Experience nature’s grand show, where every moment is directed by the wild as grizzlies forage the forest floor in the Rockies and go fishing for salmon on Vancouver Island's untamed northern coast.

When it comes to rugged nature and wildlife, British Columbia’s Grizzly Bear Valley has it in spades. On Travelmarvel’s 21-day Reflections of the Rockies and Alaska Cruise, a Blue River Safari immerses you in the peaceful quiet of one of the world’s only inland temperate rainforests. Explore a 12-kilometre stretch of this astounding wilderness, where glacier-fed lakes and towering waterfalls abound as you track moose and bears. Over 15,000 grizzlies are estimated to roam British Columbia, so keep your eyes peeled on the riverbanks.

In nearby Alberta, Jasper National Park boasts 11,000 square kilometres of ancient glaciers, turquoise lakes and scenic roads like the iconic Icefields Parkway. As night descends on the world’s second-largest Dark Sky Preserve, the Milky Way freckles the inky sky above black silhouettes of jagged peaks. Opt for an evening wildlife discovery for the chance to encounter Canada’s most majestic creatures under a blanket of twinkling stars. Led by a knowledgeable wildlife guide, listen for the distant bugle of an elk and the howling of coyotes in the dark of night. With patience, lucky travellers may even glimpse grizzly bears, mountain goats and moose.

EXTEND YOUR ADVENTURE – THE GREAT BEAR EXPERIENCE

For those seeking a truly wild encounter, The Great Bear Experience is an immersive five-day holiday extension, which can be added to your North America tour. Spend three nights at the floating Great Bear Lodge — only accessible by seaplane — in British Columbia’s Great Bear Rainforest, where bears significantly outnumber humans. Set at the mouth of a pristine river, marvel at the chance to witness grizzlies gorging on salmon or playful otters scurrying on the dock. Expert guidance from wildlife biologists, gourmet meals like freshly caught cedar-planked salmon, and hot showers mean all your creature comforts are close at hand. An adventure through Canada invites you to feel the pulse of the wilderness in all its glory

Words by Jemma Glucina-Henderson