Capture images of wildlife and landscapes on this
photo trip in British Columbia's
Great Bear Rainforest, guided by the expert crew of Maple Leaf Adventures.
This trip is designed specifically for photographers who seek images of grizzly bears, rainforest, fjords, and the rare, white Spirit Bear.
Led by a superb nature photographer and instructor, on this photo trip you'll have plenty of time to set up great shots, take advantage of the right light conditions and improve your technique.
Maple Leaf's experienced bear guides will work to get you incredible encounters with wildlife, based on their knowledge and experience with the wildlife of the Great Bear Rainforest.
Travel the Fjords and Islands on the Classic, 92-Foot Schooner Maple Leaf
There are no roads in the Great Bear Rainforest. Instead, you will travel this 6 million hectare wilderness by water aboard the the SV Maple Leaf, a beautiful and strong sailing ship that's been leading expeditions here since 1991.
You'll be able to take photos from a variety of locations including on land, from a zodiac, from the deck of the Maple Leaf, and from a viewing stand.
The Maple Leaf is fully equipped for expedition cruises, and has facilities for battery charging and equipment drying. (Expect there to be some rain on your trip - this is a rainforest, after all!)
She is warm and dry and very comfortable. The ship's chef will provide superb meals and snacks made fresh in her galley each day. Maple Leaf's crew/guides will take you ashore or out in the zodicas several times a day for photography.
Peak Season: Grizzly Bears, Spirit Bears, Whales and Other Wildlife
This photo trip is timed for peak season bear viewing, providing the best opportunity to see bears, especially the Spirit Bear.
The Great Bear Rainforest is one of the planet's last great wild places. Recently named "the wildest place in Amercia" by National Geographic, the Great Bear Rainforest has healthy populations of top North American carnivores, including grizzly bears, black bears, grey wolves, killer whales and the rare spirit bear, a white phase of the black bear.
Autumn is peak time for wildlife viewing in the Great Bear Rainforest. At this time, millions of Pacific salmon return to the rivers of the rainforest to spawn and die. This influx of fish brings predators to the shores where we can most easily view and photograph them.
Walk in the Great Bear's Ancient Rainforest
The ancient rainforest of spruce and cedar trees clings to some mountainsides and pushes out of the fertile river valleys.
You'll walk and photograph here and see why people have described these forests of
ethereal green light as "living cathedrals".
In the eighteenth century the European explorers had another word: sublime.
Where the rivers and forests meet the sea, the Great Bear's fecund estuaries form. These meadows and brackish waters are of prime importance to the area's wildlife, from bears and wolves to eagles, ravens and ducks, providing food in spring and fall and transitioning fish and nutrients between forest and sea.
Photography Instruction
There is a maximum of eight guests on this photo trip, so you will benefit from one-on-one tutoring from your instructor.
You'll also gain great insight into the wildlife and the region, through access to Maple Leaf Adventures' expert guides.
With your "Welcome Aboard Package" - which you receive upon booking - you'll also receive tips on what equipment to bring and what else to pack. In the meantime, we are happy to answer any questions that you have. Ask us something now.
All photographs on this page were taken on Maple Leaf Adventures trips by Kevin Smith, Paul Smith or Greg Shea, except the arial shot which was taken by Ian McAllister and which he has graciously allowed us to use.
