The Great Bear Rainforest is a treasure trove of natural beauty, teeming with wildlife and intact ecosystems.

For travellers looking to explore its fjords and islands, there are several options. Most popular among them are traditional wilderness lodges and yacht-based expeditions—or, for the purposes of this article, “floating lodges”.

Each can offer a unique and wonderful experience, and here’s a comparison to help decide which Great Bear Rainforest tour is right for you.

Accessibility and Mobility

Traditional Wilderness Lodges

Traditional wilderness lodges are stationary, situated at a single location within the rainforest. They are often nestled in beautiful spots along the walls of a fjord. To explore, guests take small open boat rides to areas in the vicinity and then return to the lodge for meals and relaxation. Depending on the lodge style, they may or may not mix with the other guests.

Accessing different parts of the rainforest is done by additional travel, often small boat rides for 1-2 hours or by aircraft.

Floating Lodges: Maple Leaf Adventures

The Great Bear Rainforest is a labyrinth of fjords, islands, and waterways, almost all of which are accessible only by water. Maple Leaf Adventures’ expedition ships, the SV Maple Leaf, MV Swell, and MV Cascadia, navigate these intricate passages, offering unparalleled access to remote and pristine areas and all the best wild places.

Aboard our floating lodges guests are treated to a constantly changing panorama of the rainforest. Taking 8, 12 or 24 guests, the expedition yachts’ scale is the same as most wilderness lodges, the difference being the lodge cruises from beautiful cove to beautiful cove. With something new around the next corner, crew and guests keep an eye out for whale breaths ahead, seabirds in the water, or a grizzly bear patrolling the coastline. Each day brings new landscapes, from secluded bays and sheer cliffs to serene river inlets and hidden coves.

Photo: Jeff Reynolds

Our three small ships offer adventure untethered, every day steering you into the path of magic.

Comfort and Accommodation

Traditional Wilderness Lodges

Wilderness lodges often feature cabins or small lodges that blend with the natural surroundings. They range from rustic-comfort to rustic-luxury, usually with design details in keeping with the materials of the region. Most are locally owned and operated, and very comfortable.

Floating Lodges: Maple Leaf Adventures

Maple Leaf Adventures’ three ships offer cozy, well-appointed accommodations that span the range of rustic comfort to expedition luxury. Local art, fine materials, incredible craftsmanship are hallmarks of each expedition yacht. Guests enjoy the comforts of a yacht while being surrounded by the wilderness.

With a small number of guests on each voyage, the crew provides personalized service, ensuring a comfortable and enjoyable stay. Your dedicated crew attends to all guest services, maintaining accommodations in ship shape.

Dining Experience

Traditional Wilderness Lodges

Dining at traditional wilderness lodges can be a delightful experience, often featuring meals served on an ocean-view deck or rustic dining area. While the views may be less varied than those from a floating lodge, they offer a consistent and serene backdrop for enjoying hearty, home-cooked meals.

Depending on the lodge’s style of service, meals are single sitting, group events, or more restaurant style with, in the very highest end, custom private options available.

Floating Lodges: Maple Leaf Adventures

A talented chef aboard prepares gourmet meals using fresh, local ingredients rivalling those of a high-end wilderness lodge. Guests enjoy beautifully plated dinners and freshly baked snacks, all while surrounded by breathtaking scenery. Dining is “long table” style with other guests and naturalists.

Soft drinks, beers and wines are available with your evening meal. Aboard Cascadia, cocktails are served after the final shore trip, after dinner libations are available, and barista style coffees can be had throughout the day.

Meals are enjoyed in a variety of stunning settings, from the elegant ship salon to the open deck, providing a unique and memorable dining experience.

Guided Exploration and Wildlife Viewing

Traditional Wilderness Lodges

At lodges the experience depends upon the lodge location and focus of its offering; “Front country” lodges, which have quick access to towns and cities, more traditional offerings like golf, and shinier-dressed crowd will contract with local providers for day trips to view wildlife.

Smaller, more remote lodges are situated close(r) to wildlife and also have their own guides on staff. Typically, nature and wildlife experiences are one of their main focusses.

In lodges that offer wildlife viewing and nature exploration, guests typically travel to and from the experiences by small, usually open boat. Float plane or helicopter options may also be available for an extra fee due to the expense of operating aircraft.

Floating Lodges: Maple Leaf Adventures’ Expedition Yachts

Like the remote lodges focussed on nature and wildlife, our yachts anchor in beautiful coves near key viewing areas, and also transport guests in comfort to some marine mammal and seabird experiences merely by travelling through the same channels.

Each expedition is accompanied by expert local guides with deep knowledge of the area’s natural history. They lead wildlife excursions, nature walks, and shore trips, providing enriching insights into the rainforest’s ecosystems. Your crew are your constant companions, providing captivating narration along the journey.

The mobility of the ships allows for diverse wildlife viewing opportunities, including bear sightings (grizzly, spirit, and black bears), whale watching, and birdwatching. Each day brings new and exciting encounters.

The biggest difference here is that the lodge-like mothership moves guests to the experiences (rather than longer runs by small boat), and that the ship can stop at any moment to view wildlife encountered along the way.

Jeff Reynolds

A bear’s eye view: kayaking with coastal icons in the Great Bear Rainforest.

Conclusion: the Choice is Yours

While traditional wilderness lodges are a more widely understood way to experience the Great Bear Rainforest, Maple Leaf Adventures’ floating lodges (aka expedition yachts) offer incredible experiences for those seeking comprehensive exploration, personalized service, and luxurious comfort.

The mobility of our luxury yachts offer unparalleled access to remote areas, diverse wildlife encounters, and an ever-changing landscape, making them an ideal choice for remarkable adventure in this magical wilderness. They do offer a more people-oriented experience, in that guests will meet and converse with, and share experiences with, other guests. Whereas in a lodge, guests can remain completely secluded if they desire.

Tavish Campbell

Whether you choose the adventure of our comfortable yachts or traditional lodge, the Great Bear Rainforest offers incredible experiences.

One bonus you can count on is that most fixed lodges and most small expedition ships (floating lodges) are still locally owned and operated. Typically, the owners are passionately protective of the ecosystems and are working together to build a conservation-based economy to protect it and still employ locals.

If you would like to learn more about Maple Leaf Adventures’ ship accommodations and our Great Bear Rainforest tours, inquire with our friendly sales team or call 1 (250) 386-7245.