Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Farewell Harbour Lodge is a remote, family owned and operated eco-lodge on a 300 acre forested island in the Broughton Archipelago Marine Park of coastal British Columbia. The area is home to a wondrous array of marine wildlife including Orca, Humpbacks, dolphins, sea otters, sea lions and more. The Archipelago is also situated in the southern portion of Canada's Great Bear Rainforest which is home to Grizzly bears, Black bears and other wildlife. Farewell Harbour Lodge offers all-inclusive multi day packages offering daily excursions in search of wildlife, comfortable ocean-front accommodations, excellent food, wood fired hot tub and sauna, a variety of activities such as sea kayaking and friendly, engaging guides. We welcome couples, families and solo travellers keen to get off the beaten path and experience SuperNatural British Columbia at its finest.
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
With a month spent in B.C. our time at Farewell Harbour Lodge was the pinnacle of our trip to Canada, having an eco-tourism focus. Prior to our arrival and throughout the planning and booking process, Kelli and Tim were the most wonderful hosts. They assisted with travel advice that got us there. My partner and I felt like part of their family from the time we met until our departure from the lodge on Berry Island. Our cabin had the most enchanting views of Blackfish Sound and the adjacent islands. The main lodge was well set up for meals, spending time with other guests, relaxing after the days events, and joining the evening talks. Everything was catered for to make our stay truly 5 star. The meal service was absolutely top knotch and worthy of note for not only dinners, but its breakfast selection and lunch packs delivered into the field. The guide staff were so professional. But more so, wonderful and enthusiastic young people with an absolute passion for what they were doing. I could not fault anyone and was sad to leave such a marvellous destination and wonderful group of people behind. We made great friends not only with other visitors but also the guide staff Ellie, Silvy, Darryl, and Marley. These ladies made each day a very special experience. Activities ranged from viewing grizzly and black bears in the wild to watching humpbacks and orca feed, seals swimming and socialising, to otters feeding. Simple pleasures such as having Dall's porpiose ride in the bow wave during a morning outing had us in fits of laughter at the joy wild animals can display in just having fun. Given the location, a large portion of activities occur on or near the water. However, we also had time walking within the Great Bear Rainforest and the island itself. The opportunity to immerse yourself inside a temperate rainforest is not to be missed. The range of flora is remarkable, and when walking quietly, you can even come upon deer grazing or wood pecker feeding. I would love to go back and do it all again....this is a bucket list trip for sure.
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Date of stay: October 2023Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:Â Make sure you have plenty of storage if taking digital photographs, there are so many beautiful...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Tim McGrady, General Manager at Farewell Harbour Lodge
Responded Oct 23, 2023
Sherpa58183790227: Thanks for your kind review. We are so happy to hear it was the pinnacle of your stay! Wow! Tim McGrady GM, Farewell Harbour Lodge Berry Island, BC
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We have just returned from a three week holiday in Canada, the highlight of which was a five day (four night) stay at Farewell Harbour Lodge,
Following a lot of online research of lodges in the BC area we opted from FHL, much of this decision was based on the prompt, accurate and detailed feedback that we had from our very first email with Tim and Kellie, subsequently we booked many months directly with FHL rather than through an agent.
The pre-arrival information was fantastic and left nothing to chance, and plenty of opportunity to ask questions, the ground transportation from our hotel in Port Hardy to Alder Bay was faultless (thanks Gordon!)
As soon as we left Alder Bay the wildlife gave us a fantastic display, porpoises, humpback whales and that was only the first twenty minutes!
On arrival at Farewell Harbour Lodge, we received a warm welcome from all of the staff including Tim and Kellie, our luggage was placed into our room whilst we new arrivers were take to the lounge for lunch and orientation,
The food from that first lunch through to the final packed lunch was five star, my wife has a gluten intolerance which was catered for with no fuss and very little deviation from the main offering, the catering staff and chef at the lodge were outstanding!
Shortly after lunch we were taken back out to sea in the launch that we had arrived in to continue to watch the wildlife and the stunning scenery for a couple of hours before the 5pm Swim Club (A voluntary dip in the harbour...very refreshing!)
Meal times got better and better as we settled in with the group of six others that we were to spend the days with, after dinner every evening is a optional talk given by one of the staff, all very knowledgable and passionate about their subject matter and well worth listening to with a glass of wine around the fire.
We were exceptionally fortunate in that during the days that we were out with the guides that we saw all of the wildlife that we'd hope that we might see - but we did have one day where we had gone to look for bears, and were not successful, however the following day we were treated to being able to track a young Grizzley along a river at a close/safe distance.
One of the unexpected highlights of the trip came through one of our guides, Ellie, with whom we spent three days, Ellie and her family are First Nations People, we learned a lot over those three days about the background of her people, and on our final morning at FHL we had the opportunity to visit the Village in which she now lives, that her Grandfather lead the rebuilding of, her cousin Amy showed us around the village an explained the terrible recent history that had befallen her people, and how they were now reconciling this history and rebuilding the community, the Big House tour was a real privilege!
It would be easy to write so much about this part of our holiday, but if you can I would recommend that you go and experience Farewell Harbour Lodge, it can seem expensive, but it is worth it and looking back was great value for what we were able to experience!
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Date of stay: September 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:Â Contact Tim & Kellie directly via the website to ask questions about what you want out of your...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Tim McGrady, General Manager at Farewell Harbour Lodge
Responded Oct 23, 2023
Holty197411 Thank you for your generous and detailed review. We are particularly happy to hear that you enjoyed your visit to the Indigenous village. take care Tim McGrady GM, Farewell Harbour Lodge Berry Island, BC
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The Farewell Harbour experience is the trip of a lifetime. From the moment you arrive at Alder bay for your pick up you are overwhelmed with a positive friendly team and that only gets better once you arrive at the lodge and meet the rest of the team. From the owners Tim and Kelli, to the front of house staff, Mike and all the guides ( for us we had Renee, Sylvie and Daryl) the whole team are incredibly friendly, incomparably knowledgeable and exceptionally enthusiastic. The team will truly go the extra mile for you and you really feel welcomed into their family. The kitchen and housing teams also did an amazing job and should not go unmentioned. The afternoon cakes were a particular highlight. The tea selection was perfect for the brits! The lodge is situated in a secluded inlet, There is no light or noise pollution you are just immersed in nature. The building is west face facing and you can sit outside by a cosy fire watching the most beautiful sunsets. The accomodation is perfect with large windows pointed directly over the water. The excursions are brilliant, we had a group 6 persons with 2 guides. The guides know the area really well, with some of them working in the area for over 10 years and passing on their experiences to the more junior staff members which is really encouraging to see. In terms of wildlife we saw humpbacks, sea lions, harbour seals, porpoises, urchins, sea otters, sea eagles, kingfishers, loons, blue heron, little brown bats, deer, grizzlies and cubs as well as black bears. The flora was also impressive, the knowledge the team can share about the temperate rainforests of BC including the secret world of the fungi and lichen should not be missed. The place is paradise and we hope to return again soon.
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Date of stay: June 2024Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Tim McGrady, General Manager at Farewell Harbour Lodge
Responded Jul 5, 2024
Hello benmK7822JF Thanks so much for your review. We are so happy you enjoyed your stay with us. We always appreciate hearing kudos for our amazing staff. We're glad the wildlife came out to play in such abundance during your visit! We look forward to your return visit! Tim McGrady GM, Farewell Harbour Lodge Berry Island, BC
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Is it the wildlife or the stunning scenery well it is both of these but for us it was the team that’s behind the Farewell Harbour Lodge that made it for us.
From the crossing by boat across Black Fish sound where we were lucky enough to have a great show put on by Humpback Whales you then arrive by the jetty where you are met by Kelli & Tim, this is where you begin to notice why Farewell Harbour Lodge is a special place.
The whole team are so passionate and enthusiastic about nature and the diversity of the area, it’s infectious.
The guides work so hard to make sure you see as much of the wildlife as possible but in a safe way, don’t forget it’s wildlife so nothing is guaranteed. Then after your evening meal you are invited to sit down and listen to one of the guides who will give you a talk on their passion, be it grizzlies, Orca’s or the Bear Rainforest.
Then we go to the front of house team who always have a smile and will help you with anything. Another mention to the team behind the scenes who kept the whole lodge clean and tidy and the kitchen staff that supplied some great packed lunches and very special evening meals.
There are a few people to mention Kelli,Tim,Marley,Vicki,Lauren & Noah (on the boil) to name just a few.
We highly recommend joining the 5.00pm swim but don’t forget it’s not the Caribbean.
So to finish off the Farewell Harbour Lodge has a great team but it’s more like a family which you are asked to join. Thank you everyone, enjoy your break and hopefully see you again soon.
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Date of stay: September 2023Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:Â Take binoculars and a good camera if you can.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Tim McGrady, General Manager at Farewell Harbour Lodge
Responded Oct 23, 2023
Trippy12345 Thanks for your kind review. We are happy that our enthusiasm shines through so brightly. We do love what we do. We do hope to see you again soon! Tim McGrady GM, Farewell Harbour Lodge Berry Island, BC
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What a warm welcome! What an overwhelming nature! Whales, killer whales, black and grizzly bears, dolphins... Tim, Kelli and the whole team are doing everything they can to welcome you as a real guest! And in the evening at 5 pm the joint jump into the cold water: the 5pm swimclub. It is a true paradise!
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Date of stay: September 2024Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Beautiful location, expertly managed and in an amazing part of the world. My wife and I visited for 3 nights at the end of September and had the most amazing time, The lodge is in an excellent location close to blackfish sound ( home to humpbacks, orca etc) and well positioned for boat trips to see wildlife ( the majority of excursions will be by boat). The farewell lodge staff were all fantastic, passionate about their work and very well researched ( I learned so much). After the days excursions there is dinner, and a presentation ( should you wish ) on various wildlife themed topics. Wildlife ( as ever) has to be sought out, however we saw black bears, grizzlies, orca, humpbacks, porpoise etc in their natural habitat, and so plenty to enjoy over and above the beautiful scenery of the area.
This was near the end of the season for the lodge but the team were still highly focussed on delivering a great experience and really operated like a family. Thanks to Tim and Kelli for the experience of a lifetime, and I would love to be able to return at some point.
I highly recommend this special place as somewhere to appreciate the natural beauty of the rainforest, and stunning wildlife and fauna that lives here.
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Date of stay: September 2024Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:Â Recommend be realistic in expectations for wildlife spotting. Finding bears etc on the...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Tim McGrady, General Manager at Farewell Harbour Lodge
Responded Oct 20, 2024
387graemec: Thank you so much your kind review! The latter part of the season in late September and October was tricky this year for bears but the whales were phenomenal. Glad you got to experience the full spectrum of wildlife. And yes we do our very best to bring our 'A' game right to the very end of each season. We know how important it is to all of our guests. Our crew are pros and we truly love what we do! We do hope to see you again! Thanks again for your kind recommendation. It is highly valued. Tim McGrady GM, Farewell Harbour Lodge Berry Island, BC
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Farewell Harbour Lodge is a truly magical place run by the most caring owners and staff I have ever come across. You go for the wildlife, which was beyond our wildest dreams, but you are blown away by the level of care and attention to detail that Tim, Kellie and all their team bring to the table. You truly feel like you are part of their family.
On the first afternoon we saw Orcas, Sea Lions, Dolphins, Porpoises and Humpbacks breaching before we settled down to a beautiful meal in a magical location. Grizzly Bears and Sea Otters were soon added to the list. If observing wildlife in its own habitat with knowledgeable guides is your thing then look no further than Farewell Harbour Lodge. And don't forget to take your swimming gear, the 5pm swim club is not to be missed.
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Date of stay: September 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:Â Take a decent camera and binoculars to fully enjoy the wildlife in the area
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Tim McGrady, General Manager at Farewell Harbour Lodge
Responded Sep 16, 2023
S3886ELianc Thank you so much for the review! We all truly love what we do. We're happy that Mother Nature cooperated while you were here with us. And 100% about the swim club!! Tim McGrady GM, Farewell Harbour Lodge Berry Island, BC
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Staying with you guys at Farewell Harbour has been an out of this world experience. Welcomed like family members, cared for like royalty and looked after like precious gems, we felt taken care of at a level we very very rarely have experienced elsewhere.
Our expectations for our stay with you have been by far exceeded and what we saw and experienced will stay permanently with us. It is rare to find someone being passionate about what they do, finding a whole team who not only are passionate and wise about what they do, but work so well together in synch and adapt with such ease and joy to whatever will make their guests make the most of of their stay at Farewell Harbour Lodge is a not only a rare, but deeply touching experience.
We take with us a totally different perspective on the Canadian wildlife and nature. We have bathed in serene and pristine nature, have met orcas, humpbacks, porpoises, sea lions, seals, sea otters, grizzlies, eagles and other wildlife galore, but above all feel blessed to have met you guys and to have had the joy and honour of spending time with you in your natural habitat.
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Date of stay: July 2024
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:Â Our special dietary requirements were joyfully taken care of, resulting in a fantastic and safe...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Tim McGrady, General Manager at Farewell Harbour Lodge
Responded Aug 20, 2024
Hello Michael Thank you so much for your kind review. It is very heartwarming to read. We truly love what we do and are blessed to have such a passionate, caring, knowledgeable team. We are so glad you experienced our Farewell family along with the wildlife and scenery. Thanks again! Tim McGrady General Manager, Farewell Harbour Lodge Berry Island, BC
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We spent 4 nights at Farewell Harbour Lodge. Quite easily one of our best holidays. Everything about the lodge is exceptional! The beautiful location, excellent views from all parts of the lodge, comfortable rooms with breathtaking views, excellent food and tours went beyond our expectations. We saw grizzlies, black bears, orcas, humpback whales, a minke whale, porpoises, sea lions, seals and a cute sea otter playing hide and seek with us in the kelps. We would come back from our day trips in the evenings to soothing hot showers in our rooms, delicious food and fun filled conversation with the hosts and other guests. Wifi is available in all the rooms and in the lounge. The one feature that makes it so special is the hospitality showered on the guests. Tim and Kelli were excellent hosts and went out of their way to personalize the day tours, pull out a warm fleece jacket when I needed one and were there to welcome us when we got back from the day tours. The staff were all very warm and welcoming and went the extra mile to ensure that we got the most out of our trips. It is truly a haven! The services were of the highest quality made even more exceptional by the human touch. Three cheers to the staff at Farewell Harbour Lodge Will definitely recommend it to our friends and will definitely visit it again.
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Date of stay: September 2021
Rooms
Service
Sleep Quality
Room Tip:Â All rooms are good.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Tim McGrady, General Manager at Farewell Harbour Lodge
Responded Sep 29, 2021
MiniB142 Thanks so much for your review. We are so glad you enjoyed your visit with us. Its always wonderful when Mother Nature cooperates! Tim McGrady Farewell Harbour Lodge Berry Island, BC
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Back home from a wonderful stay! On day one we were on the boat transfer to the lodge and already seeing humpback whales and orcas. On arrival Tim, Kelli and the team were very welcoming and everything was well organised. Even though we had already stayed at another lodge the excursions were different. We had a great day bear viewing at a weir and were thankful for the waterproof clothing they provided. We also had an interesting guided walk viewing an amazing range of fungi and took the opportunity to walk alone through the forest by the lodge - although we were provided with bear spray it wasn't required! We were encouraged to join the 5pm swim but took the warmer option of watching with a nice drink. The rooms were clean and comfortable and the food lovely. The evenings were enhanced by a talk by one of the guides. Becca - we wish we had spotted some of the amazing jellyfish you described.
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Date of stay: September 2024
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Tim McGrady, General Manager at Farewell Harbour Lodge
Responded Oct 5, 2024
443lyda Thank you for your kind review. We are glad you enjoyed your stay with us. And by all means, enjoying swim club as a spectator on the deck with a beer or glass of wine is perfectly acceptable and encouraged! kind regards Tim McGrady General Manager Farewell Harbour Lodge Berry Island, BC
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Berry Island, Canada81 contributions1 helpful vote
Hello Rae sorry I'm just seeing this question now. We do provide hair dryers, soap, shampoo and body wash. We look forward to your visit!
cheers
Tim
General Manager
Hi Marci,
Unfortunately, we are not able to provide this service as our docks are very busy each day with boats coming and going, kayaks launching and occasionally floatplanes landing and docking. As we operate at capacity for most of our season with our in-house guests visiting the lodge on all-inclusive wildlife packages, unfortunately, we do not have the space to offer restaurant service to the public. I hope you enjoy your boat travels in the Broughton Archipelago!
Kind regards,
Kelli McGrady
Co-owner
I apologize for the late reply to your question as I some how missed seeing and or responding to your question. I am not sure if this helps now, but excess luggage can be stored at Vancouver Island Air during your stay at the lodge.
Thanks
Ryne
Martley, United Kingdom38 contributions18 helpful votes
"Recommend be realistic in expectations for wildlife spotting. Finding bears etc on the shoreline and whales in the ocean, can take time. Bring a zoom camera if you can.
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There are more places to choose from in the Berry Island area.
FORMERLY KNOWN AS
Bones Bay Lodge
LOCATION
CanadaBritish ColumbiaBerry Island
NUMBER OF ROOMS
12
Prices are the average nightly price provided by our partners and may not include all taxes and fees. Taxes and fees that are shown are estimates only. Please see our partners for more details.
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