Small-Ship Expedition Cruise

Great Bear Rainforest

Map

Great Bear Rainforest 2027 Map

Highlights

Highlight 1 Spirit Bear Simon Ager

© Simon Ager

Search for the rare spirit bear

Travel into the territory of the Gitga’at First Nation in search of moksgm’ol, the spirit bear, also known as the Kermode bear. Found only in the Great Bear Rainforest, these rare white-furred black bears are deeply significant within Gitga’at culture and closely tied to the ecological richness of this region. With local guidance, experience spirit bear country with care, patience, and respect.

Highlight 2 Great Bear Rainforest 9 Jeff Reynolds

© Jeffrey Reynolds, Maple Leaf Adventures

Encounter whales and marine life in wild coastal waters

Cruise through the deep channels of Caamaño and Estevan Sounds, a biologically rich marine corridor shaped by powerful currents and seasonal abundance. These waters are known for frequent sightings of humpbacks, orcas, porpoises, and other marine life. A visit to a remote whale research station adds insight into the conservation efforts that help protect this remarkable ecosystem.

Highlight 3 Kitlope Alex Harris

© Alex Harris

Explore one of the world’s largest intact coastal temperate rainforests

Journey into the Kitlope Valley, where glacier-fed rivers, old-growth forest, and a dense weave of life define the landscape. This vast rainforest offers a powerful sense of scale and stillness, shaped by generations of Indigenous stewardship. Travelling here invites a deeper understanding of the ecological and cultural importance of one of the most significant protected areas on the coast.

Highlight 4 255 DSC 1006

© Courtesy of Maple Leaf Adventures

Connect through Indigenous-led cultural experiences

Begin in the territory of the Haisla Nation at Kitamaat and continue into places where relationships to land, water, and community remain central to daily life. At Crab River and in Txalgiuw (Hartley Bay), opportunities to meet with Indigenous hosts offer insight into cultural traditions, contemporary community life, and enduring systems of land guardianship.

Highlight 5 G Shea 3266

© G Shea

Explore the coast by kayak, Zodiac, and on foot

Conditions permitting, experience the rainforest coast from a range of perspectives—paddling quiet fjords, stepping ashore for guided walks, or exploring the shoreline by Zodiac. Along the way, watch for signs of wildlife and learn from naturalists, local hosts, and other knowledge holders whose understanding of this place deepens each encounter.