Grizzlies & Wildlife of British Columbia

• Search for grizzlies where they are more abundant than anywhere else in North America
• Float protected rivers through old-growth forest and helicopter over glaciers and waterfalls
• Meet and hear storytellers, singers and drummers from the Nuxalk First Nations culture

Along the central coast of British Columbia, where the Coast Range meets the Pacific Ocean, lies a wilderness known and visited by few. Glaciers ice the summits of the peaks, spawning rivers that trace a path to the sea through ancient forests of cedar, hemlock and fir. The waters and woods of the Bella Coola Valley have sheltered great wildlife populations for millennia. Salmon, eagles and bears, totemic animals of coastal native peoples, are still abundant here, evocative of nature that is both primal and arresting. We are immersed in it, on this rare adventure into the Canadian wild.

Accommodations, meals from dinner on Day 1 to breakfast on final day, bottled water, services of NHA Expedition Leaders, local guides and lodge staff, most gratuities, airport transfers in Bella Coola on Day 1 and final day, permits and entrance fees, all taxes.

Not Included
Travel to and from start and end point of trip (Bella Coola), alcoholic beverages, some gratuities, passport and visa fees, optional activities, items of a personal nature (phone calls, souvenirs, etc.), airline baggage fees, airport and departure taxes, optional travel insurance.

Physical Requirements
Easy / Flexible
This adventure travel opportunity does not require a high degree of physical fitness although some short walks may be required should you wish to participate in every activity.

Important Information about This Trip

For serious bear photography and close-up bear viewing, this trip is not as rewarding as our Hidden Alaska or the Grizzlies: Kodiak to Katmai trips since we generally do not get as close to bears. This area, however, has distinct advantages in that the scenery is spectacular and the bears are truly wild, with very few other people around. Bears in the “Great Bear Valley” tend to be all over the place. We have prepared for a variety of ways to view them but cannot guarantee which manner we will use due to the permit requirements at any given time. We have taken the proper steps but will never be assured of a specific activity due to the nature of these animals and the nature of permitting in Canada. Also, be aware that since the area we are visiting is full of bears, natural dangers do exist. We try to be as careful as possible, but we can never fully predict the behavior of wild animals. A quote from our director, Ben Bressler: “One of the favorite experiences I have had with NHA was floating the Atnarko River, which runs right behind our lodge. Bald eagles fly overhead, and every turn in the river promises another chance to pass a hungry grizzly fishing for salmon. It is a peaceful, intimate experience of nature, the memory of which has stayed with me for a long, long time.”

Getting There & Getting Home
We have pre-booked spaces for our travelers on R/T flights from Vancouver to Bella Coola. These flight times are not determined until late spring. We will notify you when these times are determined so you may book your arrival and departure flights in and out of Vancouver. You will be invoiced for these flights upon booking. Please call us with questions.

Viewing & Photographing the Bears
Travelers interested in very close up viewing and photography of grizzlies may prefer our Alaska Explorer or the Grizzlies of Coastal Katmai, as we may not experience bears at such a close range on this trip. This area, however, has its distinct advantages in that the scenery is spectacular and the grizzlies are truly wild, with very few other people around.

Proof of Citizenship

NOTE: BEGINNING JANUARY 8, 2007, ALL U.S. CITIZENS TRAVELING VIA AIR OR SEA WILL REQUIRE A VALID PASSPORT TO ENTER CANADA. Please note that birth certificates and other government-issued photo I.D.’s will NO LONGER be accepted for entry.

Grizzlies: From Kodiak to Katmai
A ship-based adventure from Kodiak to Katmai to view grizzlies up close! Walk the shores as coastal brown bears actively pursue salmon in tidal pools.

Bears & Eagles of Chilko Lake
Watch for abundant grizzlies as they hunt for salmon in the azure blue waters of Lake Chilko.

Prices are per person based on double occupancy and are given in US Dollars.

2011 dates and fees may change slightly.