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Sun Bear on a tree branch between leaves at Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre Sepilok in Sabah, Borneo
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Bear holidays

Steppes Travel has bear watching holidays and bear tours from the Arctic to India and from Alaska to Malaysia.

 

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There are eight species of bear – American black, polar, giant panda, Asiatic black, sloth bears, sun bears, spectacled bears and brown bears.

The intelligence of a bear falls somewhere between that of an exceptionally smart dog and a primate. As with humans, the intelligence of a bear varies by individual and is dependent on its life experiences. We should be like the bear – curious as opposed to uncertain, a collector of experiences.

Great Bear Lodge, Grizzly Eating a Flower, Great Bear Rainforest, Canada
Great Bear Rainforest, Canada
Great Bear Rainforest

Bear watching in Canada

Canada is undoubtedly one of the best countries to see bears whether on foot, by kayak or on an expeditionary cruise. You can be lodge based at somewhere such as the Great Bear Lodge or Tweedsmuir or onboard a yacht such as Pacific Yellow Fin – in short, there are a host of options and to help you decide which is best for you and your individual needs and requirements, speak to one of our bear experts to find the bear-viewing experience that is right for you.

Canada Holidays 

Brown bear, Abruzzo, Italy
Brown bear, Italy by Umberto Esposito
European Nature Trust

Europe - Brown bears

Bear viewing in Europe isn’t something that immediately springs to mind, however right on our doorstep lies some of the most beautiful wilderness and national parklands, a rich playground for the mighty brown bear. With its habitat under threat, Europe’s brown bear has been in decline until recent support and funding from the European Nature Trust has begun to make an impact.

Steppes Travel work with local partners and projects to raise funds and awareness for the brown bear through a series of impactful wildlife experiences. We have several holiday ideas in Italy and Spain where you can view brown bears and other impressive wildlife.

European wildlife holidays

Polar Bear, Spitsbergen, Arctic
Polar Bear, Spitsbergen, Arctic
Polar bear viewing holidays

Arctic - Kingdom of the polar bear

Seeing the ‘King of the Arctic’, the polar bear, in its natural habitat must be one of the most magical of wildlife holidays.  Polar bear viewing holidays vary depending on geography, time of year and you – your physical ability. For the more adventurous amongst you, track polar bears on foot on the floe edges of the north of Canada. For a more sedentary experience, stay on the tundra in Churchill or take an Arctic cruise around Svalbard giving you unrivalled chances of seeing a polar bear in its natural environment.

Polar bear holidays

Malayan sun bear on a rock.
Malayan sun bear, Cambodia
South East Asia

Sun Bears

Malayan sun bears are the smallest bears in the world and are only found in the tropical evergreen forests of Southeast Asia. As part of a holiday to Malaysia, we work with The Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre (BSBCC), a sun bear rescue and rehabilitation facility in Sabah, Malaysian Borneo. The centre includes large forest enclosures to provide a natural environment suited to the needs and welfare of the sun bears and facilitate their rehabilitation back into the wild. ​Visit to learn about sun bears and observe them in their natural habitat.

Borneo holidays 

Idea
USA
Highlights of Alaska: Mountains & Bears
Our classic journey through Alaska combines Denali National Park with Kodiak Island in a wonderful blend of culture, wildlife and history. This highly customisable route is bursting with extraordinary experiences for solo travellers, honeymooners and families alike.
12 days from $10,465pp
Kodiak Brown Bear, Kodiak Island, Alaska, USA
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Idea
Canada
Walking with Polar Bears
Scout the landscape for birds, bears and belugas while staying at Seal River Heritage Lodge in Hudson Bay, combining the thrill of beluga whale-watching with the adrenaline rush of  “on the ground” polar bear walking safaris. Travelling between July and August, find yourself…
8 days from $13,645pp
Big Polar Bear, Churchill Wild, Canada
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Group tour
Canada
West Coast Odyssey: Sail Canada’s Great Bear Rainforest
Sail aboard a charming 138-foot catamaran through the remote waters of the Great Bear Rainforest along British Columbia’s Pacific coast, leaving the lightest of footprints. With mountains and inlets as your backdrop, this journey explores an area of extraordinary biodiversity, where humpbacks,…
Departing 8th October 2025
9 days from $11,305pp
Grizzly Bear, Canada
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Idea
Svalbard
Arctic Polar Bear Voyage
A High Arctic navigation that focuses on spotting the elusive polar bear in its natural habitat while also searching for other Arctic species, this sailing moves through the Svalbard Archipelago and is bookmarked with time spent in Longyearbyen.
11 days from $7,085pp
Polar Bear, Spitsbergen
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Group tour
Svalbard
Jewels of the Arctic: Svalbard, East Greenland & Iceland
This Arctic adventure journeys through the breadth of the Svalbard archipelago, where the days feel endless and wildlife pops up around every turn. From Longyearbyen to Reykjavik, spend 15 days exploring this fascinating polar region.
Departing 17th July 2025
13 days from $16,145pp
Lilac Flowers, Spitsbergen
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Idea
Svalbard
Sailing in Svalbard
 An introduction to the Arctic that can be completed in under two weeks, this expeditionary cruise offers world-class guiding and an insight into the wildlife, history and geography of Spitsbergen. 
10 days from $5,200pp
MS Quest, Spitsbergen
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Idea
China
Highlights of China including pandas and Tibet
This holiday to China includes many of the classic highlights as well as the chance to see one of the country’s most iconic residents, the giant panda, before flying to the Buddhist world of Tibet.
14 days from $5,910pp
Giant Panda, Chengdu, China
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Idea
Italy
Wildlife Tracking in the Apennines
Join expert nature guides to explore the rugged wilderness of Italy’s central Apennine Mountains. Set camera traps, follow bear and wolf tracks and learn about conservation efforts to protect the wildlife. Stay in picturesque villages, home to traditional cultures and dine on…
8 days from $4,805pp
Mountain goat (chamois) sat on cliffs edge with rolling green mountainsides in background.
View Holiday Idea
Idea
Spain
On The Trail of Bears in Northern Spain
Spend eight days exploring Northern Spain and some of the most extensive, unspoiled and intact forest ecosystems in western Europe. Explore the Cantabrian mountains and the forests of Asturias in search of bears and visit the rugged coastline of Cudillero . This…
8 days from $4,935pp
Brown bear looking from grass Spain
View Holiday Idea

Need Inspiration?
Holiday ideas that include bear watching

Our experts have created and curated these tailor-made and group holiday ideas to get you started. Our travel experts can help you design an itinerary with the best chance of truly memorable bear sightings.

Idea
USA
Highlights of Alaska: Mountains & Bears
Our classic journey through Alaska combines Denali National Park with Kodiak Island in a wonderful blend of culture, wildlife and history. This highly customisable route is bursting with extraordinary experiences for solo travellers, honeymooners and families alike.
12 days from $10,465pp
Kodiak Brown Bear, Kodiak Island, Alaska, USA
View Holiday Idea
Idea
Canada
Walking with Polar Bears
Scout the landscape for birds, bears and belugas while staying at Seal River Heritage Lodge in Hudson Bay, combining the thrill of beluga whale-watching with the adrenaline rush of  “on the ground” polar bear walking safaris. Travelling between July and August,…
8 days from $13,645pp
Big Polar Bear, Churchill Wild, Canada
View Holiday Idea
Group tour
Canada
West Coast Odyssey: Sail Canada’s Great Bear Rainforest
Sail aboard a charming 138-foot catamaran through the remote waters of the Great Bear Rainforest along British Columbia’s Pacific coast, leaving the lightest of footprints. With mountains and inlets as your backdrop, this journey explores an area of extraordinary biodiversity,…
Departing 8th October 2025
9 days from $11,305pp
Grizzly Bear, Canada
View Cruise
Idea
Svalbard
Arctic Polar Bear Voyage
A High Arctic navigation that focuses on spotting the elusive polar bear in its natural habitat while also searching for other Arctic species, this sailing moves through the Svalbard Archipelago and is bookmarked with time spent in Longyearbyen.
11 days from $7,085pp
Polar Bear, Spitsbergen
View Cruise
Group tour
Svalbard
Jewels of the Arctic: Svalbard, East Greenland & Iceland
This Arctic adventure journeys through the breadth of the Svalbard archipelago, where the days feel endless and wildlife pops up around every turn. From Longyearbyen to Reykjavik, spend 15 days exploring this fascinating polar region.
Departing 17th July 2025
13 days from $16,145pp
Lilac Flowers, Spitsbergen
View Cruise
Idea
Svalbard
Sailing in Svalbard
 An introduction to the Arctic that can be completed in under two weeks, this expeditionary cruise offers world-class guiding and an insight into the wildlife, history and geography of Spitsbergen. 
10 days from $5,200pp
MS Quest, Spitsbergen
View Cruise
Idea
China
Highlights of China including pandas and Tibet
This holiday to China includes many of the classic highlights as well as the chance to see one of the country’s most iconic residents, the giant panda, before flying to the Buddhist world of Tibet.
14 days from $5,910pp
Giant Panda, Chengdu, China
View Holiday Idea
Idea
Italy
Wildlife Tracking in the Apennines
Join expert nature guides to explore the rugged wilderness of Italy’s central Apennine Mountains. Set camera traps, follow bear and wolf tracks and learn about conservation efforts to protect the wildlife. Stay in picturesque villages, home to traditional cultures and…
8 days from $4,805pp
Mountain goat (chamois) sat on cliffs edge with rolling green mountainsides in background.
View Holiday Idea
Idea
Spain
On The Trail of Bears in Northern Spain
Spend eight days exploring Northern Spain and some of the most extensive, unspoiled and intact forest ecosystems in western Europe. Explore the Cantabrian mountains and the forests of Asturias in search of bears and visit the rugged coastline of Cudillero…
8 days from $4,935pp
Brown bear looking from grass Spain
View Holiday Idea
View all holiday ideas View all cruises

Experiences

Do you have a favourite bear? We offer experiences across the globe

Polar Bear
 

Walking with Polar Bears

With guides attuned to the ways of the local bears head out on foot in the company of the Arctic’s apex predator. Don’t be lulled into a false sense of security as these are far from cuddly bears but with your experienced armed guide you can get incredible photos of bears from a human eye view. You definitely won’t feel top of the food chain.

Grizzly Bear, Great Bear Rainforest, Canada
 

Search for Grizzly Bears

Stay in a floating lodge and spend the days on the lookout for grizzly bears.

Suggested Holiday Idea

Grizzly Bear eating a flower, Yukon, Canada
 

Grizzly Bears in Yukon

Watch as grizzly bears plunge for salmon, ice fishing in the glacial waters of the remote Yukon rivers.

Suggested camp

Grizly Bears, Katmai National Park, Alaska, USA
 

Watch Bears Catching Salmon

Observe as the largest predators in North America gather along rich streams to catch and feast on the annual salmon run, and observe newborn cubs interacting with their mothers.

Suggested Holiday Idea

Spirit Bear, Canada
 

Great Bear Rainforest

Go in search of the elusive spirit bear in the pristine area of the Great Bear Rainforest.

Suggested Holiday Idea

Malayan sun bear on a rock.
 

The Bear Care Tour

Take an exciting, behind-the-scenes tour at the centre for rescued sun bears and moon bears at Phnom Tamao Wildlife Rescue Centre.

Polar Bear and Cub, Canadian Arctic
 

Search for Polar Bears

Look out for the king of the Arctic – the polar bear.

Suggested Holiday Idea

Polar Bear, Churchill, Canada
 

Photograph Polar Bears

Walk with polar bears in the company of experienced guides for unparalleled photographic opportunities.

Suggested Holiday Idea

Polar Bear on Ice, Spitsbergen, Arctic
 

Polar Bear Watching

Observe Polar bears in their natural habitat with Spitsbergen being one of the best places in the Arctic to see these creatures.

Suggested Holiday Idea

sloth bear, Yala National Park, Sri Lanka
 

Sloth Bears

Observe the Sri Lankan sloth bear in its natural habitat at Wilpattu National Park.

Suggested Camp

Polar Bear, Spitsbergen
 

Search for Polar Bears

With one of the highest numbers of polar bears anywhere in the world, go in search of bears on Wrangel and Herald Islands.

Suggested Holiday Idea

Grizzly Bears, Canada
 

Search for Grizzly Bears in Yukon

Experience close encounters with grizzlies in the Yukon.

Suggested camp

Bears, The Cantabrian Mountains, Spain
 

Explore the Cantabrian Mountains

With an expert naturalist, walk through pristine mountain terrain in search of Iberian wolves, Brown bear, wildcat and other interesting mammals.

Suggested Holiday Idea

Bear, Cantabrian Mountains, Spain
 

See Marsican Brown Bear

Explore the Apennine mountains of Abruzzo in the wild heart of Italy, to see Marsican brown bear, Roe deer and other fauna.

Mountain view Abruzzo, Italy
 

Explore the Apennines

Walk, hike or bike through the Apennine Mountains of Abruzzo and experience spectacular scenery and range of wild fauna.

Meet our experts

A passion for travel runs right through every one of our experts - meaning they're always ready with first-hand insight about their specialist countries.

Roxy Dukes, Galapagos
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Roxy Dukes

My specialist areas are the Americas and polar regions, where I’ve formed lasting connections with both the land and its people. Known for bringing these wild places to life, I design immersive programmes that go beyond the ordinary, helping my clients to connect with nature in a deep and meaningful way.

Talk with our experts
  • 1(800)272-4163
Sue Grimwood, Russian Arctic
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Sue Grimwood

In the late ’90s, I booked myself on an expeditionary voyage into the Antarctic Circle and was instantly hooked. Since then, I’ve returned to Antarctica a number of times and ventured deep into the Arctic – from Svalbard to the Russian and Canadian Arctic – always chasing that same sense of wonder. It’s this rare personal experience of the world’s polar extremes that I bring to every journey I plan.

Talk with our experts
  • 1(800)272-4163
Clare Diving in Indonesia
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Clare Wiggins

My love for Asia began with living there. Based in Vietnam and then Malaysia, I also explored the surrounding regions before eventually finding my way back home via China and the Trans-Siberian railway. At Steppes Travel, I get to share that love for Asia every day, helping clients experience the places I know best as if they were locals themselves.

Talk with our experts
  • 1(800)272-4163

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