Great Bear Rainforest

 

Vancouver	The Wedgewood Hotel	2 nights
Cruising	The Island Roamer or The Island Odyssey	7 nights

Click on the name of the hotel or boat for details

11 days from £3195

excluding international flights

Search for the elusive Kermode or 'Spirit' Bear...Watch for Gray Wolves...Experience Humpback Whales in the Wild...

Deep in the green, primeval forests of the British Columbia Central Coast, elusive large white animals roam. They are called 'Spirit Bears', or more accurately Kermode bears and result from a recessive gene among the local black bears. The focus on the 'Great Bear Rainforest' trip is on exploring the remote islands and inlets of this special area. Whales frolic in the waters, grizzly bear fish for salmon in the estuaries, and a unique coastal sub-species of wolf is found. Expect to see both grizzly and Kermode bears and benefit from the knowledge of local native Gitga'at guides.

DAY 1 - Arrive Vancouver.

On arrival at Vancouver International Airport take a taxi (not included) to your centrally-located hotel. Recommended flight: British Airways from London Heathrow (see below). If you are travelling from a country other than the UK we would be happy to give you guidance on your flight options.

PRIVATE LIMOUSINE TRANSFERS: If you prefer we can arrange for you to be met at Vancouver Airport by a representative of World Discovery and taken by private chauffeur-driven limousine to your hotel. The one-way cost is £34 per person.

DAY 2 - Vancouver.

Vancouver is arguably Canada's most attractive city, a cosmopolitan metropolis of excellent shops and restaurants, galleries and museums, and some of the finest sea-to-sky vistas of any city in the world. Take a walk around the Stanley Park Seawall for some superb mountain and city views, taking in the colourful collection of native totem poles. Explore the historic Gastown area with its unique steam clock (pictured left). Or head to the North Shore to see the Capilano Suspension Bridge [more] and take the Skyride to the summit of Grouse Mountain [more] for panoramic views across the city.

DAY 3 - Fly to Bella Bella to join your cruiseship.

In the morning take a taxi to the airport for the flight by Pacific Coastal Airlines to Bella Bella. Here you will be met and taken to the 'Island Roamer' or 'The Odyssey (depending on departure date), your home for the next 7 days. Upon boarding, guests are assigned cabins and receive an introduction and safety orientation. Your adventure is about to begin.
Meals included: Lunch, dinner.

DAYS 4 to 9 - Cruising.

A fabulous week spent cruising along the central coast region of British Columbia. The Great Bear Rainforest is a unique ecological area renowned for its significant populations of black, grizzly (pictured left searching for salmon) and Kermode bear that are supported by the abundant salmon runs for food. It is a long, convoluted maze of narrow waterways and fiords, emerald forests of western hemlock and red cedar cloak lush river valleys and broad estuaries. As well as seeing bears, on this cruise you may also be lucky enough to see gray wolves, and during the voyage there are excellent chances of seeing various species of marine mammals. Fitzhugh Sound and Whale Channel are good areas for viewing humpback whales. The coastline near Cape Caution supports a summer population of gray whales; and this entire coast is famous for its population of orcas (killer whales). We will make a visit to local communities with permission of the Gitga’at and Kitasoo native groups (both members of the Tshimshian Nation). A day is usually spent with local Gitga’at guides sharing their culture and history, and leading us to their favorite bear viewing sites. This area has a very rich and varied bird population. Many people will be amazed at the number of bald eagles they will see on the trip. Colourful seabirds such as oystercatchers, pigeon guillemots and rhinoceros auklets are common and you will see large numbers of smaller water birds, such as phalaropes.
Meals included: Full breakfast, lunch, dinner each day.

For a full description of the Great Bear Rainforest cruise and background information click here.

DAY 10 - Return to Vancouver. Depart for home.

Fly back to Vancouver.  In the late afternoon check in for your homeward flight.

DAY 11 - Arrive home.

Arrive London Heathrow in the morning.

International Flights.

We recommend the services of British Airways from London Heathrow. Flights can be booked through their easy-to-use website www.britishairways.com/travel. Current timings (subject to possible change) are as follows:
Heathrow/Vancouver. Depart at 17.10; arrive Vancouver at 18.35
Vancouver/Heathrow. Depart at 17.55; arrive Heathrow at 13.40 (next day)

Great Bear Rainforest (Tour Reference: WDCA004)
2010 Departures
Price per person based on a minimum of two persons travelling together:

Variable departure days	Price
30 May, 7 Jun	£3195
25 Aug, 27 Aug; 2 Sep, 4 Sep, 10 Sep (FULL) 12 Sep, 20 Sep (FULL), 26 Sep	£3325

Single Room Supplements on request.

The price includes:

• Scheduled flights from Vancouver to Bella Bella (and v.v.) in economy class, including taxes
• Accommodation as listed above. In the Wedgewood Hotel you will stay in twin-bedded rooms with private facilities, on a room only basis. Onboard the cruise ship cabins are private but there are no private bathrooms - thereare 3 'heads' (cubicles) with showers available for guests.
• 7 full breakfasts, 7 lunches and 7 dinners.
  
• A full programme of wildlife viewing and activities during the cruise.
• The services of a naturalist guide during the cruise.

Not included in the price:

• International flights (see our recommendation above). We are happy to discuss the flights with you and give you further guidance
• International airport taxes
• Optional sightseeing
• Meals not specified in the itinerary
  
• Car parking at hotels

A deposit of £400 per person is required at the time of booking. The balance of the price for your travel arrangements must be paid at least 8 weeks before your departure date.