Skip to content

FOLLOW ME NORTH

GREAT BEAR RAINFOREST

WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP

A Small-Group Tour

Join Us For An Intimate Workshop Experience


Be One With Grizzlies!

We’re proud to partner with the extraordinary photography duo, Jess & Susan from Follow Me North, to offer an EXCLUSIVE wildlife and landscape workshop in beautiful British Columbia.

Locations on this tour have been cherry-picked and curated to be a bucket list adventure for any budding photographer.

Why visit? Bella Coola Valley has the largest coastal temperate rainforest in the world: over 16 million acres. The area’s incredible biodiversity is protected to maintain its ecological integrity, including 1,000-year-old spruce and cedar trees. An environment that allows its grizzly bear population to flourish.

Contact us for more info – info@finisterra.ca

Sept 18-22nd, 2022

$4595 USD per person

Get on the waitlist for Sept 2023 HERE.

  • Four nights in either a glamping dome or a-frame cabin at Firvale Wilderness Camp*
  • Delicious home-cooked meals and snacks
  • Local transportation around Firvale
  • All tours as per itinerary
  • Photography coaching by the talented photographers from Follow Me North
  • Improving your photography techniques with the dynamic photography duo Jesse & Susan of Follow Me North
  • Experiencing beautiful British Columbia’s rugged wilderness in the Great Bear Rainforest
  • Floating down the river in search of grizzly bears feasting on spawning salmon
  • Learning about the indigenous culture from a local First Nations Nuxalk guide
  • Feasting on delicious, fresh, locally-sourced meals, all-inclusive of your package
  • Immersing yourself in pristine wilderness
  • Staying at the unique Firvale Wilderness Camp

Day 1 – ARRIVAL TO BELLA COOLA

Bienvenido a Bella Coola! 

Upon arrival to Bella Coola, you’ll have the afternoon to explore the Firvale Wilderness Camp, before settling down for a delicious dinner with your group. Let’s mingle and chat about all things photography and wildlife!

Time permitting we will take a short hike in search of wildlife.

Meals: -/-/D

Firvale Wilderness Camp - Follow Me North Wildlife Photography Tour

Day 2 – RIVER FLOAT SEARCHING FOR GRIZZLIES

After a delicious breakfast, we head out on the Bella Coola River.

Today we float down the Bella Coola River in search of grizzly bears feasting on spawning salmon. Experience the rugged wilderness in the Great Bear Rainforest, where stunning vistas and wildlife opportunities are abundant.

  • Meals: B/L/D

Day 3 – SAILING THE FJORDS

After breakfast, we set out to sail the coast fjords, glaciers, and waterfalls. We’ll be on the lookout for orcas, humpback whales, pacific white-sided dolphins, coastal wolves, stellar sea lions, seals, bald eagles, and bears during our cruise.

We’ve got a couple of secret spots that we’ll stop at along the way.

  • Meals: B/L/D
Firvale Wilderness Camp - Wildlife Photography Tour

Day 4 – RIVER FLOAT FOR GRIZZLIES

After breakfast, we depart for the southern part of Mexico City. 

Explore the unique canals of Xochimilco by boat. From here will visit the Dolores Olmedo Museum, UNAM Fachada, and the Contemporary Art Museum. 

  • Meals: B/-/-
  • Overnight: double/twin occupancy at Zocalo Central 

Day 5 – DEPARTURE DAY

After breakfast, we bid farewell to Firvale and our wonderful hosts as we head back to Bella Coola for our return flights.

  • Meals: B/-/-

Tour Exclusions

  • Flights to/from Bella Coola (can be arranged through nicola@finisterra.ca)
  • Mandatory travel medical insurance and optional cancellation insurance (can be arranged through
  • nicola@finisterra.ca or click HERE)
  • Activities and services not mentioned in the itinerary
  • Alcoholic beverages
  • Items of a personal nature
  • Gratuities for staff (housekeepers, servers, guides, drivers, etc)
  • Any required Covid-19 testing 

TERMS & CONDITIONS:
Please take the time to read and understand the conditions of booking set out in our Booking Terms & Conditions prior to booking a trip with Finisterra Travel LTD. We strongly recommend that you also read the Country Information relating to your trip prior to booking, and ensure that you understand the itinerary and the active style of the trip you are undertaking.

IMPORTANT NOTES

PLEASE NOTE: This itinerary is subject to change. Although we always do our best to stick to the itinerary, due to the ever-changing nature of Mother Nature, activities, hotels, and visits are subject to change due to forces beyond our control.

AIR TRAVEL: Flights are not included in the tour price. DO NOT purchase any airline tickets until the trip is confirmed to take place. Pre and post-tours can be arranged through available at an additional charge.

PASSPORTS: Must be valid for at least 6 months upon return date to your home country. Proper documentation is the responsibility of each traveller.

VISAS: (responsibility of the traveller)

PROGRAM COSTS: Program costs are based on a minimum number of participants and are subject to change without notice. Single supplement will apply to single travelers (unless a participant opts in for room share and a roommate is found. this cannot be guaranteed).

Travel Insurance

Cancellation, Travel, Flight, and Health insurance are required and are the responsibility of the participant to research and secure the appropriate coverage. Click HERE for a Travel Insurance Quote or please email nicola@finisterra.ca for a quote.

Check with your local travel agent /insurance provider/health plan for advice about traveling overseas.

Waiver Form

All participants will be required to sign a Waiver Form prior to departure.

Follow Me North - Wildlife Photography Workshop
FOLLOW ME NORTH – JESSE & SUSAN

Jesse Villemaire

“My background is colourful, just like me! For nearly 20 years I was a professional body piercer and owner of a high-end, reputable tattoo studio in Cambridge, Ontario. My former life allowed me to travel across Canada and the US, educating other tattoo artists and piercers on the importance of health and safety practices in the Body Art industry.

Throughout my travels, I picked up a hobby that would later become the driving force in my life – photography. My camera gave me a new perspective on the world and became my main tool for self-expression and creative exploration.

I’ve found myself all over the map in hot pursuit of the next unique wildlife encounter – hiking and paddling in places I would have otherwise bypassed if it were not for my love of adventure. Nothing brings me greater joy than spending time in nature with other photographers, collaborating and exchanging tricks of the trade.

These days I spend a great deal of time rolling around on the ground photographing dogs from all around the globe, and sneaking out in the wee hours of the morning to catch a glimpse of moose, posing majestically against the backdrop of Algonquin’s misty lakes. It’s rare that I’m in the same place for very long, so it’s only fitting that I be continuing to build experiences and workshops that I can share with other photographers in hopes that we can witness all the magic this planet has to offer!”

The Lovable Extrovert

Susan Villemaire

“I could talk at length about the last 10 years of my career as a Producer, serving Fortune 500 brands with 500px, Stocksy United and Shutterstock. About how I spent the better part of 2021 pivoting Shutterstock’s once tech-based company into long form programming – mining the 400 million images and 21 million videos from the Conde Nast, NY Times, Rex Features, ITV, and Life collections to generate original IP. About how I spent my impressionable 20’s as a reporter, writing bylines about art; climate change, mental health, music, and politics across the GTA. Or, about how I photographed catalog raisonnés for many artists now featured at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. 

But, I’m much more interested in how I can combine all of these experiences to craft timeless images for your brand. 

I enjoy a challenge and finding creative solutions to complex projects. My friends would describe me as a perfectionist – which, lucky for you, means I plan shoots meticulously and deliver my A-game, every time. When someone can look at a photograph I’ve taken and say that I captured their authentic self, I’m happy. 

Okay, because you asked, here are a few fun facts about me: I’m a bonafide Tolkienite. Yes, I know more about Middle Earth than I care to admit. I’m a member of the Production Coordinator Caucus at I.A.T.S.E. 411 and studied Film Production at the Vancouver Film School. I’m a registered yoga teacher. And, if music is playing in my house, it’s 99.9% of the time Tom Waits. I have kind eyes, a soft heart and a knack for juggling high-stakes productions. Let’s create!”

The Endearing Ambivert

Follow Me North - Photography Workshop Firvale

Firvale Wilderness Camp is our basecamp for adventure – luxury glamping resort in the heart of the great bear rainforest.

Firvale Wilderness Camp is located in the heart of the Great Bear Rainforest in Firvale, B.C. The camp is centrally located in the world-renowned Bella Coola Valley. Heading West you can access the charming village of Hagensborg in 15 mins for supplies, or continue an additional 15 mins to the coastal village of Bella Coola.

All meals and snacks are carefully prepared for our group.

Glamping at its finest – Our geodesic “glamping” domes provide guests with all the sights, sounds, and nature you get on a remote camping trip without all the headaches. Each dome is stylishly designed, heated, and has its own private washroom. The massive bay windows take advantage of the stunning glacier and mountain views.

A-Frame Cabins – Our A-frame cabins are a timeless classic! Fully heated with an ensuite washroom, local cedar interiors, a cozy reading loft, and of course – stunning views. These units are a favourite for those looking for a traditional cabin experience.

Are you all ready for your next adventure?

Even though we wish you a flawless trip, things can happen, especially nowadays. Make sure you are prepared with a Travel Insurance policy that is right for you. Finisterra recommends Manulife Insurance or John Hancock Please feel free to ask us about Covid-19 Insurance Coverage, Trip Cancellation & Interruption Insurance, Travel Medical Insurance, or any other questions you may have.

TRAVEL INSURANCE FOR CANADIANS

Travel with confidence knowing that you’re covered with Manulife Insurance.

Image of a girl swimming in ocean with Manulife travel insurance
GET A FREE QUOTE

TRAVEL INSURANCE FOR AMERICANS – JOHN HANCOCK

Explore the world, stress-free, when you book travel insurance with John Hancock International.

John Hancock Travel Insurance for Americans
GET A FREE QUOTE

WHY TRAVEL WITH US?

At Finisterra Travel we help you discover, push personal boundaries, and explore the unknown.

We are super passionate about sustainable, transformational, and adventure travel. Definitely not “armchair travellers”, we have firsthand experience of where you’ll be heading.No one wants to feel like a tourist which is why when we plan a custom travel experience for you, we strive to make your adventure as authentic as possible. We offer an array of Small Group Adventures & Custom Trips, and have something for every type of traveller.

Our unique itineraries are designed to best showcase some of our favourite destinations around Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Middle East, North America, and Europe. All itineraries are fully-customizable.Not your typical online travel agency, nor are we quite a tour operator, we are international travel designers with a flair for unique experiences. We’d love to hear from you!


JOIN OUR FINISTERRA COMMUNITY

Stay up-to-date with us when you sign up for our newsletter.

* indicates required