Naturally Pacific Resort has partnered with Campbell River Whale Watching & Adventure Tours to offer October Grizzly Getaways
Naturally Pacific Resort has partnered with Campbell River Whale Watching & Adventure Tours to offer October Grizzly Getaways
Those staying at Vancouver Island’s Naturally Pacific Resort this fall can watch some four-legged locals go fishing.
The lodge notes that throughout fall Campbell River Whale Watching & Adventure Tours offers full-day adventures across the Salish Sea to Bute and Toba Inlets, found on the edge of the Great Bear Rainforest.
From there, guests are welcomed by Homalco Wildlife & Cultural Tours (Bute Inlet) and the Klahoose First Nation (Toba Inlet), whose Indigenous guides lead guests on outings to see grizzly bears feasting on spawning salmon, with those guests spotting the bruins from raised viewing platforms along the river banks.
Naturally Pacific Resort has partnered with Campbell River Whale Watching & Adventure Tours to offer a two- and three-night October Grizzly Getaway that includes a full day trip to see grizzly bears, with savings of over $400, available from Oct. 1-20. After a day on the water, guests return to the luxury resort, where they can swap stories around the outdoor firepits, and have dinner at Carve Kitchen + Meatery, showcasing produce from the resort’s vegetable garden.
The resort has 100 guest rooms overlooking the Campbell River Golf Club and with views of the Strathcona Mountains or the Discovery Passage beyond.
“Grizzly bear tours take place at either Toba Inlet or Bute Inlet – guests can choose – and are offered as part of Naturally Pacific Resort’s October Grizzly Getaway package in partnership with Campbell River Whale Watching and Adventure Tours,” says a spokesperson for the resort. “From Naturally Pacific Resort, it’s about a 10-minute drive to the Campbell River harbour where tours depart. Guests cruise Discovery Passage to the mouth of the Toba River, within the Klahoose First Nation’s traditional territory and spend roughly three hours on land. Indigenous guides lead small groups to a series of elevated viewing platforms, where grizzlies can often be seen just 20 to 50 metres away, fishing for salmon along the riverbanks. The Toba Inlet tour runs 9 to 10 hours in total. The Bute Inlet experience also begins with a short transfer to the Campbell River harbour. From there, guests travel by high-speed covered vessel northeast into the Homalco First Nation’s traditional territory, arriving at the Orford River — an area renowned for its salmon runs that draw large numbers of grizzlies. Guests spend time ashore with Indigenous guides, moving between elevated platforms positioned along prime feeding areas. Bears can be spotted from similar distances — close enough for exceptional viewing and photography, but with safety and respect for wildlife always a top priority. The Bute Inlet tour runs 8 to 9 hours in total.”
Grizzly tours also include boat rides with the opportunity to spot marine life like orcas and humpback whales.
Fall in Campbell River offers front-row access to the annual salmon run. Resort guests can observe the migration of five salmon species swimming upstream to their spawning grounds or experience the spectacle from a new perspective by snorkelling alongside them. OceanFix Dive Shop offers the River Run Rental Package, which costs $48 plus tax and includes all necessary gear plus a self-guided map or the option to hire a river guide.
Naturally Pacific Resort is home to the Immersion Spa + Wellness, home to Canada’s only Aquaform-designed Experience Showers and Mineral Pool. The multi-sensory features combine light therapy, scent, sound and water pressure to promote wellbeing, while the magnesium-rich mineral waters help restore skin and soothe muscles after a day of outdoor adventure.
“Nature is at the heart of Naturally Pacific Resort – both in our design and in the experiences we offer,” says the spokesperson. “Our tastefully designed rooms and suites draw inspiration from the wild beauty of the surrounding coastline, forests and snow-capped mountains. The resort is a perfect launching point to explore Campbell River’s abundance of outdoor adventures including wildlife tours, heli tours and some of Vancouver Island’s best fishing, hiking, mountain biking and skiing.”
But Naturally Pacific Resort adds the spa is also a key part of its appeal.
“A holistic wellness experience is an important part of the offerings at Naturally Pacific Resort,” says the property rep. “The spa features a range of soothing, invigorating, and restorative treatments using both leading and local beauty brands. Mineral Pools blend naturally sourced minerals to soothe and detoxify, while state-of-the-art Experience Showers combine chromatherapy, aquatherapy, and aromatherapy to rejuvenate and relax.”
“With its wild beauty, abundance of outdoor adventures and restorative wellness offerings, a stay at Naturally Pacific Resort in Campbell River provides the ultimate fall escape,” the resort says. To learn more about the October Grizzly Getaway package or to book a fall getaway, visit www.naturallypacific.ca.
