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Get closer to nature
The fluke of a whale disappearing into the glassy ocean. A bear’s breath misting the morning air. An eagle silhouetted against a snowy mountain peak. Our Canada wildlife holidays help you get closer to nature than ever before. Canadian wildlife is spectacular, with so many species here that you’ll struggle to see anywhere else. If you’re interested in nature travel, there’s no better place for it. Whether you have always dreamed of watching bears in the lush forests while they feast on sockeye salmon or seeing bald eagles as they soar over the Canadian Rockies, we have a wildlife holiday for you. Canada has its own Big 5 animals to spot - whale, bear, wolf, eagle and moose. See how many you can tick off on your Canadian wildlife holiday.
Canada has an abundance of animals to view in their natural habitats and we offer some of the best places for wildlife travel. We have a range of resorts for you to experience animal holidays in true wilderness locations. Discover small floating resorts in British Columbia and eco-resorts in the Great Bear Rainforest. Some locations require floatplanes or Zodiac boats to reach the picturesque setting.
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Recommended Canada Wildlife Holidays
Explore a collection of our handpicked Canada wildlife holidays below
History & Wildlife of Eastern Newfoundland
This holiday explores the highlights of eastern Newfoundland, combining coastal scenery, wildlife and historical sites.
10 Nights From
£2,340pp
Overview
This holiday explores the highlights of eastern Newfoundland, combining coastal scenery, wildlife and historical sites.
What’s included?
- International flights from the UK based on economy class
- 10 nights accommodation
- Parks Canada Discovery Pass
- 11 days Intermediate car hire with Fully Inclusive insurance
- Puffin & Whale Watch in Bay Bulls
- Whale Watch in Trinity
- Iceberg Quest Boat Tour in Twillingate
Vancouver Island Explorer
From the historic capital of Victoria in the south to windswept beaches and rocky headlands at its northern tip, this self-drive gives you time to explore the best of Vancouver Island and some of the hidden gems in between.
15 Nights From
£2,605pp
Overview
From the historic capital of Victoria in the south to windswept beaches and rocky headlands at its northern tip, this self-drive gives you time to explore the best of Vancouver Island and some of the hidden gems in between.
What’s included?
- International flights from the UK based on economy class
- 15 nights hotel accommodation
- 13 days Intermediate car hire with Fully Inclusive insurance
- BC Ferries from Horseshoe Bay to Nanaimo
- BC Ferries from Swartz Bay to Tsawwassen
Ontario The Home Of Outdoor Adventure
Ontario is a beautiful province & this perfectly packaged tour offers you the chance to escape to a playground of the great outdoors to uncover its unique charms.
15 Nights From
£3,065pp
Overview
Ontario is a beautiful province & this perfectly packaged tour offers you the chance to escape to a playground of the great outdoors to uncover its unique charms.
What’s included?
- International flights from the UK based on economy class
- 11 nights hotel accommodation
- 14 days Intermediate car hire with Fully Inclusive insurance
- 2 nights at Elmhirst's Resort
- Use of kayaks, SUP boards, bicycles at Elmhirst's Resort
- Horse drawn wagon rides and farm tours at Elmhirst's Resort
- 2 nights package at Algonquin Log Cabin
- Full board at Algonquin Log Cabin
- Services of a guide at Algonquin Log Cabin
- Paddle to Kitchie Island & interpretive hike
- Hike to beaver pond lookout
- Twilight park excursion to listen for wildlife calls
- Paddle excursion with bonfire dinner
- Sunrise paddle
- Niagara Falls Pass including: Journey Behind the Falls, Niagara Takes Flight, Niagara Parks Power Station + The Tunnel, White Water Walk, Whirlpool Aero Car, 2-day Falls Incline Railway & 2 consecutive days of WEGO in-park bus.
Traditions & Landscapes of Western Newfoundland & Labrador
This journey through western Newfoundland and southern Labrador showcases some of Atlantic Canada’s most dramatic landscapes and seafaring history.
14 Nights From
£3,685pp
Overview
This journey through western Newfoundland and southern Labrador showcases some of Atlantic Canada’s most dramatic landscapes and seafaring history.
What’s included?
- International flights from the UK based on economy class
- 14 nights accommodation
- Parks Canada Discovery Pass
- 15 days Intermediate car hire with Fully Inclusive insurance
- Tablelands Boat Tour
- Western Brook Pond Boat Tour
- Return boat transfers to Quirpon Lighthouse Inn
- Full board at Quirpon Lighthouse Inn
- Zodiac sightseeing tour into Iceberg Alley from Quirpon Lighthouse Inn
- Whaler’s Quest Boat Tour
- Return boat transfers to Battle Harbour
- Site admission & guided walking tour in Battle Harbour
- Full board at Battle Harbour Inn
- Labrador Marine from St. Barbe to Blanc Sablon
- Labrador Marine from Blanc Sablon to St. Barbe
Whales, Bears & Vancouver Island
Go in search of Canada’s iconic wildlife as you explore Vancouver Island.
13 Nights From
£3,792pp
Overview
Go in search of Canada’s iconic wildlife as you explore Vancouver Island.
What’s included?
- International flights from the UK based on economy class
- 13 nights accommodation
- 11 days Intermediate car hire with Fully Inclusive insurance
- Morning with the Bears: Sunrise Excursion
- The Great Bears of Bute
- Whale watching by Covered Boat in Tofino and Victoria
- BC Ferries from Horseshoe Bay to Nanaimo
- BC Ferries from Swartz Bay to Tsawwassen
Yukon & Denali
This magnificent circular tour departing Vancouver encompasses Dawson City, Fairbanks, and Denali National Park before heading onwards to Anchorage prior to cruising through Alaska's Southwest coast back to Vancouver.
17 Nights From
£4,913pp
Overview
This magnificent circular tour departing Vancouver encompasses Dawson City, Fairbanks, and Denali National Park before heading onwards to Anchorage prior to cruising through Alaska's Southwest coast back to Vancouver.
What’s included?
- International flights from the UK based on economy class
- Internal flight to Whitehorse & Dawson City
- 10 nights hotel accommodation
- 7 nights on board Holland America Line in an inside cabin
- Full board on Holland America Line
- Transfers to the hotel and cruise terminal
- Tundra Wilderness tour
- McKinley Explorer train
- Gold Dredge & Riverboat tour
- Meals where specified
Bear Watching at Knight Inlet Lodge
If you have always dreamt of viewing bears in their natural habitat in a lush forest setting with dramatic snow-capped peaks & a rugged coastline, this holiday is the one for you.
6 Nights From
£5,228pp
Overview
If you have always dreamt of viewing bears in their natural habitat in a lush forest setting with dramatic snow-capped peaks & a rugged coastline, this holiday is the one for you.
What’s included?
- International flights from the UK based on economy class
- Domestic flights to/from Vancouver to Campbell River
- 3 nights hotel accommodation
- 3 nights Knight Inlet Lodge package inclusive of a pre night in Campbell River
- Scenic floatplane to/from Campbell River to Knight Inlet Lodge
- Bear viewing tours
- Knight Inlet sightseeing cruise
- Kayak tour of Glendal Cove
- Walking tour through the Kwalate River Valley
- Use of hotel amenities including oceanside sauna and cold plunge, expanded hiking trails, outdoor fire pits and common spaces with Indigenous art
- Services of the onsite Hospitality Manager
- Full board at Knight Inlet Lodge, starting with lunch on arrival day and ending with breakfast on the last day
Grizzly Bears & Pacific Shores
Stay at the Knight Inlet Lodge, where that first glimpse of a grizzly bear in the wild is a memory that will stay with you forever, and explore the coastal gems of Tofino and Victoria on Vancouver Island.
11 Nights From
£5,569pp
Overview
Stay at the Knight Inlet Lodge, where that first glimpse of a grizzly bear in the wild is a memory that will stay with you forever, and explore the coastal gems of Tofino and Victoria on Vancouver Island.
What’s included?
- International flights from the UK based on economy class
- 8 nights hotel accommodation
- 10 days Intermediate car hire with Fully Inclusive insurance
- BC Ferries from Horseshoe Bay to Nanaimo including vehicle
- 3 nights Knight Inlet Lodge package inclusive of a pre night in Campbell River
- Scenic floatplane to/from Campbell River to Knight Inlet Lodge
- Bear viewing tours
- Knight Inlet sightseeing cruise
- Kayak tour of Glendale Cove
- Walking tour through the Kwalate River Valley
- Use of hotel amenities including oceanside sauna and cold plunge, expanded hiking trails, outdoor fire pits and common spaces with Indigenous art
- Services of the onsite Hospitality Manager
- Full board at Knight Inlet Lodge, starting with lunch on arrival day and ending with breakfast on the last day
- BC Ferries from Swartz Bay to Tsawwassen including vehicle
Discover Vancouver Island & Berry Island Wilderness Lodge
Discover some of Vancouver Island's lesser visited gems and spend 3 nights at the remote Berry Island Wilderness Lodge looking for humpback whales and grizzly bears.
13 Nights From
£5,763pp
Overview
Discover some of Vancouver Island's lesser visited gems and spend 3 nights at the remote Berry Island Wilderness Lodge looking for humpback whales and grizzly bears.
What’s included?
- International flights from the UK based on economy class
- 10 nights hotel accommodation
- 12 days Intermediate car hire with Fully Inclusive insurance
- BC Ferries from Horseshoe Bay to Nanaimo including vehicle
- 3 nights at Farewell Harbour Lodge
- Full board at Farewell Harbour Lodge starting with lunch on day 1 and ending with lunch on day of departure
- Return water taxi transfers between Alder Bay and Farewell Harbour Lodge
- Wildlife excursions during your stay at Farewell Harbour Lodge including a full day excursion to one of the grizzly bear viewing areas
- BC Ferries from Swartz Bay to Tsawwassen including vehicle
Islands, Bears & Sunshine
Explore the Southern Gulf Islands, Vancouver Island, and the Sunshine Coast and stay in the award winning Klahoose Wilderness Resort.
14 Nights From
£6,042pp
Overview
Explore the Southern Gulf Islands, Vancouver Island, and the Sunshine Coast and stay in the award winning Klahoose Wilderness Resort.
What’s included?
- International flights from the UK based on economy class
- 11 nights hotel accommodation
- 3 nights at Klahoose Wilderness Resort
- All meals at Klahoose Wilderness Resort from dinner on the first day to breakfast on departure day, plus snacks and non alcoholic beverages
- Culture and Wildlife Tours including:
- Guided Eco Boat Tour (May to mid August)
- Spring Bear Viewing Tours by boat (May to early June depending on seasonal conditions)
- Grizzly Bear Tours from viewing platforms (mid August to October)
- Activities such as a traditional Klahoose welcome, visits to places of cultural significance within Klahoose Territory, and opportunities to experience Klahoose traditions through storytelling, cedar weaving, wood carving, and a cedar brushing off ceremony on your final evening.
- Self-guided activities including: ocean kayaking, stand up paddle boarding, ocean swimming, rainforest walks, hiking trails and use of floating cedar wood fire sauna
- Return boat transfers between Lund and Klahoose Wilderness Resort
- 12 days Intermediate car hire with Fully Inclusive insurance
- BC Ferries from Tsawwassen to Salt Spring Island, Comox to Powell River, Saltery Bay to Earls Cove and Langdale to Horseshoe Bay
Get in touch
Our team of experts are on hand to craft your perfect Canada wildlife holiday.
Explore wildlife holidays in Canada
Canada's bear species
Black bears in Canada
Black bears are abundant in Canada and are probably the bear species you are most likely to spot on your holiday. You can often see black bears just by the roadside as you drive through mountain regions like Banff, Jasper and Whistler. British Columbia’s coastal black bears can be viewed on a boat tour from Vancouver Island. It's a great way to get up close to the animals and see their unique behaviour as they forage along the rocky shorelines for crabs.
Grizzly bears in Canada
Majestic grizzly bears can be harder than black bears to spot when you're simply out and about, which is why a dedicated lodge visit really pays off. You can watch grizzlies feasting on salmon in the Great Bear Rainforest - a spectacular wilderness region along British Columbia's Pacific Coast. The lodges in this wild and beautiful area have a fountain of knowledge on when and where to see grizzlies. There's nothing like seeing them in such a pristine environment.
Polar bears in Arctic Canada
Polar bears congregate on the shores of Hudson Bay in Churchill, Manitoba. This remote Arctic region gives you the best chance of seeing dozens of majestic bears. Specially-designed tundra buggies transport you across the frozen landscape to where the polar bears wait for the sea ice to return. The photo opportunities are incredible and offer the perfect mix of seeing the animals in their natural habitat as well as getting close - the bears are very curious about the trucks!
Be inspired...
Knight Inlet Lodge
Set in a wonderfully peaceful and remote location in West Coast British Columbia, the area surrounding the floating lodge has one of the highest concentrations of bears in the province. Your days here are filled with excursions led by experienced local guides to see the bears both on foot or by kayak.
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Farewell Harbour Lodge
Farewell Harbour Lodge is located in the southern Great Bear Rainforest, the largest intact temperate rainforest in the world. This is a magical place blessed with some of nature’s most charismatic wildlife, where wild Orca skip over the blue Pacific waves, where mighty Grizzlies forage in lush coastal estuaries and where the towering evergreen forest seems endless.
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Great Bear Lodge
Great Bear Lodge is located in a place of spectacular beauty where you can find Grizzly Bears together with the the silence and solitude of another era. Here, you can see Grizzly Bears in spring, summer and fall and each season offers a unique view into the world of Grizzly Bears in the Great Bear Rainforest.
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Khaloose Wilderness Resort
Klahoose Wilderness Resort is an Indigenous-owned resort, located on the water’s edge in the temperate rainforest between British Columbia’s Salish Sea and the Coastal Mountains.
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Spirit Bear Lodge
Spirit Bear Lodge is an Indigenous-owned lodge, offering exclusive access to wildlife viewing areas and cultural sites within the Kitasoo Xai’xais Traditional Territory. Here you have the chance to see the mythical spirit bear in their natural habitat, in what will be an experience you will never forget.
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Tweedsmuir Park Lodge
Nestled in the heart of the Great Bear Rainforest, Tweedsmuir Park Lodge sits amidst one of the world's most dense grizzly bear habitats.
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Lazy Bear Lodge
The Lazy Bear Lodge is located in the town of Churchill, northern Manitoba. Situated where both polar bears and beluga whales migrate, Churchill offers a unique and unrivalled viewing experience for wildlife enthusiasts. Add northern lights and scenic views from the shores of Hudson Bay, and Churchill makes the perfect location for a holiday of a lifetime.
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Tundra Buggy Lodge
The Tundra Buggy Lodge offers a unique set up for an incomparable immersive experience. Set up far away from the town of Churchill, the lodge consists of several vehicles parked in the middle of the tundra for optimal wildlife and northern lights viewing.
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Bears, Whales or Polar Bears?
Did you know?
Canada is home to a wide variety of wildlife, including iconic animals such as polar bears, moose, beavers, wolverines, and caribou. With its diverse habitats and vast size, Canada is a great place to see wildlife in its natural habitat.
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See Canada's wildlife for yourself
Watch this inspiring video to get an idea of the incredible animal encounters you can experience in Canada
Why should you book with us?
Price Match Guarantee
If you manage to find the same Canada holiday for cheaper with another UK operator we will happily match the price
'Excellent' on Trustpilot
We are rated 'Excellent' on Trustpilot from over 4,000 reviews
30 Years Experience
We have 30 years experience in providing outstanding holidays to Canada
Award Winning Canada Experts
We've won over 25 awards with votes from our peers and customers
ATOL Protected
We are registered members of ABTA and ATOL, so when you book a holiday with us your money is protected
Our Expert Team
Speak to one of our Canada travel experts and start planning your dream holiday to Canada today. Take a look at our Meet the Team page to find out more.
Julie Heath
Julie has been at Canadian Affair for nearly three years and has been working in travel for thirty-three years.
Mark Carson
Mark has been working for Canadian Affair for over three years but has been travelling to Canada regularly since 1989.
Jemma Price
Jemma has been at Canadian Affair for two years and has extensive travel experience across North America.
Kate Mitchell
Kate has been working at Canadian Affair for over a year and has travelled to Canada multiple times.
Andrew Blenkiron
Andrew has worked in travel for over twelve years, with two years as a Canada specialist, and has travelled all over Canada.
Wildlife holiday blogs and articles
Top Tips for Driving in Canada
Janet Irons
01/12/2024
Driving in Canada is a spectacular experience and is the most popular way to see this magnificent country.
The Great Wilderness in British Columbia
Oliver Moughan
21/11/2024
The Great Wilderness in British Columbia is one of the world’s last untouched frontiers. This iconic route covers the northernmost part of BC and is home to endless nature and wildlife.
How to Spend 2 Weeks Exploring Atlantic Canada: The Ultimate Guide
Aimee Levajac
06/11/2024
From Newfoundland's rugged coastlines to the charming streets of Halifax, this guide highlights the must-see attractions, hidden gems, and local experiences across each province in Atlantic Canada.
Best facts about Canada's wilderness
Oliver Moughan
30/10/2024
Uncover fascinating facts about Canada's vast and diverse wilderness, highlighting its unique ecosystems, wildlife, and conservation efforts.
