Khutzeymateen Grizzly Bear Watch
-
Port
Prince Rupert, British Columbia, Canada
-
Activity Level
Moderate Activity
-
Excursion Type
All
-
Wheelchair Accessible
No
-
Starting At (prices in USD)
$530
-
Minimum Age
Information Not Currently Available
-
Duration
Approximately 7½ Hours
-
Meals Included
Meals included
Cruise to the wilds of the Khutzeymateen Valley, Canada's only grizzly bear sanctuary, to watch these highly intelligent creatures in their natural habitat.
It's a five-minute walk from the ship to the Atlin Dock, where you will board a state-of-the-art, 72-foot catamaran specifically designed for wildlife viewing. It is fully covered and heated with floor-to-ceiling windows and lots of outer decks for the greatest viewing experience. Once on the touring vessel, you will cruise to one of the top grizzly bear-viewing areas in North America. Traveling north for just over two hours through picturesque Chatham Sound, you will be entertained with stories about life in the surrounding villages. Along the way, keep an eye out for Dall's porpoise, playful seals, Steller sea lions and a variety of birds, including majestic bald eagles and graceful blue herons.
Reaching the Khutzeymateen Valley -- an area uninhabited by humans, with no roads, trails, or signs of intrusion by civilization -- step ashore to see hills blanketed with a dense forest of Sitka spruce and hemlocks. This is the ideal environment for supporting wildlife such as the grizzly bear -- an at-risk species. More than 50 of these magnificent creatures live here, earning the valley the distinction of having one of North America's highest concentrations of grizzlies. The bears often feed on the vegetation that is relatively close to the shoreline, so there is an excellent chance of seeing several bears at once. The valley and the surrounding waters also support a thriving population of wolves, shorebirds, kingfishers, seals, and orca and humpback whales.
The ride back to Prince Rupert is the perfect time to enjoy a light lunch consisting of a deli sandwich.
Please note: Wear comfortable walking shoes. Dress warmly in layered clothing with gloves, a scarf, and a hat; outer layer should be windproof and waterproof. Wildlife sightings are likely but are not guaranteed. The tour is non-refundable unless canceled ten or more days prior to the call to Prince Rupert. Tour operates on select sailings only. After July, this tour is replaced by the Whales & Marine Life tour. Terrain includes a path to the pier that is paved and a marine ramp from the pier to the boat, which can be steep at low tide.