Wild landscapes, home to an incredible diversity of life; North America can see you tracking grizzly bears on foot one minute, and soaring through the skies on a bi-plane the next.
One thing that distinguishes this area from other parts of the world is the sense of sheer wide open space and unchartered wilderness. Alaska is vast and dramatic, with towering peaks and plunging valleys, and it enjoys a huge number of ecosystems that have remained unaltered by time. For many this encapsulates the mystery of the ‘Great Land’ and some of the journeys you will experience en route to the remote lodges we feature are incredible in themselves, and there is no other exhilarating way to witness this land than by 2-seater aircraft landing gliding into the wild. Waking each morning immersed in 100% natural surroundings, miles from any other road, is something to fully absorb.
Perhaps start in Bella Bella on the Pacific Yellowfin, scouring the coast in search of grizzly bears in the Desolation Sound or Great Bear Rainforest - or indeed other wildlife. Bella Coola Valley’s luscious green valleys, mountains and river banks also provide the ideal setting for wild encounters with bears and other animals roaming undisturbed amidst the natural splendour. Far north in Churchill on the shores of the Hudson Bay, this polar bear territory has even been penned the ‘Polar Bear Capital of the World’, where these great white bears can be seen hunting for food sources on the pan ice at the end of the summer months, with observation decks and tundra buggies allowing for some outstanding once-in-a-lifetime encounters with the majestic bears. Deeply rooted in the great outdoors, the areas of Canada that we concentrate on are for many a nature and wildlife lover’s utopia.
One of the considerations when travelling to this forbidding land is the extreme seasonal differences you may experience. In some of the far northern towns of Alaska, sunlight may be a stranger for up to 82 days, whilst in summer months of June and July you can experience 24 hour daylight. Churchill too has similar extremes, and you should check our when to travel advice to ensure you visit these superlative destinations at the right time for you, whether you want an Arctic bear safari, whale watching expedition or catch the Northern Lights in their full glory.
Combine sheer luxury with true wilderness on this extraordinary getaway to Denali National Park, where you'll spend four nights in a mountaintop chalet indulging in fine wines, sumptuous cuisine and unparalleled vistas, with plenty of time for skiing, snowshoeing, stargazing and helicopter flights thrown in for good measure.
From £12,625 per person
A unique opportunity to swim with some of the most relaxed marine mammals in the world as they traverse the coastline of rugged Dominica.
From £7,500 per person
Explore the Great Bear Rainforest, the largest piece of intact temperate rainforest in the world, and come face to face with the magnificent grizzly bears on the annual Salmon run. Watch for Grizzly and Black Bears passing through the grounds at Tweedsmuir Park Lodge. Set out each day on a variety of excursions, from drifting down the river watching grizzly bears as they fish, taking scenic helicopter flights over glaciated valleys, embarking on nature walks through the forests or just soaking in the hot tub.
From £5,082 per person
Travel deep into the Great Bear Rainforest, the largest intact temperate rainforest in the world, home to an abundance of grizzlies, black bears and the elusive spirit bears. Snow-capped peaks overlook spectacular fjords and ancient forests with 1000 year old cedars teeming with wildlife. Bears forage for roots and berries or gorge on salmon, wolves hide between trees, eagles wait patiently ready to swoop and the Pacific coastal waters welcome orca, grey and humpback whales.
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