Great Bear Rainforest And Kitlope - British Columbia Cruise
In spring, we hope to find grizzly bears among green sedges in the estuary meadows, and colourful wildflowers like purple lupins, red paintbrush and brown northern rice root. In late summer/early fall we'll explore channels for whales and even get to some outer coastal locations, where we may see evidence of the elusive coastal wolf. There may be an early bear or two but summer is not a peak bear time in this area.
Take shore excursions with knowledgeable crew to explore the Kitlope River Estuary. Relax on secluded beaches, trek through ancient rainforests, and learn about the historical significance of the Kitlope.
We first explored here in 1992 at the invitation of our longtime friend Wa'xaid (Cecil Paul). The stories he told and his philosophy that helped save the Kitlope forever, and the incredible bear mother pole for his people, are captured in a book written with our naturalist Briony Penn. Thanks to this, his stories still travel with our guests as we explore together in the way he taught us to see this place.
Our August trip is a Supervoyage, as it is a few days longer with more time to explore the expansive area.
Highlights
• Stunning Kitlope River Valley: Immerse yourself in the beauty of the Kitlope River Valley, with its dramatic landscapes, snow-capped peaks, rainforests, waterfalls, and abundant wildlife, including grizzly bears and moose.
• Seasonal Delights: Depending on the season, witness grizzly bears in spring, vibrant wildflowers, and explore channels for whales in late summer. Keep an eye out for evidence of the elusive coastal wolf.
• Cultural Significance: Explore the Kitlope River Estuary and learn about the historical and cultural significance of this region, thanks to the guidance and stories of indigenous friend Wa'xaid (Cecil Paul) and the bear mother pole that symbolizes his people's connection to this land.
|
Book now |
Category 1
Category 2
Category 3
Additional charges:
$200 sustainability fee per person + 5% federal tax: CAD pp
Vessel Type: Catamaran
Passenger Capacity: 24
Length: 138 ft / 42 m
Built/Refurbished: 2007/2018/2019
Cascadia is a go-anywhere, expedition style catamaran. She accommodates up to 24 guests in 12 luxurious cabins, with a crew of 10. She is unlike any other vessel offering expeditions on the British Columbia coast, having been built specifically for high-quality, boutique cruises. Light, spacious and comfortable, she is also capable of reaching the wildest, most naturally rich places on the coast. Her small size and guest numbers provide an authentic, human-scale experience that respects the carrying capacity of coastal inlets and communities.
Ship And Accommodations Find comfort and solitude in your private cabin or enjoy time in any of the interior or outdoor lounges, or the “open” bridge. Cascadia’s large windows bring the outside in, and her separate dining area becomes a sophisticated “long table” event for meals. Her decks are wide and welcoming, with seating areas on different levels.
Salon Large windows surround the salon making it a perfect place to look for whales while staying protected, chat with other guests while lounging on our comfortable sofas, or enjoy a beverage from the nearby bar.
Dining Area Enjoy our chefs’ fine west-coast influenced creations while watching the sun go down. Sit and discuss your day’s adventure with your captain, afloat in a remote natural anchorage.
Terrace Lounge And Dining Area Dine alfresco on temperate evenings, lounge with your morning coffee, or watch the world go by during the day. This area is the perfect mix of outside and inside.
Bridge of Cascadia Cascadia’s bridge is open to you. You’ll have 180-degree views from here, along with being able to learn about navigation and the vessel systems from our crew. On the port side, you may also enjoy our indoor-outdoor loveseat. You can watch the world go by from behind a protective window, but still have quick access to the fresh air and the deck for whale watching.
Top Deck & Hot Tub Lounge on a chaise, soak under the stars, or enjoy the bird’s eye view of the ship and the world around her from Cascadia’s new top deck.
Cabins All cabins have individual climate control, wardrobes and an outside location, with windows for natural light. All have ensuites. All are ‘outside’ cabins, with windows for natural light.
Kayaks, Shore Boats, Naturalist Tools Cascadia has 6 double and 2 single kayaks for paddling in coves and bays, as well as two beautiful landing craft style tenders, custom designed for our program. She carries a suite of tools for exploring the natural world, including a hydrophone for listening to whales. Her library contains books on the cultural history and nature of the BC and Alaska coast.
Inclusions
• All meals, snacks and beverages prepared from the freshest ingredients by our superb chef.
• Fine wines featured with the evening meal, and a limited amount of beer included and available throughout the trip. (Liquor is not a large part of our trips, so plan on light consumption).
• Services of our naturalist and professional crew.
• Shore excursions.
• Use of gear on board, including rubber boots, kayaks and fishing gear (with fishing licence).
• All accommodations on your vessel and, on trips with a land day, in a local lodging.
Exclusions
• Transportation to the trip’s point of origin or from the trip’s point of return for Cascadia. The exception is the flights from Vancouver to the start of the trip and return are included for Cascadia’s Haida Gwaii trips, as well as any trip that has a current Flight Promotion.
• 5% Goods and services tax (GST), on Canadian trips. There is no GST on Alaska trips.
• Any tip you wish to leave for your crew. Tipping is entirely confidential.
• Sustainability fee. As a professional eco-tourism company, it is at the core of our operating principles to work with local communities (as we are members of the local community ourselves), respect regulations, look after the planet and contribute to local opportunities. Responsible operations cost a little more. We extracted from the fare a percentage of the increased costs that go toward sustainability and added it to the list price as a sustainability fee of $200 per trip. Through this, we hope our guests share in the pride that a trip with Maple Leaf Adventures is a contribution to the sustainability of the coast, as well as being a great experience.
• Fishing licence.
Our Associates Include
