Explore Canada's Inside Passage & Great Bear Rainforest Aboard a Private Sailboat

In the remote valleys of the Coast Range on Canada’s far western edge, the planet's oldest and tallest trees rise along salmon-studded rivers that rush to the Pacific. Thousand-year-old cedars and Sitka spruce soaring 350 feet into the rain clouds provide shelter for the pale spirit bear of Native legend. Just a few hundred of these rarely seen bears live in this isolated wilderness, and we go in search of them with local Gitga’at guides, First Nations people who have lived among them for millennia. Here, too, are grizzlies and wolves, and bald eagles nest atop ancient conifers while deer and elk browse the undergrowth. Humpback whales and porpoises ply the jade-green fjords. We join them as we sail a maze of inlets in British Columbia's Inside Passage—a wilderness voyage into the Great Bear Rainforest, one of Earth’s most magnificent, pristine and at-risk natural realms.

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Melissa Scott

Humpback whale tail, Bishop Bay, British Columbia.

Mark Hickey

Nat Hab guests and black bear, Great Bear Rainforest, British Columbia.

Humpback whale, Kitimat Arm, British Columbia.

Mark Hickey

Nat Hab guests, Squally Channel, British Columbia.

Mark Hickey

Island Roamer, Princess Royal Channel, British Columbia.

Mark Hickey

Nat Hab guests, Khutze Inlet, British Columbia.

Humpback whale tail, Kitimat Arm, British Columbia.

Melissa Scott

Nat Hab guests kayaking, Tuwartz Inlet, British Columbia.

Bald eagle, Kitimat Arm, British Columbia.

Mark Hickey

Nat Hab guest and spirit bear, Great Bear Rainforest, British Columbia.

Nat Hab guests, Mussel Inlet, British Columbia.

Melissa Scott

Spirit bear and black bear, Great Bear Rainforest, British Columbia.

Trip Highlights

Exclusive Access Via Private YachtAboard our privately chartered sailboat, explore remote reaches of the world’s largest remaining tract of virgin temperate rain forest, which blankets the Coast Range
See More Wildlife with Local GuidesLook for prolific marine life, grizzlies and black bears, and search the Great Bear Rainforest for the mystical spirit bear with an Indigenous Gitga'at guide
Humpback Whales at Close RangeWatch humpback whales feed and breach as we weave through the sheltered waters of some of the most pristine coastal wilderness on Earth

WWF In Action

Click here for more information about the conservation work WWF is doing to promote sustainable forestry practices in British Columbia.

The Best Way to Explore the Great Bear Rainforest

Most visitors who travel the Inside Passage along the wild BC coast do so aboard large cruise ships, missing this secluded realm entirely. And those who come to search for spirit bears usually stay on shore in lodges, requiring vehicle travel to trailheads. In contrast, our exclusive bear cruise maximizes your solitude in the Canadian wilderness, with diverse wildlife encounters you won't get any other way.

A Private Chartered Sailboat for Solitude & Flexibility
Our sailboat stops each night at a different secluded anchorage, surrounded by untouched wilderness. Most visitors stay at lodges where more people, vehicles, light and noise are part of the experience. Depending on tides, weather and location of wildlife, each day offers a choice of hidden coves and rain forest trails to explore. And by chartering a boat, we have flexibility to pursue the best wildlife experiences.
A Small Group Ensures Intimate Nature Exploration
Enjoy the intimacy of our private sailing yacht, with a maximum of just 12 guests (though the boat holds 14). You'll get the full attention of our Expedition Leader and staff, and, most importantly, quieter and more personal nature experiences.
Remote Private Kayaking Excursions
Enjoy quiet paddling opportunities in secluded inlets with no other visitors in sight. The only thing breaking the silence is the drip of the water from your paddle.
Expert Naturalists & Guides
Our naturalist Expedition Leader provides in-depth interpretation of this region's rich natural history. The ship's captain and crew are deeply familiar with these fjords and forests and adept at spotting wildlife. We also spend a day with an indigenous Gitga’at guide in search of spirit bears. Though the bears are elusive and we can't guarantee you'll see one, our local guide will know where they have been spotted most recently, situating us for the best chance to see them. See Expedition Leader bios and traveler comments regarding the quality of our leaders.
A Focus on First Nations & Conservation
The Tshimshian, Haisla, and Heiltsuk First Nations people have lived in the area for tens of thousands of years. We learn about their cultures and how important this remote and pristine wilderness is to them and their future generations. Conservationists and First Nations have been actively working together to protect this region that contains the largest remaining untouched temperate rain forest on the Pacific Coast.
Our Quality–Value Guarantee Ensures Your Outstanding Nature Adventure
Natural Habitat Adventures offers an exclusive guarantee, which clearly states that we will meet the lofty expectations we set forth in our promotional materials. To our knowledge, this is the most ambitious guarantee made by any adventure travel company. Read our important promise.
Feel Good About Your Carbon-Neutral Journey
We care deeply about our planet, as we know you do. When you travel with us, the carbon emissions from your trip are 100% offset—including your round-trip flights from home. Natural Habitat Adventures has been the world’s first carbon-neutral travel company since 2007.
Natural Habitat Adventures is WWF's Travel Partner
Because of our commitment to environmentally friendly travel, as well as the exceptional quality of our adventures, World Wildlife Fund—the world's leading environmental conservation organization—has named Natural Habitat Adventures as its worldwide travel partner, a designation that makes us exceedingly proud!