Ocean Adventures - Cruises aboard the Great Bear II

OCEAN ADVENTURES - CRUISES ABOARD THE GREAT BEAR II

The Great Bear II is a 54 foot Hatteras Long Range Cruiser. Both spacious and comfortable this new ship offers up to 6 guests, magnificent views and privacy in these remote British Columbia settings.

Great Bear II (Photo credit: T.Boyum, Ocean Adventures Charter Co. Ltd.)

The ship has two twin bedded cabins, one queen cabin and a cabin with a single bed. On board are 2 bathrooms complete with separate showers; increased water supply; amazing viewing from the salon and pilothouse while staying warm and dry; more outside areas with cover for rainy or very sunny days; lots of cushioned seating on the spacious fore deck or covered aft deck; and a dining area with 360 degree views to the outside.

MAGNIFICENT INLETS OF GRIZZLY BEARS

6 nights
Departures - 24 May 2008 (South) & 1 June 2008 (North)

Inlet (Photo credit: H.Brink)

This 8 day adventure on board the Great Bear II explores the magnificent coastal Inlets and the Great Bear Rainforest, home to Grizzly Bears, Black Bears and unique coastal wolves to name but a few. During the spring months as the bears come out of hibernation they gather along the banks of the rivers and estuaries to feed on up to 50lbs of grass per day.

The zodiac allows you to explore further upstream and provides a means to reach the rivers banks. From here your expert guide will help you to follow the bear trails and teach you about the bears along the way. The trip also includes a visit to an area recently created as a BC park and also the Kitlope Conservancy – the oldest conservancy in BC.

The spaces on these trips are limited to 5-6 passengers not only to allow the upmost service but also to reduce the impacts on the environment and the bears which make it their home.

Kermode Bears (Photo credit: F Ryan)

Price is Ł2175 per person for 6 nights.

Price Includes:
Private accommodation (based on double occupancy), float plane flights from Hartley Bay (where guests leave the ship) to Prince Rupert (South) or from Prince Rupert to Hartley Bay (where guests board the ship) and return (North), all bedding, including duvet with cover, sheets, and pillow(s) with cases, all meals, snacks and beverages while on board, a selection of wine is served with dinner. Use of kayaks and other equipment on board, permit fees to visit limited access areas, First Nations Tourism Development Fees and expert guidance. (Note that liquor is not a big part of these trips so plan on light consumption.)
Price Excludes:
International flights, gratuities, items of a personal nature, tidal fishing licence (if you wish to fish).

QUEEN CHARLOTTE ISLANDS CRUISE

6 nights
Departures in 2008 - to be confirmed

This eight day trip to Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve, voted number one National Park in North America by National Geographic Explorer, and Haida Heritage Site begins and ends in Sandspit in the Queen Charlotte Islands, (also known as Haida Gwaii.). One hundred kilometres west of British Columbia's north coast, on the edge of the Pacific Continental Shelf, the archipelago of Haida Gwaii is often referred to as the Canadian Galapagos.

Queen Charlotte Islands (Photo credit: T Boyum)

The trip includes a visit to the Haida Heritage Centre in Skidegate which celebrates the living culture of the Haida people and their heritage. During your travels south, into Gwaii Haanas, you visit the old village sites of Skedans, Tahnoo, Sgang Gwaay, (a World Heritage Site), and also Gandll K'in, (Hot Springs Island). You will be able to walk alone on trails through these old villages, to see for yourself what makes these sacred places so special.

These islands are home to a unique range of wildlife not found anywhere else in Canada, you may see Tufted Puffins, Peregrine Falcons, Bald Eagles, Trumpeter Swans, Sandhill Cranes, Murrelets, Shearwaters, Cormorants, Oyster Catchers, Black Bears and a variety of whales. The kayaks allow you to explore Burnaby narrows and see tiny Bat Stars, small to huge sun stars, anemones, sea cucumbers, clams of every description, mussels, colourful red turban snails and huge moon snails, Hermit and rock crabs.

Price is Ł2175 per person for 6 nights.

Price Includes:
Private accommodation (based on double occupancy), aboard the Great Bear II, the float plane flight to or from the ship from Sandspit or Queen Charlotte City, all bedding, including duvet with cover, sheets, and pillow(s) with cases, all meals, snacks and beverages while on board, a selection of wine is served with dinner. Use of kayaks and other equipment on board, permit fees to visit limited access areas, first Nations Tourism Development Fees and expert guidance. (Note that liquor is not a big part of these trips so plan on light consumption.)
Price Excludes:
International flights, gratuities, items of a personal nature, tidal fishing licence if you wish to fish.

KERMODE BEARS AND HUMPBACK WHALES

6 nights
Departure 29 August & 14 September 2008

This 7 day trip includes a full day spent on one of the local Gitga’at First Nations’ bear viewing platforms, located on one of two creeks, commonly frequented by Black Bears and Kermode Bears, as they come to fish on spawning salmon. On this day the group will be guided by Marven Robinson, a Gitga’at guide, so this will be an opportunity to learn more about their culture and the importance of the Kermode Bear to the Gitga’at people. Time permitting you may also have an opportunity to experience a guided tour through the village’s community cultural centre, the cultural focal point and meeting place of the Elders and residents of Hartley Bay.

Humpback whale (Photo credit: T Boyum)

On board our ship, the Great Bear II, sit on deck and enjoy the majesty of B.C.'s most remote and wild inlets or take one of our kayaks and explore the shoreline of our anchorages, discovering rich tidal pools, playful river otters and seals. You will travel the Whale Channel on the northwest side of Princess Royal Island which provides the opportunity for spectacular Humpback Whale viewing.

Price is Ł2175 per person for 6 nights.

Price Includes:
Private accommodation (based on double occupancy), float plane flights from Prince Rupert to Hartley Bay and return, 1 or 2 full days at a bear viewing platform with a First Nations guide, all bedding, including duvet with cover, sheets, and pillow(s) with cases, all meals, snacks and beverages while on board, a selection of wine is served with dinner. Use of kayaks and other equipment on board, permit fees to visit limited access areas, First Nations Tourism Development Fees and expert guidance. (Note that liquor is not a big part of these trips so plan on light consumption.)
Price Excludes:
International flights, gratuities, items of a personal nature, tidal fishing licence if you wish to fish.

If you are looking for a truly unique experience, the Great Bear II is available to hire - whether it is just a few hours, a few days or a week; fill your holiday with activity, adventure and some of the world’s best whale and wildlife viewing or simply sit back, relax and enjoy Canada’s most popular cruising destinations.

Call or email us with dates you have in mind and ideas for where and what you’d like to experience and we’ll help you plan the trip of a lifetime for you, your family or friends! We specialize in small group charters, (maximum of 8 guests on day cruises and 6 guests on overnight cruises). Small groups ensure more privacy and personalized service for our guests, and, less impact on the environment and the animals we visit.

During spring, summer, and fall, we can offer Custom Trips anywhere on the British Columbia coast. During the winter months, destinations can include the Vancouver Area, the Gulf Islands, Princess Louisa Inlet, or Desolation Sound. To ensure the dates and destination of your choice, we recommend that you book well in advance.

Price is from Ł2130 per day for the hire of the ship.

ROCKY MOUNTAIN RAILTOURS

Combine your Bear Viewing holiday or any of our holidays to Canada with a trip through the Canadian Rockies aboard the Rocky Mountaineer.

This is a 2-day rail tour through the Rockies between Vancouver and Calgary (or vice versa). This rail journey is regarded as one of the most scenic in the world. The night is spent in a hotel in Kamloops en route so as not to miss any of the spectacular scenery.