Bear Lodges in British Columbia

The bear lodges of British Columbia offer visitors the utterly unique and entirely spellbinding opportunity to observe grizzly and black bears in their natural habitat. The British Columbia coastline is one of the longest in the world and, indeed, the only coastline which is less inhabited now than it was 100 years ago. It’s hard to contextualise the vastness of this wilderness, spreading thousands of miles inland, providing a virtually impenetrable habitat in which the bears and wildlife of western Canada exist. Not dissimilar to remote African safari lodges or floating jungle camps in Asia, bear lodges in British Columbia are seasonal operations, most opening from May to October. Exact dates change year to year, lodge to lodge, in line with the behaviour of the bears and the annual salmon run, on which their habitual patterns rely. Like all unique accommodation experiences, it's important to choose the right lodge for you. We have hand-picked a selection of our favourite lodges, run by people who have dedicated their lives and careers to preserving the environment, at the same time providing exceptional wilderness experiences.

It’s important to remember the grizzly bears in particular are active in different parts of the Great Bear Rainforest at different times of year, and although they quite rightly are the first thing to catch our attention, we cannot ignore the incredible marine life who, like the bears, follow the natural wonder of the salmon run each year. Between May and October, humpback whales travel from Hawaii and the Americas all the way up to Alaska to feed, filtering through the Inside Passage which hugs the coastline  between mainland British Columbia and Vancouver Island. Orca are also resident here, although sadly numbers have been declining over recent years as salmon numbers have dwindled and commercial fishing lanes have moved closer to the coast. However, there are still a healthy number of both resident and transient whales who live and feed around the northern end of Vancouver Island, towards the inlets of the Great Bear Rainforest, where these fabulous floating and land-based lodges are hidden.

Each and every one of our specialists has a passion for Canada which goes beyond the hotel walls, to the top of the mountain peaks and bottom of the valley floors. As a company we hand-pick every partner and visit every hotel, lodge, island and retreat to ensure we can deliver first-hand knowledge and honest, expert advice. From restaurant recommendations to coffee shops and craft breweries, our favourite hikes and sunset spots, experience the real Canada with Turquoise.