DISCOVER A NATURAL CONNECTION
Enjoy the natural beauty of British Columbia, a region known for its stunning scenery, spectacular wildlife and sustainability initiatives
As an unspoilt oasis of flourishing landscapes, British Columbia in Canada is home to diverse wildlife, including rare species such as the white Kermode bear. Though it doesn’t have a large human population, those that do live here have a deep respect for nature and are constantly driving new sustainability initiatives that aim to help the region – and the planet – thrive.
It will come as no surprise, then, that this is where Greenpeace was founded
(in Vancouver) more than 50 years ago, and this green mentality remains intrinsic to British Columbia today. It’s the birthplace of many pioneering sustainable initiatives, such as seaplane operator Harbour Air’s development of the ePlane and pledge to become the world’s first all-electric airline.
The 203 Indigenous communities that live here also maintain a deep connection to the land, water and animals, and are keen to help visitors to do the same. By adopting a more responsible approach to tourism, you’ll enjoy a more authentic experience while you’re here, and be helping to safeguard all that is valuable to the people of British Columbia.
The ‘British Columbia Effect’ is the idea that time spent in nature can make you happier, healthier, more creative and less stressed. And, whether you want to soak up the soothing powers of the ocean, relax in the rainforest or find clarity in the peaceful mountains, there’s nowhere better to experience nature’s ability to help you heal and unwind than in this beautiful region.
RAINFORESTS
Luscious, wild and home to nearly 25% of the world’s temperate rainforest, the Great Bear Rainforest stretches across six million hectares of British Columbia’s central and northern coastline. It’s teeming with a variety of animals including eagles, deer, cougars and, of course, bears.
If you’re keen to spot these incredible mammals, spend time at Great Bear Lodge. As a wildlife destination in the heart of the rainforest, it allows you to spend your days viewing magnificent grizzlies and your nights enjoying hearty, delicious meals in a spectacular setting. What’s more, by staying at Great Bear Lodge, you’ll be supporting the important work it does in partnership with the Bear ID project to conserve the bear population worldwide.
The ground-breaking initiative uses camera traps scattered throughout the landscape and new bear facial recognition technology to track grizzly bears’ movements. It allows for much cheaper, less intrusive and more extensive monitoring, which will ultimately help the species to prosper.
OCEANS
With 25,725km of coastline, no trip to British Columbia is complete without a breath of fresh, ocean air, and a closer look at the marine life that swims beneath the pristine waters.
Take a trip to the Sunshine Coast, which is tucked into the southwestern corner of mainland British Columbia. Boating season is year-round here, so there are many cruise tours which can help you spot the orcas, porpoises, whales and sea lions who call these waters home.
Of course, you can’t forget Vancouver Island, which is widely cited as the best place in the world to see orcas. It seems that its claims to that title are holding true, as last year the J-Pod, a group of 24 resident orcas based off the southern-tip of the island in the Salish Sea, welcomed two new calves.
To further immerse yourself in the region’s marine conservation projects, head to indigenousowned Knight Inlet Lodge, where you can discover how ecologists are working to increase pink salmon numbers. It’s so far seen fantastic results, with the survival rate for eggs spawned directly into the river increase from around 5% to as high as 80%. This will help to rejuvenate the local ecosystem and play an important part in feeding British Columbia’s healthy bear population in the years to come.
MOUNTAINS
With 10 major mountain ranges spanning British Columbia, complete with glacial-fed lakes and crystalline glaciers, adventure and beauty are in easy reach. Sitting proudly in the south-eastern corner of the province the Kootenay Rockies are comprised of several different ranges including the Purcells, Selkirks and Monashees. Wedged between
the craggy mountains are wide, stretching valleys that are home to large numbers of grizzly and black bears, deer, elk, big horn sheep, mountain goats and moose making the area one of the best for spotting these large mammals.
If you’re looking for a challenge with great rewards, then hike through the dense subalpine forest to Paget Fire Lookout at Yoho National Park. Throughout your hike you’ll walk among protected whitebark and limber pine trees, and take in views of the Continental Divide and surrounding peaks and river valleys. On your hike, you’ll be asked to download the Inaturalist app on your smartphone, which will help you discover the diverse flora and fauna and identify keystone species from fungi to elk. Using the app also helps to log the different species so you will be taking part in the research that is helping protect them.
Audley Travel can plan your getaway to beautiful British Columbia. Visit Audley.travel/wildBC to find out more. Visit hellobc.com for more information on British Columbia.