Indigenous Bear Viewing
By Indigenous Tourism British Columbia ~ 2025

Enter the Sanctuaries of the Great Bears

Seeing the great bears of the Pacific Northwest is not an everyday occurrence for most and the essential BC experience for many. It is a journey that requires planning and the guidance of local Indigenous guides who can lead you into the pristine sanctuaries of grizzly bears and the wealth of the forests and waters that are their home.

Witness the kermode spirit bear in Great Bear Rainforest during spirit bear tours in BC

Over the Sea & Into the Forest

Indigenous guides ensure safety and respect for guests, bears, and the environment with boat access into sacred spaces just outside the rush of modern life. Hidden coastal inlets host the infamous Great Bear Rainforest, where you are likely to encounter so much more than the bears. Past historic villages, in verdant forests, and amid a menagerie of marine and wildlife that populates the sky, sea, and shore, the bears feed with their families.

Conservation is key in this precious part of the world.

Indigenous hosts weave culture and conservation into the fabric of your experience as a guest in grizzly territory. Travel lightly and with experienced guides.

Homalco Wildlife & Cultural Tours
Campbell River

Homalco Wildlife & Cultural Tours and its staff have been the stewards of the grizzly bear population in their traditional territory of Bute Inlet for over a decade. The community welcomes tours to view the bears, learn about our connection to the land and wildlife, and become immersed in the beauty of the inlet. The Great Bears of Bute experience includes both a skipper and an Indigenous guide; full-day grizzly bear tours begin in Campbell River and journey up the Salish Sea.
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Klahoose Wilderness Resort
Desolation Sound
Klahoose Wilderness Resort is a premier Indigenous cultural experience on the lands of the toq qaymɩxʷ (Klahoose) People. The all-inclusive eco-resort in the coastal wilderness of Desolation Sound offers guests a woodfire sauna, campfire area, kayaks, paddle boards, rainforest hiking, and walking trails and reflects Klahoose traditional values. Indigenous-led three- and four-night wildlife tours of Toba Inlet include spring bear viewing (May/June), specialized photography tours, and late summer/fall (Aug/Sep/Oct) grizzly bear and salmon run tours. Departures start with a one-hour boat transfer from Lund or Powell River to the Resort.
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Spirit Bear Lodge
Klemtu
Spirit Bear Lodge is Indigenous-owned, offering exclusive access to wildlife viewing areas and cultural sites within the Kitasoo Xai’xais traditional territory. Learn about the Kitasoo Xai’xais people who have called the Great Bear Rainforest home for thousands of years. A transformative experience that advances social, cultural, environmental and economic revitalization for the Kitasoo Xai’xais Nation. Three-, four-, and seven-night with limited availability per viewing season.
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Set Your Course with Culture and Conservation

Indigenous guides ensure safety and respect for guests, bears, and the environment with boat access into sacred spaces just outside the rush of modern life.

Coastal Rainforest Safaris
Port Hardy

Coastal Rainforest Safaris delivers exciting wilderness experiences rooted in the culturally rich territories of the Kwakwaka’wakw people. Hop aboard rigid hull inflatable wildlife viewing boats and explore the diverse wildlife of British Columbia’s Great Bear Rainforest. Departing from Port Hardy on northern Vancouver Island. The Whales, Otters, and Grizzly Bears package combines a six-hour Sea Otter Viewing and Whale Watching tour from Port Hardy, a day of grizzly bear viewing from Port McNeill with Sea Wolf Adventures, and two nights accommodation at the Kwa’lilas Hotel in Port Hardy.
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Sea Wolf Adventures
Port McNeill
Sea Wolf Adventures offers grizzly bear viewing and whale watching tours through the Broughton Archipelago and the Great Bear Rainforest on Northern Vancouver Island, with opportunities to learn about the traditions and history of Kwakwaka’wakw People. Local Indigenous guides share their deep-rooted knowledge and historical insight as you experience the past through song and story. Eight-hour flexible grizzly tours available or experience The Whales, Otters, and Grizzly Bears package with a six-hour Sea Otter Viewing and Whale Watching tour from Port Hardy, a day of grizzly bear viewing from Port McNeill with Sea Wolf Adventures, and two nights accommodation at the Kwa’lilas Hotel in Port Hardy.
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The Great Bears of the Pacific Northwest

Hidden coastal inlets host the infamous Great Bear Rainforest, where you are likely to encounter so much more than the bears.

Ahous Adventures
Tofino
Ahous Adventures invites you to step into captivating world of bear watching in the breathtaking inlets of Clayoquot Sound. Operated by the Ahousaht Nation, Ahous offers guests the opportunity to witness black bears in their natural habitat while learning about the region’s cultural history. Keep your eyes peeled for sea lions, harbour seals, bald eagles, a variety of seabirds, and the elusive sea wolves that occasionally grace us with their presence.
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Knight Inlet
Knight Inlet
Knight Inlet Lodge is an Indigenous-owned wildlife viewing destination in the heart of the Great Bear Rainforest of British Columbia, Canada. Spend your days viewing magnificent grizzly bears and incredible wildlife, and your nights enjoying fine dining and accommodation in a spectacular natural environment. Two- and three-day grizzly viewing packages or four- to six-night grizzly and whale extended explorations.
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