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You’ll start this unique adventure off in the remote Chilcotin town of Anahim Lake, set in the interior Chilcotin Plateau. The guides will pick you up at the airport and bring you down the road to nearby Nimpo Lake, “The Float Plane Capital of British Columbia,” where you gear up to fly into the wilderness. Your guides will be going over what to bring into the backcountry, and make sure you’re all set for this wilderness paradise! After boarding our trustee 1949 De Havilland Beaver Float Plane, you’ll fly into the deep heart of BC’s Coastal Mountains.
After your 20 minute flight, you'll be dropped in a remote alpine valley, set deep in the remote Coast Mountains, which is your base camp for the next few nights. The backcountry cabin is set on an exclusive access wilderness lake, in one of the most scenic alpine settings, bordered by beautiful snow-capped mountains, white sandy beach and turquoise coloured glacial fed water of the lake itself. A truly unique cabin and alpine setting that will leave you breathless. You’ll be overwhelmed by the beauty of this place, and be happy to just stay here the rest of the trip!
Accommodation: Backcountry cabin, Coast Mountains. Includes lunch & dinner.
Note: Guests, gear and supplies are flown directly into the backcountry cabin base.
An early rise to the sounds of the wilderness. After a delicious breakfast you’ll gear up for a day of exploring the beautiful wilderness valley. You’ll hike up to a nearby glacier & glacier lake, and depending on how the group is feeling, you can explore part of Wilderness Mountain. This mountain offers an accessible fun ridge-line, which has incredible expansive views over the Coast Mountains and Waddington Range. The evening will be spent canoeing around the lakeside & taking in the inspiring surroundings. Accommodation: Backcountry cabin, Coast Mountains. Includes breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Today you’ll be getting your legs working yet again, as you set out for another full day of hiking in this pristine alpine paradise. Depending on the weather and how the group's feeling you’ll make your way up a nearby peak called Flat Top Mountain, offering spectacular views over Mt Monarch and her nearby jagged peaks. This route is a fabulous full day hike, which has us taking a super scenic cirque down the west side of Flat Top Mountain, walking through alpine flowers, pristine alpine lakes, and an area where wild caribou like to hang out. Accommodation: Backcountry cabin, Coast Mountains. Includes breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Today’s your last day in the backcountry, and you’ll have to pack up your belongings and prepare for the return to Nimpo Lake, where the vehicle is based. Today you’ll be taking turns flying out from the backcountry lake in the early afternoon, as The Beaver and our trustee pilot take you out of the wilderness on an incredible scenic flight! This scenic flight was voted one of the Top 5 in the world! Enjoy some leisure time - light hikes, reading, canoeing or fishing - while you wait for your flight.
You’ll start off by flying over the Monarch Ice Fields. These Ice Fields are some of the most heavily glaciated sub-polar mountain ranges on earth. You will have a chance of seeing BC’s highest peak, Mount Waddington, pierce through the sky at an impressive 4016m.
Add in an astonishing amount of glaciers and brilliant turquoise filled lakes, vastness, and majestic Coastal Mountains, this flight makes for a memorable experience. View Canada’s third highest waterfall, Hunlen Falls (250m), along with views of the remote lake chains of Turner Lakes. Talk about flying high! It’s a truly remarkable and soul-inspiring experience. Arriving back to Nimpo Lake, you’ll have some free time to enjoy a good hot shower, and some down time to yourself, before a nice gourmet dinner. Tonight’s accommodation is set right on Nimpo Lake, in some comfortable classic Canadian log cabins. Accommodation: Lakeside lodge cabin, Nimpo Lake. Includes breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Enjoying the call of the Loons, waking to diving Ospreys, and Muskrats and Beavers making their way across the shoreline, you’ll enjoy a delicious breakfast and great coffee, before you set out for another day of beauty and adventure! Today’s more of a relaxed style of day, as you’ll be making your way to the gateway of the Great Bear Rainforest and coastal town of Bella Coola. You’ll drive the famous “Heckman Pass”, altitude 1524m and grades up to 18%, which takes us into the stunning & remote Bella Coola Valley. This deep glacial-carved valley is an undiscovered natural paradise. Abundant wildlife, giant cedar trees, mountains, glaciers and waterfalls; this is a landscape that will stay with you forever. Truly a secret place that inspires all adventure seekers! A place that is not touristy, but is 'off the beaten path' and jaw dropping gorgeous, be the first to tell your friends about it!
This afternoon you’ll board a private chartered vessel and head out into the South Bentick Arm of the Bella Coola Fjord, and explore the waterways of this magical place. Our Captain is a true local, who loves sharing his knowledge and adventures of living in such a wild place! He’ll take you to some secret hot springs set deep in some giant coastal cedar trees, where you can soak your tired muscles!
Returning back to land, you’ll take a short hike to see the ancient petroglyphs (rock carvings). Set amongst the giant cedar trees, these carvings are said to be some of the oldest, dating from over 10,000 years ago! Accommodation: Lodge, Bella Coola. Includes breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Rising early, you set out to go see grizzly bears!
You'll leave in the early morning with a professional local Bear Guide. This guided bear watching trip takes place in river drift boats and rafts, which provide for unique opportunities to see these animals from the river wilderness while they feed and fish for salmon on the river’s edge. Grizzly bear watching extraordinaire!
If there is one way to see the beautiful 'Kings' of the forests, this drift tour is the one! It’s a must do for everyone visiting the dramatic Bella Coola Valley.
After some lunch, it’s time to explore more of this beautiful valley. You’ll head out to experience one of the numerous hikes, which meander through ancient & tall giant cedars, lush green mossy forest and fern covered undergrowth. It’s a completely different environment compared to our recent hikes in the Chilcotin. You would never guess this dramatic variety of landscapes existed so close! Accommodation: Lodge, Bella Coola. Includes breakfast, lunch and dinner.
The last day of your unique adventure through The Great Canadian Wilderness… You’ll go for a walk amongst the giant cedar trees, and visit some local art galleries before making airport drop offs at the local Bella Coola Airport. The trip ends at 11am. Guests will have to fly out of Bella Coola back to Vancouver, a stunning 1hr flight along the spine of the Coast Mountains. Includes breakfast.
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