Warm welcoming and informative. I enjoyed all aspects of my visit especially the stories. They made sure we saw some awesome grizzlies and marine mammals. I learned some interesting things about these animals. I hope to visit with them again

We did the Culture and Wildlife tour and would thoroughly recommend. An emotional and inspiring glimpse into the people and nature of this beautiful region. Some of the history is difficult to confront but the strength, dignity, knowledge and warmth of the Homalco people is an example to us all.

The bears were beautiful. Scenery absolutely stunning. The guides had our safety in mind all the time. We got a lot of videos and photos. Calvin was the highlight of the tour. Funny and witty and full of stories, I highly recommend the tour with Calvin, he was a gentle giant and really has a deep appreciation and understanding of the bears.

It was a great experience from start to finish, agreat boat ride with stunning views along with a very freindly and knowlegdable captain from the first nation. We were lucky enough to see several big bears close up feeding along with a mum and cub under the tower. the whole experience was not atourist trap and we were lucky to see hump backs on the way home .So bears , Eagles and whales, stunning views and great company all in one day

What a beautiful trip with some great guides. Steve - a personable guy with good local knowledge and captain of a brand new, state of the art boat. Casey - such a well spoken educator with moving stories of her family and broader community and their relationship with the local area. Lucky enough to see a humpback mother and calf onroute to the island along with a heap of sea lions. Our young family really enjoyed the trip - thanks again…

The trip Great Bears of Bute was amazing. We had so many encounters with grizzly bears, all in safe environment (either viewing platforms or standing between our tour guides, Michael and Wilson). We watched different bear activities - walking, swimming, eating, looking after a cub in different environments - along the river and in the rainforest. Michael and Wilson were very knowledgeable, experienced, professional and friendly, we couldn't wish for better tour guides. They met us as we arrived in Orford Bay Bute Inlet and we spend 3 hours there bear watching. There were lots of opportunities for photography, I got really nice photos even on my phone. The trip is for a limited number of people (there were 9 on our tour, 12 is maximum) and we did not see any other tours or people during the day. We were also introduced to the Homalco people history and culture. Our boat trip to Orford Bay and back to Campbell River was hosted by captain Ronnie and Janet who also accompanied us on the land tour. Janet told us lots of stories about Homalco people and their culture, including art. She even sang a beautiful song for us. The boat was very comfortable and food and drinks were provided. I fully recommend this trip to anyone, it was unbelievable.

Calvin, Janet, and Guy made the trip a magical experience. Calvin and Janet shared parts of Homalco culture which was lovely to learn about. We got to see grizzlies! And on the way back we found a pod of orca that were stunning. Overall a wonderful experience, everything was run smoothly and safely. Highly recommend!

We are local and always wanted to do a bear tour. We did the Great Bears of Bute Tour. This one was recommended to us and it was absolutely amazing. Guy and Janet were our boat guides, Calvin was our bus guide and they were fabulous. The entire day and experience was made because of them. From their friendly smiles, being so helpful with everyone in the group and incredibly hospitable. We saw bears and as extra's we saw orcas and much more sea life. Everyone we encountered during the day was incredibly kind, helpful and so happy that it made the experience a memorable one. The whole trip was handled professionally with attention to safety and also with respect for the wildlife that we were viewing. The tour has only 12 people on it so things were not cramped, there was a lot of space for moving around the boat and viewing areas. Boat we were on was I believe new or built within last year, could tell the boats they use are well maintained. A very professional company and if you are looking for a bear experience we highly recommend them.

From start to finish, was a fantastic cultural and wildlife tour. Ron and Janet kept us well informed and engrossed in indigenous stories along the way. Saw humpback whales, sea lions, and orcas rounding up seals before the feeding frenzy. Fascinating, nature at its best. Saw grizzly’s hunting for and eating salmon. Amazing sight! Saw bears at each stop. Were entertained by the dry humour of Tony and Wilson on the bus tour leg of our trip. Overall , a fantastic day trip filled with unforgettable sights and many, many photos taken! Thankyou to Homalco Tours. Eleven out of ten !!

We just returned from Campbell River and the Homalco Deluxe Grizzly & Cultural Tour. Our hosts/guides were so very warm and welcoming and shared their knowledge and personal background as it relates to their culture. Our heartfelt thanks go to Janet, Ron, Tony & Bob for making this day so very special for the 3 of us. We were so looking forward to this outing and we were not disappointed. We learned and we experienced and talked. We also had a safe yet up close & personal encounter with a bear and her cub ... it was so exciting yet intimate for the whole group. Thanks again for a truly wonderful and memorable day.

We had a couple of detours on the way to Church House to view humpback whales and orcas, which was awesome. Our Guide Janet, and Captain Ron gave a great tour at Aupe. Then at Orford we saw bears in the river, got some good pictures, and great information and stories from Guide Calvin and Driver Bob. You can tell these people enjoy their jobs, which made for a great day for our group. Thanks!

This was a fantastic tour and highly recommended. We were greeted by our guide and captain and given a good safety briefing and orientation. The covered cabin had great viewing and we sped smoothly and quietly across the water. The trip through the islands was spectacular and we spotted Orcas and sea lions en route. The bear viewing when we reached Orford Bay exceeded our expectations and we saw many grizzlies, unconcerned by our presence, in most of the viewing areas and towers, in a relaxed and unhurried way. Our return journey was very enjoyable, with sandwich lunch provided underway, and we stopped to see more sea lions and orcas. Throughout, our guides were professional, friendly and informative. The First Nation guides were entertaining and shared knowledge of their traditional stories and language whilst hosting us.

Excellent experience. Saw more whales than we could count. Loved learning about the important indigenous history and having a wonderful and experienced female captain and guide was an extra extra bonus. We’ll be back!

For anyone desiring to learn more about First Nations' Culture and the natural wildlife and environment of the B.C. northwest coast this tour is an opportunity to be taken. Out pilot, Ron started by reviewing the safety features and procedures of the boat, which reassured me. We were fortunate to see seals, sea lions, a pod of orcas, and a mother (with calf) humpback whale! The air was clear, clean, and fresh, with no cottage or other boats to be seen, giving the feeling of being at one with nature. The seascapes and landscapes were breathtaking. At Aupe, there is a brand-new treated timber and concrete, long dock. Aupe is the village site where Ron grew up. Here he guided us along paths, past the remnants of village buildings and into the forest. My sister stepped in fresh bear poo! Ron explained his past childhood in the village and how the site is being considered for transformation into a healing centre. From a look out point, our naturalist guide, Cassie, presented us with an honour song in tribute to murdered and missing indigenous girls and women. Set against the spectacular beauty of the ocean, mountains, and forests it was poignant. On the return Cassie informed us about the fish and sea gulls of the area, and some of us saw an eagle's nest. (I missed it---too busy taking photos.) For practicalities, coffee, tea, or hot chocolate are offered, along with binoculars. Clothing suggestions are dependent on the season, although a sunhat and a toque, a rain slicker, a jacket, and hiking shoes are advisable, given that there is an open-air section of the boat. There is a heated indoor section, too, provided with a washroom. A landing ramp is at the front, but we didn't use it to go ashore.

We had the most amazing experience on the Homalco Great Bears of Bute Tour. It ranked as one of the top wildlife viewing trips of our lives. We saw 9 different grizzlies, some at very close quarters feeding on salmon, 13 bald eagles, numerous hump backed whales and a pod of 4 orcas. Our captain, Guy, made the boat trip informative and fun and the our bear guides, Calvin and Wilson, provided the most exceptional viewing opportunities for our group. We loved hearing the traditional stories which provided a connection with the indigenous culture of the area. We would highly recommend this fantastic trip.