I just completed the Whales & Bears of British Columbia tour and it was incredible. From the first ferry ride to Vancouver Island, I was immersed in wild coastline and ancient rainforest. We spotted humpback whales breaching off the bow and watched black bears comb the shoreline for crabs. A full-day outing to the Orford River treated us to grizzlies feasting on salmon amid misty fjords. The group was small, the guides passionate, and every day brought something surprising. Yes, there were long drives and changeable weather, but it all added to the adventure. I’d highly recommend it
Wildlife Tours in Europe
Europe Wildlife Holidays
Top 5 Destinations for Wildlife Holidays in Europe
Central Apennines: Towering above the Italian landscape from the Tuscana border, the Central Apennines boast a rich ecosystem and diverse species of wildlife. The region comprises ancient beech forests, alpine grassland and hillsides where you’ll find the likes of wild boar, red and roe deer, and wolves. But more importantly, the mighty Marsican brown bear, an endemic subspecies, roams the mountain forests. A tour of the bear corridors is an eye-opening experience and it’s evident how hard the Bear Smart Communities work to repair and maintain these areas which are vital to the protection of the brown bears.
Carpathian Mountains: These wild and rugged mountains loom over Transylvania in central Romania. The history, geography and nature combine to make the Carpathian Mountains one of the most incredible regions for wildlife tours in Europe. Here you’ll find the highest concentration of lynx, bears and wolves recorded in Europe and a walking tour takes you through forests that are largely undiscovered to get up close to the wildlife. Witness beautiful meadows that open up along alpine trails and visit a mountain hide where you can sit and observe brown bears in their natural environment.
Oulanka National Park: Close to the Russian border, Oulanka National Park is one of Finland’s most magical natural treasures. The park is known for its steep gorges, rare species of plants, and rapids that are crossed by suspension bridges. Our guided wildlife tour of Oulanka teaches you basic wilderness skills and introduces you to some of the fabulous bird species such as white throated dippers and the white-tailed eagle. But the highlight of the trip is an evening trek to a bear hide where you’ll hunker down to spend several hours observing brown bears in the wild. In the summer months the bears are fed with carrion around the hide so there is usually a lot of activity, which you can watch through the large windows of the hide.
Rhodope Mountains: Spanning southern Bulgaria and northern Greece, this mountain massif is a hauntingly beautiful region with incredible biodiversity. Living among the peaks and cliffs is a plethora of flora and fauna, from various species of orchid and butterflies to the Balkan lynx and chamois. The birdlife here is prolific with the likes of peregrine falcons, golden eagles, woodpeckers and buzzards often being spotted in the area. Below the Rhodope Mountains lies the Buynovsko Gorge, which brown bears frequent at feeding time. Because the mountains are a significant breeding area for griffon vultures, it’s likely you’ll see these distinctive birds standing on the clifftops.
Riisitunturi National Park: In the winter months Riisitunturi National Park is drenched in snow and the trees transform into wonderful ice sculptures, but once the snow has thawed, the landscape comes alive with wildlife and brown bears awaken from their long sleep. Since the dawn of time the Sami people coexisted here with the animals, and they lived harmony among the ancient wilderness. The national park was created to protect both the wildlife and its heritage, and it now remains home to brown bears and lynxes and many other incredible creatures.
Georgia Letts Whales & Bears of British Columbia
Peter Ackerman Wildlife & Wilderness of BotswanaThis trip exceeded our expectations in almost every way. The proximity to the wildlife was extraordinary, the range of wildlife was exceptional and the entire experience is unforgettable. The trip was enhanced by the outstanding nature of our group leader, Brian, and the support team, Brighton, Timoth and Moeti. The food was excellent and nothing was too much trouble for the team. The trip is tough, early starts, lots of dust and bumpy roads but the rewards make all of this worthwhile and part of the experience.
Benoit Pigeon Discover Costa RicaThe guide was amazing, the food and hotel were really good. I was expecting to hike in the forest and mountains but it was more of a bird watching tour. So it was zero walking and lots and lots of bird watching standing still for long periods of time. It was not what i was looking for.
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