Great Bear Lodge

Great Bear Lodge is located 80km (50 miles) by seaplane from Port Hardy, right in the heart of a pristine wilderness twice the size of Tanzania’s Serengeti that is a haven for wildlife and stronghold for bears – hence its name, The Great Bear Rainforest.

The lodge itself floats over the water and has just eight somewhat basic yet comfortable rooms, each with an en suite bathroom and shower. Power is from wind and solar, in keeping with the lodge’s commitment to low-impact ecotourism.

The common area is a comfortable place for relaxing and listening to natural history presentations from our wildlife biologists, while the wooden decks surround the lodge are a perfect place to enjoy a glass of wine while enjoying the scenery. Food here is ‘wilderness-gourmet’, with fresh, local and mostly organic produce used. Think freshly caught salmon roasted on a cedar plank with a marinade of maple syrup, mustard seeds and balsamic vinegar.

Activities here, as you’d expect, centre around the bears and exploring the wild archipelago and its forests. There are typically two grizzly bear viewing trips a day with a biologist guide, as well as interpretive walks or boat excursions, perhaps in search of other wildlife such as otters, whales and coastal grey wolves.