Voyage to Great Bear Rainforest

Day 1: Ketchikan, Alaska

Arrive in Ketchikan and head to the Totem Heritage Center to view the priceless collection of 19th-century totem poles. This afternoon, board the National Geographic Venture.

Day 2: Prince Rupert, British Columbia, Canada

Wake up in Prince Rupert, a scenic harbor town on British Columbia’s rugged northwest coast. Get immersed in First Nations history at the Museum of Northern British Columbia, built in the style of a coastal longhouse. Breathe in the scent of cedar beams and peruse an impressive collection of ornate carvings, weavings, ceremonial objects, and regalia. Visit the North Pacific Cannery Museum, a collection of cannery buildings located in a pristine wilderness surroundings that highlight BC’s economic, cultural and natural development over the last century.

Day 3-6: Exploring the Great Bear Rainforest

Over the course of the next four days, we will cruise deep into the fjords and deep valleys that carve into the Coast Range looking for black and grizzly bears. We will be accompanied by a cultural interpreter who knows the area intimately and will share with you the legends of their people. We will circumnavigate Gribbell Island, what the Valhalla Wilderness Society has dubbed “Mother Island of the White Bear,” in search of this elusive bear. It is believed that between 10 to 20 percent of bears in this region are born with the recessive gene that causes the white fur; fewer than 400 are estimated to exist.

British Columbia has one of the highest proportions of protected land of any jurisdiction in the world. Almost 15% of the land is protected, with a wide range of provincial parks, national parks, and UNESCO World Heritage Sites. We will go ashore and explore several remote locations where few people venture. Pack your swimsuit, and conditions--and wildlife--permitting we will stop to experience one of the rustic hot spring pools found in the area. Discover hidden gems by Zodiac and kayak, navigating the tidal narrows that lead to the spectacular Foch lagoon and gliding into rugged valleys of Owyacumish Bay--all while constantly scanning the rocky shoreline for bears.

Day 7: Cruising and Union Passage Provincial Marine Park

Sail alongside pods of killer whales, see foraging brown bears as we sail north through the narrow Grenville Channel, a dramatic navigational experience. Not only does the channel narrow to less than a quarter of a mile across, but a slight bend in the passage makes the waterway seem to disappear into the hills ahead and behind the ship. Here, we will drop our Zodiacs and kayaks to explore the salmon run at Verney Falls in Lowe Inlet Provincial Marine Park on our way to Ketchikan.

Day 8: Ketchikan, Alaska

Return to Ketchikan and disembark the ship after breakfast. Transfer to the airport for your return flight home.

• All meals and non-alcoholic beverages on board
• Cappuccinos, lattes and filtered water
• 24-hour coffee, tea and soda on demand
• Hors d'oeurves and snacks during recap
• Guidance of the experienced expedition staff
• Park fees and port taxes
• All excursions
• Zodiac and kayak explorations
• Presentations

• International and internal airfares
• Travel Protection Plan
• Passport, visa and immigration fees
• Gratuities
• Alcoholic beverages
• Spa treatments
• Laundry, internet and telephone
• Gift shop items and any other items of a personal nature