Spirit Bears of the Great Bear Rainforest

 Sacred Symbols of an Intact Ecosystem


Experience Highlights
  • Photograph some of the rarest bears on earth in their spectacular natural habitat

  • Learn wildlife photography fundamentals and advanced techniques, image management, post processing, and practical ways to develop your Photographer’s Eye

  • Experience the breathtaking beauty of the pristine Great Bear Rainforest and its inhabitants including humpback whales and bald eagles

At A Glance

October 3-8, 2024

Starts/Ends:
Great Bear Rainforest,
British Columbia, Canada

$7,600

Deposit: $1,500

What's Included: Lodging & Meals in Hartley Bay, Transportation, Guides & Photography Instruction</br>

What's Not Included: Airfare to/from Prince Rupert, Meals & Lodging in Prince Rupert, Personal Expenses and Gratuities. Anything else not specifically listed as included.

Rare Bears, Stunning Scenery
Forgive yourself if your first Spirit Bear photographs turn out a bit blurry. That’s because it’s almost impossible not to tremble with excitement and awe the first time you witness a Spirit Bear materialize from dark, dense, moss-draped old growth forest. Instantly, you understand why the First Nations peoples of the area refer to this magnificent creature as Moksgm’ol, the Ghost Bear.

Everything about Spirit Bears is special. They are one of the rarest bears on earth, with perhaps 200 to 400 in existence – no one knows for sure. They reside only in the pristine environs of the Great Bear Rainforest of coastal British Columbia, the largest temperate rainforest left on the planet. Neither a polar bear nor an albino, science explains Spirit Bears (Ursus americanus kermodei) as the product of rare recessive genes. But to the First Nations peoples of the area they are sacred symbols, Ghost Bears, their unique coloration the result of an ancient bargain made with Raven, the Creator, to remind us of an age when the world was covered with ice and snow.

Unmatched Experience & Access
Opportunities to photograph Spirit bears are almost as rare as the animals themselves. Most of the time, they lead solitary lives deep inside inaccessible rainforests. But for a few weeks each autumn, spawning salmon coax them to gather along coastal streams where they feast on Mother Nature’s annual abundance. Access to these areas is under the control of the local First Nations peoples like the Gitga’at. Practically speaking, the only reasonable chance of seeing and photographing Spirit Bears in the wild is to join an organized trip sanctioned by a local First Nations group. Our partnership with Gitga’at guide, community leader and “bear-whisperer”, Marven Robinson allows a small group of photographers to experience a wildlife photography opportunity of a lifetime. It’s safe to say that no one alive has spent more time observing and working with Spirit Bears in the wild than Marven, which is why photographers and film crews from National Geographic, IMAX and the BBC invariably choose to work with Marven for their Spirit Bears projects.

Ready to Join the Adventure?

Alumni Discounts

If  you’ve traveled with us before, we want to thank you with discounts of future trips View details of our Alumni Rewards program 

  • Our goal is to help you make the most of this opportunity and bring home portfolio-worthy images of Spirit Bears and other wildlife. We do this by using a combination of formal instruction and informal one-on-one coaching.

    Day 1 in Prince Rupert is dedicated to covering wildlife photography fundamentals as well as more advanced techniques specific to the conditions we will encounter in the rainforest. We’ll also spend significant time on practical ways to develop your Photographer’s Eye, the key to moving beyond mere animal portraits to more expressive photographs. =

    After we arrive in Hartley Bay on Day 2, our focus will switch to in-the-field coaching – answering questions as they arise and providing feedback on compositions, etc. Your instructor will also host several optional post dinner sessions on image management and post processing for those who still have the energy.

  • Follow the links below for more information about Spirit Bears, the Great Bear Rainforest, Marven Robinson and the Gitga’at Nation:

    IMAX Great Bear Rainforest Trailer

    This Rare, White Bear May Be the Key to Saving a Canadian Rainforest – Smithsonian magazine

    Capturing the Spirit Bear – National Geographic Live

    Rainforest Guardians: Spirit Bears and the Gitga'at Nation – Spencer Cordovano

    Gitga’at People of the Cave – gigaat.net

  • Leighton Lum

    Hawaii native Leighton Lum’s jaw-dropping images simply speak for themselves. Led by his creative eye and passion for adventure, Leighton has traveled the globe to destinations like Africa, South America, Iceland, Indonesia, and Antarctica, leading photography workshops and making his own award-winning photographs. Leighton hopes his photography inspires others and raises awareness about conservation to ensure future generations can enjoy the natural world he cherishes. In addition to his on-land photography skills, Leighton is also an avid scuba diver and drone pilot. Check out a selection of Leighton’s images here.

  • We understand life happens and plans may change. If you need to cancel your reservation, the following policies apply to this workshop:

    Deposits are NOT refundable but may be transferrable to another Art of Seeing workshop for up to 24 months from date of cancellation in accordance with the following schedule:

    Regardless of when you cancel, if we fill your spot*, you will receive a refund of all fees paid less your deposit and $150 processing fee. If we cannot fill your spot, the amount of your refund is based upon the cancellation date:

    • Cancellation 120 days or more from workshop start date: 100% refund of fees paid less deposit and $150 processing fee. Deposit transferrable up to 24 mos.

    • Cancellation 90 – 120 days from workshop start date: 50% refund of fees paid less deposit and $150 processing fee. Deposit forfeit.

    • Cancellation less than 90 days from workshop start date: No refunds.

    *canceled spots are filled after the workshop reaches full capacity

    Click here to read our complete Terms & Conditions

    We highly encourage participants to purchase travel insurance to recover expenses not covered by our Cancellations & Refunds policy in case you need to cancel your reservation.

  • Q: Can you guarantee we will see Spirit bears?

    A: No, with wildlife there are never any guarantees. However, this trip’s locations and timing are designed to maximize our chances of encountering Spirit bears and there are no more knowledgeable and experienced guides anywhere than Marven Robinson and his staff. This will be our seventh trip to the Great Bear Rainforest and we’ve had quality photo opportunities with Spirit bears on every trip except one.

    Q: What make this workshop different than other Spirit bear viewing tours?

    A: This experience was created specifically for passionate photographers by passionate photographers. Every aspect of the trip is designed to maximize the opportunities to capture quality images of Spirit bears and other wildlife. This workshop is also as much a learning experience as a chance to see rare animals in the wild. Instructional sessions, image reviews and one on one coaching with your instructor, as well as plenty of opportunities to practice are all part of the plan to help elevate your wildlife photography skills to the next level.

    Q: What level of fitness is required to participate?

    A: Participants need a good level of fitness. Distance is not really the issue - our shooting locations are no more than a half mile from our boat landing spots, with almost no elevation gain. But the trails may be uneven, muddy and slippery. They may also contain obstacles like fallen logs, rocks or puddles you must navigate while carrying your gear. Our boat landings are on natural shoreline (not at a dock) and you must be mobile enough to step off the boat onto uneven and slippery shorelines (with assistance). If you have any questions about whether this trip is right for you, please contact us.

    Q: Where will we stay and how will we get there?

    A: We spend our first night in a very nice hotel in the town of Prince Rupert. The following morning we transfer by private water taxi to Hartley Bay, a remote Gitga’at First Nations community in the heart of The Great Bear Rainforest. This will be our base for the remainder of the workshop. There are no cars, stores, restaurants or any other commercial services in Harley Bay. However, the recently (2017) built guesthouse is clean, comfortable and equipped with all modern conveniences including wifi. Bathrooms are shared.

    Note: there is no alcohol allowed in Hartley Bay. Please respect the residents' decision to keep alcohol out of their community.

    Q: Is Single lodging available?

    A: No, due to limited space all rooms are double occupancy. If you do not have a travel partner , we will pair you with a same gender roommate.

    Q: What is the food like?

    A: Good, but not gourmet is the best way to describe the food in Hartley Bay. The focus of this adventure is to see and photograph Spirit bears and other wildlife in the spectacular setting of the Great Bear Rainforest. It is not intended to be a luxury vacation. If you have any special dietary requirements, make sure to describe them in detail on the registration form.

    Q: What should I bring?

    A: A detailed packing list for photo equipment as well as clothing and other accessories will be provided to all registered participants.

    Q: What other photo opportunities are there?

    A: The islands and waters of the Inside Passage teem with life including orca, humpback whales , salmon, bald eagles, and wolves. Again, there is no guarantee that we will see any of these charismatic species but spotting one or more is definitely possible. We will likely see humpback whales, black bears and small mammals like American marten on a daily basis. If luck really favors our group, we may witness behavior such as humpbacks bubble net feeding or a pod of killer whales on the hunt. Additional possibilities for photography include the rainforest itself - ancient moss-draped trees and delicately tinged alders as well as oceanscapes, dramatic weather/light and whatever else captures your Photographer’s Eye.

  • Day 1 – Prince Rupert

    Introductions & Workshop Overview

    Wildlife Photography Techniques & Strategies

    "Seeing 101" - practical techniques to improve your composition and sharpen Photographer's Eye

    Welcome dinner

    Day 2 - Prince Rupert to Hartley Bay via private water taxi (~2.5hrs). Check in at guesthouse. Afternoon bear photography session on location (travel to/from by boat).

    Days 3, 4, 5 – Hartley Bay

    Breakfast in Hartley Bay. Travel by boat to shooting destination (20 – 90 mins). All day photography on location with lunch in the field. Return to Hartley Bay around sunset. Dinner followed by Image Review/Critique or Post Processing instruction

    Day 6 – Hartley Bay to Prince Rupert via water taxi. Arrive in Prince Rupert in early afternoon. End of Service.