Great Bear Rain Forest - Knight Inlet & Bond Sound

The Great Bear Rainforest is one of the largest remaining tracts of unspoiled temperate rainforest left in the world; it is also home to Knight inlet and Bond Sound. Knight Inlet is a jewel of a coastline that profiles breathtaking wilderness scenery and solitude. Bond Sound is a quiet waterway that offers a place to view the harmony of nature.

On both of these trips you'll travel up the British Columbia coast in a blend of exploration by mothership boat cruising and sea kayaking. Daily expeditions to estuaries and small rugged islands beyond the Broughton Archipelago are the focus of each trip. These areas support estuaries consisting of glacially fed rivers that bring its nutrients to mix with the waters from the sea. It's an environment with few bugs, spawning salmon and visitations from all God’s creatures. The destinations are unique, especially in their silence, solitude and scenery.

In the background of these trips you will find ruins and signs of a past coastal culture, which has endured 12,000 years of survival. What now awaits us is a lush, uncut, unsettled landscape cohabitated by bear, eagle and wolf. Our trips use a variety of crafts to access the wildlife and its inhabitants at a distance. This quiet approach has allowed us to investigate the sensitive biodiversity of each of the destinations we visit.

Knight Inlet & Broughton Archipelago

The entrance of Knight Inlet starts in a myriad of islets and islands that give way to the rugged Cascade Mountains of the Coast Range. Our route takes us through the multi-coloured waters of Johnstone Strait and ending with the estuaries of the Franklin and the T'lini T'lini Rivers. Snow capped mountains, waterfalls and steep granite walls mark our route into a lush estuary that supports a variety of wildlife from otter to grizzly bears. This trip provides many opportunities for the coastal adventurer.

Itinerary for Knight Inlet & Broughton Archipelago

On day one we’ll depart Telegraph Cove and cruise through the waters shared with Orca and Humpback Whales. Visit a native site where we can sea kayak amongst a large group of small islands and scenic passes. The evening cruise will take us farther into Knights Inlet and the Broughton Archipelago. On the second day you’ll view bears from the deck of our boat and later sea kayak in the estuary of the T'lini T'lini River. On day three we’ll explore the estuary and do some small walks and hikes along the river. That evening we’ll cruise into a sheltered bay with a sunset view. On the final day we’ll sea kayak amongst yet another group of rustic islands before returning to Telegraph Cove in the afternoon.

2012 Trip Departure Dates: June 14-17, Sept 10-13, September 14-17, September 18-21
Trip Cost: $1250 per person (CDN) (double occupy)
Trip Deposit: $250 per person (CDN) 

Bond Sound

Bond Sound is the home of the pristine Atha River Valley. Here we find a delicate balance of nature. The grassy estuary is a favorite spot to see spawning salmon, bear and coastal wolf habitat. The annual salmon spawning event attracts large numbers of birds of prey (including the Bald Eagle), and a small number of resident bears in the area. This is a spiritual trip for those who will take it. Our trip will visit the tidal waters, the small rivers and the rich old growth forest with an intact ecosystem rarely found on the south coast of British Columbia.

Itinerary for Bond Sound Trips

On the first morning our trip starts in the quaint coastal village of Telegraph Cove on Northeastern Vancouver Island. We will cross the migration path of humpback and orca whales enroute to the Broughton Archipelago with a stop for an afternoon of sea kayaking. Here we kayak quietly through a silent passage and islets full of bird life backed by rustic coastal forests. The evening of the first day will take us to a quiet anchorage where we can catch the sunset.

Day Two takes us deeper into the waters of Bond Sound with its towering snow capped mountains and rugged pristine shoreline. For the morning we will cruise through waters where large numbers of white side dolphins make passage. By early afternoon we will anchor and explore the Atha River Estuary from sea kayaks as the tide rises and the afternoon sun warms the water. The afternoon will give us an opportunity to float through an area which remains untouched for six months of the year. Anchorage is set nearby after setting the crab trap.

Day Three begins at anchorage within sea kayaking distance of the gentle flowing waters of the river where spawning salmon gather. A day walk will take us along the perimeter of the estuary into a unique old growth forest with a spectacular waterfall as our terminus. After an early dinner of prawns we can complete the day with a shoreline paddle into waters of seals and jumping salmon. For the evening we will cruise out to a quiet anchorage and another sunset.

Day Four will take us on a return route to Telegraph Cove through a different set of passages and islands with stops to sea kayak into an abandoned native village site where ruins still are in evidence. Once again we will cross the paths of summer resident whales and a variety of wildlife including sea lions and humpback whales with calves. Finally, the focus of these trips is to harmonize with nature whenever and wherever possible. Arrival back at Telegraph Cove is set for late afternoon, in time for you to catch flights or drive southward for accommodations and ferry connections in Nanaimo or Victoria.

2012 Trip Departure Dates: June 8-11, September 3-6, September 10-13

Trip Cost: $1250 per person (CDN) (double occupy)
Trip Deposit: $250 per person (CDN)