I am thrilled to announce my latest spring grizzly bear photography tours in May 2025 to the northern reaches of British Columbia’s beautiful Great Bear Rainforest, including 4.5-5.5 full days in the world famous Khutzeymateen Grizzly Bear Sanctuary on each tour. The 7-night trip includes a 6-hour exploratory journey up the coast north of Prince Rupert to the Khutzeymateen. On both trips, we spend the majority of our time searching for grizzly bears, black bears, wolves and other wildlife amid the magnificent coastal scenery of the Great Bear Rainforest. On the longer trip, participants may also see humpback whales, sea lions or orcas.

The lush, green Great Bear Rainforest is a globally-unique wilderness treasure — the planet’s last remaining intact coastal temperate rainforest. Located on the northern BC coast, it includes Canada’s only grizzly bear sanctuary, the Khutzeymateen. Participants on this trip will be one of less than 400 people annually who are gifted with the intense and intimate overnight experience of sharing in the rich and diverse lives of the grizzlies of the Khutzeymateen.

This is a unique, one-of-a-kind trip that is only offered by Canadian Wildlife Photography Tours aboard the AfterGlow (the boat that I will also be aboard this year for my trip to the Great Bear Rainforest in September in search of spirit bears). We regularly see 15-25 different grizzlies on each trip! We also almost always photograph bald eagles, harbour seals, river otters, mink, belted kingfishers and more. And on more than 50% of these first-of-the-season trips, we see and photograph coastal sea wolves.

The longer trip includes the 6-hour leisurely journey by boat from Prince Rupert into Khutzeymateen Inlet, exploring and searching for wildlife along the way. We sometimes find orcas, humpback whales, pacific white-sided dolphins, river otters, swans, and mink along our journey north.

The majority of the time on each trip will be spent in the Khutzeymateen Grizzly Bear Sanctuary, where you can expect to photograph and observe grizzlies from the zodiac and the larger boat at extremely close range (some of the photos shown on this page were taken with a 70-200mm lens) with a seasoned bear viewing guide. These are some of the first trips of the season into the Khutzeymateen, so participants will be the first to see the bears as they emerge from hibernation and make their way into the quickly-greening estuary.

The AfterGlow was chosen for this trip because the boat and crew have the reputation of being the best at what they do when it comes to operating ethical wildlife photography trips on the B.C. Coast. You can expect professional service, superb guiding, good food, and clean, comfortable quarters. We will use the boat as a base, and a motorized inflatable to transfer people between the boat and the shore, as we explore one of the last great temperate rainforests in the world.

Expect this to be a unique and exciting photo tour that will challenge every skill you have as a wildlife photographer. You will likely shoot hand-held or from a monopod in a wide variety of situations and weather conditions.

Itinerary of Longer Trip

This itinerary is a sample only – the exact itinerary of our trip will be dictated by factors such as weather, tides, and photo opportunities, with the crew working within the parameters of safety, time, and the highlights of the area.

Participants will be expected to arrive in Prince Rupert on May 9th prepared for an early morning departure on the 10th.

The first day will be spent traveling north towards and into Khutzeymateen Inlet, exploring the Great Bear Rainforest and enjoying the splendor of the surrounding area. Opportunities for wildlife viewing and photography will occur on each day; however, please be aware that the weather conditions and the location of wildlife will dictate the frequency of such activities.

The rest of each trip will be spent in the Khutzeymateen Grizzly Bear Sanctuary focusing on photographing grizzly bears and other wildlife and scenery. After breakfast on the morning of the 16th, we’ll depart the AfterGlow aboard a float plane for our short trip back to Prince Rupert, where the trip will conclude (that same float plane is the one that the second group will come in on).

This trip requires a moderate level of fitness and may involve a bit of walking and hiking on uneven and wet terrain. Participants should be mobile enough to climb ladders and get in and out of a zodiac. Weather conditions may be variable and participants must be prepared for adverse weather including torrential rain and cold spring temperatures. Although conditions may be difficult at times, the rewards are worth it, as you become part of just a small percentage of people who have explored the wonders of the Khutzeymateen Grizzly Bear Sanctuary and the Great Bear Rainforest!

Maximum six participants (plus your trip leader, John E. Marriott).

The Khutzeymateen Spring Grizzly Bear Photography Price includes the float plane trip from the AfterGlow back to Prince Rupert on the 16th (and the float plane trip into the Khutzeymateen on the 16th and out on the 21st for the shorter tour). It also includes accommodation and dinner in Prince Rupert prior to the start of the trip on the 9th and accommodation prior to the trip on the 15th.

All Canadian Wildlife Photography Tours are non-smoking tours. Participants will be required to sign waivers and accept our Terms and Conditions.

Please note that a $1250 non-refundable deposit via cheque or email bank transfer is required to reserve your spot on a Khutzeymateen Grizzly Bear Photography Tour. The balance owing, including gst, is due 120 days prior to your trip departure and is also non-refundable; however, upon cancellation, this balance owing may be transferred to another workshop or tour if John is able to fill your spot. We highly recommend all workshop and tour participants purchase independent trip cancellation insurance to protect against unforeseen circumstances.