Wildlife and Culture at Klahoose Wilderness Resort

Wildlife and Culture at Klahoose
from £2,429 excluding flights
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Highlights

Spot grizzly bears up close from late-August onwards

Explore this pristine wilderness on foot or by kayak or paddle-board

Enjoy cultural immersion with First Nations guides

Witness whales, sea lions, bald eagles and more
Why this trip...

Conservation/Eco-tourism
This itinerary has a strong focus on wildlife and natural habitat conservation, one of our pillars of sustainability

Culture
Experience local culture and heritage as part of this holiday

Add-on
This itinerary is intended to be an add-on to a longer holiday - speak to our specialists for recommendations
Overview
Perched on the water’s edge in one of British Columbia’s many inlets and fjords, Klahoose Wilderness Resort offers a fascinating base from which to discover this region’s abundant wildlife and rich indigenous culture.
A 3- or 4-night stay at the lodge can be added on to any western Canada holiday and provides plenty of time for an immersive exploration of waterways and nature trails, surrounded by coastal rainforest and mountains. Abundant marine life can be spotted here, including orca and humpback whales, dolphins, porpoise, sea lions and seals. Bald eagles soar overhead whilst, from mid-August, the spawning salmon in nearby Toba Inlet attract the iconic grizzly bear.
A visit to Klahoose also reveals an insight into the local culture and traditions of the Klahoose First Nations. Many of the resort’s staff and guides are Klahoose, and are able to provide a different perspective as they share their traditional interpretation and understanding of the region’s wildlife and landscapes, as passed on through generations of story-tellers.
From May to mid-August the resort offers wildlife packages, whilst from late-August to October the focus is on bear-viewing. All packages include return transfers by air, road and boat from Vancouver via the Sunshine Coast, and a choice of activities including guided walks, foraging and Indigenous storytelling, as well as the use of kayaks, paddle boards and walking trails. Grizzly bear viewing takes place from late-summer from specially built viewing stands in Toba Inlet, whilst earlier in the summer an included boat tour explores Desolation Sound in search of wildlife.
Bear viewing

Bear viewing at Klahoose (late-Aug to Oct)
From Klahoose Wilderness Resort it’s around an hour by boat into Toba Inlet, with its towering glaciers and abundant waterfalls. Purpose-built bear-viewing stands are located here, deep in the Toba Valley surrounded by lush temperate rainforest, overlooking the glacier blue waters of the Klite River. Each August thousands of salmon return to the river to spawn, attracting large numbers of grizzly bears as they feed in preparation for winter hibernation.
Your experienced Klahoose guides have trained with the Commercial Bear Viewing Association to ensure you get the most out of your time with the bears. They will explain their habits and habitat, as well as sharing traditional myths and legends as you witness this incredible natural spectacle first hand.
Accommodation



Klahoose Wilderness Resort
Klahoose Wilderness Resort is owned by the Klahoose First Nation, and its strong indigenous influences really set it apart from other wilderness lodges in the region. This welcoming lodge sits on the edge of the tranquil Homfray Channel, surrounded by lush rainforest and the rugged Coast Mountains, and provides guests with easy access to countless wildlife encounters and natural attractions.
Read moreItinerary
Day 1 Day 1 Vancouver - Klahoose Wilderness Resort
Make your way to Vancouver Airport's South Terminal for your flight to Powell River on the Sunshine Coast. Here you will be met and transferred by road to Lund and then take a scenic 1-hour boat ride to Klahoose. On arrival you will have a welcome orientation and time to relax or explore before dinner.
Make your way to Vancouver Airport's South Terminal for your flight to Powell River on the Sunshine Coast. Here you will be met and transferred by road to Lund and then take a scenic 1-hour boat ride to Klahoose. On arrival you will have a welcome orientation and time to relax or explore before dinner.
Days 2-3 Days 2-3 Klahoose Wilderness Resort
Take a wildlife & culture boat cruise through Desolation Sound (May to mid-Aug) or a grizzly bear viewing excursion in Toba Inlet (late-Aug to Oct). During your stay you may also take your pick of included activities: perhaps cruise to see waterfalls or additional wildlife viewing, take a guided nature walk, enjoy some traditional story-telling and cedar weaving, or explore the sound by kayak or paddleboard. Photographers will be spoilt for choice with spectacular landscapes and up-close wildlife encounters. In the evenings there may be the opportunity for some stargazing around the campfire, or an informal presentation by guides or guest speakers.
Take a wildlife & culture boat cruise through Desolation Sound (May to mid-Aug) or a grizzly bear viewing excursion in Toba Inlet (late-Aug to Oct). During your stay you may also take your pick of included activities: perhaps cruise to see waterfalls or additional wildlife viewing, take a guided nature walk, enjoy some traditional story-telling and cedar weaving, or explore the sound by kayak or paddleboard. Photographers will be spoilt for choice with spectacular landscapes and up-close wildlife encounters. In the evenings there may be the opportunity for some stargazing around the campfire, or an informal presentation by guides or guest speakers.



Day 4 Klahoose Wilderness Resort – Vancouver
Your Klahoose adventure comes to an end after breakfast, with the boat journey back to Lund and your onward transfers by road and air to Vancouver.
Your Klahoose adventure comes to an end after breakfast, with the boat journey back to Lund and your onward transfers by road and air to Vancouver.
Special Interest Departures
Royal Canadian Geographic Society Ambassadors
On the following special departures, Klahoose Wilderness Resort have partnered up with the Royal Canadian Geographic Society (RCGS) for a 4-night bear viewing holiday with a twist! Join their expert ambassadors on an immersive cultural experience through Indigenous storytelling, cedar weaving, kayaking, stand up paddle boarding, ocean swimming, forest walks and ocean foraging.
Departure dates 2023
21 May with RCGS Ambassador & Photographer Fred Cattroll
04 Jun with RCGS Ambassador & Historian Russell Potter
08 Oct with RCGS Ambassador & Photographer Paul Zizka
15 Oct with RCGS Ambassador & Producer Aliya Jasmine
Departure dates 2024
19 May with RCGS Ambassador & Photographer Javier Frutos
02 Jun with RCGS Ambassador & Photographer Fred Cattroll
06 Oct with RCGS Ambassador & Photographer Scott Forsyth

Fred Cattroll
Fred discovered his passion for photography during his studies in Journalism, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Still Photography following on from this. The photography of Fred Cattroll is well known for its intimate human touch and his most recent work has focused on people: in communities, corporations and as individuals. Simple, yet honest and seductive, his pictures are subtle interplays of light and image. His work has been published in various publications including the London Times, New York Times and Washington Post, as well as featuring in the collections of National Gallery, Canadian Museum of Photography and the Canadian Museum of Civilization.

Russell Potter
As a historian, professor and author, Russell is best known for his books and lectures on the lost Franklin Arctic expedition of 1845. Among his books are Arctic Spectacles: The Frozen North in Visual Culture (2007), Finding Franklin: The Untold Story of a 165-Year Search (2016), and (as editor) May We Be Spared to Meet on Earth: Letters of the Lost Franklin Arctic Expedition (2022). He is a Fellow of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society, a member of the Arctic Institute of North America and teaches at Rhode Island College in Providence, Rhode Island (USA).

Paul Zizka
Paul’s passion for exploration, his creative vision and fierce sense of determination combined with his pursuit of fresh perspectives and a deep love for the landscape, have resulted in an ever-growing portfolio of cutting-edge images. Paul’s images have been featured on countless book covers and in a variety of highly regarded publications, including National Geographic, Maclean’s, Alpinist, the Huffington Post, The Guardian, Canadian Geographic, Islands, PhotoLife, and explore magazine. His book on aurora photography in the Canadian Rockies, Spirits in the Sky, was published in spring 2022.

Aliya Jasmine
An award-winning television host, producer and environmental journalist, Aliya currently appears on various platforms for NBC News and is also the co-founder of the environmentally focused media production and climate research lab, LILI Media & Design Lab. Aliya anchored for MTV News in Canada for over a decade and helped develop MTV IMPACT, a show about social and environmental issues that sent her on assignment around the world and set the path for her career: from South Sudan after a civil war, to the heart of British Columbia’s Great Bear Rainforest to see first-hand the potential impacts of a proposed oil pipeline. She returned to the rainforest multiple times for various productions, and became one of the World Wildlife Fund’s “Canadians for the Great Bear.”

Javier Frutos
As both the creative and brand director of the RCGS and Canadian Geographic, Javier regularly works on assignment with both professional and amateur photographers by evaluating their images and helping them to improve their trade. He is an award-winning photographer whose assignments have seen him travel extensively in Canada, Europe, the U.S., Mexico and numerous other locations around the world.

Scott Forsyth
A professional photographer specialising in the Canadian landscape, Scott has embarked on a lifelong photographic journey to explore and depict the vastness and beauty of the country. His photographic quest has taken him across Canada, from the Atlantic to the Pacific and Arctic Ocean coastlines. As a Fellow at both the Royal Canadian Geographical Society and The Explorer’s Club, Scott is also a certified Marine Guide on ship-based expeditions, where he regularly leads photographic excursions to remote coastal locations across Canada.
Prices and Departures
Price from £2,429 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 Lodge Room or Cabin with private bathroom and ocean views
- All meals and snacks from dinner on arrival day to breakfast on day of departure
- Beer and wine with dinner
- Wildlife & cultural boat tour (May to mid-Aug) OR grizzly bear viewing tour (late-Aug to Oct)
- Choice of activities: cedar weaving, storytelling, kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, nature walks, foraging and wildlife viewing
- Interpretive guide on all tours
- Informal presentations and talks
- Return flights from Vancouver to Powell River
- Return road transfers from Powell River to Lund
- Return transfers by boat from Lund
- Free Wi-Fi
- Gratuities
- 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
Dates | Duration | Twin price (pp) |
---|---|---|
11 May - 14 Jun 2023 | 3 nights | £2,429 |
15 Jun - 23 Aug 2023 | 3 nights | £2,575 |
24 Aug - 19 Oct 2023 | 3 nights | £2,949 |
Longer stays are available on request.
Optional tours such as helicopter sightseeing, heli-hiking, heli-paddles, glacier walking and guided fishing charters are available at additional cost. Please contact us for details and prices.
Meet our expert

One of our specialists
Meet Doug30 Grizzlies seen in the wild
11 Species of whale seen
8 Canada provinces visited
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