Wildlife and Cultural Tours in British Columbia's Great Bear Rainforest – Spirit Bear Lodge
The creator raven wanted to remind the Kitasoo Xai'xais Peoples of a time when this land was covered in ice, so they decided to turn one in ten black bears white. They said the white bear is here to remind us to be thankful for the lush and bountiful land of today and remember when life was hard and the world was covered in ice.
Highlights
Go on tours in search of the elusive spirit bear.
View grizzly bears in lush, remote estuaries.
Stay at British Columbia’s most remote wildlife viewing lodge.
Marvel while whale watching and see the abundant marine life of The Great Bear Sea.
Connect to the Kitasoo Xai’xais People and learn about their culture.
Support a First Nations owned tourism experience and a conservation economy.
Be immersed in the true wilderness of The Great Bear Rainforest.
Bear Viewing in Great Bear Rainforest, BC
Watch the full-length short film Slow Down (Wawixasi) to look deeper into the heart of The Great Bear Rainforest and the people who have lived here and stewarded these lands and waters for generations.
4 Night Package 2026
Join our 4-night Spirit Bear and wildlife tours and visit British Columbia's most remote wildlife viewing lodge. Explore the Traditional Territory of the Kitasoo Xai'xais People, search for the rare spirit bear, and experience wilderness on a grand scale.
By visiting Spirit Bear Lodge you are supporting an Indigenous owned and led business that prioritizes an ethical and sustainable approach to tourism. Join us and find yourself where a wild land meets a wild ocean.
Remaining Available Package Dates:
August 7th - 11th
August 17th -21st
6 Night Package 2026
Our 6-night Spirit Bear and wildlife tours connect you with a truly wild place and the people who have stewarded these lands for generations. Experience the most spectacular spirit bear viewing on the planet and go in search of the world's rarest bear. Watch whales feeding in the rich waters of The Great Bear Sea and all of the magnificent wildlife that live on the remote central coast of British Columbia.
Remaining Available Package Dates:
August 11th - 17th
August 21st - 27th
September 30th - October 6th
October 10th - 16th
4 Night Package 2027
Immerse yourself in the unparalleled wilderness of The Great Bear Rainforest. Explore wild rivers on tours in search of the rare spirit bear, black bears and grizzly bears. Feel the rich history of the Kitasoo Xai’xais People as you seek out wildlife in what were once ancient village sites. See whales and other marine life while travelling to and from wildlife viewing areas on the Great Bear Sea. Connect with nature and learn from the people who have stewarded these lands for generations.
Package Dates:
August 7th-11th
August 11th-15th
August 21st-25th
August 31st-Sept 4th
Sept 10th-14th
Sept 20th-24th
September 30th-Oct 4th
Oct 10th-14th
6 Night Package 2027
Forge a connection with the Kitasoo Xai’xais People as you traverse their Traditional Territory in search of magnificent wildlife encounters. Explore truly wild rivers in your search for the rarest bear in the world, the revered spirit bear. Adventure into the wild landscapes of The Great Bear Rainforest for a transformative cultural experience and go in search of the spectacular wildlife that call it home.
Package Dates:
August 15th-21st
August 25th-31st
Sept 4th-10th
Sept 14th-20th
Sept 24th-30th
Oct 4th-10th
Spring In The Great Bear Rainforest 2027 4 Night Packages
Join us and experience spring in the Traditional Territory of the Kitasoo Xai'xais People on the remote central coast of British Columbia. Visit the vast protected areas of The Great Bear Rainforest as bears emerge from their winter dens and go in search of food. The coast comes alive in spring, snow still covers the peaks of the coast range but the estuaries are full of sedge, wildflowers and bears. Learn about the culture of the Kitasoo Xai'xais Peoples and explore the land they have stewarded for thousands of years. We know spending time in nature has a positive impact on your mental health and wellbeing. Immerse yourself in a vast wilderness on a grand scale, explore the largest intact coastal temperate rainforest on earth and reconnect with nature.
Package Dates:
May 26th-30th
May 30th-June 3rd
June 3rd-7th
June 7th-11th
June 11th-15th
June 15th-19th
2026 Coastal Wolf Tour
As this is our pilot coastal wolf tour we may try a few different approaches to viewing. If you would like to join in true adventure then this is for you. Wolves are crepuscular which means they are generally most active at dawn and dusk so expect some early mornings and possibly some evening viewing opportunities. Though not as rare, wolves are quite possibly more elusive than the spirit bear. They generally avoid people, because of this we will need to try and be as still and quiet as possible when viewing. We know where to find wolves and now we need to know if they will share their space with us. We encourage guests to keep their expectations low for spotting wolves and expect any viewing to be brief and likely at more of a distance than our bear viewing. Of course, we will do everything we can to have meaningful encounters but just spending time in places people rarely tread is an experience all on its own. There will also be opportunities to visit some of our spirit bear viewing areas after a morning at a wolf viewing site, and even the chance to visit one of our mainland grizzly bear viewing areas in Fiordland Conservancy.
A Typical Day at Spirit Bear Lodge
Each day in The Great Bear Rainforest is unique, but here is a little bit of an idea of what you might expect your experience to look like.
Every day at Spirit Bear Lodge offers a new experience. We explore a variety of breathtaking locations in pursuit of the diverse wildlife that call The Great Bear Rainforest home. Our bear tours take you in search of grizzly bears and spirit bears, travel on comfortable boats for roughly one and a half hours through the stunning Traditional Territory of the Kitasoo Xai’xais First Nation, reaching different wildlife viewing locations each day. Bear viewing tours are tailored based on recent wildlife sightings, tides, and weather conditions. Some days may be spent patiently waiting in a river system for wildlife to appear, while other tours might involve visiting multiple locations, cruising the shoreline, or exploring estuaries by zodiac. Certain days are dedicated to seeking out the elusive spirit bear, while others focus on seeking out grizzly bears, whales and other wildlife. That said, we always remain vigilant for spirit bear sightings and are ready to adjust our plans accordingly. We spend the entire day travelling throughout the Kitasoo Xai’xais vast Territory in search of wildlife. Once we get home it is time for sharing stories of the day over a delicious dinner. Each day is enriched by Kitasoo Xai’xais Culture, as we engage with local staff, visit culturally significant sites, and learn about the history of the Kitasoo Xai’xais People. Our staff share their profound knowledge of their Territory and stories that have been passed down through generations. Our aim is to provide a transformative experience through complete immersion in nature and by sharing our deep appreciation for the wilderness of The Great Bear Rainforest. It’s essential to understand that successful wildlife viewing requires patience. We encourage our guests to slow down and reconnect with nature while waiting for wildlife to appear, allowing the sights, sounds, and scents of this magnificent wilderness to help you relax and find inner tranquility. Please note we do have a minimum age requirement of 10 years old to partake in our packages.
Arrival Day
Arrive at Spirit Bear Lodge
- Enjoy the Pacific Coastal Airlines scheduled flight from Vancouver to Bella Bella.
- You will be met at the airport and assisted with a van transfer to the Bella Bella town docks.
- Our boat awaits and this is where your adventure begins!
- Search for wildlife on your way to Spirit Bear Lodge for an afternoon arrival.
- After a warm welcome there is a guest orientation where you learn more about the exciting days ahead.
- Take some time to relax in your ocean view room or explore the village of Klemtu.
- Enjoy a delicious dinner with other guests of the lodge and a relaxing evening overlooking the ocean.
Days 2-6
Great Bear Rainforest
- 7am breakfast, then meet on the dock at 8am for a day of adventure.
- Tour activities may include:
- Wildlife and bear viewing
- Whale watching
- Visiting Indigenous Cultural sites
- We explore lush estuaries, forested rivers, stunning inlets with immense waterfalls and granite cliffs, beaches and rocky shoreline.
- Return to Spirit Bear Lodge in time for dinner.
- Each evening may include a cultural experience or educational presentation, time to relax overlooking The Great Bear Sea, or the opportunity to explore the village of Klemtu.
Departure Day
Klemtu - Bella Bella - Vancouver
- Take in the serenity of Kitasoo Xai’xais Traditional Territory.
- After breakfast, pack up and head to the traditional Big House for a cultural experience and traditional farewell.
- Say your final goodbyes and depart the lodge mid morning to travel by boat back to Bella Bella for your return flight.
- Van transfer from the dock to the Bella Bella airport and board Pacific Coastal Airlines flight back to Vancouver.
- Arrive at Vancouver South Terminal where your tour package comes to an end.
- Breakfast and snacks are included for your travel home.
Mobility Requirements
Mobility
Good mobility is essential for travel on the trails we use and for embarking and disembarking our vessels onto rocky shorelines and beaches. Trails can be uneven, steep, muddy or overgrown, and sometimes we even make our own. A high level of fitness is not needed for our tours, but a high level of mobility is required.
Typically we can travel distances of a few hundred meters at each river or estuary but sometimes we go further or we may visit more than one river or estuary in a day.
Since we conduct our wildlife viewing tours from land in remote wilderness, good mobility is a necessity. Unfortunately it is just not possible to make our tours more accessible.
If you have mobility issues please contact us directly for more information and to ensure you can participate fully in our experiences.