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Vancouver Island to Great Bear Rainforest Cruise
Cruise the East Coast of Vancouver Island on a Boutique, Classic Ship
An amazing journey through the wild island archipelagos on Vancouver Island’s east coast. Highlights of Desolation Sound, Discovery Islands, and the Broughton Archipelago, including wildflowers, beaches, waterfalls, seabirds, marine mammals, rainforests, and exploring.
Some departures may have slightly modified itineraries. Please confirm the itinerary with an Expedition Specialist.
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Vancouver Island to Great Bear Rainforest Cruise itinerary:
Day 1: Board at Campbell River. Cruising Quadra Island and Vancouver Island shores. Seymour Narrows, the dividing line between southern and northern climates. Historic Ripple Rock, watch for porpoises. Rainforest walk. Anchorage Port Neville.
Day 2: Johnstone Strait and the steep-sided islands of the Broughton Archipelago.
Day 3: Coastal villages, Alert Bay cultural centre, marine mammals.
Day 4: Sailing Cape Caution, exploring western islands and beaches of southern Great Bear.
Day 5: Further outer coast exploration in small boats and on beaches. Cruising Fitzhugh Sound and the central Great Bear Rainforest inlets. Shore trips on west coast beach, viewing intertidal life, coastal bog forest trail, rainforest. Watch for sea otters, seabirds, humpback whales and possible wolves.
Day 6: Further exploration among the fjords and inner channels of the Great Bear Rainforest. Possible hot springs visit. Wildlife viewing – typically marine mammals and possible spring bears.
Day 7: Exploring spectacular Fjordland in spring, including two of its beautiful estuaries. Watch for mountain goats above the ocean, and bears in meadows.
Day 8: Sailing among the fjords, exploring out of the way places in spring.
Day 9: Cruising to Bella Bella, watching for wildlife en route.
Itineraries are subject to change.
Vancouver Island to Great Bear Rainforest Cruise reverse itinerary:
Itineraries are subject to change.
Day 7: Exploring spectacular Fjordland in spring, including two of its beautiful estuaries. Watch for mountain goats above the ocean, and bears in meadows.
Day 8: Sailing among the fjords, exploring out of the way places in spring.
Day 9: Cruising to Bella Bella, watching for wildlife en route.
Day 4: Sailing Cape Caution, exploring western islands and beaches of southern Great Bear.
Day 5: Further outer coast exploration in small boats and on beaches. Cruising Fitzhugh Sound and the central Great Bear Rainforest inlets. Shore trips on west coast beach, viewing intertidal life, coastal bog forest trail, rainforest. Watch for sea otters, seabirds, humpback whales and possible wolves.
Day 6: Further exploration among the fjords and inner channels of the Great Bear Rainforest. Possible hot springs visit. Wildlife viewing – typically marine mammals and possible spring bears.
Day 1: Board at Campbell River. Cruising Quadra Island and Vancouver Island shores. Seymour Narrows, the dividing line between southern and northern climates. Historic Ripple Rock, watch for porpoises. Rainforest walk. Anchorage Port Neville.
Day 2: Johnstone Strait and the steep-sided islands of the Broughton Archipelago.
Day 3: Coastal villages, Alert Bay cultural centre, marine mammals.
Maple Leaf
Vessel Type: Schooner
Length: 92f / 28m
Passenger Capacity: 8
Maple Leaf is a 92-foot wooden schooner built in 1904, designed for intimate coastal exploration with a maximum of eight guests. She offers a deeply personal, human-scale experience that prioritises direct engagement with the natural world, accessing remote coastlines, rivers and anchorages unreachable by larger ships. Accommodation is simple but warm: four semi-private sleeping areas, shared washrooms, and communal spaces centred on conversation, observation and shared meals prepared onboard. Stability under sail, long range, and a highly experienced crew make her exceptionally capable despite her modest size.
Constructed from Douglas fir, yellow cedar and mahogany, Maple Leaf blends working-vessel toughness with Edwardian craftsmanship and modern functionality. Life on board revolves around open decks, zodiac landings, kayaking, wildlife observation and, for those inclined, hands-on sailing under crew guidance. Her long history — from luxury yacht to high-performing halibut fishing vessel to pioneering expedition ship — gives the experience a sense of continuity and authenticity. Travel aboard Maple Leaf is immersive, physically engaging, and deliberately unpolished, favouring depth, access and presence over luxury conventions.
