Vital Ground's Fall Wild Bear Adventure

 

We cordially invite you to join us on our annual Fall Wild Bear Adventure to Knight Inlet, Canada.

 

This will be an unforgettable experience in a coastal temperate rainforest and estuary teeming with wildlife, all from the comfort and convenience of an ecologically sensitive floating lodge. We will be traveling to world famous Knight Inlet Lodge, featured in Growing up Grizzly 2, located on the southern edge of British Columbia's Great Bear Rainforest.

 

Download Brochure

Watch a video from the Fall 2010 trip

Watch a wonderful video produced by Knight Inlet Lodge, our hosts

 

This special Vital Ground ecotour is organized through the generosity of our corporate partner, Knight Inlet Lodge, owned by former Vital Ground board member Dean Wyatt. Dean will donate a percentage of the profits from this special trip to Vital Ground to aid in our mission to protect crucial wildlife habitat!

These exciting activities are included in the trip cost*:

• Watch bears feeding on spawning salmon from viewing platforms along Glendale Creek

• Estuary tours in small motorboats or kayaks

• Bird-watching excursions for bald eagles, waterfowl, and many of the 200 species of birds that call this area home

• Scenic excursions to the upper reaches of Knight Inlet, the longest fjord in Canada

• Interpretive old growth rainforest treks in the Kwalate River Valley

• Excursions to Johnstone Strait for marine wildlife viewing... which may include seal, otter, dolphin or whales

• Incredible wildlife photography opportunities
• Educational natural history presentations by biologists and photographers

 

*All activities are subject to weather conditions, water levels, and seasonal wildlife movements

 

If you'd like to make a trip deposit online, click here.
If you'd like to pay in full online, click here.

 

Tentative Itinerary:

• The tour begins and ends in Campbell River, British Columbia, Canada. Campbell River is located on Vancouver Island, just a short commercial flight from Vancouver, British Columbia. Participants are responsible for their own transportation to and from Campbell River, and should plan to arrive in Campbell River no later than 5:00 p.m. on Monday, October 15th.

• We will spend Monday night, October 15th at Heron's Landing Hotel in Campbell River. A group dinner at a local restaurant will provide an opportunity to meet your fellow adventurers and begin making new friends.

• On Tuesday morning, October 16th, shuttles will transport us to the Campbell River float plane dock for our 30 minute flight into Knight Inlet Lodge. The float plane will depart Campbell River at approximately 9:30am.

• The outstanding staff at Knight Inlet Lodge will meet us upon arrival for check-in and orientation. 
• After a short break to settle into our rooms, we'll meet for lunch in the dining area. 

• All Knight Inlet Lodge rooms are cedar or pine-lined, with private washroom and two queen beds, or a queen/twin combo. 
• After a delightful lunch at the lodge, our exploration of the magnificent Knight Inlet will begin. Naturalist guides will lead us as we take off to explore Knight Inlet and find grizzly bears, black bears, bald eagles, ospreys, harbor seals, dolphins and a myriad other fauna and flora. 

• Each evening after dinner, the lodge's guides, naturalists and photographers present informative natural history presentations.
• Departure from Knight Inlet Lodge will be on Saturday, October 20th via float plane to Campbell River. Transportation from the float plane dock to the Campbell River airport will be provided. Weather permitting, we should beat the Campbell River airport by noon. 

 

All tours are guided by trained professionals. All rain, fishing, and foul weather gear (including rubber boots), along with water safety vests are available for your free use at the lodge. All meals and snacks are included while at Knight Inlet Lodge, as is wine with dinner. Special eating requests are easily accommodated with advance notice. 

Special Travel Notes:

• Please arrange your flights to arrive into Campbell River as early in the day as possible on Monday, October 15th. This will minimize the possibility that a travel interruption could cause you to miss rendezvousing with the group for dinner that evening.  
• All international travelers (including U.S. citizens) must have a valid passport. 

• You will most likely travel through Vancouver, B.C. Upon arrival in Vancouver, international passengers must clear customs. Give yourself ample time (at least two hours) to clear customs, retrieve your luggage and transfer to your connecting Campbell River flight. Depending upon the number of arriving international passengers, it could take up to an hour just to clear customs.

• Pacific Coastal Airlines (1-800-663-2872) and Central Mountain Air (1-888-865-8585) provide commercial flights from Vancouver to Campbell River. Pacific Coastal Airlines departs from the South Terminal, while Central Mountain Air departs from the Main Terminal.

•  Transportation from Campbell River to Knight Inlet Lodge will be by chartered float plane. Guests are requested to limit their luggage to approximately 30 pounds due to space and weight limitations on the float planes.

• Cell phones will not operate while at Knight Inlet Lodge. The only available phone is the lodge's Marine Telephone, which is reserved for emergency or high priority use.

TOUR COST:

$7,500 USD per couple 
$4,000 USD per single

The price includes:

• Monday night's group dinner in Campbell River

• Accommodations for one night at Heron's Landing in Campbell River and three nights at Knight Inlet Lodge

• Round trip float plane flight between Campbell River, BC and Knight Inlet Lodge

• All meals and snacks while at Knight Inlet Lodge, including wine with dinner • All recreational activities and special equipment while at Knight Inlet Lodge

 

A non-refundable deposit of $500 per person is required to secure your reservation. Capacity is limited to only fourteen rooms, so please reserve your room as early as possible! 

 

 

Come and meet individuals and families who are committed to conservation, and share an experience that you will treasure forever.

 

Please join members of the staff and board of Vital Ground on the 2012 Fall Wild Bear Adventure – we're confident that you'll have a great time!

 

If you'd like to make a trip deposit online, click here.
If you'd like to pay in full online, click here.
 

Contact us with questions at 406-549-8650 or info@vitalground.org.

 

Download Brochure

Watch a video from the Fall 2010 trip

Watch a wonderful video produced by Knight Inlet Lodge, our hosts