Young Photographers Tour Option
One night of accommodation in Shearwater and all nights at Spirit Bear Lodge; all meals as listed in the itinerary (see PDF brochure); return air charter between Bella Bella and Vancouver; all meals, snacks, and drinks while at Spirit Bear Lodge; and all photographic instruction and workshops.
International flights; excess baggage charges; travel insurance; international airport transfers; and gratuities.
No Add-ons for this tour yet.
Climate: Temperate
Fitness: Moderate
Style: Adventurous
Goods & Services Tax (GST)
For tours operated in British Columbia, guests are required to pay 5% Goods & Services Tax (GST) in addition to the tour fees. For guests that are not Canadian residents, part of this GST payment may be reclaimed. Please visit the following site for further information and claim forms: GST Rebate for Non-Resident Individuals
** Book now and enjoy 10% off for this adventure of a lifetime. Only 3 spots remaining **
The Great Bear Rainforest of British Columbia is the largest piece of intact temperate rainforest left on the planet. Towering green, forested mountains give way to richly bio-diverse river valley bottoms and estuaries that teem with wild salmon. It is the home of the great grizzly bear, coastal wolves, cougar and the legendary Spirit bear, a rare cream-colored morph of the American black bear. Join Wild Focus as we search for amazing photographic opportunities of the Spirit bear and other wildlife in the pristine Great Bear Rainforest.
Our daily bear adventures depart from the cultural Spirit Bear Lodge, situated in the small, remote Kitasoo/Xai’xais fishing village of Klemtu. Located 280 nautical miles north of Vancouver, Klemtu is truly in the heart of the rainforest. Nestled in a remote archipelago of small islands and thus protected from the wild Pacific, Klemtu is centrally positioned to offer unparalleled access to some of the best grizzly and Spirit bear viewing in the region. Because Spirit Bear Lodge is owned and operated by First Nations, their guides, many of whom were born and raised in Klemtu, have exclusive access to some of the special Spirit Bear viewing areas in the recently created Spirit Bear Conservancy. This makes this photo tour very exclusive, giving us access to some very private areas, far away from the crowds, allowing you to enjoy intimate photo opportunities with the bears.
Tours and photo instruction are conducted in the field, amongst the wildlife. We will spend much of our time on shore walking through the lush sedges of the estuaries and amongst the towering old growth forests, with plenty of time to discover the ideal opportunities to photograph both the majestic grizzly and Spirit bear. Make sure to bring your sense of adventure!
*This is an abbreviated itinerary. For more details on this tour check out this PDF.
Day 1: Flight to Bella Bella, British Columbia
Scenic flight from Vancouver to Bella Bella, BC. Your first night is spent at the peaceful waterfront village of Shearwater at the Shearwater Lodge, a short 15 minute boat ride from Bella Bella.
The next morning we will be on our way to Klemtu, British Columbia; the gateway to the Great Bear Rainforest.
Day 2: Klemtu
After breakfast, we will meet on the dock for a picturesque 90 minute cruise to the Spirit Bear Lodge in Klemtu. We will arrive at Spirit Bear Lodge mid morning, and after checking in there will be a welcome orientation. The rest of the afternoon will be spent in search of bears in one of the nearby rivers or estuary.
Each evening we will return to Spirit Bear Lodge and conclude the day with either a photography workshop, or a presentation by one of the local guides on the culture, history, and wildlife of the area.
Days 3-6: Daily Bear Adventure Tours From the Lodge
The next four days are dedicated to getting out and exploring the Great Bear Rainforest in search of bears and other wildlife. From the lodge we will visit many different areas of the Spirit Bear Conservancy area in search of not only Spirit bears, but also black bears, grizzly bears and even wolves. There are several different options available to us each day for bear viewing and photography, including numerous pristine river systems choked full of spawning salmon, and towering fiords ending in beautiful valleys and lush estuaries. One of the best things about this tour is the variety and freedom we have to explore this stunning area.
A little disclaimer…these tours are for those with a sense of adventure -- those that don’t mind getting a little dirty and want to fully immerse themselves in the Wild. A typical day involves setting off early in the boat to our bear viewing destination, often stopping along the way to enjoy humpback whales. Once we reach our bear viewing area of choice we will unload off the boat and head out on foot in search of bears, trekking through estuaries or through the forest looking for bear sign along the way to help us find the perfect spot to photograph our subjects. Close encounters are common, but fear not, as you are in the capable hands of your expert guide.
Spirit bears can be hard to find, but we will dedicate the final two days in particular in search of the white bears. Any day can be a Spirit bear day however, and we will certainly make them a priority. We have several viewing locations available, and will determine our course based on the reports of previous days sightings.
Although these are wild animals and we can never guarantee Spirit bear sightings, Wild Focus guests will benefit from the experience of local First Nations guides who work closely with the Coastal Guardian Network of Watchmen in the region who all communicate with each other to maximize viewing opportunities.
While in search of Spirit bears we will also enjoy opportunities to photograph other local wildlife. Grizzlies, black bear, eagles, wolf, and many species of marine life are all found in the area. There are a couple of great grizzly bear locations in particular, such as the famous Mussel Inlet which only our First Nation guides have premium access to.
Day 7: Departure
Departure day. After breakfast, there will be time to explore one more area for an hour or two before we must head back to Bella Bella for our return flight to Vancouver.
Legends from the Great Bear Rainforest
Ph: +1 206 923 9453
info@wildfocus.com
Wild Focus photo tours guides photographers of all levels to many unique and exotic places around the world, focusing on the appreciation of nature from both behind and beyond the lens. If you’re new to photography, eager to learn more about your camera, and want to come home from your holidays with exceptional wildlife images - a Wild Focus photography safari is perfect for you. If you know your camera well, but want to discover exciting new locations and learn more about the finer details of photography – a Wild Focus photography workshop offers just what you need. Or, if you simply want to enjoy beautiful landscapes and exciting wildlife with someone that can help you capture the experience – a Wild Focus photography tour is the answer. It’s just a question of where in the Wild you want to go?
Wild Focus has a wide variety of photo tours available, all of which are designed by industry leading professional photographers, like Wild Focus president, Jamie Scarrow. Jamie has worked as a wildlife guide and photographer for the past fifteen years in some of the world’s most exotic locations, and has a passion for sharing his experiences with like-minded wildlife enthusiasts and photographers. Jamie has an extensive background with the grizzly and spirit bears of British Columbia, so if you have a desire to get up close to grizzlies in the wild and capture breath-taking images of these majestic animals, then you definitely want to check out the grizzly bear tours we have available.
Perhaps a true African photo safari is what you’re looking for. If so, Wild Focus is excited to take you into the wildlife paradise of places like the South Luangwa Valley in Zambia. Look forward to getting phenomenal photos of lion, leopard and more on these exciting photo holidays.
For the true adventurists, Wild Focus offers thrilling photo expeditions to the far ends of the earth. Join a photo tour to Antarctica to immerse yourself in this glaciated heaven, home to several photogenic species of penguin, whales, and seals such as the infamous leopard seal. Go even further into this polar oasis with our Antarctic photo expedition that visits the gorgeous Falkland Islands and the wildlife haven of South Georgia, the land of the King penguin.
There is a big beautiful world out there to Explore, Discover, and Capture, so start your adventure today by finding the Wild Focus photography tour that’s right for you.
