Spending time in the wilderness and away from large crowds may be a priority for many of us as we look to start travelling again in a post-pandemic world. Many of us have also spent our unexpected downtime dreaming about those destinations and experiences that have been on our bucket lists for years. Perhaps yours includes seeing incredible wildlife in their natural habitat?
America and Canada are home to some of the most picturesque landscapes and amazing wildlife spotting opportunities so we thought we would share with you some of our favourite remote wildlife lodges.
Maybe a visit is in order in 2021?
Knight Inlet Lodge, British Columbia, Canada
Offering 2,3 & 4 night packages, Knight Inlet Lodge is located off the coast of Campbell River on Vancouver Island and is accessible only by floatplane. The Inlet is home to one of the largest populations of Grizzly Bears in British Columbia, and it is not uncommon for there to be up to 40 bears within 10 kilometres of the lodge during the peak salmon run period. This easily makes it one of the best places in the country (if not the world) to see bears.
You can also take a scenic Inlet cruise, taking in the natural wonders of the area; from stunning waterfalls, ancient glaciers and trails carved through mountains. Take a guided walking tour through the rainforest tracking bears as you go or go sea kayaking or whale watching.
Farewell Harbour Lodge, British Columbia, Canada
Farewell Harbour Lodge enjoys a prime location within the border of the renowned Broughton Archipelago Marine Park, making it a true wildlife wonderland. The lodge offers 4, 5, 6 & 7 night packages and is accessible only by water taxi from Alder Bay in northern Vancouver Island. During your stay, you may be lucky enough to see just about every animal Canada is known for, including Grizzlies, Black Bears, Orcas and Humpback Whales as well as Bald Eagles and seals.
Farewell Harbour also offers specialised wildlife photograpy packages which include ‘in the field’ and ‘evening’ workshops, lead by award-winning photography John Lehmann.
Tutka Bay Lodge, Alaska, USA
Tutka Bay Lodge, on the edge of Kachemak Bay State Park, is accessible by water taxi from Homer. It’s remote location makes a haven for wildlife and guests alike. The area is on the migratory route for as many as 25 different bird species so spring is a great time to visit for birdwatching enthusiasts; look out for Black Oystercatchers, Rock Sandpipers and Pacific Golden-Plovers. In summer, take a boat trip across to Gull Island, home to nesting Horned and Tufted Puffins. The iconic Bald Eagle is also a common sight.
Take a bear viewing flight to a remote beach location to see coastal Brown Bears grazing along the shoreline. The journey there is almost as thrilling; see Alaska’s incredible landscape from the air; you’ll pass over giant glaciers and even an active volcano (or seven)! You can also go trekking to Grewingk Glacier, where you can even take a short walk to a small lake located at the foot of the glacier and paddle amongst ice floes! You can also take a fishing excursion and catch your own salmon or halibut.
Tweedsmuir Park Lodge, British Columbia, Canada
Originally built as a hunting and fishing lodge in 1929, Tweedsmuir is located on 60 acres of land in Bella Coola on the edge of Great Bear Rainforest. The accommodations include ten timber-framed chalets on a large lawn, where you may even get to see a grazing bear right from your window.
The main bear viewing platform is just 300 metres from the lodge, on the banks of the Atnarko River. This means that, unlike many other bear lodges, you won’t have to wait for a guided tour and can make your way to the platform whenever you are ready.
Fogo Island Inn, Newfoundland, Canada
Fogo Island Inn enjoys a remote location off the coast of Gander, Newfoundland, on the far eastern edge of Canada. The island has hundreds of kilometres of trails, making this other-worldly location a paradise for hikers and nature lovers of any description. Every summer, Fogo plays host to hundreds of nesting puffins. Watch out too for visiting pods of whales as they pass. Caribou were introduced here in the mid-twentieth century are still roam freely today. In fact, a caribou crossing the road is usually the cause of most ‘traffic jams’ on the island. You may also come across foxes, beavers or coyotes during your stay.
Fogo Island is also located within an area known as ‘Iceberg Alley’ due to the number of icebergs that float by on their journey down from Greenland; a surreal sight. The best time to spot a ‘berg is between mid-May and June.
Dymond Lake, Nanuk Polar Bear & Seal River Heritage Lodges, Manitoba, Canada
Seeing Polar Bears in the wild is a true bucket list holiday for lots of us and Churchill, Manitoba is the ultimate place to see them. There are 3 lodges here, each offering tours for up to 13 nights. Depending on the time of year that you visit, you can hope to see a huge array of wildlife. As well as Polar Bears, you could also be lucky enough to see Beluga Whales, wolves, Black Bears, moose, foxes and hares.
Churchill is also a fabulous place to view Aurora Borealis during the winter months.
This is just a selection of the wildlife and wilderness lodges that are dotted throughout North America. If you would like to visit any of these incredible lodges for yourself, or if you have another one in mind, contact us today to get planning a once-in-a-lifetime trip!
