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Searching for rare plants and animals in Canada’s “pocket desert”

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Walking through Ponderosa Pine forests to observe western woodpeckers and songbirds

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Sipping wine at an organic winery

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An evening outing in search of nocturnal mammals, birds, and reptiles

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Scanning rocky slopes for Bighorn Sheep and Mountain Goats

Wild Okanagan

Jun 12-18, 2027

7 days | Canada | Quest Nature Tours

This tour will be open for booking soon. Please register your interest here to be the first to receive a detailed itinerary.

Known widely for its world-class orchards and wineries, Canada’s fabled Okanagan Valley also has a distinct natural character, owing to many converging factors. At its core, the Okanagan is a valley surrounded by two mountain ranges. From its bottom to its peaks, we find an impressive and rare mix of habitats starting with lowland lakes, rivers, and prairie fragments and moving up through pine-dominated tablelands and then into boreal forests and highland meadows. In addition, the South Okanagan bears the distinction of lying in the rain shadow of the towering Cascade Mountains, creating desert-like conditions. Here we find the Okanagan shrub-steppe, commonly known as Canada’s “pocket desert.” Not only is this habitat found nowhere else in Canada, but so too are many of its animals and plants, many of which exist here at the northern limit of their range.

On this week-long exploration, join us to observe differences in landscapes from the lowlands to the highlands and from the central valley to the south. The Okanagan is at once home to prickly pear cacti, sagebrush, rattlesnakes, and up to four species of hummingbirds in lowlands, as well as Mountain Goats, California Bighorn Sheep, Yellow-bellied Marmots, and White-throated Swifts in rocky highlands. Upland forests support Moose, western songbirds, and several specialty woodpeckers. Iconic prairie species like Western Meadowlarks and Mountain Bluebirds breed in grasslands.

We have timed this tour to coincide with long June days, clear skies, peak breeding season for most birds, and the blooming of early-summer flowers — and you can expect a wine tasting or two sprinkled among our explorations.

Tour leader Kyle Horner is based in British Columbia and has worked in the Okanagan. Join him on this nature voyage through what may be Canada’s most remarkable valley!

Tour Cost (per person):

C$3895 + 5% GST incl. gratuities

Group Size:

11 - 12 participants

What’s included: Departure airport transfer on June 13; accommodations based on double occupancy in hotels listed or similar; ground transportation on a minibus with a professional driver;
all activities as described in the detailed itinerary; entrance fees; meals as specified in itinerary; gratuities for guides, driver, and included meals; services of your Tour Leader Kyle Horner

"[Kyle Horner] Enthusiastic, well spoken, approachable, went out of his way to ensure everyone had a chance to see the bird of the moment." - Past traveller

"Kyle was great. Very friendly, informative and a good guide." - Past traveller

Itinerary at a Glance

Day	Activity
1	Arrive in Kelowna
2-3	Central Okanagan
4	Travel to South Okanagan, including “pocket desert”
5-6	South Okanagan, including wine tasting
7	South Okanagan / Drive to Kelowna and depart

Your Tour Leader

A graduate of the University of Guelph, Kyle Horner is a consummate environmental educator and well-travelled, lifelong naturalist who can proudly say he’s been birdwatching since before he could walk! He has also worked as a field technician for a variety of research projects. He is currently the NatureCounts Engagement Coordinator at Birds Canada, where he helps to build awareness and adoption of that innovative bird data platform. In 2024, Kyle published a book on turtles of North America.

Tour Cost (per person):

C$3895 + 5% GST incl. gratuities

Group Size:

11 - 12 participants

What You'll See: