Grizzly Bear Adventure at Knight Inlet in Western Canada

canada grizzly bears in water knight inlet istk

Grizzly Bear Adventure at Knight Inlet

from £1341 excluding flights

2 nights
May-Oct

Tailor made
Canada
Independent

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Highlights

Join a bear viewing tour for the ultimate wildlife encounter

canada floatplane flying into knight inlet istk

Enjoy aerial views on a scenic floatplane transfer

canada knight inlet bear watching by boat british columbia ll

Explore by boat, kayak or on a guided hiking trip

Why this trip...

Conservation/Eco-tourism

This itinerary has a strong focus on wildlife and natural habitat conservation, one of our pillars of sustainability

Inclusive

Meals and activities are included in this holiday - see what's included for details

Add-on

This itinerary is intended to be an add-on to a longer holiday - speak to our specialists for recommendations

Overview

Knight Inlet is a spectacular fjord carved by ancient glaciers in British Columbia’s Coastal Mountains. This pristine wilderness is renowned for its excellent grizzly bear viewing, and a stay at Knight Inlet Lodge offers a chance to enjoy fabulously close encounters with these fascinating animals in their natural habitat. This short wildlife break is the ideal addition to a tailor-made touring holiday.

After an overnight stay in Campbell River you will begin your adventure with a memorable floatplane transfer to Knight Inlet. Take in aerial views over the stunning BC coastline, with its many inlets, islands and distant snow-capped mountains. Your first glimpse of Glendale Cove and the lodge itself highlights the remote wilderness location in which you will be staying.

On arrival at Knight Inlet Lodge you’ll enjoy a welcome orientation before setting off on your first adventure. During your stay you’ll be able to pick and choose your preferred activities, with longer stays offering more opportunity to explore further or spend more time with the bears. Enjoy a choice of scenic boat cruises, guided walks, kayaking across the inlet, and of course viewing grizzly bears from the boat or from specially designed bear-viewing stands. You may also be lucky enough to see black bears, bald eagles, seals and whales during your stay.

This package is available as 2, 3 or 4-night options, each including an overnight stay in Campbell River (Vancouver Island) on Day 1. Whilst a 1-night stay at Knight Inlet is rewarding, we strongly recommend 2 or 3 nights at the Lodge in order to immerse yourself into this great wilderness and maximise your wildlife-spotting opportunities. We can also arrange air transfers from Vancouver. Contact us to find out how this can fit into your holiday’s plans.

Itinerary

Make your way to Campbell River on Vancouver Island’s east coast for an overnight stay. The township of Campbell River lies on the shore of Discovery Passage and boasts views out past Quadra Island towards the rugged Coast Mountain range of mainland British Columbia. Overnight at Comfort Inn & Suites.

canada sunset over oyster bay campbell river istk

Transfer to the Campbell River Float Plane dock for your scenic flight over to Knight Inlet Lodge. On arrival at the lodge you’ll be given a welcome orientation session providing details of the wildlife viewing that lies ahead. Later you will join an excursion to see the grizzly bears – this may be by boat or to specially designed viewing platforms, depending on the season and the location of the bears. There may also be time to explore the estuary by boat or kayak. After a hearty dinner you may wish to attend a presentation by one of the lodge’s naturalists. Overnight at Knight Inlet Lodge.

canada grizzly bear chasing salmon at knight inlet istk

canada british columbia knight inlet scenic view ll

canada photographing bears at knight inlet ll

Enjoy breakfast at the lodge and the possibility of an early excursion, before returning to Campbell River by floatplane late morning.

canada british columbia knight inlet scenery ll

Accommodation

Knight Inlet Lodge

Knight Inlet Lodge is a floating property anchored 60 kilometres from the mouth of the inlet in sheltered Glendale Cove. Accessed by floatplane, here you’ll find plenty of activities on offer to experience the best of the wildlife and wilderness of Knight Inlet.

Bear viewing through the seasons

Whilst wildlife viewing can never be guaranteed, over 99% of guests at Knight Inlet Lodge have spotted grizzlies over the past 5 years. During the autumn season, this increases to 100%. The very slight drop is from the mid-summer (July-early August) due to more guests staying at the lodge for just one night.

canada grizzly bears knight inlet british columbia istk

Grizzly bears emerge from hibernation in spring and during May-June close encounters can be enjoyed from the safety of a boat as they feed on the banks of Glendale Cove in Knight Inlet. Their diet here consists mainly of sedge grasses, mussels and barnacles that abound in the cove.

During the height of summer the bears move into the shade of the trees, feeding mainly on berries. They are frequently spotted on and around the logging roads that run through the forests.

As autumn arrives, from late August through to October, you can enjoy the incredible spectacle of the bears feeding on salmon as they return to the Glendale River for spawning. A specially constructed platform allows for the best possible viewing of this event, one of nature’s truly great wildlife sights.

Prices and Departures

Price from £1341 excluding flights

Airfares start from around £550 per person and are quoted separately to the holiday price. When enquiring, our Travel Specialists will provide the best fare possible from your preferred airline / airport.
Note: Airfares tend to be cheaper the earlier you book.

What's Included

Accommodation in rooms with private bathroom
1 night in Campbell River, 1 night at Knight Inlet Lodge
All meals and snacks at Knight Inlet Lodge, complimentary house wine with dinner
Bear viewing tour
Scenic boat trip around Glendale Cove
Knight Inlet sightseeing cruise (weather permitting, no substitute)
Use of kayaks on organised estuary tours
Interpretive guide on all tours
Return transfer between Campbell River hotel and floatplane terminal
Return floatplane flight from Campbell River Float Plane dock to Knight Inlet Lodge
All transportation to the bear viewing stands and boats
For departures from Vancouver, return flights to Campbell River are also included
24 hour emergency assistance from our team during your holiday
No surcharge guarantee
Full financial protection

From prices per person

Based on 2 sharing a room with private bathroom

Departures from Campbell River	Duration	Twin Price (pp)
21 May - 30 Aug 2025	2 nights	£1,341
31 Aug - 15 Oct 2025	2 nights	£1,497

Longer stays are available, and we can also arrange return flights from Vancouver to Campbell River – please contact us for details and prices.

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Grizzly Bear Adventure at Knight Inlet

Highlights