Alaska, Canada

53° 23′ N 128° 55′ W

A spirit bear hunts for salmon in the Great Bear Rainforest of British Columbia, Canada
ExpeditionsUi Arrow rightVoyage to Great Bear Rainforest: Native Culture & Wildlife in the Land of the Spirit Bear

Voyage to Great Bear Rainforest: Native Culture & Wildlife in the Land of the Spirit Bear

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Highlights

Guests kayaking are watching a brown bear from a safe distance in Pavlof Harbor in southeast Alaska, USA
  • Take kayaks and Zodiacs deep into verdant fjords and wildlife-rich shores in search of bears, golden eagles, river otters, pods of orcas, and more

  • Journey into pristine forests inaccessible by road and managed by First Nations people

  • Learn the human history of the region from our cultural interpreter and on visits to fascinating First Nations museums

  • Kayak among massive smacks of jellyfish and witness the surprising undersea through video shot by our undersea specialist

Day by Day

Starts at

Ketchikan, Alaska

Ends at

Prince Rupert, British Columbia

Download Itinerary

Day 1

Ketchikan, Alaska / Embark Ship

Arrive in Ketchikan, the southernmost city in Alaska, spread at the base of forested slopes on Revillagigedo Island, in the early afternoon. Its many monikers, from “salmon capital of the world” to “rain capital of Alaska,” capture the spirit of this city, famous for colorful buildings and abundant fishing boats and canneries. Embark National Geographic Venture in time for cocktails and an introduction of the vessel staff and crew.

Meals Included: Dinner

Day 1

Ketchikan, Alaska / Embark Ship

Arrive in Ketchikan, the southernmost city in Alaska, spread at the base of forested slopes on Revillagigedo Island, in the early afternoon. Its many monikers, from “salmon capital of the world” to “rain capital of Alaska,” capture the spirit of this city, famous for colorful buildings and abundant fishing boats and canneries. Embark National Geographic Venture in time for cocktails and an introduction of the vessel staff and crew.

Meals Included: Dinner

Day 2

Prince Rupert, British Columbia, Canada

Wake up in Prince Rupert, a scenic harbor town on British Columbia’s rugged northwest coast. Get immersed in First Nations history at the Museum of Northern British Columbia, built in the style of a coastal longhouse. Breathe in the scent of cedar beams and peruse an impressive collection of ornate carvings, weavings, ceremonial objects, and regalia. Visit the North Pacific Cannery Museum, a collection of cannery buildings located in pristine wilderness surroundings that highlight British Columbia’s economic, cultural, and natural development over the last century.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 2

Prince Rupert, British Columbia, Canada

Wake up in Prince Rupert, a scenic harbor town on British Columbia’s rugged northwest coast. Get immersed in First Nations history at the Museum of Northern British Columbia, built in the style of a coastal longhouse. Breathe in the scent of cedar beams and peruse an impressive collection of ornate carvings, weavings, ceremonial objects, and regalia. Visit the North Pacific Cannery Museum, a collection of cannery buildings located in pristine wilderness surroundings that highlight British Columbia’s economic, cultural, and natural development over the last century.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Days 3-6

Exploring the Great Bear Rainforest and Rugged Coastline of British Columbia

Over the course of the next four days, we cruise far into the fjords and deep valleys that carve into the Coast Range looking for black and grizzly bears. We are accompanied by a cultural interpreter* who will share local Indigenous knowledge, culture, and practice, offering unparalleled insights. We will cruise the eastern coast of Princess Royal Island in search of the elusive spirit bear. It is believed that between 10 to 20 percent of bears in this region are born with the recessive gene that causes the white fur; fewer than 400 are estimated to exist.

British Columbia has one of the highest proportions of protected land of any jurisdiction in the world. Almost 15 percent of the land is protected, with a wide range of provincial parks, national parks, and UNESCO World Heritage sites. We go ashore and explore several remote locations where few people venture. Discover hidden gems by Zodiac and kayak, navigate the tidal narrows that lead to the backs of bays while constantly scanning for bears along the rocky shoreline and meadows such as Gilttoyees Inlet.

*Please note: Cultural interpreter is dependent on availability.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Days 3-6

Exploring the Great Bear Rainforest and Rugged Coastline of British Columbia

Over the course of the next four days, we cruise far into the fjords and deep valleys that carve into the Coast Range looking for black and grizzly bears. We are accompanied by a cultural interpreter* who will share local Indigenous knowledge, culture, and practice, offering unparalleled insights. We will cruise the eastern coast of Princess Royal Island in search of the elusive spirit bear. It is believed that between 10 to 20 percent of bears in this region are born with the recessive gene that causes the white fur; fewer than 400 are estimated to exist.

British Columbia has one of the highest proportions of protected land of any jurisdiction in the world. Almost 15 percent of the land is protected, with a wide range of provincial parks, national parks, and UNESCO World Heritage sites. We go ashore and explore several remote locations where few people venture. Discover hidden gems by Zodiac and kayak, navigate the tidal narrows that lead to the backs of bays while constantly scanning for bears along the rocky shoreline and meadows such as Gilttoyees Inlet.

*Please note: Cultural interpreter is dependent on availability.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 7

Cruising and Lowe Inlet Provincial Marine Park

Seek out pods of killer whales and foraging bears as we sail north through the narrow Grenville Channel between Pitt Island and the mainland, a dramatic navigational experience. Not only does the channel narrow to less than a quarter of a mile across, but a slight bend in the passage makes the waterway seem to disappear into the hills ahead and behind the ship. Here, we will drop our Zodiacs and kayaks to explore the salmon run at Verney Falls in Lowe Inlet Provincial Marine Park on our way to Prince Rupert.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 7

Cruising and Lowe Inlet Provincial Marine Park

Seek out pods of killer whales and foraging bears as we sail north through the narrow Grenville Channel between Pitt Island and the mainland, a dramatic navigational experience. Not only does the channel narrow to less than a quarter of a mile across, but a slight bend in the passage makes the waterway seem to disappear into the hills ahead and behind the ship. Here, we will drop our Zodiacs and kayaks to explore the salmon run at Verney Falls in Lowe Inlet Provincial Marine Park on our way to Prince Rupert.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 8

Prince Rupert / Disembark Ship / Seattle / Fly Home

Disembark and transfer to the airport in Prince Rupert. Board a charter flight to Seattle for your connecting flight home.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 8

Prince Rupert / Disembark Ship / Seattle / Fly Home

Disembark and transfer to the airport in Prince Rupert. Board a charter flight to Seattle for your connecting flight home.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Download Itinerary

Please review the Essential Eligibility Criteria for hiking activities on this voyage.

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National Geographic Venture

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American-flagged, she and her sister National Geographic Quest are ideal for discovering domestic waters

Following the build of National Geographic Quest at Nichols Brothers shipyard, her sister ship, the 100-guest National Geographic Venture, floated into the bay on Whidbey Island, becoming the fourth ship in the Lindblad fleet built at this storied Pacific Northwest shipyard. Like her sister ship National Geographic Quest, National Geographic Venture has dual boarding platforms, enabling our team to load two Zodiacs at once means guests get off ship quickly, to take advantage of wildlife sightings and maximize exploring time. Modern, cleaned-lined, with large expanses of glass to keep you connected to the extraordinary views, National Geographic Venture enables you to see, do and experience the best of her geographies.

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Aboard National Geographic Venture, explore the northern coast of British Columbia and sail into Great Bear Rainforest, the only place where the elusive Kermode bear, or spirit bear, can be found. Get immersed in the region’s pristine natural beauty, and search for wildlife on land and seafrom orcas and sea lions to grizzly bears and golden eaglesas we navigate glacier-cut fjords, soaring granite peaks, and moss-draped forests.

From

$5,560

/ per person

Does not include flight

Book Now
dates
Sep
duration
8 Days
starts at
Ketchikan, Alaska
ends at
Prince Rupert, British Columbia
Book before Jun 30

$700 AIR CREDIT

See all offers

View our brochure for more details

Talk to an Expedition Specialist

+1.800.397.3348

From

$5,560

/ per person

Book Now
dates
Sep
duration
8 Days
starts at
Ketchikan, Alaska
ends at
Prince Rupert, British Columbia

View our brochure for more details

From

$5,560

/ per person

Book Now
dates
Sep
duration
8 Days
starts at
Ketchikan, Alaska
ends at
Prince Rupert, British Columbia
Book before Jun 30

$700 AIR CREDIT

See all offers

View our brochure for more details