Bears are big in Canada, both in terms of the size of grizzlies and polars, but also when measured by the number of species (including the White Spirit bear which can only be seen from King Pacific Lodge) and the range of places you can observe them.

KNIGHT INLET LODGE BC
Knight Inlet is a 100 kms long fjord carved by glaciers in the coastal mountains. This pristine wilderness is the native habitat of the grizzly bear. Every spring, when the bears come out of hibernation, they can be seen from a boat on the banks of Glendale Cove eating sedge grasses, mussels and barnacles that abound in the cove. In the autumn the bears feed heavily on the salmon returning to the Glendale River and can be seen in large numbers from the specially constructed viewing platform.
Situated 60 kilometres from the mouth of the inlet, tucked into Glendale Cove, is Knight Inlet Lodge, an assortment of construction styles dating from the early 1940s. Many of the simple rooms are cedar-panelled and have private bathrooms.

A three night package, with one night in Campbell River and two at Knight Inlet Lodge, costs from £1510pp including return flight from Vancouver to Campbell River, return transfers, all meals, wine with dinner, bear viewing, scenic boat ride and use of kayaks on organised estuary cruises.

WILLIAMS LAKE & THE CARIBOO MOUNTAINS BC
Gary Zorn has a passion for the big bears – the grizzlies. On this ‘Meet the Cariboo Mountains Bear Whisperer’ 3 day package, he will escort guests to see the bears in their natural habitat. He will also share his knowledge about the social hierarchy, habits, habitat and body language of one of the largest predatory and most solitary of animals, the undisputed signature species of the Canadian wilderness.
High safety standards ensure guests enjoy this unique experience and see some of Canada’s premier wildlife in close proximity, ideal for photography and just experiencing nature in the raw.

A two night package, with accommodation at Eco Tours Lodge, return flights from Vancouver and transfers from Williams Lake airport, all meals, local transport and a full day’s bear viewing, from £956pp.

SONORA RESORT VANCOUVER ISLAND, BC
Although Sonora is a fantastic luxury lodge with plenty of facilities besides wildlife, it offers superb bear viewing. Located at the northern end of Desolation Sound, surrounded by breathtaking scenery, the resort has a main lodge building with a first class restaurant (using local organic produce), bar, state of the art movie theatre, games area and wine cellar.
The most popular activity is to travel an hour by boat to watch grizzlies catch salmon and play with their cubs from uniquely designed 10-foot high viewing stands; tours operate from August to October and cost from £357pp (min age 8 yrs).

Two nights costs from £548pp including all meals and drinks and transfers.

KING PACIFIC LODGE NORTHERN BC
Situated on Princess Royal Island in the heart of British Columbia’s temperate rainforest, the King Pacific Lodge is only accessible by floatplane. The best time to see bears is in the autumn. It’s the only place in the world where you can find the endangered white Kermode bear (black bears with a rare double-recessive gene, also know as Spirit Bears). However, there are good reasons to visit anytime from spring, when the Pacific salmon run is at its height and through summer when the Lodge is a popular spot for fly fishing, Orca and Humpback whale watching and glacier picnics.

Three nights costs from £3282pp including flights from Vancouver, activities and meals.

BROOKS LODGE KATMAI NATIONAL PARK, ALASKA
Brooks Lodge offers one of the most exciting bear viewing tour programmes anywhere in North America. Each year millions of salmon travel from the Bering Sea into the lakes and streams of Katmai National Park, providing a rich food source for the world’s largest population of brown bears. As many as fifty bears can be seen fishing along the mile and a half long Brooks River anytime from mid June to early September. All visitors are instructed by the National Park Service, who organise the tours and explain how to conduct themselves in ‘Bear Country’.

The two day itinerary, which starts from Anchorage via King Salmon where guests transfer by small floatplane to the Lodge, costs from £725pp and includes flights, accommodation and guiding but not meals.

KATMAI WILDERNESS LODGE KATMAI NATIONAL PARK, ALASKA
This premier bear-viewing lodge is located on 160 acres of private land on the wild and scenic Alagnak River in the heart of the National Park. It offers guests riverfront cabins, top cuisine and daily guided bear viewing on lodge jet boats – although the bears follow the fish up river right past the Lodge.
After arrival into King Salmon, you will be met by your guide and pilot for the float plane transfer to the remote Lodge. The following days will be spent based at the Lodge and, with your private guide, filled with wildlife watching and the various other activities available from the fully inclusive lodge.
Each day offers something different as you watch wildlife and bears away from the crowds at Brooks Falls.

A two night package costs from £1495pp including all meals, guided bear viewing, fishing, daily raft trips, jet boat tours and nature hikes and return float plane flight from King Salmon.