Steppes Travel is made by the people who work here. Incredible holidays are made possible because of their vast travel experience and the great enthusiasm they bring to their work.
We carefully select our experts based on their knowledge, companionship and influence, ensuring that you can travel with the most knowledgeable leaders in the field.
The people who lead the way when it comes to those things which matter to us: exploration, the environment, women’s empowerment and education.
| Start date | End date | Days | Prices from | Single Supplement | Tour Expert | Group Size | Status | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27/08/22 | 04/09/22 | 9 days | £7,495 ex. flights | £2,750 | Sue Flood | 10 Max | LIMITED | Reserve place |
A unique opportunity to join an exclusive photographic cruise in British Columbia, sailing a section of the Inside Passage, now known as the Great Bear Rainforest, accompanied by expert photographer, Sue Flood.
The rich ecosystem is home to a plethora of wildlife including whales, orcas, dolphins, bears, moose, wolves, elk, eagles and more making it a wildlife hot spot. Observe humpback whales bubble feeding, schools of orcas hunting and bald eagles swooping for salmon as grizzly bears fish.
Some say, that black bears and grizzlies outnumber the people that inhabit this remote piece of British Columbia’s coastline. Probably not the case, but bears certainly rule the roost and make for exciting photographic quarry, with the west coast’s towering mountains and lush, temperate forests providing a beautiful backdrop. The spirit bear also inhabits this region (a black bear with a recessive gene for snow-white fur). For ultimate bragging rights, a full frame photograph is a must-have. But let’s not be bear-centric as the Inside Passage is also renowned for humpback whale sightings, Steller sea-lions, spectacular displays from birds of prey and a fascinating First Nation cultural history.
Sue Flood is a photographer, author and conservationist. Following a successful career as a BBC wildlife filmmaker where she worked on the award-winning series ‘The Blue Planet’, and Planet Earth, Sue decided to leave the BBC to concentrate on her photography.
Sue’s work has been recognised with awards in the International Photography Awards, Travel Photographer of the Year, International Conservation Photographer of the Year, and International Garden Photographer of the Year.
Expert tuition from award winning wildlife photographer Sue Flood.
Explore the Great Bear Rainforest and photograph black bears, spirit bears and grizzlies.
Sail aboard the Island Roamer along spectacular British Columbia coastline searching for humpbacks.
Spend two days at a bear viewing platform to photograph bears feeding on the salmon run.
Day 1
Vancouver
Day 2
Vancouver – Terrace
Days 3-8
Great Bear Rainforest
Day 9
Bella Bella - Vancouver
Day 1
Vancouver
Arrive in Vancouver, renowned for its scenic beauty and endless outdoor activities.
Day 2
Vancouver – Terrace
Fly from Vancouver to Terrace, located on the banks of the Skeena River in British Columbia. Transfer to Kitimat to embark the Island Roamer, your home during your exploration of the Great Bear Rainforest.
Days 3-8
Great Bear Rainforest
Spend the next 6 days exploring the Great Bear Rainforest, one of the largest intact temperate rainforests in the world.
Day 9
Bella Bella - Vancouver
Disembark in Bella Bella, fly back to Vancouver where this trip finishes.
Comprised of six two-person cabins (plus another two for the crew), Island Roamer is a 68-foot-long sailing boat that carries 12 passengers atop the waterways of British Columbia.
All cabins have limited storage space and there is electricity in each room when the generator is on (usually morning and afternoon). There is a comfortable salon with an extensive natural history library and two shared bathrooms with hot showers. Please note that the living quarters are typical of a small sailing boat and can be cosy. On deck, there is a covered seating area providing protection from all types of weather and a great spot to watch for wildlife, and the vessel has kayaks on board for exploring the Inside Passage’s creeks and waterways.
The advantage of her small size, however, is that the smallest of channels can be navigated giving superb access to incredible wildlife viewing.
British Columbia is one of the best regions in the country for bear viewing largely due to the Great Bear Rainforest. This extraordinary tract of pristine temperate forest covers the west and northern coast of British Columbia to Alaska and is home to a vast number of grizzly and black bears, and the elusive Kermode bear – the spirit bear. This region is also home to wealth of wildlife including whales, orcas, sea otters, dolphins, sea lions and a plethora of birds including the beautiful bald eagle.
Why travel with Steppes to Canada’s Great Bear Rainforest?
This is a unique opportunity to travel around one of the last remaining protected habitats for bears with a world-renowned photographer and expert naturalists. We have deliberately limited the number joining this group to 10 people plus your photographic leader, Sue Flood. The boat has capacity for 14 people, but we are keen to give our clients extra space on board.
Do I need to be an expert photographer to join this trip?
Whether you have a simple point and shoot camera or a sophisticated SLR, Sue Flood will be on hand to give you tips on how to improve your photography skills. Therefore, you don’t need to be an experienced photographer to join. The maximum group size of just ten people will allow Sue time to spend time with you at different locations to help you get the perfect shot and develop your wildlife photography skills.
What happens on a typical day?
Being based on board a yacht will allow you to make the most of the wildlife as we cover many miles of the dramatic coastline. At all times, the wildlife will dictate the agenda of the trip; if you suddenly come across feeding humpback whales, you will be having a late lunch! Early morning light and stunning sunsets can be great times for photography, but a great photo opportunity can occur at any time of day and Sue will be on hand to ensure we make the most of every wildlife encounter.
Is September a good time to travel to Canada?
Yes, September is the peak of the salmon run in this area of the Great Bear Rainforest. The rich salmon spawning streams draw the bears in high numbers to the rivers, which allows for more predictable sightings and thus hopefully, offering fantastic photographic opportunities.
What wildlife can I expect to see in the Great Bear Rainforest in September?
The Great Bear Rainforest is home to humpback whales, Stellar sea lions, wolves, grizzlies, black bears and the elusive spirit bear. This wildlife resides throughout the coastal islands with only a few species found in localised areas. As with any wildlife viewing, there are no guarantees, however with an experienced naturalist guide on board we won’t leave anything to luck.
How rough will the waters be during the cruise?
You will travel in protected areas most of the time. On still days, the west coast can be like sailing on a flat lake. There will be times when you will be crossing into open water where greater motion will be experienced.
Do I need to be physically fit to enjoy this trip?
It is important participants are amenable to living in the relatively close quarters of a small sailing boat and healthy and fit enough to enjoy long and relatively active days. You will need to climb in and out of zodiacs, walk along slippery shorelines and over uneven coastal terrain, as well carrying your own camera equipment. There are also optional activities such as sea kayaking.
Is this trip available for solo travellers?
We have set aside two cabins for single travellers with a supplementary cost, strictly on a first-come, first-served basis. Once these cabins are sold, single occupancy of a cabin will be at double the cost.
What is the accommodation like?
You will be in comfortable hotels when on the mainland, but the Island Roamer yacht will be your home for seven nights while you navigate this truly spectacular coastline. Accommodation is typical for a sailing yacht with cabins arranged to fit the contours of the vessel, with either bunk bed or double bed arrangements. Please note that there are shared facilities onboard and space is limited.
Haven’t found what you’re looking for?
Travelling on your own? Our group tours are perfect for solo travellers, as travelling as part of an organised group in faraway places provides security and peace of mind. We handle all of the arrangements for you and there will be a local tour guide on hand throughout to provide advice and help if needed, as well as the expertise of a Tour expert.
To allow flexibility, our group tours do not include international flights as standard. We can arrange international flights on your behalf, please get in touch with our travel experts for a quote. All international flights from the UK are ATOL protected.
We have been running insightful and groundbreaking group tours since our inception in 1989. We have worked with institutions such as the British Museum and Victoria & Albert Museum and run wildlife tours in conjunction with conservation agencies such as Fauna & Flora International, Wildlife Conservation Society, the Orangutan Foundation, Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund and the Jane Goodall Institute.
Steppes Travellers are like-minded people; interesting, interested and curious. Our group tours, usually consisting of eight to ten travellers, aim to create an easy and informal atmosphere – we have a lot of fun on our tours and many friendships have been formed.
When you travel on one of our group tours, you will be looked after by our local agents and your tour expert with the back-up of our 24-hour emergency number and duty manager. All our holidays are fully bonded and protected – our ATOL number is ATOL 6495.
We have developed an enviable pool of expertise from which to choose our tour experts, who we carefully select based on their knowledge, companionship and personality. Often, these experts can use their influence to facilitate private access to sites not typically open to the public.
For further information about any of these tours please call 01285 880 980
| Start date | End date | Days | Prices from | Single Supplement | Tour Expert | Group Size | Status | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27/08/22 | 04/09/22 | 9 days | £7,495 ex. flights | £2,750 | Sue Flood | 10 Max | LIMITED | Reserve place |
Our travel experts have a wealth of first-hand knowledge, so if you have any questions about this expert-led group tour, please get in touch. They would love to help. We hope you can join us on this tour.
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Expert-Led Group Tours
With an average group size of just eight to ten people our group tour itineraries enable you to travel to some of the most intriguing regions of the world in the company of experts guides in the field and, of course, with likeminded people.
Our knowledge and expertise set us apart. So too our curiosity. It is this that drives us to create a journey that is really bespoke to you, all the while ensuring we travel and operate sustainably.
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