Great Bear Rainforest - North American Safari In the Fall

Day 1: Welcome aboard in Haisla territory, cruising to evening anchorage, watching for whales. Evening rainforest walk before dinner.

Day 2: Crossing into Hennaksiala territory, with traditions and stories of our mentor, Killer Whale Clan elder Wa’xaid (Cecil Paul). Cruising down a spectacular fjord, where granite mountains rise from thousands of feet below the sea. Viewing waterfalls and possible mountain goats. Exploring estuary meadows, where grizzly bears spend their days in the autumn. Optional evening kayaking.

Day 3: Grizzly bear viewing among the fjords. Learning the Indigenous history and stories of special sites in the region. Cruising the Great Bear’s island channels.

Day 4: Visit island known as the epicentre of spirit bears with our Gitga’at friends and guides. Full day at viewing site for the best opportunity to view a spirit bear.

Day 5: Morning shore exploration in estuary. Cruising Whale Channel region, a critical habitat for several species of whales. Marine mammal viewing. Visit whale researchers at remote station. Island anchorage.

Day 6: Visit the Great Bear Rainforest’s wild outer islands and
beaches, with hike to views. Kayaking, possible wolf sighting. Cruising to and exploring archipelago of tiny islands, some areas so wild they’re not yet charted. Seabird viewing.

Day 7: Cruising inner channels. Rainforest shore trip. Visit natural hot springs for a soak. Last night dinner in natural anchorage.

Day 8: Cruising to port, watching for wildlife.

Itineraries are subject to change.

Vessel Type: Catamaran

Passenger Capacity: 24

Length: 138 ft / 42 m

Built/Refurbished: 2007/2018/2019

Cascadia is a 138-foot expedition catamaran built for small-group exploration along the wild British Columbia coast. She carries 24 guests in 12 outside cabins, each with windows, en-suite bathrooms and individual climate control. Four decks provide a mix of quiet corners and open viewing spaces: a protected salon with a bar, indoor and outdoor dining areas, a terrace lounge, and a top deck with loungers and a hot tub. The bridge is open to guests for 180-degree views and insight into navigation. Kayaks, custom landing craft, a hydrophone, and a natural history library support shore landings and wildlife encounters. The design leans on light, space and stability, allowing access to remote inlets while maintaining a comfortable, human-scale experience.

Cabin categories range from 160 to 235 square feet. Lower-deck and some main-deck cabins offer queen or twin beds and large portholes; mid-level cabins add more floor space, outside doors, generous windows and heated slate-floor bathrooms; the two bridge-deck suites are the largest, with king beds, extra seating and extensive natural light. All include storage, power outlets, bathrobes, and climate control. Mobility requirements centre on navigating stairs between decks and boarding shore boats via landing-craft ramps. Limitations apply for travellers with significant mobility impairments, but one main-deck cabin includes an accessible bathroom.

Vessel Type: Schooner

Length: 92f / 28m

Passenger Capacity: 8

Maple Leaf is a 92-foot wooden schooner built in 1904, designed for intimate coastal exploration with a maximum of eight guests. She offers a deeply personal, human-scale experience that prioritises direct engagement with the natural world, accessing remote coastlines, rivers and anchorages unreachable by larger ships. Accommodation is simple but warm: four semi-private sleeping areas, shared washrooms, and communal spaces centred on conversation, observation and shared meals prepared onboard. Stability under sail, long range, and a highly experienced crew make her exceptionally capable despite her modest size.

Constructed from Douglas fir, yellow cedar and mahogany, Maple Leaf blends working-vessel toughness with Edwardian craftsmanship and modern functionality. Life on board revolves around open decks, zodiac landings, kayaking, wildlife observation and, for those inclined, hands-on sailing under crew guidance. Her long history — from luxury yacht to high-performing halibut fishing vessel to pioneering expedition ship — gives the experience a sense of continuity and authenticity. Travel aboard Maple Leaf is immersive, physically engaging, and deliberately unpolished, favouring depth, access and presence over luxury conventions.

Vessel Type: Converted Tug

Passenger Capacity: 12

Length: 88 feet / 26.8 meters

Swell is an 88-foot converted coastal tug refitted to deliver a warm, character-rich expedition experience. Her solid timber construction, classic lines and thoughtful interior upgrades create an atmosphere of authenticity paired with comfort. With just 12 guests across six private cabins, the ship offers an intimate environment supported by a small, expert crew. Spaces such as the wood-panelled salon, panoramic wheelhouse, covered aft deck lounges, and upper-deck viewing areas provide calm, inviting places to relax between shore excursions. Daily life revolves around well-crafted meals from the galley, quiet moments in the hot tub, wildlife watching from the bow and easy access to the coastline via Zodiacs and kayaks.

Her compact size and rugged build allow her to reach locations inaccessible to larger vessels, giving guests close contact with coastal ecosystems, remote anchorages and wildlife-rich shorelines. Purpose-designed expedition tools—including two rigid-hull inflatables, four clear-bottom kayaks, fishing gear and a hydrophone—support a wide range of activities. Cabins vary from generous suites to efficient, well-designed smaller rooms, all with private ensuites and exterior doors for direct connection to the outdoors. The result is a boutique expedition platform that blends maritime heritage with practical comfort, delivering a human-scale, highly immersive coastal cruising experience.