Cruise to the wilds of the Khutzeymateen Valley, Canada's only grizzly bear sanctuary, to watch these highly intelligent creatures in their natural habitat.
It's a short walk from the ship to Atlin dock where you will board your touring boat for a cruise to the best grizzly bear viewing areas. Traveling north through picturesque Chatham Sound, you will be entertained with stories about life in the surrounding villages. Along the way, keep an eye out for Dall's porpoise, playful seals, Stellar sea lions and a variety of birds, including majestic bald eagles and graceful blue herons.
Cruising for just over 2 hours, you will reach the Khutzeymateen Valley, an area uninhabited by humans, with no roads, trails, or signs of intrusion by civilization. The hills here are blanketed with dense forests of Sitka trees and hemlocks, an ideal environment for supporting wildlife such as the grizzly bear, an at-risk species. More than 50 of these magnificent creatures live here, earning the valley the distinction of having one of North America's highest concentrations of grizzlies.
The bears often feed on the vegetation that is in relatively close proximity to the shore, so there is an excellent chance of seeing several bears at once. The valley and the surrounding waters also support a thriving population of moose, wolves, shorebirds, kingfishers, seals, orca and humpback whales.
After cruising this incredible valley for just over an hour, you will make the return journey back to Prince Rupert with a box lunch provided on board. Arriving at Atlin Dock, you will walk back to the ship.
Please note: This tour includes approximately 10-minutes of walking between the cruise ship pier and Atlin Dock and there is a ramp to negotiate at the dock which can be steep at low tide. There is limited wheelchair availability and wheelchair guests cannot be confined to the wheelchair, but must be able to exit the chair and sit in a vessel seat. Guests with mobility concerns are cautioned to evaluate their personal level of ability and those who are prone to motion sickness are advised to take pre-emptive measures. Warm, layered clothing; waterproof jacket and flat, comfortable shoes with a non-slip sole are recommended.