Holiday Overview
A 15-day Canada holiday self drive road trip that includes Vancouver Island, Great Bear Lodge and Vancouver. Great Bear Lodge is located 50 air miles from Port Hardy, British Columbia. The fully self-contained floating lodge is situated at an outstanding wildlife viewing location. This is a place of spectacular beauty where one can still find the silence and solitude of another era. From this location Great Bear Nature Tours operate their Grizzly Bear viewing programme. The BBC used the lodge as their base while filming for the series "Secrets of Our Living Planet".
From May through October, Great Bear Nature Tours offers world-class wildlife viewing excursions from Port Hardy to the central coast of British Columbia. Known as the Great Bear Rainforest, this area is one of the best places in the world to observe grizzly bears and other wildlife such as wolves, black bears, otters, pine martins, mink and bald eagles.
The Great Bear Rainforest is home to a significant concentration of coastal grizzly bears. During Spring (May and June), grizzly bears come down from the mountains to graze on the sedges, succulents and grasses that make up the dense biomass of the river estuary. There we will observe and photograph them from boats, floating quietly in the estuary sloughs. Coinciding with breeding season, we often see large males interacting with females. Additionally, the estuary is bustling with other bird and animal life at this time of year. The return of tens of thousands of salmon marks the beginning of our Fall season in mid-August. We have constructed a series of enclosed viewing stands along the river, providing a variety of settings to view and photograph grizzly bears as they gorge on fish in anticipation of their coming hibernation.
Vancouver Island & the Grizzlies Fly Drive includes:
- Return flights from the UK
- Taxi Transfer from Vancouver downtown to airport
- Car hire
- Ferry crossings from Vancouver Island
- 14 nights accommodation
- Bear viewing sessions
- Interpretive discussion and welcome orientation for wildlife viewing
- Afternoon and morning bear viewing sessions, guided by a wildlife biologist
- Wilderness-gourmet meals including complimentary wine with dinner
- Transportation to and from the Great Bear Lodge (departing Port Hardy)
- Slide shows and video presentations of the local natural history
- Guided hiking, boat cruises or sea-kayaking
- Rubber boots and rain wear, if required
Day 1 - Fly UK to Vancouver
On arrival at Vancouver Airport, transfer to your chosen downtown hotel.
Transfer not included.
Featured accommodation
Rosedale on Robson Suite Hotel
Enhance your experience
Loden Hotel
Fairmont Waterfront Hotel
Day 2 - Explore Vancouver
Day at leisure to explore the delights of Vancouver.
Featured accommodation
Rosedale on Robson Suite Hotel
Enhance your experience
Loden Hotel
Fairmont Waterfront Hotel
Day 3 - Vancouver to Victoria
This morning pick up your hire car and head for Tsawwassen Ferry terminal for a 90 min ferry ride (ferry toll included). On-board BC Ferries enjoy the scenery of the Gulf Islands as you cross the Strait of Georgia to Vancouver Island. Stay 2 nights at a centrally located Victoria hotel.
Featured accommodation
Oswego Hotel
Enhance your experience
Hotel Chateau Victoria
Magnolia Hotel & Spa
Day 4 - Explore Victoria
Today is free to explore Victoria, with its turn-of-the-century architecture, British traditions such as high tea, and shops full of woollens and china. Take in Butchart Gardens and/or a Whale Watching trip (optional)
Featured accommodation
Oswego Hotel
Enhance your experience
Hotel Chateau Victoria
Magnolia Hotel & Spa
Day 5 - Victoria to Tofino
Travel to the rugged West Coast of Vancouver Island and head to Pacific Rim National Park. En-route stops should be made at Duncan the ‘City of Totems’, where you may visit the Quw’utsun’ Heritage Village, which will provide you with an insight into the lives of the northwest coast people (admission not included). Make a stop in the artist community of Chemainus, where you can admire the giant murals which adorn the exterior walls throughout the town. Drive through majestic Sutton Pass and the Sawtooth Range of the Cascade Mountains to arrive in Tofino around mid afternoon
Enhance your experience
Cox Bay Beach Resort
Wickaninnish Inn
Day 6 - Explore Pacific Rim National Park
Mid-afternoon you may opt to enjoy a 3-hour whale watch cruise (not included) through the Clayoquot Sound, revealing sensational scenery and wildlife such as Gray Whales, Sea Lions, Porpoises and Orcas. The area is also known for its variety of birds, including tufted puffins and resident bald eagles. Tofino is famous for it's beaches - no less than 6! Make sure to catch one of the stunning sunsets from one of the beaches - Tonquin is one of our favourites for the sunset..
Enhance your experience
Cox Bay Beach Resort
Wickaninnish Inn
Day 7 - Tofino to Campbell River
Travel to Campbell River for your 2 night stay at Painters Lodge.
Featured accommodation
Painters Lodge Campbell River
Day 8 - Campbell River
Enjoy your day at leisure enjoying the resort facilities and take the complimentary water taxi over to Painters Lodge sister hotel April Point Resort across the Inside Passage to Quadra Island. There are various wildlife excursions and even a guided Salmon fishing excursion on offer, ask for details and prices.
Featured accommodation
Painters Lodge Campbell River
Day 9 - Campbell River to Great Bear Lodge
Drive to Port Hardy this morning for your seaplane transfer to Great Bear Lodge. The seaplane is an adventure in itself, travelling over the breathtaking scenery of the central coast and over the rich waters of Queen Charlotte Strait, the home of orca, gray and humpback whales. Upon your arrival at the lodge, your hosts will be on the dock to welcome you to your wilderness retreat. Settle into your private room at the lodge, before joining the group for your first wildlife viewing session. We have a range of different viewing sites, and will choose one according to where the bears have been most active. Estuary sites are reached by boat, while river sites are reached by a wilderness track. The viewing blinds on the river have been constructed with the photographer in mind, and are optimal and comfortable places from which to view bears. There is nothing quite like seeing your first grizzly emerge from the forest. Returning to the lodge that evening, you will be treated to a wilderness-gourmet meal. Our biologist will present slides and videos, explaining the interaction of the grizzly bear with this unique ecology.
Featured accommodation
Great Bear Lodge
Day 10 - Great Bear Lodge
In the morning, you will be on the trail of the grizzly bear again after some good coffee and breakfast. A typical viewing session lasts three hours. After a morning of adventure, you will return to the lodge for lunch and a chance to relax. Spend the early afternoon exploring the surrounding area with the guide. A popular activity is the interpretive rainforest walk, examining bear sign and the general ecology of the area. In mid-afternoon you will venture out to see the bears before relaxing in the lodge for dinner. On clear nights, the stars are amazing.
Featured accommodation
Great Bear Lodge
Day 11 - Great Bear Lodge
The bears are generally most active in the early morning and late afternoon hours, which is why we focus our viewing sessions on these times. Over the course of your stay we will take you to a variety of sites, depending on the bear activity.
For the afternoon recreation today we may a boat cruise to explore the glacier-carved inlet. Or you may prefer to relax and enjoy the view from the lodge. The Great Bear Rainforest is home to many animals, including grey wolves, otters, black bears, mink and bald eagles.
Featured accommodation
Great Bear Lodge
Day 12 - Great Bear Lodge to Port Hardy
After your parting session with the bears, lunch and an afternoon activity, you will be returned to Port Hardy by floatplane in the afternoon sometime between 4pm and 6pm.
Featured accommodation
Quarter Deck Inn
Day 13 - Port Hardy to Parksville
Make your way from Port Hardy this morning to Parksville. Spend your afternoon at leisure exploring the resort and enjoying the facilities on offer
Featured accommodation
Quality Resort Bayside
Enhance your experience
The Beach Club Resort
Day 14 - Parksville to Vancouver
Depart Parksville and pick up the ferry from Nanaimo to Horseshoe Bay. Continue your journey to Vancouver before dropping off your rental vehicle
Featured accommodation
Rosedale on Robson Suite Hotel
Enhance your experience
Loden Hotel
Fairmont Waterfront Hotel
Day 15 - Fly Vancouver to UK
Enjoy your final morning in Vancouver. Check out from your hotel and head to Vancouver Airport (transfer included)
Rosedale on Robson Suite Hotel, Vancouver
Located in the heart of Vancouver, this family-friendly hotel is a favourite for sports fans & theatre goers. The hotel is just two blocks from BC Place Stadium, home of the BC Lions, and just three blocks from Rogers Arena, home of the Vancouver Canucks. The hotel is also close to the Queen Elizabeth Theatre, Vancouver Centre for the Performing Arts, Vancouver Playhouse, and Orpheum Theatre.
Loden Hotel
The Loden Hotel is an interesting boutique hotel which features an on-site spa and gourmet restaurant and is only approx 5 minutes from Robson Street.
Fairmont Waterfront Hotel, Vancouver
The Fairmont Waterfront luxury hotel showcases the best of Vancouver. Conveniently located, the hotel connects by covered walkway to the Vancouver Convention and Exhibition Centre, the cruise ship terminal at Canada Place, and the Sky train. Situated on scenic Burrard Inlet, it has a central to sightseeing and shopping in Vancouver.
Oswego Hotel
The Oswega is a sophisticated, urban, boutique hotel steps away from the Inner Harbour and downtown Victoria. The hotel’s combination of modern design, incredible service and luxury amenities makes it the perfect place to get a taste of the city’s natural surroundings and urban vibe.
Hotel Chateau Victoria
Discover Victoria at its finest through an authentic local experience in the heart of downtown. With deeply entrenched roots in the local community and a strong sense of environmental responsibility – the Chateau Victoria strives to share all that makes Victoria special to each and every guest.
Magnolia Hotel & Spa
The Magnolia Hotel and Spa is just 2 blocks from Victoria’s picturesque Inner Harbour and in the heart of the city’s best shopping, dining and entertainment.
Middle Beach Lodge - at the Beach, Tofino
Spectacularly perched on 40 acres of secluded West Coast oceanfront, Middle Beach Lodge features almost a mile of private beach, rugged headlands, two magnificent lodges, and twenty rustic self-contained cabins. This tranquil, natural domain offers the perfect sanctuary for those seeking a quiet retreat to restore spirits, a getaway to rekindle romance, or a wilderness adventure to strengthen family ties. It is the perfect setting for enjoying the super natural beauty of British Columbia and for getting away from it all.
Cox Bay Beach Resort
A stunning beach resort located just off the Pacific Rim Highway and just a 10-minute drive from Tofino, British Columbia. This resort offers stunning views of Cox Bay Beach and access to the beautiful Long Beach Golf Course located within walking distance of the resort.
Wickaninnish Inn, Tofino
The Wickaninnish Inn offers direct access to Chesterman Beach, and panoramic ocean or beach views from every guest room. The Inn has 75 deluxe guest rooms and suites (with fireplace, soaker tub and individual balcony), and a 720 sq. ft. meeting/banquet room (accommodating up to 60 people). The Pointe Restaurant seats 75 and the full-service Ancient Cedars Spa is a destination spa offering extensive body and esthetic treatments.
Painters Lodge Campbell River
Welcome to Painter’s Lodge, Campbell River
Nestled on the pristine shores of Vancouver Island, Painter’s Lodge offers world-class BC salmon fishing, thrilling wildlife and whale watching tours, breathtaking scenery and all the amenities you’d expect from a traditional resort. However, Painter’s Lodge is far from your everyday resort.
Great Bear Lodge
Great Bear Lodge is located 50 air miles from Port Hardy, British Columbia.
The fully self-contained floating lodge is situated at an outstanding wildlife viewing location.
Quarter Deck Inn
Port Hardy’s newest hotel with deluxe rooms overlooking the marina and the spectacular local scenery. The Quarterdeck Resort and Marina is a full-service hotel, complete with a marina, pub and restaurant.
Quality Resort Bayside
This Parksville resort hotel offers beachfront accommodation, ocean views and delicious dining all in one great location. Sleep in; beach comb; golf; keep fit in the cardio room, heated pool or racquet courts; hold hands; enjoy casual gourmet dining overlooking the bay.
The Beach Club Resort, Parksville,
The Beach Club Resort is located on the site of the historic Island Hall Resort, and just steps from Parksville Beach and features 149 luxuriously appointed units
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Below you will find a small selection of 2022, 2023 My Canada Trips holidays that may interest you. Remember, we tailor-make each holiday to your exact needs, so please call us on 0800 021 7732 and let one of our Canada Holiday experts design the perfect trip for you
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