Canada · WILDLIFE & BEAR VIEWING

The 15 Best Wildlife & Bear Viewing Tours in Canada

45 tours  ·  from $14

Grizzlies on the berry slopes, elk in the Banff meadows, bighorn standing in the road. The 15 below compare the vehicle tours, the boat trips and the guided walks on season, distance and how much of it is genuinely wild.

Victoria Whale and Wildlife Cruise - Finding orcas, humpbacks, and gray whales
Cruises & Boat Tours, Tour Reviews, Vancouver Island Tours, Whale Watching, Wildlife, Wildlife & Bear Viewing, Wildlife & Bear Viewing in Vancouver Island

Victoria Whale and Wildlife Cruise

1.Victoria Whale and Wildlife Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,729 reviews · 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $146Our pick

Cruise Victoria’s Salish Sea for about 3.5 hours with Eagle Wing’s naturalist crew. You may ride a semi-covered catamaran or open boat while looking for orcas, humpbacks, seals, sea lions, otters, eagles, and seabirds. Whale sightings are guaranteed, with a free return tour if none appear.

“This was a truly wonderful experience, we were visiting from Edmonton and my first time visiting the island and this was one of the highlights of our trip. We were lucky to see a number of Humpback Whales, Seals, Sea Lions. All of the crew were so welcoming, knowledgeable and awesome. Shout out to Derek, Sam, Jo, Clint & Captain Rod for how informative and engaging they made the trip. Such a memorable experience and would love to come back and sail with Eagle Wing again (and cross my fingers for seeing Orca's next time).”

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Banff Highlights & Wildlife | Award-Winning Small Group Adventure - Lake Minnewanka and Two Jack Lake
Banff & Lake Louise Tours, Banff & Lake Louise Tours in Banff, Banff Tours, Tour Reviews, Wildlife, Wildlife & Bear Viewing, Wildlife & Bear Viewing in Banff

Banff Highlights & Wildlife | Award-Winning Small Group Adventure

2.Banff Highlights & Wildlife | Award-Winning Small Group Adventure

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 725 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $94

Explore Banff with a local guide such as Nolan, Lubo, Ollie, Liam, or Charlie, traveling in a capped group of 12. The roughly three-hour dusk tour visits places such as Lake Minnewanka, Bow Falls, and the Hoodoos while chasing recent sightings of elk, deer, foxes, coyotes, bears, and bighorn sheep.

“Liam was a really super guide with a lot a knowledge about the area we were introduced to! Really worth it!”

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Jasper Evening Wildlife Tour - Seasonal wildlife stops and what you might see
Evening Experiences, Jasper Tours, National Park Tours, National Park Tours in Jasper, Tour Reviews, Tours, Wildlife, Wildlife & Bear Viewing, Wildlife & Bear Viewing in Jasper

Jasper Evening Wildlife Tour

3.Jasper Evening Wildlife Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 710 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $65

Spend three evening hours exploring Jasper National Park by minibus with guides such as Catherine, Sam, Kelli, or Ross. Expect live wildlife commentary, mountain views, photo stops, and a real chance to see elk, moose, eagles, goats, marmots, or bears, though no sighting is guaranteed.

“We had a great guide. We saw lots of elks around town and several moose on the tour. Very recommended!”

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Jasper National Park: Evening or Morning Wildlife Watch Tour - The ride from Jasper into the Rocky Mountain valley
Evening Experiences, Jasper Tours, Morning, National Park Tours, National Park Tours in Jasper, National Parks, Tour Reviews, Tours, Wildlife, Wildlife & Bear Viewing, Wildlife & Bear Viewing in Jasper

Jasper National Park: Evening or Morning Wildlife Watch Tour

4.Jasper National Park: Evening or Morning Wildlife Watch Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 691 reviews · 3 hours · from $63

Ride a small, air-conditioned minibus through Jasper National Park at the best wildlife-watching times of day. Guides such as Sam, Ross, Catherine, Kelli, and Josh combine sharp eyes with stories about animals, forests, fires, and park protection. Choose a morning or evening departure.

“Fantastic time with Jake our guide on our evening wildlife tour. He really made it an interesting trip and we saw lots of wildlife. The beaver swimming and the bear and her cubs were definitely my favourite. Jake had lots of knowledge he shared with us and the tour was certainly the highlight of our holiday. Thanks to Jake for all his effort to find us lots of wildlife on our tour. Would highly recommend.”

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Jasper Wildlife & Sightseeing Tour with Maligne Lake Cruise - The minibus ride through Maligne Valley
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Jasper Wildlife & Sightseeing Tour with Maligne Lake Cruise

5.Jasper Wildlife & Sightseeing Tour with Maligne Lake Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 603 reviews · 6 hours (approx.) · from $176

Travel from Jasper through Maligne Valley by minibus, stopping at Maligne Canyon and Medicine Lake before a 90-minute cruise on Maligne Lake. Guides such as Sam, Jake, Catherine, and Ross add useful insight on wildlife, geology, First Nations traditions, and the 2024 wildfire.

“Tour guide Jake was very knowledgeable and accommodating went out of his way to locate wildlife and describe activity patterns of the animals. Great sense of humor!”

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Jasper: Wildlife and Waterfalls Tour with Maligne Cruise - Maligne Canyon and the changing waterfall stop
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Jasper: Wildlife and Waterfalls Tour with Maligne Cruise

6.Wildlife and Waterfalls Tour with Maligne Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 501 reviews · from $155

Ride a small minibus through Maligne Valley, stop at Maligne Canyon and Medicine Lake, then cruise 90 minutes across Maligne Lake to Spirit Island. Guides such as Sam, Jake, Josh, and Kelli explain wildlife, geology, and the 2024 wildfire. The canyon stop may be replaced if repairs continue.

“liked most: the guide, gave a lot of information, turned around to see wildlife. He was one of the best ever!!!”

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Banff: Evening Wildlife Safari Guided Tour - The Banff pickup: convenient, but watch the clock
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Banff: Evening Wildlife Safari Guided Tour

7.Evening Wildlife Safari Guided Tour

★★★★★★★★★★3.9 · 465 reviews · 2 hours · from $55Best value

Spend two hours exploring Banff National Park at dusk with an English-speaking guide such as Lucy, Jake, or Evie. You may spot elk, deer, bighorn sheep, coyotes, or bears, while learning how the park protects wildlife. Hotel pickup is included, and groups are capped at 24 people.

“Evie was a fantastic guide so knowledgeable and informative.”

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Cowichan Bay: Half-Day Whale & Wildlife Adventure - Three and a half hours across the Salish Sea
Tour Reviews, Vancouver Island Tours, Whale Watching, Wildlife, Wildlife & Bear Viewing, Wildlife & Bear Viewing in Vancouver Island

Cowichan Bay Half Day Whale & Wildlife Adventure

8.Cowichan Bay Half Day Whale & Wildlife Adventure

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 393 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $159

Join Ocean EcoVentures in Cowichan Bay for a 3.5 to 4-hour small-group boat trip through the Salish Sea. Captain Gary, Jane, Lauren, and other trained guides share the habits of orcas, humpbacks, seals, eagles, and seabirds while you search for wildlife in a fast, open boat.

“Super fun, educational, and friendly trip! Our guide was great to speak to and learn from. Would definitely do this again if I’m ever lucky enough to come to CA again in the future.”

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Great Bears of Bute: Grizzly Bear Viewing & Indigenous Cultural Tour - Why the Homalco guides make the difference
Historical Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours, Vancouver Island Tours, Wildlife & Bear Viewing, Wildlife & Bear Viewing in Vancouver Island

Great Bears of Bute: Grizzly Bear Viewing & Indigenous Cultural Tour

9.Great Bears of Bute: Grizzly Bear Viewing & Indigenous Cultural Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 336 reviews · 8 to 9 hours (approx.) · from $457

Travel by covered, heated boat from Campbell River to Orford Bay with a skipper and First Nation guide. Visit bear-viewing towers with Homalco guides, look for salmon-feeding grizzlies, and hear local legends. Lunch and coffee are included, with marine wildlife sightings possible en route.

“Seeing grizzlies was the highlight but so were the knowledgeable guides on the ground and on the boat. The captain was also wonderful with her knowledge of marine life. To hear more about the First Nations culture was a privilege. We loved it all.”

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Victoria Marine Wildlife Tour - Choosing between an open boat and a catamaran
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Victoria Marine Wildlife Tour

10.Victoria Marine Wildlife Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 267 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $131

Set out from Dallas Road in Victoria for a three-hour wildlife cruise with Eagle Wing Whale Watching Tours. Your guide searches for humpbacks, killer whales, seals, sea lions, eagles, and more from a custom open boat or semi-covered catamaran. The tour includes a wildlife fee, fuel surcharge, GST, and an onboard restroom.

“We saw an amazing amount of wildlife on our cruise - seal, eagles, humpback whales and small island sheep. The boat allowed us to view the humpbacks for a long time - which was great! Got good photos, plus the wildlife photographer on board sent out beautiful photos from the tour. Great trip with Eagle Wing Tours! Ww will definitely cruise with them again!”

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From Banff: Banff Wildlife & Scenic Highlights Premium Tour - Small-group transport with a useful view
Banff & Lake Louise Tours, Banff & Lake Louise Tours in Banff, Banff Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours, Wildlife, Wildlife & Bear Viewing, Wildlife & Bear Viewing in Banff

From Banff: Banff Wildlife & Scenic Highlights Premium Tour

11.Banff Wildlife & Scenic Highlights Premium Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 266 reviews · 3 hours · from $91

Spend three hours touring Banff’s wildlife corridors and scenic viewpoints in a small vehicle with panoramic windows. Guides such as Lubo, Tess, Ollie, and Tyler tailor the route to recent sightings and weather, with chances to see elk, deer, sheep, bears, coyotes, and eagles.

“Ollie was one of the best travel tour guides we have ever had. He was the best guide we had while we were in Banff, for sure. He was knowledgeable and informative. He taught us many things we did not know. He made our tour great. The fact that we saw a bear, big horned sheep (females), and elk made the tour very special, but even without that it would have been a wonderful way to spend our evening.”

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Jasper: Wildlife and Waterfalls Tour with Lakeshore Hike - Maligne Canyon: waterfalls, limestone, and a changing itinerary
Hiking & Trekking, Jasper Tours, National Park Tours, National Park Tours in Jasper, Tour Reviews, Tours, Wildlife, Wildlife & Bear Viewing, Wildlife & Bear Viewing in Jasper

Jasper: Wildlife and Waterfalls Tour with Lakeshore Hike

12.Wildlife and Waterfalls Tour with Lakeshore Hike

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 239 reviews · from $77

Ride a comfortable minibus through Maligne Valley with guides such as Jake, Sam, and Kathryn. Stop at Maligne Canyon or an alternate lookout, hear why Medicine Lake disappears, and take an easy 2 to 3 kilometer guided walk beside Maligne Lake.

“This tour excellent, our guide Kelly was extremely knowledgeable and very pleasant, she made the tour very enjoyable.”

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Winter Victoria Whale and Wildlife Zodiac Tour - Getting ready for cold water and open sky
Tour Reviews, Tours, Victoria Tours, Whale Watching, Wildlife, Wildlife & Bear Viewing, Wildlife & Bear Viewing in Victoria, Winter Activities

Winter Victoria Whale and Wildlife Zodiac Tour

13.Winter Victoria Whale and Wildlife Zodiac Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 229 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $129

Join Orca Spirit Adventures at Victoria’s Inner Harbour for a three-hour Zodiac ride led by a captain and certified marine naturalist. You’ll wear a full flotation suit, scan for humpback and Bigg’s killer whales, and listen to whale calls through a hydrophone.

“This tour was fun and enjoyable, even in the rain! We walked around town, taste tested a range of food and, learnt so much about the history of the area. It felt good to support local businesses.”

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Jasper Wildlife and Sightseeing Tour with Maligne Lake Hike - Maligne Canyon Overlook and the 2024 fire
Hiking & Trekking, Jasper Tours, National Park Tours, National Park Tours in Jasper, Tour Reviews, Tours, Wildlife, Wildlife & Bear Viewing, Wildlife & Bear Viewing in Jasper

Jasper Wildlife and Sightseeing Tour with Maligne Lake Hike

14.Jasper Wildlife and Sightseeing Tour with Maligne Lake Hike

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 216 reviews · 6 hours (approx.) · from $81

Ride from Jasper through Maligne Valley with guides such as Sam, Catherine, Josh, and Jake. Stop at Maligne Canyon Overlook and Medicine Lake, watch for moose, bears, elk, and eagles, then walk 2 to 3 kilometers beside Maligne Lake. The 2024 wildfire has closed the waterfalls.

“Ross was a terrific tour guide. He was very knowledgeable and helpful. Answered all sorts of questions from guests. Stopped so we could photograph animals along the way.”

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Victoria, BC: 3-Hour Ultimate Whale & Marine Wildlife Tour - Beyond Whales: Seals, Sea Lions, and Birds
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Victoria, BC: 3-Hour Ultimate Whale & Marine Wildlife Tour

15.Victoria, BC: 3-Hour Ultimate Whale & Marine Wildlife Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 191 reviews · 3 hours · from $125

Search Victoria’s Salish Sea for orcas, humpback whales, seals, sea lions, porpoises, and marine birds aboard a heated coastal explorer. A marine biologist guide explains the wildlife and coastline. The small group is limited to 12, with indoor and outdoor viewing areas.

“it hard to find the whales, every other boat is doing the same thing. However, it was educational in other aspects and she was very knowledgable, fun and interesting.”

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New in Wildlife & Bear Viewing

★ 4.6Tofino: Bear Watching Boat Tour with Nature GuideFrom $13723 reviews
★ 4.9PRIVATE Wilderness and Wildlife Walking Tour – 3hrs17 reviews
★ 4.9Parksville: Sunset Whale and Wildlife AdventureFrom $15510 reviews
★ 4.9Parksville: Half-Day Whale and Wildlife AdventureFrom $15526 reviews
★ 5.0Private Parc Omega Wildlife Safari – Winter MagicFrom $18364 reviews
★ 5.0Guided Nature Walk & Wildlife Tour with Hotel PickupFrom $434 reviews
★ 5.0Lunenburg: Zodiac Wildlife Tour with Naturalist GuideFrom $1015 reviews
★ 4.1Kamloops: BC Wildlife Park Entry TicketFrom $1432 reviews
★ 4.6Winter Wildlife Bus Tour in Jasper National ParkFrom $6293 reviews
★ 4.9Campbell River: Whale Watching and Wildlife Viewing Day TourFrom $29123 reviews
★ 4.7Whale Watching Marine Wildlife ExcursionFrom $11319 reviews
★ 4.8Omega Park Wildlife Safari Calling SoundsFrom $26429 reviews
★ 4.4Jasper National Park Wildlife Discovery TourFrom $6686 reviews
★ 4.7Cowichan Bay: Half-Day Whale & Wildlife AdventureFrom $15512 reviews
★ 4.5Canmore/Banff: Explore Banff & WildlifeFrom $695 reviews

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