Abstract
About 80 km north of Campbell River, in the northern part of Vancouver Island, lies a remote and wild region called Knight Inlet. One of the largest fjords in British Columbia, Knight Inlet offers visitors a spectacular landscape of steep, forested walls plunging into dark green and deep blue waters fed by glaciers.
About 60 km from the mouth of the fjord is the Knight Inlet Lodge, a floating lodge located in Glendale Cove, one of the few protected anchorages within the fjord. From here, you will set out each day for your adventure.
Glendale Cove is located in the heart of the highest concentration of grizzly bears in British Columbia. During peak season in the fall, when the salmon return to the river, it is not uncommon to see up to 50 bears within 8 km of the lodge. Although their numbers are especially high in autumn, this is not the only season for grizzly sightings in Glendale Cove. As early as late April, bears return to the estuary after hibernation and begin the year feeding on the abundant grasses and succulent plants in the area.
The Knight Inlet Lodge offers a complete immersion into the most authentic and wild nature. Each package is designed to give you a close encounter with wildlife: grizzly bears moving along the shores, eagles soaring above the treetops, seals and whales emerging from the waters of the fjord. The guided excursions are not just activities, but deep experiences, led by expert guides who help you read the language of nature and understand its delicate balance.
The floating lodge becomes a refuge suspended between water and forest: an intimate, welcoming, and peaceful place where every window opens onto an untouched landscape. After a day of exploration, you can relax while watching the sunset paint the fjord in gold and pink, as nature quietly continues its course all around you.
Whether for a short stay or a more complete experience, every package at Knight Inlet Lodge is an invitation to slow down, observe, and be amazed by one of the planet’s last great wilderness sanctuaries.,
Characteristics
Individual package, All Knight Inlet Lodge packages ALWAYS include the first night at the Comfort Inn & Suites in Campbell River.
Guests with cars must make their own way to the floatplane departure base (a 5-minute drive from the hotel; directions are provided locally). Paid parking is available at the floatplane dock (approximately CAD 5 per day – subject to change at any time).
For guests flying into Campbell River, transfers are included from Campbell River Airport to the Comfort Inn on the day of arrival, from the hotel to the floatplane terminal on day 2, and from the floatplane terminal back to Campbell River Airport on the day of departure.
Return floatplane flight from the Campbell River floatplane dock to Knight Inlet Lodge (check-in at 08:15, return flight arrives in Campbell River at 11:15).,
Itinerary
Giorno 1 — Campbell River
Arrive at Campbell River, the rest of the day available, Accommodation for the first night of your Knight Inlet Lodge package will be at Comfort Inn & Suites in Campbell River. Passengers must reconfirm the floatplane departure time upon check-in. Rooms are available for check in beginning at 15:00.. Accommodation Kanazawa Central Annex.
Giorno 2 — Campbell River → Knight Inlet
Breakfast, Check-out of the room, Transfer at 07:45 from the hotel to the floatplane base (for those who arrived in Campbell River by flight from Vancouver), while guests with rental cars will reach the departure base independently. The floatplane departs at 09:00 for a approximately 45-minute flight to Knight Inlet Lodge, where you will be welcomed in the lodge’s common area with a traditional reception., Once settled in at the lodge, and following a brief orientation, you will embark on a small boat excursion in the estuary. Two 2-hour tours follow in the afternoon; one of these tours is a bearviewing tour (by boat in the spring and summer and on a viewing platform in the fall), and the other will be a Knight Inlet sightseeing cruise. You will be accompanied on all excursions by a knowledgeable guide trained in the local wildlife and natural history of the area., In the evening relax in the lounge while enjoying an interpretive presentation by one of the guides.. Accommodation,
Giorno 3 — Knight Inlet
Full board at the lodge, The lodge offers a program of excursions to Johnstone Strait for marine wildlife viewing, as well as opportunities to observe other wildlife depending on location and availability. There are also excursions into the inner reaches of Knight Inlet to admire the stunning fjord landscapes. Bear viewing tours are usually conducted by boat in spring and summer, and from viewing platforms in autumn.
Additional activities include interpretive forest walks in the Glendale Cove area and kayak tours of Glendale Cove.
Most activities are marine-based and are always strongly dependent on weather conditions.. Accommodation,
Giorno 4 — Knight Inlet
Full board at the lodge, The lodge offers a program of excursions to Johnstone Strait for marine wildlife viewing, as well as opportunities to observe other wildlife depending on location and availability. There are also excursions into the inner reaches of Knight Inlet to admire the stunning fjord landscapes. Bear viewing tours are usually conducted by boat in spring and summer, and from viewing platforms in autumn.
Additional activities include interpretive forest walks in the Glendale Cove area and kayak tours of Glendale Cove.
Most activities are marine-based and are always strongly dependent on weather conditions.. Accommodation,
Giorno 5 — Knight Inlet
Breakfast, On your departure day, you will have the opportunity to join one last boat excursion for bear viewing before the 10:30 floatplane transfer back to Campbell River, arriving at 11:15.
We recommend not booking tight connections (flights, ferries, etc.), as delays in floatplane operations may occur due to weather and/or sea conditions.
For guests who arrived in Campbell River by air, a transfer from the floatplane base to the airport is included. For those travelling with rental cars, the package ends here: guests can collect their vehicle from the parking area and continue their journey independently.,
Notes
ROOMS: The rooms are always and only for 1 or 2 beds. The terms triple, quadruple, family room refer solely to the number of occupants, who will be accommodated in the existing beds (maximum 2 beds). An additional bed (rollaway), even if requested at the time of booking, is always subject to availability and payment of a local supplement. Requests for rooms with a double bed or twin beds, connecting rooms, adjacent rooms, on higher or lower floors, etc., are always subject to availability and are never guaranteed.. TRAVEL DOCUMENTS: Participants must ensure before departure that they have the necessary and valid documentation for entry into the countries visited during the tour.. MINIMUM AGE: 8 years old. SMOKING: smoking is not allowed on buses and in hotels.. HOTEL, CHECK-OUT: The room must be vacated in the morning, by the time indicated by the hotel; the surcharge for late check-out is equal to an extra night.. HOTEL FINAL LIST: indicated in the travel documents. HOTEL / ITINERARY, CHANGES: The organizing company reserves the right to modify the itinerary and/or the planned accommodations if required by unforeseen circumstances and if necessary for the safety and smooth continuation of the trip.. HOTEL, CHECK-IN: as a rule, rooms are assigned starting from 2-3 pm; any early check-in is at the hotel's discretion. The request for a guaranteed early assignment requires booking an extra night prior to arrival.. INTOLERANCES AND SPECIAL DIETARY REGIMES: food intolerances (allergies, celiac disease, etc.) and special dietary regimes (vegan, etc.) must be communicated at the time of booking. Special menus or treatments are not provided or guaranteed, but we will do our best to accommodate the needs of participants. Notifications made after arrival will not be taken into consideration.. MEALS: not included unless specified.. PUNCTUALITY: we recommend respecting the scheduled times. No refunds are provided for services missed due to customer delays.. REFUNDS: There are no refunds for parts of the tour or excursions not carried out due to force majeure; in any case, no refund is due to the customer who decides to interrupt the trip or stay..
Starts from
3 days / 2 nights - from Campbell River to Knight Inlet.
Meals
Legend: B breakfast, L lunch, D dinner.
Price includes
Accommodation at the scheduled hotel (or similar). Meals: breakfasts, lunches, dinners. KNIGHT INLET LODGE PACKAGES: Breakfast at the Comfort Inn and full board at Knight Inlet Lodge (alcoholic beverages excluded); return floatplane transfers; transfers to/from Campbell River Airport for guests arriving by air; use of hotel amenities, including the oceanside sauna and cold plunge, expanded hiking trails, outdoor fire pits, and common areas featuring Indigenous art; evening interpretive program; interpretive guide on all excursions; rain gear and rubber boots provided; designated paid parking space at the Campbell River floatplane base (to be requested at the time of booking); complimentary secure luggage storage at the Campbell River floatplane base (if required; see special notes for weight limits).,
Price does not include
Opening fee and Zero Risk coverage. Medical-luggage-cancellation insurance. Unmentioned meals, beverages and extras in general. Tip. Flights and airport taxes. Everything not expressly mentioned in "The fee includes".
Important notes
This experience is suitable for everyone with a minimum/moderate level of physical fitness. It includes walks of 100–200 metres over rocky, slippery, uneven, and muddy terrain.
Please note that all rooms at the Knight Inlet Lodge are located at sea level and are not accessible by elevators.
The lodge does not have in-room telephones. A public telephone is available on site. There is no TV, internet access, or mobile network coverage: the lodge promotes a “digital detox” experience.
Before arriving at Knight Inlet Lodge, all guests are required to sign a Liability Waiver / Waiver of Claims, Assumption of Risk and Indemnity Agreement, which must also be handed in at the departure point of the transfer. These documents will be provided prior to departure and must be carefully read before signing.
Each guest may bring one carry-on bag with a maximum weight of 10 kg (30 lb). No additional luggage is allowed at the lodge; any excess baggage may be subject to a surcharge or must be left at the ground terminal before departure. Luggage is transported on the same aircraft as the passenger.
Daily activities may be modified or adjusted depending on weather and sea conditions.
Upon arrival, guests are divided into groups for excursions in order to ensure the best possible experience. The guide-to-guest ratio is approximately 1 guide per 5–8 guests.
Guests are required to inform the lodge of any dietary requirements at the time of booking; the chef will do their best to accommodate them. It is also recommended to report any allergies.
Hiking shoes or waterproof boots with good grip are recommended. The lodge provides rubber boots and high-quality waterproof clothing.,
Cancellation policies
CANCELLATION PENALTIES:
From the time of booking: 10% of the total amount
From 44 to 31 days before arrival: 30% of the total amount
From 30 days before arrival up to the arrival date: 100% of the total amount
DEPOSIT:
At the time of booking, a 20% deposit is required. The remaining balance must be paid within 30 days before the departure date.,