjoy a full day marine wildlife viewing excursion to Johnstone Strait to spot the area’s amazing marine life.

Fitness level: You’ll need a basic level of fitness, as there will be some walking on uneven and slippery shoreline.

Need to know: Your Knight Inlet package includes a 1-night stay at the Comfort Inn & Suites Campbell River, the night before your transfer to the lodge.

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Klahoose Wilderness Resort

Three nights from £2,100 (Season runs from May to October)

Where: Desolation Sound on mainland BC’s Sunshine Coast, only accessible by boat from Lund (see the map below)

How to get there: Road transfers are included from Powell River airport to Lund if you’re flying from Vancouver, and boat transfer from Lund to the resort. If you’re including this as part of a flydrive, then you’ll park your car at Lund, and pick up the boat transfer there.

Style: A sustainable eco-resort in the heart of the Klahoose First Nations territory. With just seven comfortable, en-suite guest rooms and cabins, the maximum number of guests is 22.

Wildlife: From May until mid-June it’s a boat tour to view both black and grizzly bears on the shore where they are feeding. A special time of year, you should also be able to spot whales and porpoise returning to this beautiful area, along with countless birds and other marine life.
From mid-June to mid-August you will be taken on cultural tours, scenic hiking trails and kayaking through the crystal clear water when you will see orca and humpback whales, as well as other sea life and birds.
From late August to mid-October is prime bear watching time. First you will be taken by boat and then by bus to viewing platforms to watch the grizzly bears as they catch salmon.

Other activities: there’s a sauna, and you can enjoy self-guided kayaking, stand up paddle boarding, ocean swimming, nature hikes. Additional tours include ocean foraging, visiting a seasonal Klahoose village site guided by a Klahoose cultural interpreter, and experiencing a traditional Klahoose welcome. In the evenings, there are cultural sharing activities such as storytelling, cedar weaving, wood carving, and a cedar brushing-off ceremony.

Fitness level: You’ll need a moderate level of fitness

Need to know: The daily transfers depart at set times – 11.30 from Powell River and 15.00 from Lund

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Spirit Bear Lodge

Four nights from £4,800 (Season runs from August to October)

Where: Mid Great Bear Rainforest, north of Bella Bella on the coast of mainland BC (see the map below)

How to get there: Flight from Vancouver to Bella Bella, then 90 minutes water taxi to lodge

Style: An authentic wilderness lodge, owned by First Nations the Kitasoo Xai’xais peoples. The 12 spacious guestrooms have ocean views and private bathrooms.  Buffet style breakfast and dinner (with house wine), packed lunch during the day-long excursions

Wildlife: Access by boat (with washrooms!) to viewing areas (90 min). During your stay, you will take a number of bear tracking tours to see the Spirit Bears and also Grizzlies, and also take a whale watching trip in the Finlayson Channel. The Kermode bear, also known as the “Spirit Bear” is a rare subspecies of the Black Bear which is conversely white in colour. Grizzly sightings are consistent, but Spirit bears are harder to find.

Other activities: Relax on the terrace and spot humpback whales, sea lions, otters & eagles. You can also enjoy kayaking & rainforest trekking. There is evening entertainment when you will learn about the Great Bear Forest and the First Nations.

Fitness level: You only need a very basic fitness level to enjoy a stay at this lodge

Need to know: The shortest stay here is four nights

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Great Bear Lodge

Four nights from £4,800 (Season runs from May to October)

Where: Southern Great Bear Rainforest on the British Columbia mainland (see the map below)

How to get there: You’ll take a 30 minute floatplane ride from Port Hardy to the lodge departing 15.00. Please note you will only be allowed 14kg of luggage, the excess can be stored at the floatplane terminal. You can fly to Port Hardy from Vancouver, or park your car there if a stay at this lodge is part of a self-drive itinerary.

Style: There are eight guestrooms each with private bathrooms. Meals are family-style, and you can enjoy complimentary wine and beer all day.

Wildlife: Grizzly bears, occasionally black bears, and myriad birds

Other activities: Hiking, boat tours

Fitness level: You do not need to be fit to enjoy a stay at this comfortable lodge, and your hosts will adapt to your fitness level, personalising the tours and will provide appropriate outerwear and footwear.
Need to know: Your departure from the lodge by floatplane will be between 16.00 and 18.00 on your final day, allowing for a bear or wildlife watching excursion and a farewell lunch. You will then be transferred to a hotel in Port Hardy for the night, which is included in the package price. So a four-nightpackage has three nights at the lodge, and one in Port Hardy.

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Tweedsmuir Park Lodge

Three nights from £2,690 (Season runs from August to October)

Where: Located in the Great Bear Rainforest in the heart of Bella Coola on the BC mainland. 70 minute plane journey from Vancouver to Bella Coola then you’ll take a road transfer (1 hour). If you are including this lodge as part of a self-drive itinerary, then you can drive yourself to the lodge (see the map below)

How to get there: Fly to Vancouver, then road transfer to the lodge. If you’re including this lodge as part of a self-drive itinerary then you can drive right up to the lodge.

Style: A very comfortable lodge with great facilities, offering delicious (set) meals at private tables including local wines and beers, plus snacks throughout the day. Guests will enjoy access to the private wildlife viewing platform, hot tub, cedar sauna, fitness centre, yoga studio, games room, dining room, lounge, outdoor patio, fire pit and complimentary internet throughout the main lodge and guest chalets. You can also have free use of binoculars, radios, rain jackets and pants, umbrellas, climbing harnesses, mountain bikes and helmets  

Wildlife: Guided bear viewing from rowboats or rafts, by foot or non-guided from private wildlife viewing station, in small groups up to 6 people

Other activities: Guided nature and ecology walks, plus mountain bikes available

Fitness level: Guests must have good mobility and able to walk on uneven terrain for several hours

Need to know: This is a great lodge to include as part of a self-drive itinerary, and you can book any number of nights here, even just one night.

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Ecotours-BC The Bear Whisperer - Northern Lights Lodge

Three nights from £1,895 (Season runs from May to October)

Where: Just north of Willams Lake, in the middle of British Columbia, Northern Lights Lodge is located on Quesnel Lake (the deepest freshwater fjord lake in the world) in an interior rainforest.

How to get there: Either fly to Williams Lake from Vancouver or drive to Northern Lights Lodge via a packed gravel road.

Style: This is a simple but comfortable lodge. The six guest cabins, with 2 or 4 bedrooms, have private bathroom with shower. There is also a lounge, TV, dining area and deck. Meals will be served family-style in the Wolf Cabin.

Wildlife: From May to mid-October enjoy The Bear Whisperer day-long tour with just 4 to 6 participants per guide and a maximum of 12 participants. Staying for three nights, you will enjoy two tours on consecutive days. Along with bear sightings, you may also see moose, beavers, deer, caribou, mountain goats, lynx, otters, woodpeckers, blue herons, eagles and myriad birds.
In spring, travel by vehicle (4X4 or multi-passenger ATV) into the lowlands and hike to where grizzlies, moose, deer, wolves and black bears feed on new spring shoots, and the best chance to catch a glimpse of bear cubs.
In summer, hike into the high country and follow the bears through boreal forest and berry patches to the high alpine of the Cariboo Mountains, or on the Cariboo River that receives an early Salmon run.
In the autumn, the tour is conducted by boat and jet boat. Quesnel Lake estuaries are spawning grounds for Pacific sockeye salmon which lure grizzly bears to prepare for a long winter hibernation period. Wolves may also be seen eating the fish on the riverbanks at this time of year.

Other activities: There are five acres of beautiful riverfront grounds to stroll, plus a fly-fishing den.

Fitness level: Most of the year, just a basic level of fitness is needed but departures from 9 September to 9 October you’ll need to be in good physical condition to be able to hike for several hours

Need to know: This is an experience without viewing platforms or boat tours, the expert guides will take you to the bears forest homes, following their movements through the river estuaries, mountain sides and valleys.

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Farewell Harbour Lodge

Three nights from £2,850 (Season runs from June to October)

Where: Southern Great Bear Rainforest, on Berry Island off the coast of Vancouver Island

How to get there: If you're flying from Vancouver, there is a complimentary shuttle from Port Hardy airport to Alder Bay, then it’s a boat transfer from Alder Bay to the lodge. If you're driving, park at Alder Bay to pick up the boat transfer (approx. 25 mins)

Style: A floating lodge with 4 guestrooms, and a land-based lodge with 8 guestrooms, each with private bathrooms.

Wildlife: Whale-watching is a key activity at this lodge, along with the bear-viewing, and you’ll tour different river systems of the Johnstone Strait.

Other activities: Marine excursions in Johnstone Strait, kayaking, First Nations villages and cultural sites

Fitness level: You'll need to be in pretty good physical condition to enjoy a stay at this lodge, and be able to walk the forest trails and climb in and out of boats

Need to know: A good choice if you’re touring BC by motorhome, as you can stay at the Alder Bay RV Park, and then pick up the transfer to Farewell Harbour Lodge from there.

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Location map of the lodges



 

A few more notes about our selected wildlife lodges

These lodges are the perfect antidote to everyday life, away from the hustle of civilisation, which means that you’re unlikely to have WiFi or TVs, and meals will usually be “family-style” (you’ll need to advise of any dietary requirements). You won’t need to dress up – layers of clothing will be your friend plus waterproof walking shoes and jackets – if you’re going in spring and fall, then do take a fleece, jumper and even some gloves as it can be quite cool. Do take mosquito repellent and avoid taking perfumed toiletries.

The season is generally split into three:
Spring May to end June – when the bears emerge from hibernation
Summer July to late August – bear sightings are less frequent in this period as they are moving between different food sources
Autumn September to October – the peak time for bear viewing as they come to the rivers and estuaries to feast on salmon

Here are other great places to stay in BC to enjoy a unique wilderness experience and view amazing wildlife such as humpback whales, orcas, otters, sealions, eagles, and with the possible sighting of a bear

Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge

Located on the west coast of Vancouver Island, just north of Tofino, you can drive directly to this lodge if you’re including it as part of a flydrive itinerary. Alternatively you can take a floatplane directly from Vancouver or fly to Tofino and take the road transfer from there (not included in the price). A true ‘glamping’ experience, with 25 luxurious white canvas tents, lining the banks of the magnificent Clayoquot Sound which allows you "end of bed" views. You’ll enjoy guided hiking, biking, horseback riding, archery, and rock climbing. This is a luxurious wilderness experience where you’ll enjoy a lovely all-inclusive stay, with the chance to see native wildlife during your time here.

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The Chilko Experience Wilderness Resort

Set in the heart of the British Colombia mainland on beautiful Chilko Lake. You’ll enjoy an all-inclusive stay in a luxury log cabin, with meals, drinks and a variety of activities, such as horse riding, kayaking, lake cruises, quad biking, and in September and October you have the chance to go bear-spotting. Optional excursions include heli-hiking, white-water rafting (July & August) and wilderness survival training!

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Siwash Lake Wilderness Resort

A dude ranch as well as a wilderness lodge, Siwash Lake Wilderness Resort is nestled in a a 300 acre estate in the midst of 10,000 acres of ranchland. Here you can enjoy an authentic guest ranch experience and eco adventures in an elegantly rustic, off-grid, setting in the vast interior of British Columbia. It’s a wonderful place to stay en route from Vancouver to Banff or Jasper on a Rainforest to the Rockies road trip.

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The West Coast Wilderness Lodge

Located on the stunning sunshine coast of British Columbia, this is a glorious retreat to stopover for a few days as you explore the region. All the activities and excursions are optional, so you can choose to take a wildlife spotting boat tour, take to the water in a kayak, or simply admire the view with a glass of delicious British Columbia wine.

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Sonora Resort

This is a gorgeous Relais & Chateau hotel, nestled in an incredible location in BC’s Discovery Islands. The hotel is open from May to October, and all season you can indulge in the delicious food and drink provided, relax in the outdoor pool and hot tubs, enjoy fly-fishing and mountain biking. In the autumn you can book a bear-watching excursion by Zodiac, to get up close to grizzly bears. You can also enjoy their Eco Adventure Tour where you will see otters, seals, sealions schools of white-sided dolphins and humpback whales. You may also be able to spot Orca and the prime time for seeing these magnificent Killer Whales is July and August. You can spot Black Bear feasting on mussels on the rocks in May and June.

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Emerald Lake Lodge

Found deep in Yoho National Park the lodge sits on Emerald Lake which certainly lives up to its name, stunning turquoise waters surrounded by a thick alpine forest and the incredible Rocky Mountains make for an unforgettable backdrop.  All of the rooms have fireplaces, which are stocked daily with complimentary firewood. Hearty meals such as local game will keep the inner explorer satisfied and the outdoor hot tub is the perfect place for relaxing and taking in the stunning lakeside views.  The surrounding area has plenty of wilderness activities to keep you busy from witnessing the thundering Takakkaw Falls, one of Canada’s highest waterfalls to rock climbing, horse riding and of course hiking in this natural playground - Yoho National Park has over 400 kilometres of trails waiting to be discovered.

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Echo Valley Ranch & Spa

Tucked away in the spectacular Cariboo Mountains, this ranch is an interesting blend of East meets West, combining a rustic ranch experience with Thai influences. Enjoy spa treatments, horse-riding, hiking, biking and fly-fishing. Family-style dining includes a range of dishes from barbeque to traditional Thai food.

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