COASTAL GRIZZLY BEAR TOUR
20 years ago, I cut my teeth as a Great Bear Rainforest bear guide running grizzly bear tours in coastal estuaries, and I can tell you that spring on the British Columbia coast is glorious. There is nothing like the sweet fragrance and vibrant greens of spring, mingled with birdsong, snow-capped mountains, and the sight of grizzly bears amidst all.
On this trip, we take you into the famed Khutzeymateen Grizzly Bear Sanctuary – Canada’s only official sanctuary for grizzly bears. The Khutzeymateen is the very best place in Canada for springtime grizzly bear viewing and photography.
Human activity has been carefully managed in this inlet for 30 years, so most bears are very accustomed to bear watchers and are generally very comfortable with people. This can lead to some very intimate encounters and wonderful photo opportunities.
During this tour, we will stay at Khutzeymateen Wilderness Lodge, a quaint floating lodge situated in a beautiful fjord. Just spending time in this place is worth the trip. The scenery is spectacular, the food is delicious and the photography opportunities are endless. Once you arrive, you won’t want to leave.
Khutzeymateen Grizzly Bear Sanctuary Photo Gallery
Trip details
2026 Trip Dates
May 22-May 27
May 27-June 1
These are prime-season dates for the Khutzeymateen.
Trip Departure Point
Prince Rupert, British Columbia
Fitness Level:
Easy
Group Size
8 guests per trip
Tour Style
All bear viewing in the Khutzeymateen is by zodiac-type boats.
Our zodiac is equipped with a roof overhead for maximum comfort. This also ensures your camera gear stays dry and you don’t miss photo opportunities even during heavy rain.
Pricing
All prices in Canadian dollars
2026: $7490 + 5% Tax + $100 Conservation Fee
(Approximately $5400 USD + Tax and Fees)
Payment by wire transfer. For credit card payments, please add 2.9%
A 50% deposit is required to secure your spot. Full payment due 90 days prior to departure.
Included
All accommodations, meals, guiding, and boat transportation to the Lodge from Prince Rupert.
Two 3-hour viewing and photography sessions per day, timed for the best light and tides.
Access to paddle boards and kayaks and sauna
Not included
Travel to Prince Rupert and meals/accommodation in Prince Rupert
Conservation Fees Explained
The $100 conservation fee directly supports grizzly bear conservation efforts through the Khutzeymateen Ranger Program, the Grizzly Bear Foundation and the Commercial Bear Viewing Association of British Columbia.
We also donate 1% of our yearly revenue to other conservation projects in coastal British Columbia.
The Khutzeymateen Grizzly Bear Sanctuary
Situated in the traditional territory of the Gits’ii First Nation, the 45,000 hectare Sanctuary was created in 1994, and was the first protected area in Canada designed specifically to protect grizzlies and the ecosystems that support them. Located in a spectacular glacial fjord with a vibrant estuary, multiple salmon streams, and flanked by old-growth temperate rainforest, an estimated 50-60 grizzly bears are known to depend on this special place. This represents one of the densest populations of grizzly bears in Canada. As one author described it, the Khutzeymateen truly is the “fortress of the grizzly.”
Your Guide – Tim Irvin
As guide with a Masters in Ecology, Tim has been leading adventures for people in the Great Bear Rainforest since 2002. He is a Level 3 guide with the Commercial Bear Viewing Association of BC. With his knowledge of coastal ecosystems and species, Tim strives to share his love of the rainforest with his guests to provide extraordinary experiences they will never forget.
Testimonials
WOW. I just want to go back to the Khutzeymateen … and into the hands of Mother Nature to watch the bears grazing, swimming, mating, fighting, chasing each other, and playing joyfully without worries. Bears just being bears. This truly incredible experience wouldn’t be possible without the help of our great guides, Tim, Jamie, Geren and Franco and of course the guy who overfilled our bellies, Chef Neil.
Another fantastic experience with Wildlife Journeys! We were immersed in the rainforest experience with Tim and the guides from the Khutz Lodge and came back with fabulous memories and images of bears and the lovely scenery.
Tim and the team did an amazing job from start to finish. The whole area is a picturesque, blissful sea of green trees, stunning water, and ethereal fog. Complete magic!
From our initial contact with Tim we have had super service. He provided quick & informative responses to any questions. Our initial meeting in person confirmed that Tim is a passionate person who would go the extra step to ensure that any need was met. A wonderful time had that will never be forgotten.
Thank you, Tim, for the opportunity to visit the magnificent Great Bear Rainforest and the magnificent creatures that live there. It was a life changing experience and one that I will cherish forever. You were the perfect host and teacher.
Tim’s knowledge and concern for our care was over the top! I highly recommend Tim’s trips and I know my husband is already planning for the next one!
2026 Itinerary
This is a sample itinerary for the first trip of 2026. The second trip follows the same pattern with guests arriving in Prince Rupert on May 26 and returning to Prince Rupert June 1.
May 21
Guests arrive in Prince Rupert and spend the night in a local hotel (Air Canada has one daily flight from Vancouver – flight #8089 at 13:10).
May 22
You will meet your water taxi at 7:30 am, in preparation for an hour-and-a-half trip to Khutzeymateen Wilderness Lodge. Upon arrival, you’ll get checked in, and get prepared to head out in the boat to search for bears and other wildlife.
After your morning session, you will return to the lodge for lunch and relaxation. In the afternoon, you’ll head back out on the water for our afternoon session, and then you’ll return to the lodge for a delicious dinner prepared by the Lodge chef.
May 23-26
For the next four days, you will have two 3-hour viewing sessions each day. Typically, we will head out in search of bears after a hearty breakfast, adjusting the schedule as necessary to coincide with the best wildlife viewing opportunities. We will take a break for lunch and rest before heading out again for more bears in the afternoon.
For those who wish, kayaks and stand-up paddleboards are available for use whenever we have some spare time around the lodge.
May 27
On your last morning, you’ll have a great breakfast, get packed up, and soak in your surroundings until water taxi arrives around 9 am to take us back to Prince Rupert with plenty of time to catch the 15:20 Air Canada flight to Vancouver that afternoon (flight #8090).
Frequently asked questions
Can you tell me more about the lodge?
You’ll love it! It is a floating lodge completely off-grid with spectacular views of the inlet. This lodge was newly built for the 2025 season and is a wonderful upgrade from the previous building. It is simply the perfect place to unwind and take in the gogeous coastal scenery between bear watching outings. Take a look at the Lodge here and some other highlights here.
There are 9 guestrooms (each with a queen bed), four shared bathrooms with showers, and a cozy living room equipped with a wood stove.
Between bear viewing sessions, you can kick back on the dock with a drink in hand, take in the mountain views, and swap stories from the day beside an open fire. Some people choose to go kayaking or paddle boarding or relax in the wood-fired sauna before Chef Neil serves an amazing meal in the dining area. It doesn’t get any better.
Why book with us?
By pairing the local knowledge of the Lodge staff with Tim’s broad expertise as a biologist and Great Bear Rainforest guide – plus prime season dates, small group size, and wonderful accommodations – this trip offers an exceptional experience.
Normally the Lodge has 10 guests, but we have limited these trips to 8 participants to provide better value for you.
We have also booked this block of dates in prime season. Late May and early June is breeding season for coastal grizzlies. During this brief period each year, bear activity is heightened providing the opportunity to witness some remarkable behaviour.
What fitness level is required?
This trip is on the easier side. Guests must be mobile enough to get in and out of boats and climb stairs, but the trip is not physically strenuous since our bear viewing activities are boat-based and do not require hiking.
How does bear viewing work?
We have two 3-hour bear viewing and photography sessions per day.
All bear viewing is done by boat, as dictated by the Khutzeymateen Management Plan.
Travelling by boat allows us to explore widely in our search for bears and other wildlife while taking in the beautiful fjord itself. Generally, we see between 1-4 bears per viewing session and between 15-25 different individual bears over the course of our stay at the Lodge.
The best places to see bears can vary considerably with the tides, so our activities will change depending on water levels and the best light so that we can provide you with the best viewing and photography opportunities possible.
Can you tell me more about the bear viewing boat?
The boat is 24 feet long, with padded bench seats, and a shallow draft to allow for bear viewing in shallow water when required. Critically, it has a roof overhead. I know I already mentioned that above, but after spending years working in the pouring rain in open boats, I can tell you that the rain protection the boat offers is an amazing bonus – especially when taking video of bears in a downpour! :)
What other wildlife can we see?
While grizzly bears are the main attraction, we also commonly see black bears, harbour seals, and eagles. In the past, we have also seen orcas, humpback whales, and wolves. Great blue herons, harlequin ducks and kingfishers are common. As a bonus, the spring songs of varied thrush, hermit thrush, kinglets, vireos, and numerous warblers provide a wonderful soundtrack.
Is this a photo workshop?
No. Photographers and non-photographers are all welcome. In my experience it is not difficult to meet everybody’s needs on this trip and a mixed group works very well.
For photographers, what focal lengths are best?
The most common focal lengths used are between 100-600mm, but shorter lenses are also useful for close encounters and landscapes. I typically bring 24-105, 100-400, and a 500mm lenses. Sometimes I also use a 1.4X Teleconverter. If you have questions about the best photo gear for this trip just contact me.
Should I bring a tripod?
No. Tripods do not work well in the boat. But if you need extra stability, a monopod is a good option.
Can the Lodge accommodate special diets?
Definitely. Chef Neil is extremely talented and is happy to work around any dietary restrictions.
Is there cell coverage and wifi at the Lodge?
The Lodge now has a Starlink internet connection, so you can send and receive phone calls and emails during your stay if necessary.
What is the $100 conservation fee used for?
The conservation fee supports grizzly bear conservation efforts through the Khutzeymateen Ranger Program and the Commercial Bear Viewing Association of British Columbia.
If you have additional questions, just get in touch!