6 Night Cruise sailing from Prince Rupert roundtrip aboard Island Odyssey.

The Khutzeymateen Inlet is one of British Columbia's most northern glacial fjords, with characteristic steep cliffs, thick forests and rich estuary ecosystems. The Khutzeymateen Valley is Canada's only grizzly bear sanctuary and is home to British Columbia's most important coastal bear population.

This is a wonderful opportunity to focus on bear viewing in one of the most famous sites in Canada.

Khutzeymateen is a native Tsimshian word meaning 'a confined space for salmon and bears', a suitable description - as you will soon see. "Khutzeymateen" is spelled "K'tzim-a-Deen" by the local Tshimshian.

We voyage along the Inlet's winding shores and expect some wonderful bear viewing in the new Khutzeymateen Conservancy. We look forward to exploring the outer islands, watching Steller sea lions on the hunt and at play. While ashore, we walk along rugged beaches and take the time for hikes to see bog flowers. Each day, we enjoy our time for incredible sea kayaking among rock studded anchorages.

Bears:
This area is home to the magnificent grizzly bear, a species that requires large areas of habitat undisturbed by human activity. These great bears, once roamed across North America but due to the advance of civilization, diminished food supply and continued tophy hunting, they are now threatened in their remaining range.

Fortunately for the bears of the Khutzeymateen, they are protected, as the headwaters of the Inlet are Canada's only Grizzly Bear Sanctuary. Covering an area of 45,000 hectares, scientists estimate there are about 50 grizzlies protected by the no-hunting restrictions of the sanctuary. The protected area has recently been expanded to include the entire Inlet as the Khutzeymateen Conservancy. Although Bluewater voyages leave the Sanctuary to the bears, there are acres of untouched wilderness for us to explore!

Tshimshian Culture:
Tshimshian First Nations have lived in this area for thousands of years. There are two villages along our route; Lax Kw'alaams was once a Hudson Bay Company trading post called Fort Simpson and Metlakatla, which became a model Christian community under Reverend Duncan during late 1800's. They were fortunate to have avoided the smallpox that ravaged many native communities along the Coast. The Khutzeymateen is jointly managed by BC Parks and the Tshimshian First Nation.

Marine Mammals:
The waters of the North Coast are frequented by a variety of marine mammals, such as seals, sea lions, humpback whales and the infamous orca, or killer whale.

Dall's porpoise are another marine mammal we may encounter. These porpoise are the fastest whales in our ocean and they will often come over "bow ride" while we are underway. Steller sea lions can be found hauled out along the rocky shores. Males can weigh up to 2000 lbs. Stellers have been placed on the endangered species list in western Alaska, and scientists are only now learning why the population is declining so fast.

Birds:
This area has a very rich and varied bird population. You'll be amazed at the number of bald eagles, ravens and various species of gulls that gather at the estuaries to feed on the spawning salmon. A variety of other birds, such as the common merganser, black oystercatcher, American dipper, and Steller jays are also common visitors of the rainforest rivers.