Spirit
Bear Activities
Whether you
want a specific type of trip on the Spirit Bear or you'd like to
do everything you possibly can, we design each voyage to your needs
and desires. Whale watching, bird watching, photography, kayaking,
exploring island villages or simply exploring the shoreline of the
Gulf Islands- any and all are possible.
Sea Kayaking
The Spirit Bear is owned and operated by Northern Lights
Expeditions, the world's premier sea kayaking outfitter for 25 years.
This isn't simply a charter yacht that has a couple of kayaks aboard;
each voyage has one triple, one double and two single, expedition
quality fiberglass sea kayaks and first class accessories. The triple
works great for two paddlers and adds an extra seat in the middle
for anyone too young to paddle or who just wants to go along for
the ride.
Your skippers
are experienced naturalists and your guide is a professional sea
kayak tour guide and naturalist. Kayaking can be your focus every
day or it can simply be something you try whenever you feel like
it. One thing is for sure: you'll have the luxury of being dropped
off for kayaking in the most ideal kayaking spots and, when you've
had enough, the Spirit Bear will be there to pick you up.
Fishing
The Spirit Bear carries quality fishing gear for your use. Crab
traps are aboard as well and you can help your skipper catch a meal
of sweet, fresh Dungeness crab.
You're welcome
to try your hand at fishing for salmon from the Spirit Bear, our
13' inflatable skiff, or from your kayaks. If you don't care to
fish yourself, your skipper can try to catch a meal while you're
out kayaking.
Photography
Few places on earth rival the Gulf Islands region of the Inside
Passage for scenic beauty. Combined with nearly unlimited opportunities
to photograph whales, seals, eagles and all the other myriad wildlife
found here, the combination of the Spirit Bear and the remarkable
habitat are a photographer's dream. Our skipper and our guides are
always happy to help you get the sometimes elusive shots you will
want to take home and treasure.
Bird Watching
While eagles are our signature bird on this coast - and there are
plenty of them - over 50 species of birds can be seen in our cruising
waters. Eagles are most abundant early in the summer, and migrating
sea birds are found in the second half of the season. Endangered
marbled murrelets are common here all season long, as well as our
many residents, such as rhinoceros auklets, pigeon guillemots and
black oystercatchers. The Spirit Bear is equipped with high quality,
image-stabilizing Nikon binoculars for your use.
Whale Watching
The Spirit Bear is perhaps the most idea whale watching vessel on
the water. With lots of windows and a full deck all the way around
the boat, passengers can watch whales from any place on the deck
or even from inside the wheelhouse or cabin area. Our Gulf Islands
voyages are in the waters of a well-known “southern community”
of orcas and we have the possibility of sightings of orcas and minke
whales almost any day. Dolphins often approach the Spirit Bear and
ride along just under the bow.
Hiking & Roaming the
Islands
If you want to stretch your legs during our voyages, we'll choose
coves to anchor in that are near great hiking trails or quiet country
roads. We can learn about the varied flora and fauna of the many
islands of the archipelago and we can beachcomb almost anywhere
you choose. We can easily find easy-going island communities to
wander around and country lanes to exercise our legs on as well
as sandy beaches to explore. You also have the option of some longer
inland hikes to fantastic viewpoints and among the region's lush
forests.
Our 13' inflatable
skiff with its powerful outboard motor allows us to approach and
land on many types of shoreline and head into very shallow water.
Native
Sites
If you want to learn about the Native cultural history of the area,
you won’t find another area with more opportunities. The Provincial
Museum in Victoria can be visited before or after your voyage. And
numerous surrounding communities celebrate the heritage. And a Native
dance troupe in Victoria offers historically authentic performances.
Victoria
Area
 The
city and environs of Victoria are together one of the most appealing
vacation destinations you can imagine. The British ambience of the
province’s capitol city lends a unique aspect to your time
here. The world famous Butchart Gardens are just minutes from the
Spirit Bear’s moorage in Sidney, BC. Ocean beaches and many
lovely Bed & Breakfasts are close by. Victoria is quite cosmopolitan
and a variety of international restaurants is also at your disposal.
We encourage you to consider either arriving early or extending
your stay after your Spirit Bear voyage, to take advantage of the
many options this area has to offer.
 Island
Farms, Artisans and Villages
The Gulf Islands are known for their many quaint villages where
you can browse local shops and galleries or relax with a coffee
or even a gourmet meal. We can also tour the island's wineries,
farms, farmer's markets and shops of local artisans - with so much
variety we can tailor the focus to your interest.
"I can't overstate how very much we enjoyed our stay on the
Spirit Bear. I don't think I knew exactly what to expect, but the
combination of boat and crew was perfect."
Karen Elting, New York
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