Spirit Bear Lodge

I had an unforgettable experience at Spirit Bear Lodge. The lodge is owned and primarily run by the people of the Kitasoo nation, and a stay there is an immersive insight into their culture as well as into the phenomenal, pristine scenery of the Great Bear Rainforest. There are only 12 rooms at the lodge creating a very intimate feel, and each room has the same floor to ceiling window providing majestic ocean views (if you're lucky you might see seals drift past, or the resident otter playing on the jetty outside!).

It should be noted that the full days of wildlife viewing are long - rightly so to maximise bear spotting opportunities - but be aware that you’ll be out for 10 hours of each day with a packed lunch provided. There are some big distances to cover by boat in order to reach different bear estuaries and it is absolutely worth the journey. The lodge also provides very good quality kit such as waterproof jacket, trousers and wellies so weather does not need to impact your excursions. We enjoyed both rain and shine! Once at a viewing sight, the local guides will either take guests out on zodiac boats, onto land or out on kayaks depending on interest, which you can mention to the General Manager during your briefing upon arrival to the lodge. The guides know everything there is to know about bears and are all too happy to tell you anything you want to know about their culture and history.

When you return to the lodge each day, dinner is a communal buffet (at a very high standard) with wine and beer included - although note that this is the only time alcohol is available due to the nation being dry; they grant Spirit Bear Lodge this one exception. The intimate size of the lodge and group day excursions mean that a stay at Spirit Bear is a very sociable experience.

I really cannot recommend this once in a lifetime lodge highly enough. It may not be the most luxurious property, but it is utterly unique, and the location, service, guides and wildlife viewing are out of this world.