Canadian Grizzly Bear Adventure.

Upon arrival at Vancouver International Airport you will be met at the airport and transferred directly to the hotel. The remainder of the day is at leisure and to meet your Big Journey Company Tour Director. Our hotel is in the heart of downtown Vancouver. Some nearby attractions are Stanley Park, Vancouver Aquarium and a host of restaurants, museums and galleries. On-site amenities include the restaurant, bar, a health club and indoor pool.

After breakfast at the hotel we head out on an orientation tour to see the sights of Vancouver: Granville Mall, Canada Place cruise ship terminal, Robson Street, Chinatown and historic Gastown, city centre and financial district, Granville Island as well as Stanley Park with totem poles, Prospect Point, Lions Gate Bridge and English Bay beaches. The tour includes admission to FlyOver Canada which an amazing virtual flight ride in which you will “take off” into a huge domed screen to enjoy a breath-taking flight across the country.
This afternoon we’ll go on a waterfront sightseeing adventure. We’ll begin by cruising along the Vancouver Inner Harbour, then soaring up to 55 Km/h as we cross the Burrard Inlet. Along the way our experienced, qualified and passionate skippers will provide a fascinating array of information, highlighting the sights of Vancouver’s Coal Harbour, Northshore, English Bay, False Creek and many more. We enjoy a Welcome dinner together this evening.

Full breakfast at leisure at the hotel. Direct transfer to Vancouver International Airport South Terminal. Check-in with Pacific Coastal Airlines for the flight to Bella Coola, flight duration approximately 1 hour. The plane departs at 10:30 and arrives in Bella Coola at 11:40. On arrival, our staff will greet you and transfer you the 45 minutes to the lodge, highlighting points of interest along the way. After check-in, your holiday will start with a lodge orientation and an informative bear awareness seminar.
Your bear viewing commences with a late afternoon River Drift down the Atnarko River. Relax and enjoy the amazing mountain scenery........and keep your eyes open for wildlife! The salmon are spawning and provide an easy meal for majestic bald eagles and impressive grizzly bears. River otters and black bears may also be seen. Small Group River Drift Bear Viewing is a unique experience only found at Tweedsmuir Park Lodge and is the best way to see grizzlies. The bears are busy fishing and ignore your presence, allowing you to see them at their most natural. It’s also a great way to capture amazing photographs. The bears aren’t the only ones who will be feasting on a delicious meal; you will too, with a scrumptious 3 course dinner back at the lodge! Dinner is at 7:00pm every night.

Wake up early and wander down to the Wildlife Viewing Station, which is for the exclusive use of Tweedsmuir Park Lodge guests. Early morning is a great time to spot bears and the raised structure provides open lines of sight both up and down the river. After checking out the station you have a choice of a hot or continental breakfast, which is held every day at 8am. Afterwards, it’s time to head out for a Guided Nature Walk in the old growth forests of Tweedsmuir Park, the largest provincial park in British Columbia. Your guide, a naturalist, will show you how to track the bears and will point out various bear signs, including rub trees with claw and bite marks, and places the bears dig out in the forest floor for their naps called day beds. A picnic lunch will be served in the field. In the afternoon, continue exploring the park with a drive on the Tote Road past old, abandoned homesteads brimming with character. This is prime bear habitat and sightings are common. At the end of the road there is a short, highly recommended hike to Stillwater Lake. This is a beautiful, pristine place that should not be missed! You will arrive back at the lodge in the late afternoon. Now you can relax and enjoy some hors d’oeuvres on the sun deck of the lodge, exchanging stories of wildlife seen with your fellow guests. Make sure to head back to the Wildlife Viewing Station before dinner.

Check out the Wildlife Viewing Station before breakfast. Then it’s time to hit the river with your personal guide for a morning River Drift on the Atnarko in search of more bears! The bears are most active in the morning and evening and it’s a great time to enjoy a quiet float. A nutritious lunch will be served at the lodge before you head off with your guide to further explore Tweedsmuir Park. Our knowledgeable and friendly guides know the area well and have mapped numerous short hikes to superb vantage points overlooking the Atnarko River to see spawning salmon…and the bears and eagles fishing for them!

The Bella Coola valley is an extraordinary place with fantastic geography, pristine ecosystems and a rich First Nations heritage. This day will take you down valley to see the culturally modified ancient cedar trees, the totem poles and the petroglyph gardens. Lunch will be a picnic at Clayton Falls Park overlooking the fjord. This is also your opportunity to visit the Bella Coola town site and to shop at the art gallery for First Nations jewellery and masks. 

Similar schedule as Day 5; begin your day with a morning River Drift on the Atnarko. In the afternoon your guide head out on a Nature Walk to explore the park. It’s our last full day and one more chance to look for grizzly bears!

We recommend one last visit to the Wildlife Viewing Station before your final breakfast in Bella Coola. Check-out is 11am so you can take advantage of a leisurely morning in which you can enjoy the lodge property, make use of the spa and gym, play some lawn games, or simply relax before taking our shuttle back to the Bella Coola Airport for the flight back to Vancouver.
On arrival in Vancouver we transfer from the airport to Vancouver for our final night together.

Full breakfast at leisure at the hotel. You will be transferred from the hotel to meet the departure flight home that you have arranged.