8 jours expédition kayak et faune à Bella Bella, Canada

This tour offers you a chance to paddle one of the most unique kayak routes in North America. It combines travel through an area teeming with wildlife along with excellent paddling amongst the beautiful outer islands of the Great Bear Rainforest. This trip takes place in the traditional territory of the Heiltsuk First Nation. You start and end this tour in the Heiltsuk community of Bella Bella, located on the Central Coast of BC (a two-and-a-half-hour flight from Vancouver). The Great Bear Rainforest is the largest intact temperate rainforest in the world which means camping amongst giant Sitka spruce trees, ancient red cedars, and western hemlocks that are nothing short of awe-inspiring.

The area’s cold water and great tidal exchanges – not to mention healthy kelp forests – provide ample oxygen to support an incredible diversity of sea life from tiny shore creatures to majestic whales, dolphins, and porpoises. This tour aims to help you experience the best and most beautiful parts of the Central Coast, British Columbia, by kayak. Bella Bella is a great location for starting the journey, and from here, you explore the intricate shoreline, beautiful long beaches, and windswept islands, making your way towards Calvert Island. The water taxi transport back to Bella Bella on your last tour day means you see somewhere new and different every day of your journey, making the most of your time in the Great Bear Rainforest.

Paddle through ancient islands, wander white sand beaches, and experience one of the most preserved and remote areas along the central coast of British Columbia for yourself. With a water taxi pick-up on each end, the Great Bear Rainforest expedition makes the most of your route by maximizing your distance covered with no backtracking needed (weather and group permitting, of course). This tour also provides a special opportunity to learn about the land and culture of the Heiltsuk First Nation, a coastal Indigenous community whose expansive oral history of life in this territory goes back over 14,000 years.

On day one, you have the privilege of spending the morning with a local cultural interpreter who shares meaningful stories and insight to help build inspiration for your time spent in the outer islands. You will traverse both the relatively open waters of Hakai Passage, Kildidt Sound as well as the more protected islands of the islets in one of the most stunning seascapes around. This area has been featured in many documentaries and publications and is part of one of the largest protected areas on the coast because of its stunning beauty. Your multi-talented guides are not only experts on the water but also skilled in the kitchen, crafting delicious meals at camp.

From preparing dishes with fresh vegetables and local ingredients to accommodating a variety of dietary needs, no one ever goes hungry! Tasty, wholesome meals are crafted daily, starting with a nourishing breakfast to fuel your day of exploration. A picnic lunch is prepared each day and enjoyed during a relaxing break on one of the stunning beaches along the coast. Upon reaching your destination, enjoy an appetizer to celebrate a fantastic day of paddling. To wrap up the day, enjoy a delicious dinner, followed by a nightly sweet treat - after all, dessert tastes even better in the wild. The diversity and abundance of wildlife in the Pacific Northwest are one of your privileges.

With river run-off from the mountains, ocean currents, tide rips, eddies, and upwelling, these waters are among the most productive on earth. From the rich marine life of colorful plants and invertebrates, seabirds, shorebirds, waterfowl, mink, otter, seals, sea lions, dolphins, and whales, to the land animals of deer, raccoons, cougars, wolves, and bears, you are bound to see something. Paddling time will vary depending on the destination and the group’s abilities and desires. Generally, you travel between four and seven hours a day, which may include shore stops to stretch or have lunch. The kayaks used on the tours are stable and designed for comfort. For those a little concerned, the double kayaks are slightly more stable than the singles.

The likelihood of a capsize is minimal and generally only occurs in an uncommon situation. If, for some reason, your kayak flips over, all of Spirit of the West Adventures' guides have ample practice time on the water with rescue procedures, in order to quickly and efficiently get you back in your boat. At this point, they will take you to the nearest shore to change into some warm, cozy clothing and carry on with your journey. While you are out on the water, it is of the utmost importance that the group sticks together in the event of a capsize or a change of route. Explore somewhere new each day.

The Great Bear Rainforest area includes too many amazing places to explore in one trip - but in order to make the most of your time here, Spirit of the West Adventures makes use of a water taxi shuttle as part of the tour so you do not need to spend time backtracking. This also allows you to get off the beaten track and explore some of the more remote areas and islands (weather and group permitting, of course). The area you are paddling in is very remote and can present challenging weather conditions with wind and rain. There are some open water crossings with ocean swell and the possibility of light surf landings.

Your guides will exercise conservative judgment when planning the daily routes and will adjust to suit the needs of the group and the weather or water conditions. While some paddling and outdoor experience is helpful, you do not need to be an expert kayaker. Your guides will teach a review lesson on efficient paddling techniques and rescue procedures. Your guides will also offer coaching throughout the trip. Paddling time will depend on each individual trip, your daily destination, weather and sea state conditions, and the group’s overall abilities.

Generally, you travel between five to seven hours a day (between eight to 12 nautical miles per day, occasionally shorter or longer depending on the weather, with one longer day of up to 15-18 nautical miles) on expedition-style trips, not including breaks and lunch. They set a pace which is pleasant and achievable for all guests.

Pre-trip meeting location: Fisherman’s Bar and Grill at Shearwater Resort on Denny Island, 6:00 p.m.

Your guides will welcome you to the central coast and give you an overview of the trip, answering any last-minute questions and making sure everyone is prepared for the trip. You will receive your dry bags and any other requested gear items so you may pack your bags in preparation for departing in the morning. Shearwater Resort on Denny Island is only a short sea bus ride away from Bella Bella.

What to expect

• Your journey: this is a one-way expedition traveling either northwards or southwards between Paddler’s Inn (Simoom Sound) and Alder Bay.
• Self-supported: your group will be carrying everything you need in your kayaks. There is no support crew, stash points, or supply drops. For this reason, it is important to pack well and pack light.
• Part of a team: the expeditions require everyone to work together as a team. You will be needed to help keep the camp tidy, and to assist with loading, carrying, and unloading kayaks at the beginning and end of every day.
• Kayaking: each day on the water, you can expect to be paddling for five to six hours and cover eight to 10 nautical miles per day. You may encounter wind, swell, currents, crossings, and technical landings.
• Kayaks: a fleet of good-quality fiberglass kayaks will join your expedition. Typically, your group will have at least two double kayaks and the rest singles. You can expect to rotate through them and paddle different boats throughout your trip.
• Campsites: There are many camping areas along your route. Most sites around the Johnstone Strait are well established, with pit toilets and tent platforms. These sites can be popular in the peak of summer, but your guides will use their insider knowledge to find the best and quietest spots. Camping areas at the north end of the Broughton Archipelago are wilderness sites with fewer or no facilities. Your guides will carry a portable toilet, which will be placed in a private nook at each of these backcountry sites. You will practice leave no trace camping and they encourage you to refresh yourself on the seven principles before arrival.
• Hygiene: handwashing stations will be set up at each lunch spot and campsite. Refreshing saltwater ocean swims can be used for bathing.
• Safety: Risk assessment and safety protocols are a big part of wilderness travel. Listen to the safety briefings given by your guides and follow the precautions put in place to keep everyone safe.
• Remote access: Cell service is patchy and you will not have access to electricity or charging stations throughout your trip. Please bring extra batteries or battery packs for phones and cameras.

Daily itinerary

This is the proposed itinerary for your trip, but it is flexible and may be adapted to suit the interests of those who join the trip as well as weather conditions. On this tour, you can expect a combination of exposed open coastline and more protected inner passageways. As this is an expedition-style tour, you usually move to campsites each night. You may have an opportunity to stay in the same place for two nights if conditions allow.

Day 1: Meeting location: The dock at Shearwater Resort on Denny Island, 9:00 a.m.

Meet your guides at the dock at Shearwater Resort on Denny Island. After an introduction to the area and the Heiltsuk First Nation with a cultural interpreter, you will sort your gear and then set off on your water taxi for the shuttle out to your first campsite. Once there, you will sort out gear and prepare for your adventure, beginning with an orientation to the kayaks and gear, learning efficient paddling techniques and safety procedures. Once everyone is comfortable with their boats, you will launch for your first strokes in the Great Bear Sea.

Days 2 - 7

This is a beautiful area to paddle and they work with the conditions and remain open to adventure. Each day, your guides will assess the weather, tides, and sea state to determine the destination for the day. Flexibility is key. Depending on the weather and exact drop-off location, they may plan to paddle the remote Goose Group Islands (weather depending), McMullins, and Tribal Group. Moving southeast, you will enter the spectacular islands and beaches of the Hakai Conservancy, continuing in the direction of Calvert Island.

Day 8

You will meet a water taxi about mid-day for transport back to Bella Bella. Expect to arrive in Bella Bella by mid-late afternoon, allowing you time to relax in the village before heading south by air or ferry the following day. Please do not book any flights for the last day of your trip.