Spirit Bears & Wilderness

Transcription

1 & Wilderness (Ship base...) British Columbia s rare white bears, plus Humpbacks, Orcas and much more... Celebrating 27 years of incredible photo adventures! E: julia@worldadventures.com.au W:

2 We are specially targeting the rare Spirit Bears - (white bears) a stunning animal and our seasoned skipper has an outstanding record of finding these beautiful creatures. No other voyage delivers such unexpected delights as this stretch of the Inside Passage in northern British Columbia. It is an adventure. No other part of coastal northwestern North America offers so much wilderness. It is a well-kept secret or rather thousands of secrets and has changed little since Vancouver passed through here two hundred years ago! You ll find a lifetime of exploration and discovery on this magical mystery tour. This will be our 10th tour through this region. We are again using our favourite ship - the Delphinus. Its size allows us to explore the flat waters of sheltered bays and waterways that larger vessels can not visit. We guarantee you will experience unique photo opportunities and fantastic wilderness adventures. ALASKA & CANADA - the adventure... This region is a destination offering endless exploration experiences. Immerse yourself in the heartland of uniquely captivating images. In 2016 we invite you to photograph this stunning wilderness through your choice of two magnificent linked events: 1. Alaska - Land Based Adventure - August Canada - Spirit Bear - Ship based - September 2016 FANTASTIC VALUE FOR MONEY... * We include a complete ship package from cabin accommodation, (limited) to all meals, all drinks including standard alcoholic beverages, all tips and some of the best guides in the world. * We target Spirit Bears! * Plus, incredible landscapes with adventures in true wilderness conditions. * Exclusive ship and seasoned skipper. * Chance to shoot other amazing nature subjects. * Non photographic partners love our events. * Small photo group size - 6/7. * Expert professional photo guide who works hard to optimise your photo interests. * This is our 27th year of offer amazing World Photo Adventures! PAGE 2

3 WELCOME TO SPIRIT BEAR COUNTRY... Although we start in the Alaskan wilderness (you can join our Alaska tour which is completely different to the Spirit Bear tour) we quickly cruise across the Canadian boarder and into Spirit Bear Country. We suggest that you arrange to spend some time in Ketchikan before the trip, a hard working town and a major tourist destination. There are a number of interesting things to see including three totem parks. There is an active carver s studio, Creek Street, a town museum with its own totems, and an interesting waterfront. On the first day, or possibly the first night, we will cruise along the southern boundary of Misty Fiords National Monument the largest in the United States and cross into Canada. After a brief visit to Prince Rupert and Canadian customs, we will head to this trip s featured destinations on Princess Royal Island and vicinity. As a result of Pleistocene isolation, it is the home of the white black bear, Kermode bear, or Spirit bear one out of every ten bears, some say. This is an area for those hankering to explore places still unexplored. It is also the pinnacle of the Inside Passage wilderness and the home of abundant wildlife with characteristics of tameness similar to that of the Galapagos. We have had near magical experiences here with wolves, river otters, and, of course, bears. The island consists of a complex number of watersheds and inlets dominated by primeval ancient forest each with its own personality. PRE TOUR This tour starts in Ketchikan Alaska and finishes in Port McNeill, Canada. We suggest you arrive in Ketchikan, at least 24 hours before the tour starts. This will help with the new time zone and allow you to be fresh for the start of your adventure. We generally commence booking pre/post tour accommodation and flights approximately 8/9 months prior to departure, this optimising your travel interests. Note that ALL internal domestic flights are included in your package. FINAL ITINERARY Note that a final itinerary will be sent to you about one month before departure. Images from the Delphinus team. Itinerary, price and details are subject to change. We will be teaming up with local native guides. The natives protect and control these lands and claim them as their own, which indeed they are. As in true eco-tourism fashion, we will be paying the local guides for their service. It is well worth the experience of making a direct connection to active native customs and attitudes, too often missing in our modern world. Further, the guides are in near daily contact with the Spirit Bears, and offer by far our best chance of, being with them. PAGE 3

4 Representative Itinerary... To allow for the unexpected events that are often the highlights of travelling, we ll keep our itinerary flexible. We ll take full advantage of the opportunities nature presents us and we ll emphasize that which we find most interesting. The primary emphasis of this trip is spending quality time in areas of greatest potential for being with Spirit Bears, and, as such, it is a more focused trip than most. We ll spend time whale watching, hiking on islands and cruising. We ll discuss the marine biology and natural and cultural histories of the areas we visit. We ll bird watch and beach comb and contemplate nature. Our itinerary allows ample time to read, write, and sketch, and, of course, photograph - all in a very small group. DAY 1 - Ketchikan September 3 No activities are included until we meet at 5pm at reception. Your guides will fill in tour details, you meet the group and we include our first group dinner. Accommodation starts today. Hotel accommodation - (D) IMPORTANT - we suggest that you allow time for essential shopping. You must have rubber boots (wellies can be bought locally for around $30) and rain gear. Tongass Trading is a fantastic department store in town. A fishing license is required if you are to fish, but we will be in Alaska for only one day. Similarly, a Canadian fishing license will be required if you wish to fish. If not, it is fun to watch (this is not a fishing tour) and you get get eat beautiful fresh fish meals. All meals are included while on board. DAY 2 - Ketchikan - departure... September 4 We have arranged a personal group transfer for 9am. Once loaded and safety is covered, we will then travel past Misty Fiords National Monument and cross the Dixon Entrance en route to Prince Rupert, B.C. You will be shooting before you even get on board! DAYs 3 & 4 - Wilderness Adventures... September 5&6 Prince Rupert, Canadian Customs, and possibly a short visit to town. Continue travelling past Skeena River Mouth, Grenville Channel. A total of approximately 12 hours are required to reach Hartley Bay and the vicinity of the Spirit Bear. The scenery is simply beautiful. Arrive Hartley Bay. OUR QUALIFICATIONS Along with other famous travel companies like QANTAS, World Photo Adventures has become a member of ATAS. The Australian Travel Accredited Scheme is a national industry accreditation backed by the Australian Federation of Travel Agents. ATAS members are recognised as running a credible, professional business, offering clients peace of mind with annual financial checks, a minimum history of service in the travel industry and an outstanding service record. For more details go to WHAT IS CATO? World Photo Adventures is a member of CATO. Membership of the Council of Australian Tour Operators (CATO) is a hallmark of competence and integrity. CATO is the representative body for wholesale tour operators who supply travel and tour packages to domestic and international destinations. For more information, go to: Of course, we are looking for whales, possibly killer whales and enjoying the beautiful scenery as it glides by... Your expert guides will optimise shoot opportunities. PAGE 4

5 DAYs 5 & 6 - Wilderness Adventures... September 7&8 Princess Royal Island and surrounding area. For part of this time we may stay overnight at Bishop Bay Hot Springs, where you can enjoy a soak before bed. We will spend two days visiting the normal haunts of the Spirit Bear with our Native Guides. Stunning scenery, beautiful walks and outstanding nature is all around us. You guides will maximise these experiences and your photo guide will make sure you shoot the best of this region. DAYs 7 & 8 - Wilderness Adventures... September 9&10 Klemtu, Bella Bella, Namu and Calvert Islands are possible targets. We use the experience (over 30 years at sea) of our master skipper, Ronn. DAY 9 - Wilderness Adventures... September 11 Crossing Queen Charlotte Sound for pelagic birding, marine mammals. Queen Charlotte Strait. Potential feeding humpbacks and orcas. Some of our best days with humpbacks and Pacific white-sided dolphins have happened here! Day 10 - Wilderness Adventures... September 12 Johnstone Strait- this is the best place for orcas! We target these active mammals and with luck, will shoot some playful antics. Have your long lenses (and wide) ready for some incredible action! Day 11 - TOUR ENDS September 13 Morning docking in Port McNeill, mid-morning departure from Delphinus. (Please do not book very early flights.) A short ride to the airport if departing. Again, there are several things to do in the area if you wish to stay for a day or two. - Confirms if Breakfast - Lunch - Dinner - are included that day. Itinerary and price is subject to change. Interested in more? How about joining our other linked Alaska photo adventure? Julia can offer full itineraries. THE DELPHINUS The Delphinus is a refurbished fishing vessel that was customised to offer unique small group wilderness cruising experiences - this we guarantee! The Delphinus can explore locations that the larger ships can only dream about. Cabins are small and serve as sleeping quarters only. It is the rest of the ship that you will love for deck space, 360 degree shooting and the mixed opportunities of sitting with the skipper (he can answer all questions...) to watching the wilderness, to going on the higher deck for unobstructed viewing. We have sailed with skipper Ronn and his team several times and can say you are in for a special wilderness adventure with one of the most experienced teams in all of North America! But, we only take 6/7 adventures - book early! RONN PATTERSON - OWNER/CAPTAIN OF DELPHINUS Ronn Patterson is a naturalist by profession, a marine biologist by training, a student of whales by practice, a professional photographer by habit, a teacher by inclination, and a writer by requirement. For over thirty years he has led natural history trips to such places as Africa, the Amazon, the Andes, Baja California and Mexico, the Galapagos, and Alaska. Ronn founded the Natural Environmental Studies Program for the University of California Extension at Berkeley. During the fourteen years he directed that program, he also directed biology instruction and founded and directed the UC Extension Photography Program. In his last three years with the University, he was the Chairperson of the Science and Mathematics Extension. He has also been a whale consultant and biologist for the U. S. Government as well as a delegate to and member of the Scientific Committee of the International Whaling Commission. PAGE 5

6 MEET YOUR TOUR TEAM WHO ARE WE? At World Photo Adventures, creating marvellous and memorable journeys is our mission. Our tours give you impressions and experiences you ll cherish for a lifetime. We re more than travel and tour specialists we re your complete photography adventure solution. We take you straight to the photographic heartlands of your chosen tour region. As a family business, personalised service is close to our hearts. STAND-OUT SERVICE Stunning Norfolk Island set the stage for our first photo tour in (In fact Darran and Julia met on this very first photo adventure!) Since then our tours have gone from strength to strength and continent to continent. Wherever you travel with World Photo Adventures, our superior service levels are a mainstay. Claim the ultimate tour experience for you and your lens. From our friendly helpful staff, you ll enjoy the peace of mind and exceptional experience that only comes from working with one of the world s most experienced photo travel companies. DARRAN LEAL Professional photographer/guide With over 400 successful photo tours/ workshop and seminars worldwide and counting, Australian-born Darran s lifetime loves are travel and outdoor photography. He combines these with vast experience in delivering global photo tours, workshops and seminars. Darran is one of the world s few fulltime professional photo guides. He leads photographers of all levels to many of the world s most captivating locations. As a natural born photographer, educator and adventurer, Darran s career inevitably led him to help others explore and capture their world. Now Darran spends his time up to his arm pits in crocodiles, cuddling gorillas or herding photographers. Check out Darran s work first-hand at: JULIA LEAL Professional travel consultant Exploring new territory is an adventure Julia has been savoring since childhood. Julia was born in Liverpool, England yet soon migrated to New Zealand with her family. She launched her travel career in 1979 in tropical Noosa, Queensland where she managed one of the first resorts in the region. Then it was back to Auckland, New Zealand to take up the role of travel consultant. Before long, Go International snapped Julia up as a travel rep. While leading an educational tour on Norfolk Island in 1989, Julia met Darran. Though her career remained trans-tasman for several years after, Julia is now in her element as a travel consultant extraordinaire for World Photo Adventures. When it comes to securing an extraordinary photographic adventure tour founded on unrivalled service, Julia has it covered. PEARCE LEAL Professional photographer/guide No photographer could wish for a better guide to getting remarkable destination shots than a fellow photographer. Pearce is the man to get you weaving incredible lens magic, with over 30 tours and workshops under his belt, Pearce has traversed incredible image opportunities in Africa, the USA, South America, Asia and Australia. In addition, his own photographic work has been featured in magazines and media around the globe. He has won several awards in the AIPP, to finalist in the BBC Wildlife Photographer of the year. His teaching skills and his dedication to help those on tour is outstanding. Check out Pearce s work first-hand at: FRAZER LEAL IT Wizard At a very young age Frazer pulled apart computers to see how they worked and started to fix all sorts of technology. He first became serious with a camera when he borrowed his dad s camera while on a workshop on Fraser Island. He went on to win best photo with over 100 adult photographers. Frazer is our IT and Social Media manager. He designs and manages our website and helps to keep you up to date with our great adventures. PAGE 6

7 WHO BOOKS OUR PHOTO HOLIDAYS? From animated point and shoot amateur photographers to seasoned photographic veterans, we get a broad crosssection of photo enthusiasts on every tour. Not super keen on snapping? No problem. You are still guaranteed a great time. Whether your finger never leaves, or never hits a camera during a tour, you will have an unforgettable experience. Our unique locations, top guides and small travel groups make sure of it. While our clients vary in age and experience, all attend with the same goal to have a fantastic holiday. We ensure every client gets exactly that. WE OFFER YOU... All inclusive land package... That s right, we include everything from hand picked 3/4 star accommodation, plus all meals, transport, entrance fees and even drinks, as per itinerary. Great guidance every step of the way... A vibrant travel itinerary that never misses a beat. Local knowledge to fully immerse you in the richest offerings of the region. Professional photographic support is provided to ensure you secure superlative images. You will have it all thanks to our professional photographer and local guide. Both are with you throughout your tour. Small group sizes for big personal advantage... You want to maximise your photographic and experiential opportunities. We want you to as well. So we keep tour groups small with a maximum of six travellers per guide. You will benefit from utmost flexibility and personal attention, with an experienced guide on-hand too. Fantastic accommodation... Comfort is an important part of all travel. So we ensure a high standard of accommodation throughout your tour. That means you will always be well rested to make the most of every tour day. Marvellous meals... Eating on the job can only be planned to a certain extent. After all you would not want to miss incredible photographic and travel opportunities because you were busy dining. So we provide a selection of meals as detailed in your itinerary. Your guides will arrange all other meals to ensure you never miss a chance to enrich your tour memories and books or albums. Itinerary, price and details are subject to change. LIBERATE YOUR LENS AND YOUR SENSES Our end-to-end tour takes you on a journey of incredible discovery. So put yourself in the big picture with prime travel information and inspiration... GET TO KNOW THE DESTINATION You can begin your exploration of the tour destination without leaving home. Visit Simply type in the locations on your itinerary and explore to your heart s content. It s a great idea to embark upon your adventure well informed on this rich natural wonderland. WEATHER Please google temperatures for that time of the year at the destination. We will offer more information in our - Final Itinerary. WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED IN OUR TOUR PRICE We aim to provide a convenient price for almost all your travel and tour arrangements. Yet some additional costs do fall outside our tour prices. Your airfares are an extra cost unless your itinerary specifies otherwise. All transfers, laundry and sundries not listed in the itinerary also fall outside our tour price. PLEASE NOTE: it is vital that you do not book any flights or other travel services for your tour before speaking to our office first. No tour is ever guaranteed until minimum numbers and other key logistics are confirmed. ITINERARY AND PRICE CHANGES Tour prices are correct at the time of printing, but these are subject to change. Please use your itinerary and associated pricing as a guide only. KITTING OUT YOUR CAMERA COLLATERAL No matter what your photographic level or style, World Photo Adventures maximises your image interest. Our clients use everything from top line D-SLRs with pro lenses to mid-range kits. We even have a wealth of non-photographically inclined partners come along with basic compact cameras. Your equipment is personal to you. What matters is that you know how to use it and how to get the most out of your tour. That is why we offer a workshop at the start of all tours. Plus you ll have a professional photographer on-hand to give you personal assistance while you re in the field. You can even benefit from mini photography workshops during the course of your tour. In short, we give you everything possible to help you capture lasting images of the world s most breathtaking location in a way that matches your style, desires and photographic equipment. PAGE 7

8 SPIRIT BEARS PRICE - AU$8,995 Twin Share per person As per itinerary, with small group size - Maximum 6/7 - and professional photo guides. NOTE: Full payment for this tour is required 9 months before departure. EVENT DEPOSIT REQUIRED - AU$3,000 pp. Full payment for this tour is required 9 months before departure. Please read our terms & Conditions and fill in our booking form. Julia can offer travel insurance, including deposit protection insurance. SINGLE SUPPLEMENT - Another full berth price. We will try our best to find someone to share with you. It is our responsibility to find a person to share with you. If we do not, no extra cost is involved. TO BOOK: Please ask for our booking form. FLIGHTS We do not include your international flights. (Or any other flights, unless included in the itinerary.) THE COST INCLUDES All ship tour costs as per itinerary Accommodation on board the Delphinus All drinks and meals as detailed in the itinerary. This includes standard alcoholic beverages Private group transportation Entrance fees to national park Local English-speaking expert guides Professional photo guide Tips NOTE: Full payment for this tour is required 9 months before departure. NOT INCLUDED International Air tickets Personal expenses Items not included in the itinerary We are happy to help you! We are happy to check your flight itinerary, before you have tickets issued, to make sure you will be arriving and departing at the correct times for the tour. (Julia will need a copy of your flight itinerary, for her records). IMPORTANT - To make sure you book the correct dates and times, we would request the following: 1. Don t purchase any air tickets, until Darran s flights have been booked, which we will do approximately 8-9 months prior to the tour departure. We will advise you when Darran s flights are booked and you can then use his itinerary, as a guide. This will also coincide with confirming the tour departure, making sure we have met minimum passenger numbers for the tour and the logistics of the tour have not changed. 2. We suggest you arrive a minimum of 24 hours prior to the tour departure, to help with jet lag and in case of airline delays. E: julia@worldadventures.com.au W: PAGE 8