Embark on an unforgettable Knight Inlet wildlife photo tour that focuses on bear viewing, breathtaking scenery, and intimate wildlife encounters.
Operating from Port McNeill, Alder Bay, or Telegraph Cove on northern Vancouver Island, this private, small-group tour accommodates a maximum of 4 guests (or 5 with children) aboard a custom-built, covered, and insured boat designed for safety and comfort.
This Knight Inlet bear viewing tour is crafted for both families and photographers. It takes you deep into the heart of the beautiful Knight Inlet (Fjord). While grizzly bears are the main attraction, if nature is on our side, we may also encounter orca whales, humpback whales, dolphins, and diverse marine wildlife in the pristine waters along the Great Bear Rainforest. The scenic landscapes of Knight Inlet and the surrounding British Columbia coast provide a stunning backdrop for a truly immersive wildlife tour.
Our tours are flexible and designed to maximize your experience. We adapt the day’s itinerary based on weather, tides, and wildlife sightings, ensuring an ethical, respectful, and personalized encounter with nature.
Our Knight Inlet Bear Viewing Tour offers an early morning departure from northern Vancouver Island, typically between 4:30 and 6:00 a.m., with flexible departures from Alder Bay Resort, Port McNeill, or Telegraph Cove—though Alder Bay is our most frequent starting point. I always aim to be one of the first to arrive in Knight Inlet for a chance to experience undisturbed wildlife viewing, setting the stage for a truly special day.
Our approach is different from larger operators. With only 4 guests on board, we have the freedom to explore at our own pace, adjusting our itinerary based on the day’s conditions and everyone’s interests.
Small group flexibility allows us to seek out wildlife wherever it may be, ensuring a unique experience with a personal touch. If other boats are present, we happily share sightings, yet our flexible schedule lets us move to quieter areas, keeping the experience as intimate and respectful as possible.
As we set out, you may catch a beautiful sunrise over Johnstone Strait, Blackfish Sound, or Queen Charlotte Strait, depending on our route. It typically takes 1.5 to 2 hours to reach the area where coastal grizzly bears are often seen. Along the way, we keep an eye out for other wildlife—whales, sea otters, dolphins, porpoises, eagles, and even black bears are common sights.
Once in Knight Inlet, we focus on finding and respectfully observing grizzly bears. I can’t guarantee sightings, but historically, we’ve encountered grizzlies on 9 out of 10 tours. We’ll take our time, and if the bears are comfortable with our presence, we may spend extended periods watching them. If the tides or conditions require us to leave the area, we’ll search for other wildlife or stunning vistas and return to the bears later.
While our exact itinerary is shaped by tides, weather, and wildlife activity, our flexible schedule allows us to respond to the moment, ensuring you have the best experience possible. We’ll enjoy a delicious, healthy lunch on the boat, featuring organic ingredients from my own garden whenever possible.
In the afternoon, we’ll begin our return journey through the Broughton Archipelago, where we can continue to look for whales, sea otters, birds, and other wildlife, making the most of our time on the water.
This full-day tour generally lasts 8 to 12 hours, with an average of about 9.5 hours on the water. Every tour is unique, and while we may see a great variety of wildlife, sightings can never be guaranteed. However, my knowledge of the area, years of experience, and close relationships with other guides give us excellent chances for memorable encounters.
My priority is to provide you with an exceptional day, filled with beautiful scenery, unique wildlife moments, and an authentic connection with nature. While nature itself is unpredictable, my commitment is always to make this day one to remember.
At the end of the day, we rely on the “nature gods” to guide us, and I’m dedicated to making the most of every moment we’re given.
On our return journey, and depending on the wind and weather, we may explore a few scenic places along the way. These hidden gems are often filled with surprises and breathtaking landscapes.
We’ll also spend time in the Broughton Archipelago, where we’ll keep a lookout for humpback whales, orcas (killer whales), minke whales, dolphins, sea lions, sea otters and bald eagles.
We’ll take our time here, savouring every opportunity to watch, enjoy, and photograph the stunning wildlife in this remarkable area.
One of the greatest advantages of this tour is that we’re not bound by a strict schedule. If the wildlife is active, we stay as long as it takes to enjoy the moment!
You’ll be amazed at how quickly the day passes—usually, we’re out for over 10 hours if the wildlife is cooperative. However, there have been days when we’ve stayed out for as long as 15 hours (only with guest approval, of course!).
If you need to return early, we’re happy to shorten the tour to fit your schedule.
We’ve never had a day without something truly special to see. Even if we don’t encounter bears, there’s always something else to marvel at, whether it’s other wildlife or the incredible scenery. I’ve never had a guest leave feeling disappointed—and I plan to keep it that way! 😀
This is an individual, ethical and private tour with a maximum of 4 guests, ensuring a personalized experience. You’ll have the flexibility to decide where we focus our time, while still benefiting from our expertise and rough outline for the day based on local knowledge.
We offer this unique wildlife and scenery photo tour because we’re passionate about sharing the beauty of this area with our guests. Rolf loves guiding visitors, offering photography tips, and helping you capture stunning images to take home and share with others.
Please note that this is not a “learn photography” tour, as the day tends to be quite busy. However, Rolf will happily share as much of his photography knowledge, tips, and tricks as possible throughout the day. You’ll also have the opportunity to ask questions, whether they’re photography-related or not—expect to learn plenty about photography and the natural world!
Knight Inlet is the longest fjord along the British Columbia coast and a key part of the Great Bear Rainforest. It’s an incredibly scenic area, teeming with wildlife, though conditions can be unpredictable at times.
If the winds are too strong, we may choose not to enter Knight Inlet and instead stay in more sheltered waters. While it’s rarely a safety concern, strong winds, tides, and waves can make the journey less comfortable.
We’ve only had to divert two tours in the past years due to weather conditions.
If high winds are predicted, we’ll decide together whether to cancel the tour or switch to the Broughton Archipelago photo tour. The Broughton Archipelago is much more sheltered and offers a variety of wildlife and stunning scenery, though sightings of grizzly bears are less likely.
If Grizzly bears are not most important to you and you may prefer to do more whale watching, then I would recommend the Broughton Archipelago Photo Tour.
Join Rolf’s family-friendly small group adventure photo tours with a maximum of 4 guests / 5 for families with children.
Rolf specializes in photo and wildlife experiences on board his safe, covered and certified boat.
With Rolf’s extensive expertise, you’ll gain invaluable insights, tips, and captivating stories to enrich your journey.
