Grizzlies of the Great Bear Rainforest

Your journey begins in the beautiful city of Vancouver, which has a stunning setting on the west coast of British Columbia, as well as a buzzing cultural vibe, thriving foodie scene and vast green parks. 

A highlight of a visit to Vancouver is the chance to walk across the Capilano Suspension Bridge, which is set in an centuries-old cedar forest and stretches above the Capilano River. You'll also get to take in the vistas across downtown Vancouver and the Pacific Ocean as you ascend to the peak of Grouse Mountain on the Skyride, where you can visit the wildlife refuge and learn about the local grizzlies in the cinema. 

Foodies will enjoy a tour of Granville Island's Public Market, whose stalls are piled high with delicious treats, including local cheeses and meats and freshly-baked artisan breads - enjoy tastings and hear the stories behind the creations.

Your home for three nights is the elegant Rosewood Hotel Georgia, a stylish boutique hotel in the heart of downtown Vancouver.

From Vancouver, you'll fly to Port Hardy on Vancouver Island, where you’ll board a seaplane to Great Bear Lodge on the mainland coast of British Columbia. Travel over snow-capped peaks, hidden islands and the crystal-clear waters of the Queen Charlotte Strait, where you may see orca and humpback whales. The lodge sits on a floating deck in the heart of the Great Bear Rainforest, surrounded by spectacular landscapes.

The quality of the bear viewing here is such that the BBC use it as their base for filming grizzlies. Bear viewings are scheduled each morning and afternoon, and during the late summer and early autumn, you’ll get to watch the bears scout for berries to eat and grassland to graze, and fish for Pacific salmon from the riverbanks.

Other wildlife you may see in the rainforest includes grey wolves, black bears, bald eagles, otters and sea lions, and you can also go on bear-tracking walks, interpretative rainforest treks and boat rides to waterfalls or around the glacier-carved inlet. As night falls, relax on the wooden deck with a glass of wine under the stars.  

After spending some time with the grizzlies, you’ll board a floatplane once again back to Vancouver Island and the beautiful bay town of Port Hardy. A mecca for wildlife watchers, the northern tip of Vancouver Island is a great place to spot and photograph whales, eagles and more. Whale-watching excursions are a great option, as are fishing trips where you can hope to catch tuna, halibut and salmon.

This is also a fantastic place to learn more about Native American culture, with the U’mista Cultural Centre home to a collection of rare artefacts and masks belonging to the Kwakwaka’wakw people. You can also see the world’s largest totem pole and enjoy a traditional dance performance by the Tsasala children’s dance group.

Your hotel in Port Hardy is the Quarterdeck Inn & Marina Resort, which looks out over the marina and is within easy reach of everything the town has to offer.

Boarding a plane back to the mainland, your trip finishes up with another night in Vancouver at the Rosewood Hotel Georgia. After a few days in the wilderness, you might fancy a dose of city lifestyle in the chic restaurants of trendy warehouse district Yaletown. For some culture, wander the cobbled streets of the town’s historic Gastown district or head to the Museum of Vancouver to marvel at historic artefacts, archaeological finds and First Nation pieces from Vancouver’s past, or to Vancouver Art Gallery to discover contemporary works by local artists. 

If you're after another wildlife and wilderness fix, visit the vast Stanley Park, where walking and hiking trails criss-cross 1,000 acres of forest, and the seawall offers beautiful views over the mountains. Or make a beeline for the Bloedel Floral Conservatory, where you can see hundreds of tropical plants and flowers, and colourful exotic birds flit between the trees.