“Your team did an outstanding job today. Our CI: The Crime Investigators event in New Jersey for L'Oreal R&D was a success. The feedback from the participants was extremely positive. The program was done very professionally, and despite the rain, worked out really well. Thank you to your team for making it a success for us. We look forward to working on additional events in the near future.” L’Oreal
bald EAGLE SAFARI BIRDWATCHING ADVENTURE
Bald Eagle bird watching in a picture-perfect wilderness setting!
Welcome aboard! From November to February each year, you and your family can get the best chance of witnessing one of nature’s most awesome bird watching spectacles in Brackendale British Columbia, just a short drive from Vancouver and Whistler.
When you ask people what it’s like to bird watch majestic bald eagles as they stalk the land from high perches and wind borne wings, what is most striking is the meaningfulness of the experience. People talk about being part of something larger than themselves, of being connected. It becomes quite clear that, for many, their experiences stand out as singular periods of life lived to the fullest. Some spend the rest of their lives looking for ways to recapture that spirit and those wilderness experiences that allow them to “live stories worth telling”.
Need to get up to Whistler or Squamish from Vancouver? Rent a car from Enterprise or check out the convenient Greyhound bus schedule.
“WOW! This was an outstanding trip. I eagerly recommend it to anyone wanting a fun, educational outdoor adventure.”
[ For high-resolution photos of this wonderful adventure, please click here ]
In this picture-perfect wilderness setting we will sweep you right off your feet in expedition-class river rafts, the ultimate viewing platform for observing one of the highest concentrations of bald eagles in the world. Annually 3000-4000 eagles descend upon the Squamish Valley on six to 8-foot wingspans, gathering in Brackendale to feast on Chum salmon spawning in the hundreds of thousands. Just an hour from Vancouver and 45 minutes from Whistler, guides skillfully ply the placid Squamish down river waters, in idyllic safety and comfort, where scores of eagles are close-up on sandbars and roosting in trees overhead. A record 3700 pairs of the sharpest eyes in the animal kingdom have been counted here in a single day. Bird watching simply doesn't get any better than this.
Sound like a fantasy? It's a fact. Brackendale may seem fabled, at the misty junction of ocean, rivers and emerald forests hanging beneath icy blue glaciers of the Tantalus mountains. You had better bring a camera, you may not believe your eyes! Then there's the eagle nests! Ever seen one? Huge rings of sticks six feet across, over six feet high, weighing over a ton! That's to be expected of a bird capable of flying 50 kilometers per hour (30 mph), diving at 160 kilometers per hour (95 mph), spotting a fish over a kilometer away (3/4 of a mile)! People often ask what eagles think. They don't say. His journal is composed of talon tracks, wind borne feathers, salmon blood and bones, loose as leaves, wind blown. Perhaps you should bring a journal to write in, you may want to map out a tale or two of your own.
Your 1 to 2 hour ultimate bald eagle birdwatching safari adventure includes a spectacular scenic river journey without the worry of white water to spoil camera shots or observation opportunities. The pace is leisurely, relaxing ... a perfectly tranquil way to fully experience bald eagles in their natural habitat.
[ For high-resolution photos of this wonderful adventure, please click here ]
No need for special equipment, this is 'adventure-at-ease' for virtually every age and group, even families with children as young as five. This is an ideal outing for tourists and non-tourists alike, a well organized, experiential and educational excursion for youth groups, Scouts and Guides, to school groups. A paradise for photographers; a first-rate educational experience; an authentic outdoor classroom hosted by knowledgeable, professional and fully certified guides.
If safety is a concern, it need not be. Quite simply, our gifted team of river guides love to run this river and it shows every day as they live stories worth telling.
If you drive yourself to Squamish, some visitors like to combine our Eagle Safari bird watching tour with a self-guided tour of the Tenderfoot Creek Hatchery, also located in the Squamish/Brackendale area. This is a wonderful way to become even more knowledgeable about this fascinating eco-system. More information on this fish hatchery experience can be found here.
“Not only did we learn interesting facts, but our guide showed a genuine interest in our group. He made us feel relaxed, safe, and happy."
[ For high-resolution photos of this wonderful adventure, please click here ]
Eagle Safari Departures
Daily departures, mid to late November 2008 - February 15 2009, at 10:00 AM. Please call our adventure reservations team to book your tour. There is no set number of passengers needed to book a tour, however, a minimum of 4 is required to run the trip with lunch included. Groups under 4 can be added to an existing tour, or in the unlikely event that no further booking's have been received on the date of your trip we will run the tour with a min of 2 people. We will be happy to advise you on some excellent local resturants, for you to purchase your lunch. Additional departures may be available midweek and on weekend afternoons on a custom basis for groups of 8 or more.
Blackout dates for the 2008-09 Eagle Safari season are:
December 24, 25, 26
January 1
blackouts may be able to be lifted for group bookings of 8 or more
If you’ve flown into Vancouver or Whistler and don't have a rental car, you can catch a Greyhound bus from either Vancouver or Whistler to "Squamish North Garibaldi". We would be happy to pick you up from the bus depot and bring you to our base for a cup of hot tea or coffee prior to your tour commencing. Directions on booking your Greyhound bus can be found in your pre departure information.
[ For high-resolution photos of this wonderful adventure, please click here ]
Eagle Safari Pricing Ages 4 and up - $99.00 per person (Canadian funds, not including GST )
Includes:
all equipment required (please check your pre-departure details for clothing and other recommendations)
1-2 hours of bald eagle viewing from the comfort of our expedition-style boats
hot tea and coffee
lunch provided in our cozy lodge complete with two fireplaces. Hot soup, chilli, fresh baked bread, salad, desert and juice (provided only for trips with 4 or more participants)
river transportation to and from our base
complementary pick up and drop off to and from the Greyhound bus depot in Squamish (for those who choose to take the bus from Vancouver or Whistler)
parking
Are you with a group of 8 or more? Or part of a Youth Group? please contact us for a custom quote at 1-800-565-8735 or 604-921-7250
Featured Hotel Package
The Fairmont Waterfront's Eagle Safari package includes one-night deluxe accommodation in downtown Vancouver, binoculars, round-trip transportation from Vancouver to Squamish and the Eagle Safari for two, including lunch at the Howe Sound Inn. For more info on this winter getaway package please contact the Fairmont Waterfront Hotel in Vancouver at 604-691-1991 or thewaterfronthotel@fairmont.com and refer to the Eagle Safari package.
Feature Photographers Special
We receive many requests from professional and amateur photographers for an exclusive and extended view of the magnificent eagles. Throughout the season you have the opportunity to book a private extended 3-4 hour journey down the river corridor. This exclusive opportunity is available for CDN$999 plus GST, and includes your private guide and river transportation.
Cancellation Refund Guarantee
A cancellation refund guarantee is not available for this adventure. This adventure is non-refundable within 7 days of departure, 30 days for group bookings.
COA reserves the right to adjust or cancel any itinerary/trip in the event of adverse weather conditions, insufficient bookings or events beyond our control. Under these circumstances, we will do our best to provide you with alternate departures or a full refund.
